It looks like oil is all the rage for skin, but if you're not interested in cleaning your face with it, there are still other ways to take advantage of its benefits. Since I had mixed results with oil-based cleansers, I was looking forward to experimenting with oil in a different type of product.

Caudalie Purifying Concentrate ($39) is a face oil specifically for oily skin. You apply it after cleansing and leave it on, like a serum, and can apply a moisturizer on top if you like. It supposedly purifies the skin and reduces excess oil in your pores using grape seed, catnip, lemongrass, hazelnut, and carrot oils. The idea behind using these oils to purify is that their molecules are small enough to penetrate your pores, rather than getting stuck in and clogging them. The product comes in a tiny bottle with a dropper that makes dispensing the recommended six droplets a snap.

The first thing to note about this product is the smell. It's clean, tart, and faintly lemony. Very refreshing and in no way overpowering. It takes a while to sink in — at least 20 minutes. Until then, your face does indeed feel like an oil slick. For this reason, I would not recommend this for the morning, unless you have 20 minutes to kill before applying your makeup.

Besides that, I have no other gripes with this product. The smell is addictively intoxicating, and while I won't be using it in the morning, it is now a staple in my nighttime routine. When it finally does settle into your skin, your face feels soft, smooth, and hydrated. My skin has been feeling and looking more supple in the morning, and the breakout I was anticipating has yet to arrive. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't, because I don't want to give up this product!

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