IF YOU’VE jumped on the coconut oil for skin and haircare bandwagon – along with the rest of the world – be careful.
If you have oily skin or are prone to breakouts, coconut oil, despite its myriad benefits, can make things worse.
Instead, invest in the best non comedogenic oils that still have moisturising, skin softening and anti-microbial properties – but won’t leave your skin bumpy or your pores clogged.
Non comedogenic oils can have many uses in your beauty routine: they can cleanse the skin, remove makeup, act as a moisturiser and leave hair looking soft and shiny.
There’s actually a rating scale of oils based on how likely they are to cause a breakout – oils with a rating of 0, 1 or 2 probably won’t clog pores.
While those rated 3-5 are very likely to bring on acne spots if you have oily skin and use them (this list breaks down the comedogenic rating of all oils).
Your one-stop shop for pure, non comedogenic oils at bargain prices is The Ordinary, where you can find pure, cold-pressed rosehip seed oil, marula oil and argan oil, all for under £10.
On the designer end of the spectrum, Sunday Riley is known for its oil formulations that combat skin imbalances and fight ageing – you’ll shell out around £30 for one of her wonder oils like U.F.O., designed for acne-prone skin.
As for when to apply your non comedogenic facial oil?
Use it instead of a cream – or apply it after your lightweight moisturiser to help seal those hydrating benefits in.
This antibacterial oil can help reduce inflammation and redness as well as moisturising the skin since it’s rich in fatty acids and vitamin E.
Use it on dryer skin or on the body (its comedogenic rating is between 1-2 so it shouldn’t cause pores to clog).
It also works on cuts and grazes, as an insect repellent and post-insect bite balm.
Naissance is a brilliant brand that fans can’t get enough of – just note that Neem oil does have a pungent smell that not everyone can get on board with.
Tea tree oil is more than a non comedogenic oil: the antimicrobial is well-known as an ally of acne sufferers, and this vegan version from The Body Shop is a fan favourite.
As one reviewer, who calls the product ‘a magic potion,” writes:
‘I tried every spot treatment you could think of, Ice, Turmeric Face Masks, Spot Cream (Acnecide), Aloe Vera Gel, SudoCrem, Toothpaste, etc.’
‘Nothing was working and if anything it seemed like they were getting worse.
‘After 2/3 applications the spots had reduced in size, redness and had a much better overall appearance.’
Contrary to what you may have heard, an oil-based cleanser can actually be helpful to those with oily skin.
It can restore moisture where you need it, you just need to make sure it contains the right oils (this cleanser has borage, sunflower, bilberry and cucumber oils).
It gets rave reviews, including from people with oily skin: the general consensus is that it’s absolutely brilliant.
As one reviewer writes:
‘I’ve been using this cleanser for a few months now and I love how well it works.
‘As someone with combination skin, I was hesitant at first to use this on the oily parts of my face.’
‘But it somehow manages to add moisture to dry areas and cleanse away excess oil from oily areas, and it removes the makeup the makeup wipes miss.’
This hero product contains non comedogenic oils like antibacterial tea tree and black cumin, as well as salicylic acid to help prevent breakouts.
It also exfoliates, diminishes dark spots and calms any redness while softening skin.
Perfect for helping to give skin that coveted dewy complexion, the reviews – especially from oily skin sufferers – say it all:
With a low comedogenic rating of 1, rosehip oil is a great bathroom cupboard mainstay for those with acne-prone skin.
Rich in linoleic acid, linolenic acid and pro-vitamin A, rosehip oil has been shown to reduce signs of ageing and to help minimise scars.
According to one fan:
‘This is the second time i’ve purchased simply because it is an amazing product for such a great price.’
Used by Moroccans for centuries, argan oil has been hailed as “liquid gold,” known for its incredible restorative properties for hair and skin.
It’s also non-comedogenic, so any skin type can use it.
This pure argan oil from Dr Organic contains eight essential fatty acids and high levels of vitamin E.
While shea butter is typically very rich, shea oil surprisingly has a comedogenic rating of 0.
So it’s suitable for acne-prone skin and this oil is a must for nourishing skin, especially in dry, cold weather.
This all-natural, well-priced cleanser and makeup remover contains jojoba, argan and rosehip oils.
All of those are non comedogenic, and Face Theory combines it with vitamin E, to cleanse skin and leave it looking glowing.
Enjoyed our roundup of the best non comedogenic oils? If argan oil is also on your radar, be sure to look at our cheap Morrocanoil roundup.
For more incredible beauty recommendations, head over to our dedicated Sun Selects Beauty page. Trust us – you won’t regret it.
We’re all about helping you find the best products at the best prices, so be sure to check out more of Sun Selects’ recommendations.
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