Part of the MAIA Guide to Natural Skincare series.
Facial oil is one of those products people either swear by or actively avoid because they're worried it'll make oily skin worse or clog pores. The truth is more specific than that: the right oil for your skin depends entirely on what your skin is already doing. Here's how to pick, based on what's actually in each MAIA oil rather than marketing claims.
If your skin is dry or dull
Almond Oil
Almond oil's emollient quality is built for skin that's lost moisture and shine. It intensively nourishes while improving texture and tone, which makes it the most straightforward pick if your skin feels tight, flaky, or lackluster.
Shop Almond Oil (from ₹700) →If your skin is oily or combination
Jojoba Oil
This is the one oil on the list explicitly formulated to absorb quickly without blocking pores. If you've avoided facial oil because you're worried about breakouts, jojoba is the safest place to start — it hydrates without leaving a heavy film.
Shop Jojoba Oil (₹1,200) →If your skin reacts to stress
Lavender Oil
Some skin flares up when you're stressed or under-slept before it flares up from anything topical. Lavender's calming, sleep-supporting properties address that root cause, while still leaving skin feeling silky when used as a light facial massage oil.
Shop Lavender Oil (from ₹700) →If you want radiance and anti-dullness
Luminous Glow Face/Body Oil
This is MAIA's only oil built specifically as a face treatment. A blend of sesame, jojoba, almond, and lavender oils with manjistha root and turmeric extract, it's designed to tighten, tone, and boost natural luminosity while shielding skin from damage and redness.
Shop Luminous Glow (₹750) →If you're not sure where to start
Coconut Oil
The most versatile entry point — it works as a face oil, a makeup remover, a hair treatment, and a body moisturiser. If you want to try facial oiling without committing to five different bottles, this is the one to keep on your shelf.
Shop Coconut Oil (from ₹700) →How to Actually Use a Facial Oil
- Apply to damp skin. Oil seals in water rather than replacing it, so it works best right after cleansing or misting, not on completely dry skin.
- A little goes a long way. 3–4 drops warmed between your palms is enough for the whole face — more just sits on the surface.
- Layer it last, or first if you're double-cleansing. As a night treatment, apply after your regular moisturiser to lock everything in. As a makeup remover, it goes first, before your cleanser.
- Patch-test anything with turmeric or botanical extracts — Luminous Glow included — on your inner arm 24 hours before first facial use.
Still unsure? Start with Jojoba if you've never used a facial oil before — it's the least likely to feel heavy or cause a reaction, and it works as a base to layer other treatments over.
The Takeaway
Facial oil isn't one product with one universal rule — it's a category, and the right pick depends on whether your skin needs moisture, oil control, calm, or radiance right now. Start with the one that matches your most persistent concern rather than the one with the prettiest bottle.
Explore MAIA's full oil range and find your match.
Shop MAIA Oils