As you get older, each year that passes brings more visible signs of skin aging. While part of it is inevitable (you can’t, after all, stop time), some of it can be slowed with proper self-care. This means practicing healthy skin habits and using plenty of SPF, but also maintaining a proper skincare routine. You’ll need the essentials, like cleanser and moisturizer, but for a truly effective anti-aging skincare routine, we recommend reaching for a face oil, as well. An anti-aging face oil can help offset the natural loss of moisture that comes with age. This, in turn, can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and help protect your skin from further damage. It’s a win-win.
Here, we’ll introduce you to our best face oils for wrinkles and fine lines. You’ll also learn how to use these Kiehl’s favorites in your morning and nighttime skincare routines. Settle in and read on to find out why face oil is one of our anti-aging skincare staples.
Why You May Need an Anti-Aging Face Oil
Before we introduce you to our anti-aging face oils, we thought it’d be helpful to talk about why you need one in the first place. As we mentioned above, your skin changes with age—that much you already know. In addition to the obvious signs of aging (like fine lines and sagging skin), you’ll notice that your skin feels less elastic, rougher, and drier as you get older. That’s mainly because your skin produces less sebum as you age.
While excess sebum can make your skin look shiny, it also helps keep your skin smooth, plump, and hydrated. Without sufficient oil, your skin will feel dry and age-related concerns like fine lines and wrinkles will become more noticeable. Adding an anti-aging face oil to your skincare routine can help replace some of the natural moisture your skin lacks, giving it a plumper, more youthful appearance.
Our Best Face Oils For Wrinkles
Now that you know why face oil is beneficial, we can get down to the nitty-gritty. Keep reading to discover our best anti-aging face oils to add to your routine.
For Daytime:
Daily Reviving Concentrate
In the morning, we recommend reaching for Daily Reviving Concentrate. This antioxidant-rich face oil, which contains sunflower oil and ginger root essential oil, helps protect the skin from damaging free radicals. It absorbs quickly with a lightweight feel and helps correct the visible signs of fatigue for fresh, healthy-looking skin. While using a face oil can be intimidating if you’re prone to blemishes, don’t stress: This non-comedogenic formula won’t clog pores or break you out, so it’s suitable for all skin types.
For Nighttime:
Midnight Recovery Concentrate
At night, swap out your daytime oil for Midnight Recovery Concentrate which is formulated with olive-derived squalane and evening primrose oil. This Kiehl’s staple replenishes the skin at night when it’s most receptive to repairing itself from daily stressors. The hydrating, lavender-scented formula helps boost radiance and refine skin’s texture in just one night, while continued use helps smooth and firm the skin for a supple, youthful appearance. Like our daytime oil, it absorbs easily with a comfortable, lightweight feel.
How To Use Face Oil In Your Anti-Aging Routine
To get the most out of your face oils, you have to use them properly. Keep reading for a simple, four-step routine you can follow day and night (and customize as needed).
Step 1:
Cleanse and Tone
Regardless of your age or skin type, the first step in your skincare routine should always be a thorough cleanse. Washing your face helps remove the dirt, excess oil, and environmental pollutants that accumulate throughout the day and helps prepare your skin for the rest of your routine. You can use any cleanser you want, so long as it’s not overly drying. For mature skin, we love oil cleansers that dissolve impurities without stripping the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
Try Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil for an extra indulgent cleanse. The unique formula emulsifies with water to create a light, milky foam that rinses away easily, leaving your skin feeling soft and supple. Unlike a traditional cleanser, which is applied to damp skin, you’ll want to massage this lightweight oil over your dry face before adding water. Once you’re ready to rinse, do so with lukewarm or even cool water—hot water can dry out your skin, and dryness, as we already explained, can make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. If you use toner, do so after rinsing off your cleanser (find the best toner for your skin type here).
Step 2:
Apply Your Anti-Aging Face Oil
After cleansing and toning, you can go ahead and apply your treatments—namely, your serums and oils. With your face oil, you want to remember that a little goes a long way; you don’t need a palmful of oil to cover your face. In most cases, a couple of drops is more than enough.
Dispense the formula into your palms and then lightly pat the oil onto your face. If desired, you can use a skincare tool, like a jade roller, to spread the oil over your skin (or, for a super-relaxing routine, give yourself a five-minute face massage). Note that if you use a serum, you’ll want to apply that before your oil. For a detailed overview of when to apply each product in your routine, check out our article Your Skincare Routine Order: A Step-By-Step Guide.
Step 3:
Address Eye Area Concerns
While waiting for your oil to absorb, reach for an eye-area treatment, like Midnight Recovery Eye. This nighttime eye cream with evening primrose oil and butcher’s broom extract helps restore the eye area while you sleep, diminishing the appearance of dark under-eye circles and puffiness. While it is a nighttime formula, you can also use it during the day. Just apply a few drops around your eye area and gently tap with the pad of your finger, taking care not to pull at your delicate under-eye skin.
Step 4:
Finish With Moisturizer
Last but not least is moisturizer, another essential for every routine. We recommend reaching for a mild moisturizer, such as our cult-classic Ultra Facial Cream. This perennial Kiehl’s favorite (it’s our #1 best-selling moisturizer) provides both immediate and long-term hydration for soft, moisturized skin. The fan-favorite formula is suitable for all skin types and tones and can be used morning and night for visibly healthier skin over time. In the daytime, top it off with a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging—and visibly skin-aging—rays.
