Is a dry oil something that will work for your skin and needs? Well, like many things in beauty, it all comes down to your personal taste—and we’re here to help you make that decision. And the concept has been around for ages: Many herbalists, aromatherapists, and product formulators refer to dry oils as lightweight and quick-absorbing oils used in skin and hair care. Like many descriptors in the beauty industry, there is no hard-and-fast classification for which oils are defined as dry, but there is general consensus among beauty experts that they are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely linoleic, and encompass vegetable, seed, and herbal oils. Some of the most popular dry oils are: This also means they’re a great option to spot treat throughout the day. If you want to use your dry oil as a cuticle oil or to pay closer attention to areas like your hands, it won’t get in the way. If you pick a dry oil for your hair, it also won’t weigh down your strands. In fact, after a few minutes of applying dry oil on damp hair, you won’t even realize that you applied an oil—it sinks right in.
That’s not to say wet oils aren’t without their advantages: Wet oils take their time penetrating the dermis, which makes them great for relieving itchiness and chronic dryness. That’s what makes them superb for inflammatory skin conditions. Some common wet oils are neem, coconut, castor, tamanu, baobab, sweet almond, hemp seed oil, and apricot kernel. Conventionally, these heavier oils have been the base of many water-based product formulations, like night creams. Due to their thicker, emollient nature, they’re best for those looking for better moisture retention throughout the night. And while you may find yourself identifying with one camp of oils more than the other, the truth is that many products on the market include a cocktail of both wet and dry oils for maximum benefits—unless, of course, you opt for the straight oil itself. What’s great about dry oils is they tend to be excellent multitaskers, so feel free to play around with them.
