Oil Me Up! {Comparison of Facial Oils}

If you like me suffer from the invasion of dry skin in the winter months, then this post is for you. I’ve spent years searching for a moisturiser that would be effective in sorting out my combination skin, applying thick dollops of lotions and potions, trying to achieve a natural dewy glow that even Gwyneth Paltrow would be proud of. Unfortunately nothing seemed to work until around 18 months ago, when I discovered facial oil. This little wonder product has revolutionised my skin care regime so I’ve popped a little summary of my four favourite products below.

* I realise that the Advanced Night Repair is actually a serum rather than an oil, but I thought it would be useful to include it here for comparison reasons.

Emma Hardie Brilliance Facial Oil (30ml)

This was the first facial oil I discovered. I was on maternity leave leisurely perusing the cosmetics isle in M&S when I stumbled upon the Emma Hardie Amazing Face range. The Amazing Face range is a capsule skincare range of multi-tasking daily essentials. It uses all natural ingredients and promises to help condition and maintain each and every layer of the skin’s facial tissue. Sounds great!!

The first thing which stuck me about the oil, was its incredible smell. It contains nine essential oils (including mint, geranium, and lemon) and five plant oils (like apricot and almond) to help feed the skin Omega oils and anti-oxidants. The oil also promises to help restructure the skin and promote elasticity and moisture. I was pregnant at the time and wasn’t sleeping very well, so thought the lavender might help me relax into an evening slumber – if I woke up looking like a young Cindy Crawford then all the better!

I thoroughly enjoyed using the Emma Hardie Brilliance Facial Oil and it was part of my nightly routine for a long time. The smell was amazing and it did leave my skin glowing in the morning, however of the four I’m reviewing here, I think it was only my third favourite. When reading reviews, other users have found that the oil was absorbed really quickly and didn’t leave a greasy path on the skin, however I didn’t find this. Perhaps it was because I was using it as a night cream, hitting the pillow soon after I’d applied it to my face. The results may have been different if combining it with a moisturiser throughout the day. The bottle lasts a long time so its great value for money and it definitely plumped up my skin, so Overall Verdict 4 stars ☆☆☆☆

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil (30ml)

Made from 100% plant extracts the Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil is designed specifically for dehydrated skin. I’m not sure if products for dehydrated skin are formulated slightly different than those for dry skin (is there a difference?), but the Blue Orchid oil worked wonders for my face and it’s remained a firm favourite as part of my skincare regime.

The Clarins Blue Orchid facial oil worked its way into my bathroom cabinet via a little tester bottle I received while Clarins were on gift. Whilst I know I’m a sucker for products, it’s rare that I’ll go back to buy a full size bottle after receiving a tester because by the time I get to the end of the bottle, I’m generally over it and my attention has been diverted and to the next best thing. But not this time! Again it was the smell of the Clarins oil which got me. Think spa days and the confidence you feel walking out of a treatment room with a face of fancy products. You know the feeling?? Then yes this product is for you!

Better than the smell however was the fact that this product actually worked. Again I popped a couple of drops on in the evenings before bed and my face was genuinely soft and glowing the next day. This I might add was during a time when Ettie was feeding continually through the night, so I wasn’t getting much sleep and my skin was in dire need of extra nourishment Also rather leaving my face a little shiny like the Emma Hardie option, the Blue Orchid oil was absorbed really quickly and left my skin soft to the touch almost instantly. This meant I wasn’t concerned about leaving greasy residue on my pillows or looking like an oily mess when I kissed Stu goodnight! I mean no one wants a greasy smacker right before they go to bed do they! Overall Verdict 4.5 stars ☆☆☆☆*

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Serum (50ml)

So as I said in the introduction I’m aware this is a serum rather than an oil, but I’ve popped it in here as part of this review as its what I was using before the facial oils came into my life. The Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Complex should be used as part of your evening make up regime following a cleanser and toner and before an evening moisturiser. The serum promises to maximises the power of skin’s natural nighttime renewal with Lauders exclusive ChronoluxCB™ Technology. Comprende? No I have no idea what that means either and to be honest I didn’t find it to be that effective – but again that might just be down to my weird combination skin. Reading other reviews the general consensus is that its good for keeping skin hydrated and reduces breakouts.

I find it quite difficult to review serums, as I find the moisturiser you’re recommended to apply afterwards always provides the end result and kind of steals the glory, but I’ve used a couple, and what I can say about this one is that it left my skin feeling pretty dry until the moisturiser was applied. When I review a product I think the overall feel of the product on my skin can make a huge difference as to how I’m going to feel about the end result. Even if that end result is pretty great. This product didn’t really leave my skin feeling glowing and because of that I’ve only given the Advanced Night Repair serum Overall Verdict 3 stars ☆☆☆.

Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules (60 capsules)

Moving swiftly on from a rather disappointing Estee Lauder product, I can now introduce you to something they’ve done right, The Advanced Night Repair Intensive Recovery Ampoules . Now I really didn’t want this to be my favourite, at upwards of £80 a bottle they aren’t the cheapest thing on the market, so as a favour to my bank balance I was kind of hoping one of the cheaper options would be just as good. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case, the ampules are amazing!

They come in a little jar containing 60 capsules of oily goodness and the instruction is to crack one open each night and apply it to your skin before your nightly moisturiser. The advice is to use them when skin feels particularly stressed, either from environmental damage, lack of sleep, travel, even changes in the weather.

I’m always a bit wary of pricey branded products. Do they chuck an extra £30 on the price tag just because its Estee Lauder? Probably, but on this occasion I think the higher pricetag was worth it.

The ampoules promise to calm the look of irritated, stressed skin and reinforce the skin’s nightly renewal to help recover the ‘luminous look of youth’ and I can say with hand on heart that they did just that. After applying in the evening my skin looked dewy and glowing and I awoke the next morning to nourished and healthy skin. Its definitely something I’ll be keeping in my skin armour from hereon in – but only to be used in emergency situations due to the price tag. Overall Verdict 5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆

*This post contains affiliate links but as always I only recommend products that I know and love 

If you enjoyed this you might also enjoy my review of Ermana Natural Skincare Facial Oil