These nighttime face oils turn a regular snooze into a verified beauty sleep sesh

Slathering your face in oil during the day sounds like an inevitable precursor for a disastrous day if you're a fan of makeup, but mention the same practice in the PM and it's fair to say most people are pro the idea. 

Although, one might conclude that facial oils more popular in the evenings because of how they feel on the skin, that actually only reflects a very small aspect of why this skin care product comes alive in the night time. 

Fun fact: our skin goes through a heck of a lot while we sleep, and investing in a nourishing facial oil that helps to enhance the skin's natural recovery and renewal process can be the key to waking up with a more youthful-looking complexion.

In other words, a nighttime face oil is the key to turning a regular snooze into a verified beauty sleep sesh.

But if you're new to the world of face oils it might feel overwhelming picking the right product for you, which is why we've taken the liberty of doing the hard work so you can simply apply and catch some Zs.

Ahead, BEAUTYcrew dishes on the best nighttime face oils on the market...

2024's Top 3 Best Nighttime Face Oil

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil, $84, Selfridges
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, $72.73, Amazon Australia
Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil, $277.94, Catch

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil
from $84 at Selfridges

This nighttime face oil contains a trans-retinoic acid ester complex and poses as an alternative to traditional retinol serums and creams. The nourishing face oil format prioritises soothing and calming the skin with a range of botanicals (such as blue tansy, chamomile and blue azulene) for youthful, radiant and even-toned skin come morning. 

Key features:

Trans-retinoic acid ester complex minimises the size of pores and softens fine lines
Infused with soothing and calming blue tansy, chamomile and blue azulene
Fragrance-free

Available at:

• $84 from Selfridges
• $89.10 from Cult Beauty
• $90 from ASOS

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
from $72.73 at Amazon Australia

Intended to restore skin overnight, this lightweight facial oil helps to enhance the skin's natural recovery process that takes place while we sleep using a blend of nourishing ingredients. Evening primrose oil promotes hydration and elasticity, while squalane replenishes the skin's natural moisture barrier. Applied nightly, one can expect to see an improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, skin texture, firmness and radiance.

Key features:

Contains evening primrose oil, squalane and lavender essential oil
Improves hydration and radiance
Improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, firmness and skin texture

Available at:

• $72.73 from Amazon Australia
• $102 from Kiehl's
• $115.95 from Catch

Sisley Black Rose Precious Face Oil
from $277.94 at Catch

Formulated with dry and mature skin types in mind, this face oil has been enriched with a luxurious combination of soothing, nourishing and refining ingredients that aim to treat the first signs of ageing. There's soothing and nourishing omega 6 rich plum oil and camelina oil, which is rich in omega 3 and 6. Plus, natural tocopherols, avocado extract and phytosqualane to nourish and moisturise. Black rose extract helps to soften and Bulgarian rose essential oil tones, while magnolia essential oil aims to soothe skin and geranium essential oil purifies the complexion.

Key features:

Smooths fine lines
Nourishes and moisturises
Softens skin
Enhances radiance

Available at:

• $277.94 from Catch
• $292 from Woolworths
• $335 from Sisley

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
from $47 at Selfridges

Vitamin C is the star of this facial oil, which targets brightening, firming and hydration. The brightener and elasticity booster is partnered with squalane to moisturise skin and promote a healthy skin barrier, chios crystal oil to firm and promote bouncy, youthful skin, and damascus rose petal extract calms and soothes the skin.

Key features:

Can be used in the AM and PM
Contains vitamin C, squalane, chios crystal oil and damascus rose petal extract
Brightens, firms, hydrates and soothes skin

Available at:

• $47 from Selfridges (12ml)
• $69 from Sephora (15ml)
• $133 from Sephora (30ml)

KORA Organics Noni Glow Face Oil
from $94 at Sephora

Infused with Kora Organics' signature, antioxidant-rich noni fruit extract, and vitamin-rich rosehip, jojoba, sunflower, sea buckthorn and pomegranate seed oils, this nighttime face oil nourishes, brightens, smooths, softens and strengthens skin. 

Key features:

Lightweight and non-greasy
Suitable for all skin types
Promotes a bouncy, plump and youthful complexion

Available at:

• $94 from Sephora
• $94 from Adore Beauty
• $94 from MYER

Elemis Superfood Facial Oil
from $68.11 at Amazon Australia

Infused with a strong cast of natural superfood ingredients, Elemis' facial oil targets hydration, radiance and softer skin. There's rosehip oil, which aids in healing, hydration and regulates oil production. Macadamia nourishes and moisturises and broccoli, which is rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids and vitamin C leaves the skin radiant, plump and glowing.

Key features:

Nutrient rich formula
Hydrates, plumps and firms
Smooths and enhances radiance

Available at:

• $68.11 from Amazon Australia
• $95 from Elemis
• $101 from Selfridges

Which oil is best for your face at night?

Lipid-rich oils are the best to use at night as they help to strengthen, moisturise and minimise the signs of ageing the most effectively. This is because lipid-rich oils closely resemble lipids found in the skin, which help to maintain the structural integrity of the skin's natural moisture barrier.  

Oil is a very versatile skin care product. You can nourish your skin with a nighttime face oil or melt away the day with an oil cleanser.

Main image credit: @mirandakerr