A few months back, my skin was going through a bad phase. Now, typically my skin just hangs out and behaves itself. I’ve been lucky enough that , besides being pale enough to make blush a required item in the winter, my skin and make up routine is fairly low maintenance. Until all of the sudden it wasn’t. It was breaking out with little flaws all over the place. Thinking it might be the new moisturizer I tried, I naturally turned to my bestie who has beautiful skin to find out what she uses. Her response was a little baffling, I’ll admit: Vaseline. That’s right. At night, she smoothes a layer of good old petroleum jelly all over her face before bed.

I had so many questions. Why would putting more oil on my face help an already bad (and oily) situation? Would my pillow cases get all greasy? Why in God’s name is a tub of Vaseline so expensive ($8 at duane reade?)? Doesn’t it seem like it should be around $1?

Long story short, after some investigation, I determined that this remedy wasn’t for me, and ignored said friend’s advice. Fast forward to this fall’s set of magazines. I’ve been reading all about beauty oils. I’ve heard about Rodin’s Olio Lusso for a while, but this month I’ve been hearing about more than just that. It seems every other issue is recommending a new oil product (Argan Oil! Coconut Oil! Grapeseed Oil! Tea Tree Oil! Chammomile Oil! Peppermint Oil!) for your face. Then I read on my favorite blogger’s beauty product run down is olive oil. This is also a trick my step-mom has been known to use.

Then my skin started behaving badly again with the season change. Enough already, I thought! Let’s give this oil/Vaseline thing a try. About a week ago, I started subbing in Vaseline or Olive Oil for my bedtime lotion. And you know what? Any blemishes cleared right up. Dry spots, gone! One less step of applying chapstick after I brush my teeth!

It turns out a little oil is good for an already oily face. It can add antioxidents you need to keep your face looking even or smooth, and actually can help your body regulate its own oil production. The key is finding the right oil for you, and putting it on in the right amount. I’ve heard olive oil for dry skin, chamomile to reduce redness , argan for daytime anti-aging, and tea tree as an astringent for breakouts. For those of you worried about your pillow cases, just be sure to moderate how much you put on. Start out with a couple drops and smooth over your face think more how your boyfriend applies aftershave than how you apply traditional moisturizer. Now go ahead, and get those oils off your salad and  onto your face.