Do you know how men have fantastic skin with very little effort? How they’re able to keep their skin baby soft and acne-free while using bar soap? It’s actually largely in part due to shaving, as taking a blade against the skin is a very effective way to exfoliate!
Now, you could definitely take up shaving to get the same results, but there’s a much more efficient way to tackle the delicate skin of your face, and that’s dermaplaning, which typically involves a dermatology-grade single blade razor that’s made to remove peach fuzz!
But just like standard shaving, you need to prep your skin before you dermaplane. This usually involves a face oil. For dermaplaning novices, you may wonder:
What kind of face oils work best for dermaplaning? Dermaplaning oils will soften the skin and the hair on your face and include nothing that could clog the pores. They’ll be nourishing and serve to calm your skin. You should also look at oils that could potentially treat any other skin concerns you may have, like texture or hyperpigmentation.
Choosing the correct face oil can ensure that your dermaplaning experience goes as smoothly as possible. Explore our top picks for the best oils for dermaplaning, and what makes them so special, in this article!
Dermaplaning Oil Features
Light Consistency
The dermaplaning razor is very thin and very small, so it would be counterproductive to use a thick oil to prep your face. Something with light coverage, just enough to add a little slip, would be most effective.
Using an oil with a thicker consistency could clog the razor, which could compromise its ability to shave smaller hairs, and it will wear down your dermablading tool much faster than the average oil.
Nourishing Ingredients
You have always been told never to dry shave, but do you know why? Shaving may seem simple, but it’s quite an aggressive process!
It can dry skin out, cause flakiness and irritation, and it will undoubtedly increase your skin’s sensitivity to even the gentlest products. Not only that, but even the most experienced shaver can be left with razor bumps and burns that take ages to stop hurting.
To avoid these issues from rearing their heads, you’ll want to make sure your oil is as nourishing as possible. Simply applying oil can already save you from several dermaplaning woes, but ensuring the ingredients are gentle and soothing can protect you from redness, heightened sensitivity, and flakiness.
Targeted Skincare
Since you’re applying the oil to your face, you could make it even more useful by picking an oil that helps aid your skin’s issues! Whether it be oiliness, acne, fungus, etc. Oils are incredibly nourishing ingredients, so much so that a lot of people use them outside of dermaplaning.
They’re moisturizing, first and foremost, but they can also even out complexion and brighten your skin. Simply put, they’re a great addition to your skincare routine, so don’t be afraid to choose an oil that’s suited for your skin type! This can also prevent potential breakouts.
The Best Dermaplaning Oils
| Rank | Oil Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Apricot Oil | Evens complexion, good for mature skin, vitamins C/E |
| 2. | Argan Oil | UV protection, good for acne, improves wound healing |
| 3. | Jojoba Oil | Nourishing, leaves you glowy, soothing |
| 4. | Sweet Almond Oil | UV protection, keeps skin cells healthy, acne prevention |
| 5. | Meadowfoam Seed Oil | Moisture retention, anti-oxidant, helps with scarring |
1. Apricot Oil
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We love apricot oil for its ultra-light texture, sweet fragrance, and incredible formula that make it the perfect pair for your dermablading razor.
Due to its consistency, apricot oil has a high absorption rate, so it’s not just sitting on top of your face while the razor goes to work.
Instead, it makes your skin and hair supple from the inside out! The nourishing feel of the oil work wonders on blemish-prone skin, and it will effectively prevent any redness, razor burn, or breakouts.
Once you’re done dermaplaning, and you’ve rinsed this product away, you’ll love how silky smooth and strong your skin feels.
The oil we’ve linked is cold-pressed, which proves uber-important for apricot oil. It essentially means that the oil is kept in the most natural state possible, free of any altering to its chemical makeup due to heat. You can rest easy knowing that you have the highest possible quality of apricot oil around!
2. Argan Oil
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Dermaplaning can be an invasive treatment, particularly on sensitive skin. Utilizing the proper prep can keep your skin calm before, during, and after the process.
You might already have argan oil in your cabinets due to its deep moisturizing ability, making it the perfect dermaplaning oil for those with particularly dry skin.
This is a thicker oil, so you shouldn’t need more than a couple of drops to work into your skin. Thankfully, even the smallest amount of argan oil can be magical due to the oil’s potency.
Harvested from the argan trees in Morocco, this oil protects against the free radical damage caused by UV rays, aids in the healing of open wounds, and balances the oils on your face.
With dermaplaning heightening skin sensitivity, and with you essentially removing a damaged layer of skin with every session, it makes sense why argan oil remains one of the top choices for dermaplaning by novices and pro-dermatologists alike.
3. Jojoba Oil
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Another multipurpose oil loved by the beauty community is jojoba oil. A rockstar moisturizer, makeup remover, hair mask, etc, there’s no surprise that jojoba oil is a top pick as a dermaplaning oil too.
Jojoba oil is deeply penetrating and nourishing, making it a fantastic choice for all skin types. For those with mature skin, you’ll love the collagen-stimulating benefits and hydrating properties of the oil.
With regular use in your beauty routine, it can fill out fine lines and plump even the deepest wrinkles. Acne-prone skin? We hear you! Jojoba oil, while oil, is non-comedogenic. That means it won’t clog up your pores and add to the existing build-up in your skin.
If you have eczema or dermatitis, it might be difficult to find products that don’t irritate or strip, so you’ll be happy to hear that jojoba is incredibly soothing and can help your skin feel better after use.
The plumping, nourishing effect is particularly useful when dermaplaning, as it helps the razor access the hairs in those tough-to-reach spots.
4. Sweet Almond Oil
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We wouldn’t recommend this next oil to those with tree-nut allergies (for clear reasons), but sweet almond oil is a great pick for your dermaplaning regimen!
One may think that the almond isn’t as packed with nutrients as it is, so you might be amazed to hear that they’re full of vitamins A/E, lots of fatty acids, and even zinc!
The vitamin-rich formula aid in rebuilding and keeping the skin in its strongest state possible, and that kind of defense is necessary when you go in with a treatment like dermaplaning (which may temporarily compromise your skin’s natural defense system).
It also protects against sun damage, helps stimulate cell turnover and collagen production, and overall heals any existing damage (whether it be from aging, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, etc).
This oil is one of the most healing formulas on this list, so if you’re worried about your skin freaking out post-treatment, we recommend it to cultivate a nice, calm foundation beforehand.
5. Meadowfoam Seed Oil
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This is our underdog oil because it’s likely you’ve never heard of meadowfoam seed oil in your life!
It’s hard to find in your grocery store, which allowed it to fall to the sidelines and get overpowered by more popular oils like jojoba and argan.
But it turns out good things don’t just come in small packages, they come in unknown packages too!
Meadowfoam seed oil is extracted by a family of flowers that grow in California, and because of its benefits, we think that it’ll become a popular oil in the beauty world in no time.
A natural emollient, this oil helps your skin hold on to all the moisture it needs to keep your skin supple, soft, and plump. It’s extremely high in fatty acids and helps protect your skin against free radicals (which are one of the main reasons skin gets damaged post-dermaplaning).
It provides a shield between your sensitive skin and UV rays, and it also promotes the healing of any scarring. Incredibly, it does this all while sitting light enough on the skin to not interfere with the sharpness of your dermablading tool. How’s that for impressive?
Related Questions
Do I need to oil my face before dermaplaning?
Oiling before dermaplaning is a concept that’s fallen under scrutiny. We liken it a lot to shaving your legs, you always want to apply a shaving cream or conditioner to your skin to ensure that the blade glides as easily as possible.
The same goes for the skin on your face! The blade of a dermaplaning razor is super sharp, made to tackle the baby-fine strands on the delicate skin of your cheeks, forehead, and around your eyes and lips. Applying oil to prep the skin will keep you from accidental cuts.
But, choosing to prep the skin with oil is optional! Some prefer to leave their skin dry, as they believe it helps the razor find hairs more effectively.
Whichever route you choose, the most important thing to keep in mind is to be careful! Dermaplaning may look simple, but an accidental slip-up can warrant a trip to the ER.
Due to how delicate of a treatment dermaplaning is, we highly recommend using facial oil to prep the skin before taking a razor to it. It makes skin supple, prevents potential irritation, and will keep the razor from catching against your face.
How else do I prep my skin before dermaplaning?
You may think that it’s a beauty myth, but truly the greatest way to prep your skin before any sort of dermatological appointment is by drinking a lot of water.
Keeping your skin’s natural hydration supply replenished will ensure your skin is plump, healthy, and responsive to the dermaplaning appointment.
Be mindful of any open acne you may have. Dermaplaning over open wounds, even minor ones, can spread acne-causing bacteria around your face. If you’re doing the procedure yourself, skip over particularly congested areas of your skin to avoid any issues, and always use a light hand!
Don’t use AHAs, BHAs, or scrubs for a week before your appointment. Dermaplaning is an exfoliation treatment in and of itself, and skin is always left weaker post-exfoliation. Let your skin heal, and build up a little bit of resilience.