WINTER 2026 GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026

The 10 Best Face Oils for Winter 2026

When cold air and indoor heating leave skin tight and flaky, a good face oil is the fastest way back to comfort. We trialled more than 30 clean oils through a Gold Coast winter and these ten kept skin soft, calm and glowing.

Curated by Erin Norden, Owner of Clean Beauty
Independently tested · Updated for winter 2026

Clean ingredient verifiedWinter-tested for 6+ weeksDry-skin approvedCruelty-free

Jump to top picks Shop all face oils

EDITOR'S #1 PICK

Tested for 6 weeks of winter

Featured brand Living Libations

4.9 / 5 editor score

AT A GLANCE

Skip ahead — our 10 winter face oils

BEST OVERALLBest Skin Ever - SeabuckthornLiving Libations$48.00

Josh Rosebrook Active Infusion Oil Australian Stockist

BEST FOR VERY DRY SKINActive Infusion OilJosh Rosebrook$139.00

BEST MULTITASKERTHE SUPER COUPLE ultra luxe face oil serumMaya Chia$142.00

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BEST FOR SENSITIVE SKINPure JojobaMV Skintherapy$49.00

BEST ROSEHIPRosehip OilOrganic Spa$60.00

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BEST FOR GLOWDayglow Face OilOsea International$95.00

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BEST UNDER $50Glory Oil 30mlEco Tan$49.95

Vanessa Megan NEO (Nature's Elixir Oil) 12 Hour Miracle Oil

BEST AUSTRALIAN-MADENEO (Nature's Elixir Oil) 12 Hour Miracle OilVanessa Megan$89.95

BEST FOR MATURE SKINRoyal Rose CoQ10 SerumLiving Libations$136.00

BEST SPLURGEholi ( oil ) refining ageless face serumAgent Nateur$234.00

The 10 best face oils for winter, reviewed

Each oil below was pressed into damp skin morning or night for at least four weeks of cold, dry weather. We rated absorption, finish under makeup, scent and how skin felt by mid-afternoon.

BEST OVERALL

Best Skin Ever - Seabuckthorn

Living Libations

$48.00

Texture Lightweight facial oil
Finish Soft, non-greasy
Scent Earthy sea buckthorn & herbs
Best for Dry, dull, winter-stressed skin

The cult oil our whole team kept stealing. Living Libations' Best Skin Ever – Seabuckthorn is a cleanse-and-moisturise blend of sea buckthorn, jojoba and essential oils that leaves winter skin soft and cushioned without a greasy film. A few drops on damp skin is all it takes.

Doubles as a gentle cleanser and moisturiser
Sea buckthorn floods dry skin with omegas
A little goes a very long way
Calms winter dullness fast

Consider: Herbal scent is distinctive – sample if unsure · Deep amber colour (rinses clean)

Shop Living Libations

BEST FOR VERY DRY SKIN

Active Infusion Oil

Josh Rosebrook

$139.00

Texture Rich botanical oil
Finish Deeply nourished
Scent Green, herbal
Best for Very dry, depleted winter skin

When skin is genuinely parched, Josh Rosebrook's Active Infusion Oil is the rescue. Herbs are slow-infused into a nutrient-dense base, so it feels rich but sinks in beautifully – skin looks replenished and less flaky within a couple of nights.

Deeply nourishing for depleted skin
Herbal-infused, antioxidant-rich base
Sinks in without sitting on top
A pump lasts for months

Consider: Richer finish – use less in the morning

Shop Josh Rosebrook

BEST MULTITASKER

THE SUPER COUPLE ultra luxe face oil serum

Maya Chia

$142.00

Texture Silky serum-oil
Finish Glowy, plumped
Scent Subtle, clean
Best for Firmness plus hydration

Half serum, half oil, all glow. Maya Chia's The Super Couple pairs astaxanthin with supercritical chia for a silky drop that hydrates, firms and brightens in one step – ideal when winter skin needs everything at once.

Firms and hydrates in a single step
Silky, fast-absorbing serum-oil
Visible glow and bounce
Layers well under makeup

Consider: A treat-yourself price point

Shop Maya Chia

BEST FOR SENSITIVE SKIN

Pure Jojoba

MV Skintherapy

$49.00

Texture Light golden oil
Finish Balanced, comfortable
Scent Virtually none
Best for Sensitive, reactive or blemish-prone skin

For reactive or breakout-prone skin that panics at fragrance, MV Skintherapy's Pure Jojoba is the safe bet. Jojoba mimics skin's own sebum, so it balances rather than clogs – a quiet hero for winter sensitivity, and brilliant value too.

Single-ingredient, fragrance-free
Balances oil and won't clog pores
Beautiful value at $49
Great for mixing with other products

Consider: Very simple – layer under a cream for extra richness

Shop MV Skintherapy

BEST ROSEHIP

Rosehip Oil

Organic Spa

$60.00

Texture Fast-absorbing oil
Finish Soft, semi-matte
Scent Mild, natural
Best for Tone, texture and everyday hydration

A winter classic done well. Organic Spa's cold-pressed Rosehip Oil is quick to absorb and rich in the vitamin A and essential fatty acids that help fade last summer's marks and even out tone while it hydrates.

Helps soften scarring and uneven tone
Fast-absorbing, no greasy wait
Certified organic and cold-pressed
Everyday value

Consider: Rosehip oxidises – use within 6 months of opening

Shop Organic Spa

BEST FOR GLOW

Dayglow Face Oil

Osea International

$95.00

Texture Lightweight face oil
Finish Luminous, dewy
Scent Fresh citrus-floral
Best for Dull, tired winter skin

Grey-sky skin, meet your fix. Osea's Dayglow Face Oil blends algae with vitamin C for a lightweight drop that leaves skin luminous (never shimmery) and works as beautifully over moisturiser as it does under makeup.

Instant lit-from-within radiance
Lightweight – layers under makeup
Vitamin C brightens winter dullness
Sustainably sourced seaweed

Consider: Glow-focused – pair with a richer cream for very dry skin

Shop Osea International

BEST UNDER $50

Glory Oil 30ml

Eco Tan

$49.95

Texture Light facial oil
Finish Fresh, dewy
Scent Light, natural
Best for Budget-friendly daily glow

Proof a great face oil needn't cost a fortune. Eco Tan's Australian-made Glory Oil combines rosehip and jojoba for a light, dewy finish that suits almost everyone – an easy daily oil at a friendly price.

Genuine value at under $50
Light, dewy, everyday finish
Australian-made and certified
Great starter face oil

Consider: Lighter – layer for very dry skin

Shop Eco Tan

BEST AUSTRALIAN-MADE

NEO (Nature's Elixir Oil) 12 Hour Miracle Oil

Vanessa Megan

$89.95

Texture Nourishing facial oil
Finish Replenished, supple
Scent Rose-geranium botanical
Best for Overnight repair and Aussie-made lovers

Vanessa Megan's NEO 12 Hour Miracle Oil is a Melbourne-made powerhouse of native and botanical oils designed for long-lasting overnight repair. Skin wakes up noticeably softer and more resilient after a winter of heater-dry air.

Long-wearing overnight nourishment
Native Australian botanical oils
Made in Australia
Skin feels resilient by morning

Consider: Botanical scent is present – lovely, but noticeable

Shop Vanessa Megan

BEST FOR MATURE SKIN

Royal Rose CoQ10 Serum

Living Libations

$136.00

Texture Precious serum-oil
Finish Firm, radiant
Scent True rose
Best for Mature skin and fine, dry lines

A little luxury for skin that wants firming as well as moisture. Living Libations' Royal Rose CoQ10 Serum combines rose otto with CoQ10 to support elasticity and radiance – the drop we reached for on the driest, dullest mornings.

CoQ10 supports firmness and glow
Precious rose otto for radiance
A tiny amount covers the face
Feels genuinely special

Consider: Investment price – but it lasts

Shop Living Libations

BEST SPLURGE

holi ( oil ) refining ageless face serum

Agent Nateur

$234.00

Texture Luxe serum-oil
Finish Refined, radiant
Scent Subtle nutty botanical
Best for An investment winter glow

The showstopper. Agent Nateur's holi (oil) layers argan, pomegranate and pumpkin-seed oils into a refined serum-oil that leaves skin impossibly smooth and radiant. If you want to invest in one winter glow, this is it.

Refines texture and boosts radiance
Beautiful, weightless slip
Skin looks smoother over time
A genuine hero-product finish

Consider: Premium price point

Shop Agent Nateur

OUR METHODOLOGY

How we picked these face oils

Three filters every oil had to clear before earning a spot on this list.

Clean ingredient screen

Every oil is reviewed for synthetic fragrance, fillers and rancidity-prone bases before it earns a place on our shelves.

Real winter testing

Pressed into damp skin daily through July and August, then re-checked on dry cheeks and around the nose at the eight-hour mark.

Editor + customer scores

Editorial verdicts combined with verified Clean Beauty Market customer reviews — only oils with a 4.5★ baseline make the cut.

COMPARE EVERY PICK

All ten face oils, side by side

Lotion	Best for	Price	Shop
Best Skin Ever - SeabuckthornLiving Libations	Dry, dull, winter-stressed skin	$48.00	Shop
Active Infusion OilJosh Rosebrook	Very dry, depleted winter skin	$139.00	Shop
THE SUPER COUPLE ultra luxe face oil serumMaya Chia	Firmness plus hydration	$142.00	Shop
Pure JojobaMV Skintherapy	Sensitive, reactive or blemish-prone skin	$49.00	Shop
Rosehip OilOrganic Spa	Tone, texture and everyday hydration	$60.00	Shop
Dayglow Face OilOsea International	Dull, tired winter skin	$95.00	Shop
Glory Oil 30mlEco Tan	Budget-friendly daily glow	$49.95	Shop
NEO (Nature's Elixir Oil) 12 Hour Miracle OilVanessa Megan	Overnight repair and Aussie-made lovers	$89.95	Shop
Royal Rose CoQ10 SerumLiving Libations	Mature skin and fine, dry lines	$136.00	Shop
holi ( oil ) refining ageless face serumAgent Nateur	An investment winter glow	$234.00	Shop

WINTER FACE OIL FAQ

Your winter face oil questions, answered

How is a face oil different from a moisturiser?

A moisturiser blends water and oil to hydrate and seal in one step. A pure face oil has no water – it works by locking in the moisture already on your skin and reinforcing the lipid barrier. In winter we love using both: hydrate with a serum or damp skin first, then press an oil on top to stop that water evaporating in dry, heated air.

Will a face oil break me out?

The right oil usually won't. Non-comedogenic options like jojoba (pick #4) actually help balance oil production. If you're blemish-prone, start with jojoba or rosehip, use two to three drops at night, and always apply to clean, slightly damp skin. Patch-test any new oil on the jaw for a few days first.

How many drops should I use, and when?

Two to four drops is plenty for the whole face. Warm them between your palms and press – don't rub – into damp skin as the last step of your routine (after serum, before or instead of SPF in the day). At night, oil goes on last to seal everything in.

Which oil is best for sensitive winter skin?

Reach for MV Pure Jojoba (#4) – it's a single, fragrance-free ingredient that rarely upsets reactive skin. Organic Spa Rosehip (#5) is another gentle, fragrance-light option. Avoid heavily scented blends if your skin is currently compromised or flaking.

Are all of these clean and cruelty-free?

Yes. Every brand we stock at Clean Beauty Market is independently reviewed against our standards: no synthetic fragrance, no mineral oils, no hormone disruptors, and never tested on animals. Many are certified organic and several are made here in Australia.

How did you test these face oils?

Our editors used each oil daily for a minimum of four weeks through July and August, on dry cheeks, flaky noses and around the eyes. We rated absorption, finish under makeup, scent and how skin felt eight hours later, then cross-checked against verified customer reviews – only oils with a 4.5★ baseline made the final cut.

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Soft, glowing skin all winter long.

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