The Quiet Power of a Simple Face Oil
Why I’m Reaching for These Icons Again—Even in the Age of Hyper-Actives, Multi-Step Serums, and Skin Tech
We’re living in an era of highly complex skincare: serums that mimic in-office procedures, formulas that deliver neuropeptides via liposomal spheres, and routines that often read more like pharmaceutical protocols than self-care. I appreciate the science. I even love it. But lately, I’ve been craving something quieter. Simpler. More tactile.
Face oils were once the disruptors of skincare—bold in their simplicity, unapologetically sensory, and deeply rooted in centuries of tradition. And now, amid the biotech boom, I find myself returning to them—not out of nostalgia, but because they still offer something modern skincare often forgets: the luxury of enough.
A Brief History of the Cult Face Oil
While face oils have long played a role in traditional beauty rituals—from the prized camellia oils of Japan to argan oil in Morocco—their reemergence in modern luxury skincare began as early as the late 2000s and early 2010s.
In green beauty: Ila was one of the early pioneers, reintroducing oils as part of a luxurious, sensorial, and spiritually-inflected skincare ritual. Their Face Oil for Glowing Radiance offered not just nourishment, but an experience—rooted in organic botanicals, aromatherapy, and intention.
Around the same time, Kahina Giving Beauty began sourcing high-quality argan oil from women’s cooperatives in Morocco, bringing with it a strong ethical foundation and cultural story that elevated the humble ingredient into a hero.
Then came MUN’s Aknari Brightening Youth Serum—just three ingredients, but perfectly balanced. Its blend of prickly pear seed, argan oil, and rose became a cult favorite for skincare purists, makeup artists, and beauty editors who appreciated a minimalist formula with maximal glow.
In mainstream culture: Rodin Olio Lusso, though not the first, made face oil glamorous. Linda Rodin’s eleven-ingredient blend became a sensation—loved by models, editors, and fashion insiders alike. It looked chic, smelled divine, and softened skin like nothing else. It helped shift the cultural perception of oils from “greasy” to “luxe.”
From there, oils went wide. Josie Maran’s 100% Argan Oil brought single-ingredient simplicity to the mainstream. Drunk Elephant’s Marula Oil introduced a cold-pressed version packaged with clean-clinical branding. Meanwhile, squalane took off as a lightweight hydrator that even oily skin types could love.
The throughline? Thoughtful simplicity. These oils didn’t rely on complex delivery systems or hard-to-pronounce actives—they just worked. And in a time when skincare is increasingly high-tech, that groundedness feels more luxurious than ever.
Why Simple Still Works
There’s a tendency to conflate simplicity with lack. But when crafted well, minimalist face oils offer clarity, effectiveness, and elegance.
Fewer ingredients mean less chance of irritation. Ideal for sensitive or overtreated skin, especially in an era of over-exfoliation and barrier fatigue.
Botanical oils are naturally multifunctional. Many provide fatty acids, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds all at once.
They adapt to any routine. A simple oil can seal in hydration, buffer actives, mix with serums, or stand alone as your final layer.
They invite slowness. Using an oil is tactile, meditative—you warm it between your palms, press it into your skin, and feel the feedback in real time.
Face oils don’t ask you to decode percentages or scan a glossary of lab actives. They ask you to trust your skin and to notice how it feels. That’s real luxury.
The Ones I’m Loving Right Now
A vivid, golden-orange oil that looks as potent as it feels. Pai uses both Rosehip seed and fruit oils, resulting in a high concentration of trans-retinoic acid—nature’s own retinol derivative—plus essential omegas. It’s earthy, plush, and feels like it’s feeding your skin. I’d credit this as THE product that put rosehip on the map as a green beauty retinol alternative. Unlike retinol though, it’s non-drying, and non-sensitizing, my skin drinks up the lush fruit oil.
MUN Aknari Brightening Youth Serum
Three ingredients, and yet this formula felt like magic. Prickly pear for brightening and antioxidants, argan for essential lipids, and a touch of rose for soul-soothing aromatics. It left skin impossibly soft and visibly glowing, without ever feeling heavy. Its absence is a quiet heartbreak for those of us who knew it well.
This oil is an experience. Delicate rose and sandalwood aromas meet a nourishing, lightweight texture in argan and rosehip that leaves skin luminous and hydrated. It’s the kind of product that transforms your routine into a sanctuary and makes you feel a little more beautiful just for using it.
Precise, elegant, and beautifully made. Marula oil is naturally rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, but African Botanics elevates it with immaculate South African sourcing and a touch of neroli for brightness and vibrancy. It absorbs like a dream, hydrates like an oil, and leaves skin supple, smooth, and quietly radiant.
This one feels like a love letter to minimalist skincare. The whisper light Tsubaki green tea seed oil base—long cherished in Japanese beauty—is divine and antioxidant-rich. Jasmine gives the formula a soft floral touch that brightens the complexion and stimulates renewal.
What makes it special is its versatility. It layers effortlessly, never overwhelms, and makes skin look instantly cared for.
I’m not giving up my clinical actives or next-gen antioxidant serums. But these pared down face oils have a role that’s different—and just as vital. They restore rhythm to a routine that can sometimes feel clinical and overwhelming. They ground us, and if well made, help us appreciate the powers of an individual plant to heal and restore our skin. In other words: they make us notice our skin again.
And perhaps most importantly, they remind us that sometimes the most powerful products are the ones that feel like a pause. A break from the noise for a moment of real care.
