With an ever-growing array of beauty oils lining pharmacy shelves, it's easy to wonder which ones are actually worth buying.
But the question is can one oil really do everything?
If we're talking about pure botanical oils such as almond, jojoba or argan oil, the answer is often yes. These natural oils are remarkably versatile and can be used across the face, body and hair. But as beauty science has advanced, oils have become far more specialised. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, many modern formulas are carefully developed to target specific concerns, textures, and areas of the body.
Here's a breakdown of the different types of beauty oils and what they're designed to do.
Hair Oil
Starting from the top, hair oil is designed to nourish dry, damaged strands while adding softness and shine. Depending on the formula, it can provide anything from a lightweight gloss to a richer, more intense finish, helping to tame frizz, smooth tangles and improve manageability.
Warm a few drops between your palms before gently running your hands through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. Avoid applying it directly to the scalp for everyday use, as excessive oil can leave hair looking greasy rather than healthy.
If your concern is your scalp rather than your strands, opt for a dedicated scalp oil instead. These formulas are specifically created to nourish the scalp, replenish the skin barrier and promote healthier-looking hair from the roots.
Try: Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil. This lightweight formula helps nourish dry hair while doubling as a heat protectant before styling.
Cleansing Oil
A staple in many Asian skincare routines, cleansing oils dissolve makeup, sunscreen, excess sebum and other impurities that build up throughout the day. They're typically used as the first step of a double cleanse before following with a water-based cleanser.
Apply the oil directly onto dry skin and gently massage it across your face until makeup and impurities begin to melt away. To wash it off, add water and continue massaging until the oil is all washed off. When in contact with water, the oil will emulsify into a milky texture before rinsing away cleanly, taking stubborn makeup with it.
Don't be alarmed when the clear oil suddenly turns cloudy. That's exactly how it's supposed to work.
Try: Shu Uemura Ultime8∞ Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil, the brand's cult-favourited cleansing oil that effortlessly removes even long-wearing waterproof makeup.
Lip Oil
One of the easiest beauty oils to incorporate into your routine, lip oils hydrate dry lips while leaving behind a glossy, healthy-looking finish. Their recent resurgence is largely thanks to formulas that combine the comfort of a nourishing treatment with the shine of a lip gloss.
Apply directly onto bare lips whenever they feel dry, or layer over lipstick or lip stain for added shine and dimension.
Available in countless shades, finishes and scents, there's a lip oil for nearly every preference.
Try: Clarins Lip Comfort Oil. The formula is made from 93% natural ingredients that work together to restore the skin's barrier through an array of over 10 glowing shades that are suitable for every skin tone.
Shower Oil
Despite the name, shower oil isn't meant to leave you feeling oily. Instead, it works as a gentle cleanser that cleanses while replenishing moisture, making it particularly beneficial for dry or sensitive skin.
It can also be poured into a warm bath, transforming the water into a silky, milky soak.
Massage it onto wet skin just like a regular body wash before rinsing off. And for use in the bath, simply pour a generous amount under running water.
Unlike bubble baths, shower oils won't create mountains of foam. Instead, they'll leave your skin feeling noticeably softer and more comfortable after every soak.
Try: L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil, the brand's global bestseller that has been clinically shown to increase skin hydration by 25% after 28 days of continuous use.
Body Oil
If you grew up having baby oil applied after bath time, you've already experienced the basics of body oil. Body oils are leave-on moisturisers designed to lock in hydration and keep skin feeling soft, supple and smooth. Many formulas also enhance the skin with a subtle glow, while shimmer-infused versions leave behind a luminous finish that's especially beautiful in natural sunlight.
For best results, apply body oil immediately after showering while your skin is still slightly damp. This helps seal in moisture before it evaporates.
And for extra hydration, layer your favourite body lotion over the oil to create an additional barrier that locks moisture into the skin even longer.
Cuticle Oil
Often overlooked, cuticle oil is one of the easiest ways to instantly make your hands look more polished.
Regular hand washing, sanitising, and exposure to dry air can leave cuticles cracked, peeling and rough. Cuticle oil replenishes lost moisture while helping nails appear healthier and better maintained.
Most cuticle oils come in a nail polish-style bottle with a brush or a convenient brush-tip pen. Simply apply the oil around each nail, then gently massage it into the cuticles.
Used consistently, cuticle oil helps prevent hangnails while giving your nails the neat, freshly manicured appearance that is the secret every nail parlour holds.
