This Oil Revived My Skin After a Rough, Post-Laser Experience

This year has been an experimental one for me, specifically in the skin department. I’ve had a lot of firsts, including laser skin resurfacing, which has done wonders for my skin in terms of texture and tone improvement. However, as much as the actual treatment has been a whole new experience, so has its aftermath. For about a week following my appointment, my usually oily skin became so dang dry, I couldn’t recognize it. It was extremely tight and even felt uncomfortable. My usual creams and potions didn’t do anything to improve it, so I became a little Beauty Goldilocks and played a game of “product roulette,” hoping that I would find the antidote.

A few newer moisturizers and serums that I tried worked really well (shoutout Saint Jane Beauty Hydrating Petal Cream and Skinmedica TNS Advanced+ Serum), but the most recent laser treatment I had resulted in the most severe case of dryness where I ended up actually breaking out. (Rude!) I knew I had to break out the big guns. That’s when I turned to Pili Ani Self Care Night Recovery Oil.

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Pili Ani Self-Care Night Recovery Oil — $72.00

Pili Ani is a Filipino skin-care brand that I fell in love with ever since coming across it years ago at Indie Beauty Expo. Its hero ingredients, pili and elemi oils, come from the pili tree, which is native to the Bicol region of the Philippines. Both oils have their own incredible skin benefits: pili oil is rich in essential fatty acids, amino acids, and antioxidants, and is even more hydrating than argan oil, and elemi oil is naturally firming.

The brand’s ethos and ingredients are personal to me, as my mom is from Bicol, and has told me stories about eating pili nuts growing up. While the pili and elemi oils are found in most of Pili Ani’s products, the Self Care Night Recovery Oil has even more help in the hydration department, which is exactly what I need. It also contains the deliciously-smelling sampaguita, known as Philippine Jasmine and great for evening tone and texture, and the buzzy ingredient squalane, which helps retain moisture and is anti-inflammatory.

Like I mentioned, my regular moisturizers and serums weren’t cutting it—they were pretty much disappearing into my skin as t though they were never there in the first place. So, I began applying a couple of drops of the oil to my face and massaging it into my skin every night. The smell is amazing; it reminds me of being at a spa and is super lightweight. The tight sensation in my skin is almost gone (I felt this change instantly). I usually let the oil soak into my skin for about a minute or so before adding my moisturizer on top, but sometimes the oil was fine as is without an additional cream. My savior! I noticed that my downtime was a lot shorter than before which was a relief. I REALLY cannot stand having that tight feeling in my skin, though, I will say that laser is definitely worth it!

After I apply it, I’ll usually rub the extra on my nails (which is good news for my nail artist as my cuticles are a hot mess). If you have naturally dry skin, or just need a little extra help, whether it’s cold weather season or you’re dealing with some post-treatment skin troubles, I can’t recommend this oil enough. My only regret is not using it sooner!