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Best Face Oil for Every Skin Type and How to Use Them


For most of us, using face oils should be pretty straightforward: Step one, smear on face. Step two, carry on with your day. But the reality isn’t quite so simple. Ask a handful of people what face oils actually do, and you’re likely to get a range of claims—they hydrate, they don’t hydrate, they clog your pores, they help with breakouts, they work miracles, so on and so forth. Confused? We’re here to help you find the best face oil for your skin concerns and how to use it.

What are face oils?

Oils are oils. This seems like it should be a no-brainer. But oils are also emollients, which means that unlike creams or ointments, which sink deep into skin for intensive, long-lasting hydration, oils tend to hang out near the surface. Essentially, their moisturizing power just isn’t up to snuff. But while you don’t get quite as much moisture, it’s not like they’re not doing anything useful. “Oils do add barrier protection, silkiness, and superficial hydration,” says cosmetic dermatologist Paul Jarrod Frank, M.D. They may sink into your skin just enough to nourish the topmost layer—but that’s still not a whole lot compared with true hydrating heavyweights like hyaluronic acid, which literally binds water to skin cells.

A good way to think of it is that oils alone are not moisturizers (and you shouldn’t use them as such). Instead, they should accompany traditionally moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. “A good moisturizer has to deliver both water and oil,” says aesthetician Ling Chan. “Your cells drink the water while oils stay on the outside of the cell for protection and lubrication.” An oil is actually integral to healthy skin, since it acts as the sealant that keeps moisture in. Without it, moisture just leeches out until the next time you apply cream. While this isn’t necessarily going to wreck your skin, it’s definitely not ideal—and it becomes a bigger problem in dry winter weather.

What do face oils do?

Oils give skin an instant softness and smoothness that can be kind of addictive (seriously, try slathering one on and see if you can stop petting your face). But more than that, they’re often packed with essential nutrients, fatty acids, and antioxidants. Plus, adds Chan, they form a protective layer for your skin cells. While they’re not the end-all-be-all solution to skin issues, they do their fair share by repairing and protecting your skin barrier, which helps your skin absorb other skin care products. If you’re not seeing the dreamy skin you imagined you would from serums and moisturizers alone, an oil might be able to make that happen.

How do you use face oils?

You can always mix oils in with your moisturizer, but if you’re going to give them their own spot of honor in your skin care routine, do it before you moisturize but after—or even instead of—your serum. Now, for some bad news: Certain types can clog your pores if you’re prone to breakouts. One of the biggest offenders? Beloved coconut oil. “Coconut oil will stay on the top of your skin for hours,” says Chan. “When oils are too heavy, they don’t allow your skin to breathe.” Your best bets are oils with a smaller molecular size, like argan oil, squalane oil, and jojoba oil. They sink into skin quicker and never get the chance to clog pores.

The best face oils for every skin type

1. Best Face Oil for All Skin Types
Tatcha Gold Camellia Beauty Oil, $95, sephora.com

Buy it for the cool gold flakes floating around in the bottle, but use it for the camellia oil, which packs more antioxidants than any other oil out there.



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“Fenty Skin” Was Officially Registered as a Trademark — Is Rihanna Launching Skin Care Soon?


Over the last two years, Fenty Beauty has brought us countless boundary-breaking launches—some of which sold out in mere hours—with the kind of inclusive marketing we’ve been waiting to see in the makeup space for years. Now, the powerhouse brand is getting ready to make its mark on the skin-care world, too, and we couldn’t be more excited.

Although details are limited, here’s what we know so far: Thanks to eagle eyes at Page Six, “Fenty Skin” was officially listed as a trademark on the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s website as of March 25, 2019 (i.e. less than a month ago). You might remember that there were rumors of a Fenty skin-care line coming in September of 2017 after a fan found items like creams, lotions, gels, and cleansers, registered under “House of Fenty.” But besides the brand’s best-selling Body Lava, we’ve yet to see other complexion-care products from Fenty.

Now, though, there are specific trademarks filed under the new “Fenty Skin” label, including “medicated and non-medicated skincare, soap, body care and personal care products (excluding color cosmetics, perfume and other fragrance-only products), and related accessories such as kits, tools and applicators.”

While right now it’s hard to imagine what a line of Fenty skin care would look like, something tells us it will be just as amazing and inclusive of skin types and tones — just as its makeup is. (Our girl Rihanna is behind it, after all.)

The “Fenty Skin” trademark application was just approved, albeit it still has to be viewed and signed by an attorney, a process that Page Six points out can take up to three months. In the meantime, it’s safe to say we’ll be storing away some of our precious pennies for when it does finally make its grand debut.





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Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum Changed My Skin – Review


For most of my life, I’ve spent a large portion of my nights lying to myself about going to sleep early. Instead of actually going to bed on time, I find a million random things to do and end up waiting until I’m absolutely exhausted to pass out. This wasn’t the best news for my skin, since I’d gotten into the bad habit of going straight from what I was doing to bed—with no cleanser, exfoliator, or moisturizer in between.

It wasn’t until I worked in fashion that I started to wonder what my skin could look like if I paid more attention to it. I’d fantasize about using a rose face mask and painting my nails with natural polish while sitting in an exfoliating bubble bath. I became obsessed with trying everything I read about—sometimes irritating my skin, sometimes making it look so much better—but only recently have I begun to find the staples that work for both nighttime me and my all-the-time complexion.

One of those products is the Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum. I’d heard endlessly good things about the brand, and everyone who uses Tata Harper doesn’t just talk about it; they gush about it. It’s long been considered by industry pros as an entry point into natural beauty because its products are as effective as they are green.

While an $88 serum might seem expensive for someone with a highly noncommittal routine, let me assure you anyone who tries it won’t be wishy-washy about using it. Its slogan on the bottle, “Daily Dose of Glow,” does not lie. Thanks to its combination of nine different AHAs and BHAs (exfoliating acids that slough off dead skin), the formula goes to work to leave behind a softer, smoother look and feel.

After cleansing with Tatcha’s Cleansing Oil and exfoliating with Tatcha’s The Rice Polish (Tatcha is also a brand that’s converted me to caring about my skin), I put two pumps of Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Serum into my palm and massage into my face and neck. The first time I used it, I was completely struck by the scent. It smells incredible—like how spring feels, refreshing and crisp.

The experience of using the serum is also lovely. Unlike some serums, which can feel sticky or tacky, this one sinks in so fast you forget you even put it on.

It was only after a week that I started to really notice the difference. Using the serum consistently had my skin looking bright and glowy, no matter how late I had stayed up the night before. Although I quickly fell in love with the serum, I was sold on how much of a necessity it was when I went away on a weekend trip and forgot to pack the bottle. I didn’t think it would be a big deal (I had spent so many years not using a serum), but I could tell my skin missed it when I looked at my dull reflection in the mirror.

I still haven’t mastered the art of going to bed early, but I don’t go to sleep anymore without my quick (but mighty!) skin care routine. The step I look forward to the most is this serum. It’s become a bit like a five-second-long self-care routine. I massage it into my face and let the glow sink in while I inhale the floral scent. I can’t go to bed until I’ve used it.



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Buttery Skin Is the New Makeup Trend You Need to Know


“I need buttery skin!!!” is a message I received from our senior beauty editor, Lindsay, about two weeks ago. Before I could ask her WTF that meant, she sent me a photo of a model with some of the smoothest, glowiest skin I’ve ever seen. It was a shot from a makeup artist’s Instagram (pictured above) and there in the caption lied the secret: #butteryskin. Suddenly, neither of us could focus on anything else, we were stuck in a rabbit hole trying to figure out how exactly to get this glistening, radiant look. I went straight to the source, makeup artist Isabelle De Vries, to fill me in.

First thing’s first, what even is buttery skin? It’s similar to the glass skin craze that’s taken over the internet in that it mirrors a radiant, almost reflective complexion. “This look is all about beautiful, healthy glowing skin,” De Vries tells me. The major difference lies in the fact that glass skin is more focused on a skin care routine, while buttery skin is a specific makeup technique. Glass skin is more of a plump, bouncy look (since it primarily centers around hydration), and I find that buttery skin is a little softer and easier to get since you’re masking your skin, not transforming it. And yes, the name does reference a literal stick of butter. “I came up with the term buttery skin, because it gives off the same silky smooth texture and natural sheen that butter has.”

They key to buttery skin, it turns out, is lots and lots of layering. After chatting with De Vries and spending hours scrolling through her Instagram, I was ready to test the look out on myself. Read on for the breakdown.

Skin Prep
“This look is best suited to normal/combination skin but can still be achieved on drier skin types with the right skin prep,” says De Vries. She starts by using a Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pad to exfoliate away dry patches and boost glow. She then likes to use the Garnier Moisture Bomb Sheet Mask to hydrate and plump skin, but notes that any mask with hyaluronic acid will do.

I used a peel pad and then went in with the Laniege Water Sleeping Mask, since I didn’t have the Garnier on hand. I wanted my dry skin to look really dewy, so I also brought out the big guns and used some Creme de La Mer as a base, and I think it paid off. If you want a less expensive alternative, Weleda Skin Food is a great dupe.

Primer
This is where the layering comes into play. De Vries starts the dewy process with an illuminating primer. Her favorites include MAC Strobe Cream, Danessa Myricks Prism Fx Hydrating Lotion, and Temptu Brilliant Glow Illuminating Primer. I went with the MAC strobe cream, which has a pretty opalescent sheen, and applied it beginning with the high points of my face, and then onto the rest of my skin.

Foundation
“A dewy foundation is a must,” says De Vries. She recommends MAC Face and Body or Temptu S/B Foundation, and likes to use her fingers to apply (it helps warm up the formula so it goes on more natural-looking). “I love mixing a pearlescent liquid highlighter through my foundations like Temptu or Danessa Myricks Illuminating Veil,” she says.

I mixed Glossier Play’s Niteshine highlighter in with my current favorite foundation, L’Oréal Infallible Fresh Wear, and pressed it in using my fingers like De Vries suggested. It’s more messy but it works.





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8 Genius Skin Care Tips That'll Give You Clearer Skin for Free


The best things in life really are free, even when it comes to your beauty routine. But taking care of your skin can be a big investment (hi, lasers and serums), so we’re always down for skin care tips that don’t take a huge bite out of our paychecks.

Which is what led us here: We’ve asked top skin care experts to give us their best advice. And the part we love the most? Not one thing below costs a single penny (assuming you already have most of these things in your kitchen).

Give Yourself a Face Massage

Alexa De Paulis

Got puffy eyes? No problem. Sure, you could stock up on eye cream…or you could use your fingers to give yourself an under-eye massage. “Use your ring fingers to press gently on the orbital bone, moving from the inner to outer corner of your eyes and repeating two to three times,” says celebrity facialist Cecilia Wong. “This will not only stimulate circulation, but it also helps minimize fine lines and reduce inflammation.”

Celebrity facialist and La Mer global skin care advisor [Georgia Louise] is also a huge proponent of massage all over your face to stimulate collagen and activate product. “Your hands are your most powerful weapon,” she says.

Chill Out

Illustration of ice cubes
Alexa De Paulis

Literally. Louise loves her signature Facial Freeze Tools to depuff and sculpt your face, but if you’re looking for a budget option she loves this Old Hollywood trick: wash your face using ice water.

“I think it’s awesome to have a mega rinse with cool water if your skin is in need of refreshing,” she says. Not only does the chilly temperature make you feel more awake, it can quickly reduces puffiness, tighten pores, and calm inflammation.

Switch Your Pillowcase

illustration of a bed and pillows
Alexa De Paulis

We hate to add to laundry to your to-do list, but keeping your pillows clean is a top beauty secret. Pillowcases can hang on to dirt, oil, and bacteria from our faces, hair, and environment, and can become a breeding ground for acne. Try to swap out you pillow at least once a week to reduce the risk of a breakout.

Louise recommends a silk pillowcase to “really ensure your products are penetrating and won’t escape from your skin.” Sure, it’s money, but if you are looking to invest in a solid option, we’re huge fans of Slip’s Silk Pillowcases ($85), which not only helps ward off wrinkles (no creases in your pillow equals no long-term creases on your skin), but also make your hair shinier too.

Sleep on Your Back

Illustration of woman sleeping
Alexa De Paulis

Don’t worry. We’re not going to tell you to get eight hours of sleep, which is probably the oldest free skin care tip in the book. Because as essential as how much sleep you’re getting is the position in which you sleep. It really does matter. “After UV exposure, the second most common cause of wrinkles is squishing your face into a pillow at night,” says celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau. “It’s like ironing wrinkles into your skin.” Sleeping on your back is ideal, since even pressing your cheek into a pillow can cause lines.

Put Some Salt on It

Illustration of salt
Alexa De Paulis

You’ve got two options here: You could ice a zit to help bring the inflammation down or even better (and maybe more comfortable): You could salt it. “Sea salt has powerful antibacterial properties and works to pull oil from the pore,” says Karen Young, founder of Oui Shave. She recommends combining one teaspoon of sea salt with enough water to form a paste. Dot this on the offending zit, let it dry for up to an hour (10 minutes for sensitive skin types) and then rinse it off.

Wash Your Hands

Illustration of sink
Alexa De Paulis



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The 17 Best Skin Care Products of 2019 | Beauty Awards


Call it the Instagram effect: These days the lure of a product can come from its picture-perfect packaging alone. And that’s nowhere more apparent than in the world of luxury skin care. But beyond the gorgeous bottles, high-end brands are also taking a spare-no-expense approach to formulating what goes into them to deliver results that are truly worth posting about. After all, there’s no bigger bragging rights than a foundation-free snap shared with the world, courtesy of a get-shit-done serum. Scroll through to see the new Glamour Beauty Awards skin care winners that prove they’re really great investments. We—and our panel of derms, makeup artists, and industry pros—promise.



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