Pffffttthhh. That’s the sound of the radiator in my pre-war apartment in New York City sputtering on for the season. In turn, over the years, the sound has also come to symbolize the shift in my skin from oily-in-the-t-zone to completely parched. I run humidifiers all day long in an effort to combat the dry heat, yet I still find myself waking up each morning with an urge to apply moisturizer — that’s how dry my skin gets in the winter months.
But this year, I have a secret weapon: Soho Skin Face Oil. I’ve been using it for about a month now, and my skin feels more prepared than ever to face winter dryness once and for all. Allow me to explain.
The formula contains a highly impressive number of oils: pomegranate, raspberry seed, almond, linseed, and olive among them. Each one of them serves a unique purpose (studies show pomegranate oil is anti-inflammatory, for instance, while almond oil is said to help soften skin) but together, they work in perfect harmony.
As if this blend couldn’t get any better, it’s also enriched with squalane, a type of emollient (skin-smoothing) ingredient that helps seal in moisture. Because of this, squalane can “aid in skin-care problems wherein the skin barrier is disrupted and transepidermal water loss is an issue,” board-certified dermatologist Samantha Fisher previously told Allure. Such issues can include eczema, acne, psoriasis, and — yep — plain old dryness.
With so much good stuff packed into one little bottle, you might be wondering if this formula feels heavy on the skin. I’m happy to report the contrary: Of all the face oils I’ve tried, this is easily one of the most lightweight and quick-to-absorb. A thin layer — which is how I like to apply it in the morning — sinks into my skin in seconds.
At night, I play mixologist: I add a few drops of the oil into a rich moisturizer, and I swear it makes it twenty times more hydrating. If I really want to double down, I add a thin layer of just the oil on top of that, which creates an occlusive seal that helps lock in hydration.