Burning the Midnight Oil

Perhaps it's the "all work, no play" lifestyle of recent months (understaffing is not fun). Or maybe I've been eating too many bad-for-me foods lately. Whatever the reason, my face has gone haywire. A large pimple that sprouted on my nose just before Christmas remains stubbornly inflamed, while another one is surfacing near my right eyebrow. Meanwhile, there are dry patches on my forehead and chin.

I know what goes inside the body is as important as what goes on it, so I've been upping my intake of fruits and veggies (hello, lunch salads). Instead of having that second cup of morning coffee, I sip water. At night, I drink a Chinese herbal remedy made with chrysanthemums to reduce inflammation.

But hey, taking care with what I put on my body can't hurt, right? To combat dryness and restore some sort of sanity complexion-wise, I've been dabbling with face oils. It may seem counterintuitive to apply oil while I'm battling blemished skin, but the benefits are worth it. I've noticed less dryness and overall ruddiness. Plus, I find that the formulas (high oil content, less filler than a cream or lotion) make for fewer congested pores. And if I apply an oil before bed, I definitely wake up looking a little more refreshed.

Here are three I've tried lately. If you're a fan of face oils, do you have any favourites?

• Eminence Organics Herbal Recovery Oil ($76, available at Spa Boutique) is a nice introduction for the uninitiated. Olive and sesame oils smooth lines and hydrate, while sage leaf extract, tee tree oil, ylang ylang, and clary sage oil calm inflammation and puffiness and fight bacteria. Consider it the jack-of-all-trades face oil. It absorbs quickly and doesn't feel oily, which makes it perfect for day wear.
• Because Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate ($48) is clear and not tinted like other oils, it's the only one I trust around my white Marimekko bedsheets. Aside from my hue preference (or lack thereof), Midnight Recovery Concentrate does a pretty decent job of hydrating dry patches and subduing fine lines while I snooze. Talk about beauty sleep.
• Pai Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil ($34.92) is ideal for repairing scars, sun damage, and stretch marks on the face or body. If you're looking for an anti-aging retinol product for sensitive skin, this is it: The trans-retinoic acid in the formula (derived from rosehips) converts to vitamin A on contact and doesn't irritate. The only downside: The formula's orange tint means you have to be very careful about letting it all absorb before getting dressed or going to bed.

P.S. Another way to keep blemishes at bay: clean makeup brushes. Win brush cleaner, a new set of makeup brushes, and more from Mary Kay.