As it's the holiday season I was thinking of a golden sparkly post. I think I took these photos a year ago easy but they still are true as my top favorites. I did add two more though that deserve to be mentioned as tastes change. For night facial oils I tend to be looking for non-retinoid ones as they're most versatile for me in a routine as I prefer retinoids in a serum format. I also love ones that tend to be lighter in the essential oil department as that's what my skin likes right now. I like well rounded oil blends with great textures and good plant extracts. I've tried quite a few facial oils over the last few years and I'm kind of snobby about them. These four tend to stand out above the rest for me and I've actually gone through at least one full bottle, sometimes two. I like to apply these after a little misting then pat it onto my face. I tend to skip oils on my neck right now as it just adds congestion to that area. I'm typically the biggest fan of the more artisan green beauty brands for oils as they just do such a good job. I know there are great more commercial style oils out there but I really enjoy the green beauty ones more. Personal preference.
VOTARY Super Boost Night Drops has become one of my most reached for oils ever. It actually beats their Super Seed Oil which was my favorite for years. This is still the same glossy, thin, essential oil free, lighter weight yet nourishing facial oil as Super Seed but it has CBD. So it adds this really powerful anti-inflammatory soothing capacity to it. The oil base is different as Super Seed has 22 seed oils and this one has 2% CBD with seven oils. The oils are strawberry (rich in ellagic acid), flx, hemp, camellia, avocado, poppy seed, field gromwell and sunflower. This does yes have fractionated coconut oil but I think it's so low I can't tell, it doesn't affect the texture of this one like others. If you want soothing and something for redness or inflammation this one is for you. I warn you it smells like earthy grass so if you need floral or pretty scents it's not for you. I find myself just reaching for this constantly since I need more soothing this year.
So each oil kind of has a purpose but they overlap a lot. I think of Earthwise Beauty Black Locust is the firming oil great for mature skin that needs some elasticity. This one manages to be rich without being too heavy. It does have a few essential oils but it's light and not bothersome for me. This has acai, kalahari melon, white lupine, sunflower and sea buckthorn oils, wheat germ unsaponifiables plus bakuchiol, calendula and black elderberry extracts. The scent comes from rhododendron and greenheart wood essential oils plus magnolia champaca absolute. Like I said the scent is a woody floral. I like the additions of bakuchiol and lupine which help with firmness in addition to the oils. I love the texture, it's my favorite oil by this brand and even though it says for mature skin it should suit most. There's not any really heavy oils in it. If you love facial oils and want one that targets firmness more than other aspects give this one a try. They also have minis.
AIKA TRI DOSHA Radiance Elixir is utterly one of my all time favorites. It's also been sold out for months and I'm really sad because I'm out. This oil has a ruby red hue and is based on Ayurvedic extracts. This is my radiance giving oil. It's medium weight and not too heavy with a nice glossy smooth texture. It's also the most expensive oil I've purchased but I would happily buy it a third time. This oil smells like a mix of jasmine, rose and sandalwood but it's very light. I have rosacea and really have stayed away from strong essential oils lately and this one is fine for me (I know it won't be for everyone with sensitive skin which is why I say it). This oil has a lot of really unique ingredients like sesame (antioxidant, detox), cow’s milk (herb not dairy), saffron, vetiver (antioxidative), manjista (calming, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial), Indian bark, Himalayan cherry, sacred lotus, Indian barberry (help unclog pores), Indian rose chestnut, flame of the forest (helps with irritation), holy bodhi fig, galangal (part of ginger family, anti-inflammatory), sweet flag. It’s also got some goodies like anti-inflammatory turmeric which is a favorite of mine, jasmine & rose. Yes Ranavat is similar but it's just not quite the same. I just wish Ranavat would ditch the fractionated coconut oil and it would probably be my substitute while I wait for AIKA to come back in stock. I don't know why but for some reason fractionated coconut oil in my facial oils just makes the texture less smooth or something, it's a weird personal pet peeve. Review HERE.
When 
I say I like green beauty craftsmanship La Bella Figura is always a brand that comes to mind. Their Aria Nighttime Cell Recovery Treatment is a long time favorite. The texture is smooth and glossy, the oil is a richer night oil but it's not super heavy. It's also a radiance giving kind of oil that will give a good glow. It's the heaviest of the four I listed today, so I would definitely recommend more for the combo to dry skin types versus oily. If you have dry or mature skin you'll love it. It’s got avocado (rich in fatty acids & vitamin E, moisturizes), camellia (omega 6, antioxidants and polyphenols), carrot (rich in beta carotene, vitamins A & E), maracuja (anti-inflammatory), amaranth (has squalene & vitamin E), olive (antioxidant, moisturizing), prickly pear (it’s in I think every La Bella Figura product), green coffee bean, saffron (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant), arnica (calming, soothing), immortelle (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory healing) oils & rooibos absolute (powerful antioxidant, fights free radicals, anti-inflammatory, has superoxide dismutase). There’s antioxidant rich fruit oils as well like pomegranate, blackberry, acai, pink grapefruit & papaya. This one does have a few essential oils but again the scent is light (think fruity woody) and works good for my skin. I'm almost done with number two and I would purchase again. Review HERE.
Naturallogic Rarefy Flawless Complexion Oil also should be mentioned. This lightweight glossy smooth oil is soothing and gives a nice glow with antioxidant rich fruit oils and soothing blue tansy and tamanu. It has grape, hazel, hemp, jojoba, papaya, blue tansy, cranberry, raspberry, tamanu & sunflower oils. Herbal extracts like dandelion, burdock root and calendula are added. This is my favorite blue tansy oil of all time. It's not too powerful like some can be. It's also well rounded and has a great texture. Review HERE. You know honestly after writing this post I realize I could swap out the Earthwise Beauty for the Rarefy because I just happen to reach for it more (I need more soothing right now, not that I don't like firming). But I like my golden photo for this holiday week so I'll keep it so you can see how sometimes our tastes change moment to moment at times. As I can't buy AIKA right now if I had to really list my top three we'll go with VOTARY, La Bella Figura and Naturallogic.
