I have pretty hearty, non-sensitive skin — meaning, I can use exfoliating acids [1], retinol [2], and seriously thick night creams [3] without any irritation. Still, facial oils [4] seem to be my skin's kryptonite. It's upsetting because I love the idea of them — they're just so luxurious — but the morning after using one, my pores are visibly clogged [5] and my face just feels kind of dull.
And yet, because I am a beauty enthusiast, I keep putting myself through the morning disappointment, hoping that through trial and error, I will find the one oil [6] that my skin actually enjoys — the just-right, not too heavy and not too serum [7]-y diamond in the ruff that will have me waking up looking refreshed and renewed.
So after many harrowing years of searching, I'm incredibly excited to say that I finally found it from new skin-caee brand Le Prunier.
Let me just start by saying: the Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil smells ahhh-mazing. To me, it smells like the almond-paste insides of a fresh-baked almond croissant. I have to tear my hands away from my face and force myself to go to bed each night instead of standing in the dark in my bathroom inhaling its glorious scent. This is a tad bit ironic since the only ingredient in the product is organic prunus domestica seed oil — aka plum oil.
According to the brand, the oil of a simple plum packs a serious punch of good stuff your skin really wants, including omega 6 and 9 fatty acids [8], antioxidant phytochemicals, and healing vitamins E and A. What makes it even more exciting is that it works for any skin type — including those with rosacea or eczema [9] — and is noncomedogenic, meaning it won't clog your pores or cause acne [10].
A fun fact: The founders are three sisters who come from a long line of California plum harvesters — the first seeds of the plum farm they now run were laid by their great-grandfather in 1916. The Le Prunier Beauty Oil comes from the plums of that 100-year-old farm, which is the world's largest grower and producer of organic plums.
So far, Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil [11] ($72) has proven to be the facial oil my skin has been searching for. It's not too heavy, absorbs quickly, and makes me feel f*cking radiant the next morning, without a clogged pore in sight. I have officially given in to the power of the plum.