The Face Oil Your Acne-Prone Skin Has Been Waiting For

I have a well-documented, contentious relationship with skin oils. Or, more specifically, with coconut oil. Unlike 99% of the face-oil-using population, I hate what coconut oil does to me. Perhaps that's because I'm the not-so-proud owner of an acneic complexion, and coconut oil, along with a host of other oils, causes the most epic explosion of pimples on my skin. At times, it's looked like my face was starting its own pimple constellation. How's that for a visual reference? So, it is always with trepidation that I try a new oil on my skin. (If it took you weeks, or even months, to recover from one bad encounter with a pore-clogging potion, you, too, would be hesitant.) My most recent test is a fitting one for pre-Valentine's Day: Shiva Rose's Rose Face Oil. Made with a blend of jojoba, rosehip, kukui nut, sea buckthorn, camelina, rose, and argan oils, it's said to help calm skin inflammation as it hydrates. I'll admit, the argan oil initially made me hesitate to put this one on my face. I've had some bad experiences with argan in the past — I'm no Josie Maran, apparently. But, after testing a few drops of Rose Face Oil on the back of my hand and marveling over the immediate softness and suppleness it imparted, I decided to throw caution to the wind and give it a go. I am so glad I did. This lovely oil has been a lifesaver for my skin this winter. I've been using it at night, yes, but I also have been mixing a drop into my new, go-to base makeup (Bare Escentuals Complexion Rescue — get on that, people, it's GOOD) in the morning, and it's performed the dual service of adding a healthy glow to my visage and protecting my skin from the drying, flake-inducing, Arctic air that's currently tormenting the Northeast. The key players here are the rosehip, sea buckthorn, and jojoba oils. Rosehip is high in vitamin C, which makes it great at reducing the appearance of post-acne hyperpigmentation. Sea buckthorn is an anti-inflammatory, so it helps calm those skin eruptions and irritations. And, finally, jojoba is, according to experts we've interviewed, similar in molecular structure to the oil that our skin itself produces, and has antiseptic qualities. All of which means it won't exacerbate existing acne and can aid your skin in fighting off the acne bacteria that might be brewing. Now, I know the pro-DIY crew is going to tell me that I could mix all of these oils at home myself for a fraction of the price. Which is 100% true, and if you are the kind of person who can take an array of oils, mix them together in just the right amounts to create a silky, fast-absorbing, non-acne-irritating potion, then I humbly bow down to you. I am not that person, which is why I will gladly fork over my hard-earned cash to someone who has already done all the futzing, experimenting, and concocting for me. So, if you've been holding off on dabbling in face oil, or if you've tried a few and been burned before, this might be the one your skin has been waiting for. Conversely, if you are the type of person who is adept at mixing their own lotions and potions, I highly recommend you pick up sea buckthorn, rosehip, and jojoba and get to it. Then, share that recipe in the comments for other like-minded DIY divas. Shiva Rose Rose Face Oil, $85, available at The Local Rose.