I’ve always had combination skin, but this summer it seemed like I had poured an ultra-shiny highlighter all over my face (trust me, it was not a cute look). If that wasn’t horrific enough, all the extra oil clogged up my pores and lead to my worst nightmare – a smattering of blackheads and a whole bunch of painful zits. Since I recently stole (and loved) my colleague’s Sunday Riley Good Genes, I thought it best to use another product from the same brand. Here is my review of the U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil.

First off, let me state the packaging of this product is so elegant! The oil comes in a square, glass bottle that allows you to see the formula clearly. The gold and white cap bears a dropper, which helps dispense the product. The ingredients and directions for use are printed on the accompanying box.

As instructed, I massaged the oil onto my dry face after cleansing it thoroughly. The texture is obviously quite oily and glides easily over skin. Although the product is green in colour, it turns practically invisible once it is rubbed in. Whilst the brand advertises it as a quick-absorbing oil, I find that the formula doesn’t sink in completely. Even after half an hour, there is always a thin layer of residue left behind. Another potential negative, is the scent. The strong, medicinal fragrance can be off-putting but if you push through you will find that it dissipates after a few minutes. Over time, I’ve found that 3 drops are sufficient to cover my face. If I’m having a particularly bad breakout, I layer a little bit extra on the affected zone.

After using this oil for a month, I can definitely attest to its powers. Overnight, it manages to shrink pimples to half their size and makes them vanish in just 2-3 days. Unlike clay-based masks and spot treatments that are created to tackle blemishes, this baby does not dry out skin at all. It’s also great at smoothening out uneven texture and dealing with closed comedones. Although it has evened out my skin tone in the long run, it does leave me with some short-lived redness, which disappears in a few hours. Initially, I used it every day but I’ve found my sweet spot in applying it twice a week. Since it does leave behind a film, I prefer using it at night. I also turn to it during emergencies i.e. when my skin throws a tantrum before a big day. If you do have sensitive skin, I recommend carrying out a patch test first. The only downside, is that it hasn’t had much effect on my stubborn blackheads.

Acne-busting, lightly hydrating and brightening, this face oil is the hero every combination-to-oily skinned person needs. Since a little goes a long way, this bottle will last you for several months and make the investment worth it. If you still aren’t sure, there’s even a smaller version available! Till I find a suitable replacement, you can be sure to find a bottle of this by my bedside.

Price:

USD 80.00 (1.18 oz/ 35 ml)

USD 40.00 (0.5 oz/ 15 ml)

Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid (1.5%), Tea Tree Oil, Black Cumin Seed Oil, Licorice Root, Hexylresorcinol

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