Best-Kept Secret Is Out

Oils are back under the spotlight and they deserve to stay there. Here’s everything you need to know about facial and body oils, the hippest addition to beauty and skincare right now.

- Jayeeta Mazumder

Winter vacations meant getting all toasty on grandma’s sunny terrace, right after a thorough oil massage from head to toe. There was no escape to this pre-shower routine. For a childhood immersed in extra haircare and skincare, I turned out pretty lazy. Well, one must remember, though, that a persistent grandma is mandatory to staying on top of all pampering routines. Facial and body oils may be having a major moment right now, but the whole hullabaloo around it all takes me right back to my childhood. And brings up a tinge of regret for not following through.

The good thing is that there is still time. If you have been erroneously told to drop face and body oils from your skincare regimen for fear of breakouts (oh, the horror of ugly pimples!), slap that fear right away. A good oil will never leave your skin clogged, greasy and on the verge of breakouts. Once you’ve accepted that, you’re good to start on your know-how of oils that are meant to nourish the face and the body.

But before you embark on the tough part—choosing the right oil—it’s imperative to know your skin type. A dermatologist visit, therefore, is in order. The primary thing to remember is that a face oil and a body oil are not the same. And while your grandmas might have slathered warm olive/almond/coconut/mustard (yes, mustard!) oil when you were young, your skin type and requirements change as you age.

The difference between body and facial oils