How to Choose the Right Carrier Oil for Your Skin Type
Not all oils are created equal. Using the wrong one for your skin can leave you feeling greasy, breaking out, or simply underwhelmed. Once you understand what each oil does at a molecular level, matching the right one to your skin becomes straightforward.
Here is a no-nonsense breakdown by skin type.
Dry Skin
Dry skin lacks lipids: the natural fats that form the skin barrier and lock moisture in. You need a rich, occlusive oil that absorbs slowly and stays on the skin long enough to do its job.
Best picks: Avocado Oil and Almond Oil. Avocado is thick and nutrient-dense, packed with oleic acid and vitamins A, D and E, ideal applied at night to visibly softer skin by morning. Almond is slightly lighter but equally nourishing, and gentle enough to use daily without heaviness.
Oily and Acne-Prone Skin
The counterintuitive truth: oily skin often over-produces sebum because it is dehydrated. The right lightweight oil can actually regulate oil production rather than add to it.
Best picks: Grapeseed Oil and Argan Oil. Grapeseed is high in linoleic acid (the fatty acid that acne-prone skin is statistically deficient in) and absorbs almost instantly without residue. Argan is equally light, non-comedogenic, and rich in Vitamin E, making it effective for both hydration and scar-fading.
Combination Skin
Combination skin needs balance: something that hydrates dry areas without exacerbating the oily T-zone. Heavy oils are out. Versatile, fast-absorbing oils are in.
Best picks: Jojoba Oil and Grapeseed Oil. Jojoba is technically a liquid wax, structurally identical to the skin's own sebum. This makes it uniquely effective at communicating with your skin, signalling it to produce less oil where it is overactive and providing moisture where it is dry. Use a few drops morning and night.
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin reacts easily to fragrance, synthetic ingredients, and anything that disrupts the barrier. You need oils that are as close to inert as possible, with a well-documented safety record.
Best picks: Almond Oil and Hemp Seed Oil. Almond has been used on sensitive skin for centuries. It is rich in oleic and linoleic acids but remarkably gentle. Hemp Seed Oil is anti-inflammatory by nature, with a 3:1 Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio that calms redness and helps rebuild the barrier over time. Neither contains THC or CBD.
Ageing or Dull Skin
If your main concern is fine lines, hyperpigmentation or loss of radiance, you need an oil that actively works on cell turnover, not just one that sits on the surface.
Best pick: Rosehip Oil. Cold-pressed from Rosa rubiginosa seeds, it is nature's closest equivalent to retinol. Rich in natural Vitamin A and C, it fades dark spots, smooths texture and restores an even, luminous tone with consistent nightly use. Apply two to three drops to clean skin before bed.
The One Rule That Applies to Every Skin Type
Start with one oil. Use it for three weeks before adding anything else. Skin changes slowly and layering multiple new ingredients makes it impossible to know what is working. Less is always more.
If you are still unsure where to start, take our 60-second quiz. It asks four questions about your skin and delivers a personalised pick from our collection, straight to your inbox.