Facial Oils? Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula vs. Fresh Seaberry???

[lorasu08]

I have dry skin and I’m looking for a facial oil? Which do you guys prefer? Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula vs. Fresh Seaberry???

[greeneyedgirl107]

@lorasu08 Here's the beautypedia review for the DE (4/5 stars):

Spoiler

Drunk Elephant's Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil is a straightforward product containing a single ingredient: Marula oil. The good news is that marula oil is an excellent ingredient for skin, and this product is packaged with regard for keeping this oil stable.

Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil comes in an opaque, square-shaped bottle with a dropper dispenser. That dispenser and package will help protect the oil from exposure to light and air, both of which can diminish its effectiveness. Inside the container is 100% marula oil, with no additives or fragrance.

So what's the big deal about this oil? While a single ingredient is never the solution to all skin concerns (the best skincare involves products with a host of beneficial ingredients), marula oil is a very good ingredient to consider if you have dry skin. Research shows it is both a rich source of beneficial fatty acids for skin, as well as antioxidants including tocopherol (vitamin E) (Journal of Food Lipids, 2004). There are even studies showing it can improve hyperpigmentation of skin. Clearly, marula oil offers anti-aging benefits. In fact, it could potentially live up to Drunk Elephant's claims that it can fight free radical damage while improving the look of wrinkles and redness, as well as improve skin elasticity (Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2014); however, lots of other non-fragrant plant oils could make similar, research-supported boasts.

When it comes to aesthetics, the oil itself is lightweight enough that it can be applied directly to skin, absorbing within a couple of minutes. This oil is best for those with dry to very dry skin, though if you have oily or combination skin with patches of dryness, this can be applied to those areas without issue. In addition to using this oil on its own, it can be mixed with a moisturizer or serum if you need extra hydration.

Though it isn't the least expensive facial oil option out there—Acure Organics offers an alternative for less—Drunk Elephant's Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil is still worth considering if your beauty budget allows.

PROS:

• Packaged in a container that will keep its beneficial components stable.
• Marula oil is a rich source of antioxidants and fatty acids that offer anti-aging benefits.
• Light oil texture can be used alone or mixed in other products.
• Fragrance-free.

CONS:

• Expensive.
• Skin would likely get greater benefit from an oil blend.

Here's the review for fresh Seaberry (4/5 stars):

Spoiler

This surprisingly lightweight facial oil contains some very good, antioxidant-rich oils. The oils are a rich source of beneficial fatty acids and other repairing substances that are of particular benefit for dry skin. A facial oil like this shouldn’t replace your regular moisturizer, as its formula isn’t as elegant and it’s missing some key ingredients that could help dry skin even more. However, this is a good option to mix with your moisturizers, especially during drier, colder winter months.

This missed our top rating due to the inclusion of fragrance ingredients known to be irritating. They’re not present in a large amount, but no question this would be better for all skin types without the fragrance. The inclusion of fragrance makes this a poor choice for those with sensitive, reddened skin. By the way, the “sea” part of this product’s name refers to sea buckthorn oil. This is listed by its Latin name of Hippohae rhamnoides.

My fave facial oil is Clinique Smart Treatment Oil (5/5 stars):

Spoiler

Smart Treatment Oil gets Clinique into the facial oil game, and we're thrilled to write that this is one of the better options to come along lately! The gentle, fragrance-free formula's mix of plant oils, antioxidants, and soothing plant extracts makes this a truly "smart" choice for normal to dry skin, including the extra-sensitive.

You might be wondering if Smart Treatment Oil is smarter than other facial oils. It isn't, largely because it is an inanimate object incapable of intelligence, but also that it cannot make good on its claim of delivering "targeted repair as needed, where needed."

That's not to say this cannot repair signs of dry, dehydrated skin or that it won't make a noticeable difference in skin's texture and appearance, because it can. What we're getting at is that this mix of oils and other beneficial ingredients can't distinguish between where skin needs extra help and where it's doing fine. The ingredients cannot deliver a stronger treatment on very dry areas but somehow hold back ingredients (or treatment intensity) from more normal, undamaged areas. (Also, if you have oily skin and thus don't need any extra moisture, will Smart Treatment Oil simply evaporate from your skin? No, of course not.) The ingredients go wherever you put them and moisturize as they will—and because this is oil it has a lot of movement on skin, so it will migrate outside the original area of application.

Although this is a facial oil we recommend highly, we have to mention its clear plastic bottle packaging. Storing this product so it's exposed to daylight will, over time, reduce the effectiveness of the light-sensitive ingredients (including the oils) present. For maximum potency, store Smart Treatment Oil away from direct daylight exposure, such as a drawer or cabinet, or keep it in its opaque box.

On the upside where its packaging is concerned, the dropper tip used to dispense this oil is well designed and the cap's push button dispensing method makes it easy to control how much oil comes out.

Clinique Smart Treatment Oil doesn't earn a PhD for its thesis on having a radar-like ability to sense where skin needs the most help, but its formula nonetheless earns honors for its mix of skin-repairing, antioxidant-rich plant oils and inclusion of extra antioxidants, some of which have proven soothing properties. It's a great option for eliminating dryness and adding a healthy glow, and is even suitable for sensitive skin, including rosacea. Due to this being an oil-based formula, it's not an ideal formula for oily skin given this skin type doesn't have a need for the extra moisture. Those with breakout-prone skin that's also dehydrated may find this oil blend helpful, but pay attention to how your skin responds, because despite their benefits, the oils could make breakouts worse.

Tip: Clinique Smart Treatment Oil is an even better formula that sister brand Estee Lauder's Nutritious Radiant Vitality Essence Oil, which costs considerably more for an equal amount of product. Lauder's face oil also adds fragrance to the mix, which poses a slight risk of irritation.

PROS:

• Rich yet fluid blend of several proven non-fragrant plant oils.
• Contains several antioxidants, including the plant oils.
• Dropper tip makes it easy to control how much oil is dispensed.
• Gentle, fragrance-free formula suitable for use anywhere on the face (and neck).

CONS:

• Clear bottle packaging exposes the light- and air-sensitive ingredients to light.

[jbrooke917]

personally, i like the fresh one much more and the price is much better too

[quspork]

The Fresh Seaberry is one of my favorites. It works amazingly well with just a couple of drops added to my evening moisturizer. 

[SkinQueenFL]

Everyone’s skin is so different so of course you will get differing opinions but I personally love the Drunk Elephant oil. I find it to be lightweight and it is a carrier oil so I put a few drops into my moisturizer and it helps the ingredients penetrate deeper into the skin 😉

[lilbex]

I can’t speak for the seaberry but I have tried the drunk elephant luxury oil. I have skin that is on the dry side and was not a fan of this oil. It is VERY thick and didn’t absorb well into my skin.

[Knicole95]

My favorite face oil is the Kora Organics Noni glow face oil along with the eye oil . I've had very very dry skin eczema and my fave is soft and supple and hydrated. wash your face I apply the Fresh Rose Toner and my facial oils and I moisturize