Golden Face Oil: nine plant oils, one light blend

“I would love to use a face oil, but they feel too greasy.” I hear this more than anything else about face oils, and it is a fair point. Plenty of face oils sit on the skin and leave it shiny for hours.

When I formulated the Golden Face Oil, that was the problem I wanted to solve. I wanted an oil that leaves skin feeling soft and comfortable, sinks in quickly and sits happily under makeup in the morning. Getting there was all about which oils I chose and how I balanced them.

What it is and who it is for

The Golden Face Oil is a 30ml blend of nine plant oils, with a light emollient, vitamin E, a touch of lavender and a little gold leaf.

It is for you if:

• your skin feels dry or tight after cleansing
• you have normal skin and want a simple, light step that leaves it feeling soft
• you have tried face oils before and found them too heavy
• you like a short routine, with one product in place of several

Golden Face Oil is lighter than the Night Face Serum. You can use Golden in the morning and the serum at night.

Why blend so many oils?

This is where my diploma in organic skincare formulation comes in.

Every plant oil is made up of a mix of fatty acids, and that mix decides how the oil feels. Some oils are rich and slow to sink in. Others are light, dry and quick. Oils rich in a fatty acid called linoleic acid tend to feel lighter on the skin, and many seed oils are naturally high in it.

A single oil gives you one texture. By blending several, I can build the exact feel I want: light enough for daytime, but still comfortable on drier skin. That is why this blend is built mainly from light seed oils, with a little jojoba and a silky emollient to finish it off.

What is inside, and why I chose it

Pomegranate seed oil. The largest part of the blend. A soft, nourishing feeling oil that leaves skin comfortable.

Watermelon seed oil. One of the lightest oils I know. It spreads beautifully and is a big part of why this blend does not feel greasy.

Rosehip oil. A favourite in face oils. It leaves skin feeling soft and looking fresh.

Passion fruit, papaya, kiwi, cucumber and sesame seed oils. Five more seed oils, each in a smaller amount. They round out the blend and add to the light, silky texture.

Jojoba oil. Technically a liquid plant wax rather than an oil. It is very similar to the oil your own skin makes, which helps the blend feel comfortable on the skin.

Isoamyl laurate. A light, silky emollient that helps the blend glide on and sink in, rather than sitting on the skin.

Vitamin E. Protects the oils in the bottle from going off.

Lavender essential oil. A small amount for a gentle, soft scent. Lavender naturally contains geraniol, limonene and linalool, which are listed on the label.

Gold. A little food grade gold leaf. I will be honest: it is there for the look of the oil and the joy of using it, not for any effect on your skin.

What makes it different

Most face oils are built around one or two oils. This blend uses nine, chosen for how they feel together. The result is a face oil that is light enough to wear under makeup and still comfortable on skin that feels dry.

It also contains no water, so there is nothing to dilute it. Two or three drops are enough for the whole face and neck, and a 30ml bottle lasts a long time.

How to use it

1. Cleanse with the Cleansing Face Balm and Cleansing Face Bar.
2. Put two or three drops on your fingertips and warm them between your palms.
3. Press it gently onto your face and neck, then smooth upwards.
4. Give it a minute to sink in before makeup or other skincare.
5. In the morning, finish with sunscreen.

My tip: apply it to skin that is still very slightly damp from cleansing. The oil spreads more easily over damp skin, so you need fewer drops and it feels lighter. If your skin still feels oily after ten minutes, use one drop less next time. On very dry days, you can also mix a drop into your moisturiser.

Patch test before first use, as with any new skincare.

What it is free from, and why

Golden Face Oil contains no added water, no silicones and no mineral oil.

Silicones and mineral oil are not harmful. Many face products use them to create a smooth, silky feel. I wanted that silky feel to come from the plant oils themselves and a light emollient, so the blend is built entirely around what the oils bring.

Looking after your oil

Store it somewhere cool and dark, with the lid tightly closed. Plant oils are delicate, and light and warmth make them go off sooner.

Try it

If you have always found face oils too heavy, try the Golden Face Oil. A few drops in the morning are all it takes. Pair it with the Night Face Serum in the evening for a simple routine.

You will find the full ingredients list on the Golden Face Oil product page. If you have any questions about using it, send me a message.

Eliz, organic skincare formulator and founder of ECBEAUTYLAB