Much like with skin care oils, the hair oil category is exploding. These multi-purpose products hydrate, smooth flyaways, and can even protect your hair from heat damage.
But forget all of that -- the number one thing I look for in a hair oil is scent, and Carol's Daughter Monoi Oil Sacred Strengthening Serum, $30, takes the top prize in my opinion. I've loved the other monoi products in the Carol's Daughter line for years, and this new hair oil is my latest obsession. A few drops on my crunchy ends and my hair looks -- and feels -- exponentially better.
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Body oil
Orico London is new to the U.S., and so far I'm impressed by the packaging, fragrances, and feel of their eco-conscious, organic products. My top pick is the Orico London Rush Hour Vibrant Dry Body Oil, $40, because -- as the name suggests -- it sinks in almost instantaneously. I rarely bother to put on body lotion because I'm always in a rush, so you can imagine the odds of me using oil. On the days that I have 30 extra seconds, I reach for this body oil.
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Multitasking oil
When I first learned that Garnier Fructis Miracle Dry Oil for Hair Body and Face, $4.99, was actually meant to be used on my hair, body, and face, I'm not going to lie: I was disgusted. One of my personal rules of skin care is to never touch my face after touching my hair, and this seems to inherently contradict my rule. However, the trick is in the application: a drop for the face, followed by a few spritzes for body, and then a light spray in my hair. The olive, avocado, and shea oils are all antioxidant-rich moisturizers, and there's no reason you can't use them all over.
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Cuticle oil
Cuticle oils aren't anything new, but Essie Apricot Cuticle Oil, $8, definitely deserves to be mentioned. It sinks in fast and smells fantastic. And here's a cool tip from my manicurist: Apply it over a mani/pedi to make the polish last longer.
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Aromatherapy
Not all oils are for nourishing the skin; some are for soothing the mind. And 21 Drops does it particularly well with their "essential oil therapy." A personal favorite is the 21 Drops De-Stress 11, $29, which contains calming ingredients like lavender flower oil and chamomile flower oil. I rub it on my temples when I'm writing a particularly challenging story.
I can't open a magazine or scroll through my Google Reader lately without finding a story on skin care oils. (I covered the best oils for every skin type last year.) But so much of what I'm reading is totally missing the point: Oils aren't just for skin these days. Every beauty category -- from hair color to nail care -- is having an oil boom.
Women have been using beauty oils for ages. In fact, the history of beauty oils can be traced back to ancient Egypt (Cleopatra used perfume oils -- natch). But then in the '90s and '00s, women everywhere seemed to want oil-free everything. "Is that foundation oil free?" That was the question every beauty counter employee fielded for a couple decades. But trends change -- as they always do -- and I couldn't be happier that the oil revolution is here.
"Oils are nurturing to the skin," says celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas. "So many ingredients -- like glycolic acids and soaps -- strip the skin of all its oil, making it dry and forcing it to produce more oil." Miami dermatologist Leslie Baumann, MD, is also an oil advocate -- for body as well as face. She loves oils because many of them are more than just awesome moisturizers -- they're also loaded with antioxidants. Celebrity manicurist Jin Soon Choi swears by oils for nails and cuticles, and celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin loves them for hair. "You can use oils for everything from scalp treatments to styling," she says.
I tried dozens of the newest oils -- as well as a few cult classics -- to come up with a beauty routine that's almost entirely oil-based. And before you freak out about some of these prices, remember: When it comes to beauty oils, a little goes a long way.
