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InStyle / Alli Waataja
From restoring moisture to creating a perfectly primed makeup base, face oils have a lot to offer. This is especially true if your skin tends to be dry or dehydrated, as a primary function of face oil is to moisturize the skin and create a barrier to prevent water loss, says board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Julie Russak. The magic of face oil extends even beyond the skin’s surface, which is why we consulted six skin experts to learn more about how to choose the best option for your skincare concerns and goals. Spoiler alert: There’s a face oil for just about everything.
Best Overall
Pai Skincare Rosehip BioRegenerate
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Amazon
What We Love: This facial oil uses a highly concentrated blend of both rosehip fruit and seed oil and was designed for all skin types.
What We Don’t Love: It can feel a bit heavy.
Rosehip oil is one of the most common oils used in face oil formulations. It’s particularly rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants, making it beneficial for everything from reducing inflammation and protecting from free radical damage to brightening pigmentation and softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
“Rosehip seed oil is a natural source of essential fatty acids, including linoleic acid and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). These fatty acids are essential for maintaining the skin's barrier function, which helps to protect the skin from moisture loss and environmental damage,” explains Dr. Russak.
What sets Pai’s Rosehip BioRegenerate Universal Face Oil apart — and keeps it winning awards — is the unique non-cold pressed extraction process, which uses the entire rosehip fruit, not just the seeds. Additionally, rosehip oil is renowned for its compatibility with all skin types, even sensitive and acne-prone. Esthetician Lara Kaiser is just one of many fans, using it like serum on damp skin or added to moisturizer. Additionally, “this one is good for people who are very dry but also breaking out as it's slightly more astringent and less comedogenic than some other oils. It's a bestseller for a reason!”
Active Ingredients: Rosehip seed oil, rosehip fruit extract, vitamin E, rosemary extract | Benefits: Regenerating, brightening, softening, nourishing | Size: 1 oz
Best Budget
The Ordinary Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
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Ulta
What We Love: It has only one ingredient and is very affordable for a facial oil.
What We Don’t Love: It’s completely unrefined and can be smelly.
As we mentioned above, rosehip oil is very popular in the world of face oils. This no-frills option from The Ordinary is only a fraction of the cost of our top pick from Pai, making it a great option for anyone interested in exploring the benefits of rosehip oil without the price tag. This oil is formulated using the more common cold-pressed method and is entirely organic and unrefined, which is terrific for the purists among us, although some may find the natural smell a bit off-putting.
Active Ingredients: Organic cold-pressed rose hip seed oil | Benefits: Hydrates, increases radiance, softens | Size: 1 oz
Best Drugstore
Burt's Bees Facial Oil with Rosehip Seed Extract
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Walmart
What We Love: It has a concentrated blend of oils that are rich in fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants.
What We Don’t Love: It’s only available in one small size.
Face oils tend to be on the pricey side of skincare products — particularly those that contain a blend of oils — making this affordable drugstore option a unique find. In addition to fan-favorite rosehip oil, it also has healing and nourishing jojoba oil and evening primrose oil, which are rich in fatty acids and provide additional anti-inflammatory and regenerative benefits. As a final bonus, the built-in dropper makes it especially user-friendly to apply. Dr. Russak recommends applying in the morning under sunscreen to add an extra layer of protection from environmental damage.
Active Ingredients: Rosehip, evening primrose, and jojoba oils | Benefits: Nourishing, hydrating, anti-aging | Size: 0.5 oz
Best Splurge
UMA Absolute Anti-Aging Face Oil
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Amazon
What We Love: This oil is rooted in Ayurvedic tradition, featuring a unique blend of nutrient-rich oils. The packaging is also beautiful and reflects a luxury face oil.
What We Don’t Love: The frankincense essential oil scent may be overpowering for some.
If you’re after a truly sensorial face oil experience, look no further than UMA’s Absolute Anti-Aging Face Oil. Formulated in a base of ultra-nourishing pomegranate oil, the luxe blend also contains frankincense oil, juniper berry oil and rose oil, which together create a full-bodied, earthy aroma that Kaiser tells us is “absolutely amazing, botanical and completely unique.”
True to the name, the formula softens, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and leaves the skin looking brighter, balanced and revitalized. It also can be worn under makeup for an ethereal glow.
Active Ingredients: Frankincense, juniper berry, rose, geranium, and pomegranate oils | Benefits: Anti-aging, softening, brightening, hydrating, firming | Size: 1 oz
Best for Dry Sensitive Skin
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Oat & Hemp Seed Dry Oil
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Amazon
What We Love: It calms and soothes sensitive, reactive skin.
What We Don’t Love: The dry oil absorbs quickly and you’ll likely want to put moisturizer on top.
Specifically formulated for sensitive, irritated, red and reactive skin, this facial oil relies on clinically proven colloidal oats, arnica and hemp-derived oil to soothe and de-stress skin. “Oat oil is a natural emollient that helps to hydrate the skin, while hemp seed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to reduce inflammation and improve skin barrier function,” says Dr. Russak.
Unlike many facial oils for dry skin, this product is considered a “dry oil” so it quickly absorbs, leaves no residue and can be easily layered. The formula also contains jojoba oil, which double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael Somenek recommends for its lightweight, non-greasy feel.
Active Ingredients: Cannabis sativa seed oil, colloidal oatmeal | Benefits: Calming, soothing, repairing | Size: 1 oz
Best for Dry Skin Before Makeup
French Farmacie Sérum Radiant
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French Farmacie
What We Love: Added beta-carotene gives the skin a naturally glowy tint.
What We Don’t Love: The recycled glass packaging is heavy.
This award-winning facial oil has become a cult favorite among makeup artists to prep the skin of celebrity clients. Esthetician and founder of Ställe Studios, Elizabeth Hand, credits the naturally vibrant tint of beta-carotene, which gives the skin an immediate glow.
“It’s loaded with some of the best plant-powered ingredients that are rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals,” she says, elaborating that although it’s great under makeup, it can also be easily worn on its own or layered over moisturizer for extra hydration. “The founder has a medical background and worked with Harvard-trained chemists to develop a next level advanced formula that gives results while staying true to the French philosophy of skin minimalism.”
Active Ingredients: Rosehip, camellia seed, and sea buckthorn oils, black cumin | Benefits: Radiance boosting, regenerative, balancing, anti-inflammatory | Size: 1 oz
Best for Dry Skin and Wrinkles
Omorovicza Miracle Facial Oil
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Nordstrom
What We Love: It uses well-tolerated bakuchiol to target fine lines and wrinkles.
What We Don’t Love: We want to use it all the time.
One of esthetician Ali Tobia’s favorite face oils for dry skin, this luxurious and nourishing oil features bakuchiol, a plant-powered anti-aging hero, often called a “natural retinol alternative” to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. “It also contains sea buckthorn oil, rosehip oil, and sweet almond oil that can hydrate, brighten, and soothe dry skin,” she says.
The lightweight texture skins in quickly, acting like a serum but feeling like a cushiony moisturizer. “You can use it both in the morning and at night, alone or with your moisturizer, for a radiant and healthy complexion,” she says. Certainly sounds like a miracle to us.
Active Ingredients: Bakuchiol, sweet almond, rosehip, and sea buckthorn oils | Benefits: Hydrating, repairing, anti-aging | Size: 1 oz
Best for Dry Acne-Prone Skin
MARA Algae + Moringa Universal Hydrating Face Oil
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Sephora
What We Love: This oil has antimicrobial ingredients to combat acne.
What We Don’t Love: It might not be sufficient as a one-and-done acne product.
Despite what we learned as teenagers, everyone, even those with the driest skin, can develop acne. Face oils with pimple-fighting ingredients are a great option for dry skin types to combat congestion without risk of drying out or stripping the skin. This oil contains nourishing moringa oil, brightening algae and ultra-hydrating watermelon seed oil. “The blend is also antimicrobial,” says Kaiser. “This makes it ideal for dry-skinned adult acne sufferers.”
Active Ingredients: Proprietary algae blend, moringa seed, sunflower, grapeseed, watermelon seed, and bitter orange peel oils | Benefits: Hydrating, plumping, anti-aging, anti-acne | Size: 1.18 oz
Best for Dry Skin and Anti-Aging
Sunday Riley Juno Antioxidant + Superfood Face Oil
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Amazon
What We Love: It’s formulated in small quantities for freshest ingredients.
What We Don’t Love: It contains just 100 percent plant oils and no preservatives, so needs to be used quickly.
Free radicals are one of the leading causes of aging — these unstable molecules steal electrons from healthy skin cells, causing the breakdown of collagen and elastin, increased inflammation and more. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals and this multi-oil blend contains a powerful combination of them, as well as being full of omegas and vitamins. “The high antioxidant content makes this oil a great option for those in an urban environment,” advises Kaiser.
Active Ingredients: Blackberry seed, blueberry seed, red raspberry seed, and wild carrot seed oils, black cumin | Benefits: Anti-aging, nourishing, firming, hydrating | Size: 1.18 oz
Best for Very Dry Skin
REN Clean Skincare Face Oil
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Sephora
What We Love: This oil is clinically proven to strengthen the skin barrier and reduce signs of sensitivity in seven days.
What We Don’t Love: It absorbs quickly and doesn’t have a particularly glowy finish.
By nature of their lipid-rich composition, all face oil supports the skin barrier, which is full of natural oils and lipids produced by the skin. “These lipids play a crucial role in maintaining the skin's protective barrier function. When the skin lacks sufficient lipids, it can become dry, flaky, and prone to moisture loss. Applying face oil helps to supplement the skin's natural oils, reinforcing the barrier function and preventing transepidermal water loss,” explains Dr. Russak.
This facial oil takes barrier support and replenishment to the next level and even has the clinical results to back it up. The unique blend contains a number of soothing oils such as camellia japonica seed oil and bisabolol, which comes from the German chamomile plant, which work to reduce redness and strengthen the skin barrier in both the immediate and long term.
Active Ingredients: Camellia japonica seed, inca inchi, and meadowfoam seed oils | Benefits: Calming, restoring, redness-reducing | Size: 1 oz
Best for Glowing Skin
Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil
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Sephora
What We Love: Contains rare antioxidant-rich super berries to neutralize free radicals and protect the skin.
What We Don’t Love: It’s not as occlusive as some oils.
You may not have ever heard of maqui, but it’s actually the most antioxidant-dense fruit in the world, according to the brand. Together with more familiar antioxidants superfruits, like açai and goji, “these ingredients help to hydrate the skin, protect it from free radical damage, and improve skin radiance,” Dr. Russak explains.
Thanks to a base of bio-identical squalane oil, it absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving a glowy finish that’s ready for makeup but can totally stand on its own. Alternatively, add a few drops to your moisturizer to revive your complexion overnight.
Active Ingredients: Squalane, prickly pear, goji, maqui and açai extracts, and jojoba, orange peel and sunflower oils | Benefits: Hydrating, radiance-boosting, anti-aging | Size: 1 oz
Best Overnight
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Face Oil
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Kiehl's
What We Love: This oil is specially formulated to rejuvenate skin overnight.
What We Don’t Love: Some people may be irritated by or dislike the smell of lavender essential oil.
We’re all aware of the importance of a good night’s sleep, especially for your skin, which works overtime to repair itself while you’re dreaming. The formulators at Kiehl’s also know that a full eight hours isn’t always realistic. This overnight face oil is designed to counteract our poor sleep habits, using a 99.4 percent natural blend of botanical extracts to revive and restore the skin. The blend includes soothing lavender essential oil to calm the senses and the skin, as well as ultra-healing evening primrose oil. Unlike many face oils, this one comes in four sizes, including travel size which is especially convenient for jet lag.
Active Ingredients: Evening primrose, and lavender essential oils, squalane | Benefits: Anti-aging, rejuvenating, moisturizing | Size: 1 oz
Best Dermatologist-Recommended
Environ Vita-Antioxidant Hydrating Oil Capsules
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Joanna Czech
What We Love: These single-serving oil capsules can be used as a savior for seasonal dry skin during the winter months, or as a pre-event treatment year-round.
What We Don’t Love: You’ll go through them quickly if used daily.
Among all the oils she’s tried, Environ’s Hydrating Oil Capsules are at the top of Kaiser’s list (and mine, too!) “The single-serving capsules are incredible healing,” she explains, due to the inclusion of a small amount of regenerative retinol, nutrient-rich essential vitamins and powerful antioxidants in one concentrated burst.
If you're watching your wallet, save these capsules for a special evening out where you know you'll be taking photos or during a seasonal skin crisis, if say, your skin is having trouble readjusting to the colder winter temperatures. “These are more of a treatment or before an event," says Kaiser. "Use them as a weekly or biweekly booster, especially when your skin barrier is compromised.” The oil is incredibly silky and you’ll wake up looking revitalized and plump.
Active Ingredients: Retinol, vitamins A, C, and E, green tea extract | Benefits: Healing, moisturizing, anti-aging | Size: 30 capsules
Best Multi-Use
Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil
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Le Prunier
What We Love: This award-winning oil contains 100 percent plum oil from the founder’s fourth-generation family farm in California.
What We Don’t Love: The natural fragrance lingers which some may dislike.
Not only does this single-ingredient facial oil smell incredible, but its use is not limited to the face. Use a few drops to hydrate dry hair, nourish cracked hands or up the healing powers of your body moisturizer. According to Dr. Russak, plum kernel oil is a natural source of vitamin E and other antioxidants that “can help to protect the skin from free radical damage.”
She adds that “plum kernel oil also contains oleic acid, which is a fatty acid that helps to hydrate and nourish the skin.” The plum kernel oil used by this brand is exceptionally pure, being grown, harvested and cold-pressed right on site at their family’s fourth-generation farm in California.
Active Ingredients: Organic plum seed oil | Benefits: Restoring, brightening, moisturizing, healing | Size: 1 oz
Best with Retinol
StriVectin Night Oil
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Amazon
What We Love: It’s formulated with three types of advanced retinol technologies.
What We Don’t Love: Not everyone can tolerate using retinoids nightly.
Among its many benefits, “retinol can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture, and boost collagen production,” says Dr. Russak. These benefits are why retinoids are considered the gold standard for anti-aging, but they often come with irritation, which this face oil works to address. Because of its slower penetration, using retinol in an oil base can lessen sensitivity — in this case, by an astounding 100 percent, as proven in a four-week clinical study.
In fact, this advanced formula uses three different types of retinol technologies, as well as the brand’s patented NIA-114 technology to minimize irritation. The oil base of squalane and chia seed oil further soothes the barrier and absorbs quickly into skin. If you’re still worried about sensitivity, add a few drops to your moisturizer or alternate nightly with a non-retinol face oil.
Active Ingredients: Biomimetic retinol, squalane, chia seed oil | Benefits: Anti-aging, nourishing, evens skin tone | Size: 1 oz
Best Solid
Kate McLeod Face Stone Moisturizer
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Kate McLeod
What We Love: You can use the solid oil moisturizing stone as a face massage tool while applying. It’s also refillable!
What We Don’t Love: It can melt if not stored properly.
A solid face oil may sound a bit counterintuitive, but this highly concentrated waterless stone melts into oil on contact with skin, allowing it to easily spread. In some ways, the stone is easier to apply than a traditional face oil and certainly more of an experience — use the stone as a face massage tool to depuff and sculpt while intensely nourishing and hydrating the skin. Containing skin-tone evening and redness-reducing tamanu oil and blue tansy oil, the stone has a subtle earthy scent and can even be used as a glowy makeup primer. The solid stone is also environmentally and wallet-friendly, with a single stone lasting three to six months.
Active Ingredients: Tamanu oil, blue tansy, kokum butter | Benefits: Balancing, hydrating, redness reducing, brightening | Size: 1.4 oz
What To Keep In Mind
Your Skin Type
All of our experts emphasized the importance of knowing your skin type in order to determine the best face oil for you. That being said, Kaiser confirms that all skin types can use face oil, but you may use it differently or look for different formulations depending on what kind of skin you have. Generally speaking, lighter oils work best for oily skin, while dry skin benefits from rich, occlusive oils that are better at trapping moisture.
“If you have dry skin, lean in to face oil. Dry skin doesn't make as much sebum, so you can use face oils to help replace it,” says Kaiser, who adds that products containing essential oils can be irritating for those with sensitive or reactive skin. She recommends always doing a patch test on a small section of skin first before going all-in.
In addition to skin type, the time of year may impact your decision to use face oil based on what your skin needs. “Dry and harsh weather might warrant the application of face oils more frequently, while hot and humid times may not be the best for heavy oil application,” explains Dr. Russak.
Ingredients
Ingredients are what really sets face oils apart from one another, as they can be blended to address any number of concerns. Ingredients can be anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, brightening, soothing, healing, provide antioxidant protection and more.
Common oils for dry skin include rosehip, marula, grape seed, olive and almond. “Rosehip oil is rich in vitamin A and C and can help with fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation,” says Tobia.
Dr. Russak also advises seeking oils that contain natural oils and lipids similar to those produced by the skin to reinforce the protective barrier, like jojoba, marula and evening primrose oil. “Essential fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 help improve hydration and overall skin health,” she says.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Loretta Ciraldo suggests using an antioxidant infused face oil, especially “if you spend a lot of time in the sun or in an urban, polluted environment.” Luckily, many oils are naturally high in antioxidants, so you should have plenty of options to choose from.
For acne prone skin, tea tree oil can be a great ingredient to look for as it “has antibacterial and antifungal properties and can help with acne and infections,” says Tobia. But watch out for anything too clarifying or astringent if you have dry skin and acne — tea tree oil should be an added ingredient, not the main event. Additionally, Dr. Ciraldo recommends using a retinol face oil if you are acne prone. The oil base can feel more nourishing and hydrating compared to some retinol serums.
A final consideration is the scent of the ingredients. “Something else that makes oils really special is that they often give an amazing sensory experience due to the aromatic element in the ingredients,” says Hand.
Texture
The consistency of the oil can determine how and when to use it. Oils can be lightweight and fast absorbing, heavy and sit on the skin or somewhere in between. As mentioned above, in general, oily skin will prefer a lighter oil, whereas drier skin will find the most benefit from denser options. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, however, and ultimately comes down to personal preference.
The heavier the oil, the more it sits on top of the skin. This is beneficial for trapping moisture and providing a surface glow, but too much can look greasy or clog pores, warns Kaiser. Thick oils will be harder to apply products on top of, so will usually be the last step of your routine. They also have the potential to disturb sunscreen, so save the ultra thick oils for nighttime use.
Lighter oils may be described as dry oils, which don’t leave any surface residue or stickiness. They offer more versatility as they can be used comfortably year round and before, after or in moisturizer. For a lightweight and less greasy option, Dr. Somenek recommends jojoba oil.
Your Questions, Answered
Is face oil good for your skin?
“There is a dizzying array of face oils on the market so it is impossible to generalize that this formulation is good or bad,” says Dr. Ciraldo. Generally speaking, however, our experts all agreed that face oil is good for the skin, if used correctly for your skin type and concerns.
Face oil can provide many benefits for the skin, such as hydration, protection and nourishment, which all skin needs. “Face oils can help lock in moisture and prevent water loss, replenish natural oils, and form a protective shield against environmental factors such as wind, cold, heat and pollution,” says Tobia. They can also help prevent oxidative stress and inflammation, deliver essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals to nourish the skin from within. “Some oils can even help stimulate collagen production and cell renewal to improve elasticity and appearance!” she adds.
Though overall good for the skin, Kaiser advises that too much face oil can make the skin look greasy or clog pores, so be sure to only use a few drops at a time.
Is face oil better than moisturizer?
Though often used or thought of interchangeably, face oil and moisturizer are two different products that serve different purposes. One is not necessarily better than the other and “there is a reason we have both,” says Kaiser. “It absolutely depends on what is going on with your skin specifically, so I recommend seeing a professional to help you decide if your skin would benefit from adding a face oil to your routine.”
Face oil and moisturizer can work together to provide optimal hydration for your skin. The difference, according to Tobia, is that moisturizers are water-based products that hydrate the skin by adding water, whereas oils are, by nature, oil-based products that hydrate the skin by sealing water in. Dr. Somenek elaborates, adding “traditional moisturizers will penetrate through the outer layers of the skin and draw in water to improve skin hydration. They also create a barrier to decrease water loss. Face oils also have the ability to act as a barrier, however, they sit on the skin surface. For that reason alone, I don’t think they should replace your traditional moisturizer.”
According to Dr. Russak, face oils are particularly beneficial for people with dry or dehydrated skin, as “the rich lipid content in face oils helps replenish the skin's natural oils, providing intense hydration and nourishment.” Additionally, face oils can be useful for those with mature or aging skin, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by “restoring and supplementing fatty acids in the cell membrane.”
Should I put moisturizer after face oil?
The order of application comes down to the type of oil, your skin type and personal preference. Keeping in mind the classic skincare rule of “thinnest to thickest” a lightweight dry oil may work best under a thicker moisturizer, whereas a thick oil would likely be used after a moisturizer to seal it all in. There’s also a popular third option: Mix the two!
“The question of what order to apply is a hotly contested one, but I think it depends on how you're using the oil,” says Kaiser. “In the morning I recommend dropping a couple of drops into your moisturizer or foundation to give skin a dewy glow. At night I would apply several drops on top of moisturizer, or to use the oil more like a serum, massaging in several drops on damp skin, wait a few minutes and then apply an occlusive slugging layer.”
Should you use face oil in the morning or night?
By now, you can probably guess the answer — the best time of day to use face oil depends on the oil, your skin type and personal preference.
Used in the morning, face oil can help the skin stay hydrated and protected, whereas at night, face oil can help the skin repair and regenerate. Drier skin types will find the most benefit using face oil both morning and night. Dr. Ciraldo recommends saving any face oils with active ingredients, like retinoids or AHAs, for nighttime use. Relatedly, Tobia warns that some oils, such as citrus oils, can make your skin more sensitive to the sun and cause sunburns or pigmentation. “You should avoid using these oils in the morning or use sunscreen on top of them.”
Makeup is another consideration. While some oils may create a perfectly primed base, “some can interfere with the application or longevity of your makeup,” says Tobia. If you’re having this issue, try using a lighter oil in the morning or waiting for the oil to absorb completely before applying makeup.
Why Shop With Us
Jolie De Feis is a licensed esthetician, beauty writer, consultant and content creator. De Feis pursued a career in esthetics after struggling with severe adult acne to help others better understand and care for their skin. Jolie graduated with honors from Christine Valmy International School, and is an esthetician at Ställe Studios in NYC. For this story, she interviewed several prominent physicians, including double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Michael Somenek, board-certified dermatologists, Dr. Loretta Ciraldo and Dr. Julie Russak, as well as top estheticians Elizabeth Grace Hand, Ali Tobia, and Lara Kaiser.
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