This Cult-Loved Beauty Oil Hydrates, Brightens, and Protects My Acne-Prone Skin Like No Other

Welcome to Deep Reviews—your one-stop destination to discover the absolute best products and brands the beauty industry has to offer. The Who What Wear staffers you already know and trust will research, test, and review the market's most sought-after and buzzed-about products to see which formulas (of the hundreds up for consideration) are worth your hard-earned money and attention. You can expect honest, uncensored feedback and no-BS recommendations our hard-to-please testers endorse without reservations.

The majority of our Deep Reviews will feature our editors' honest, ultra-hot takes on entire product categories or multiple products from a particular beauty brand, but every so often, we'll sprinkle in a special single-product format called Honestly, I Love It. As the name suggests, these reviews will home in on one standout beauty formula our editors can't shut up about. This time around, I'm highlighting Le Prunier's Plum Beauty Oil ($72).

There was a time when my skin was so sensitized and acne-prone that I was terrified to even say the word "oil" out of fear of causing a breakout. After I avoided it for so long, my aesthetician Katie Sobelman finally set me straight. She told me that despite your skin type, you still need oils for your skin to find balance—even if you err on the side of oily or acne-prone already. As long as you use the right types of oils with the proper acid balance, your skin can truly thrive. She went into a little more detail about this on her blog, and I learned so much. After reading her take, I felt a lot more comfortable using oils for my sensitive, acne-prone skin.

A particular oil that both she and I love is Le Prunier's Plum Beauty Oil ($72). When I tell you this is one of the most hydrating, brightening, and balancing oils on the market… It is truly my all-time favorite facial oil, and as a beauty editor, I'm not always easy to please. If you want to know more about my experience with this face oil, keep scrolling. I'm sharing it all ahead.

If you've ever dealt with chronic acne, then you know what a struggle it can be to strike the perfect balance between keeping your pores clear and keeping your skin dewy and hydrated—this oil is a staple that helps you do both. Previously, my skin was looking dull and dehydrated due to some skin barrier damage. I also struggle with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is a whole other beast to deal with sometimes. However, with the right retinoid and this face oil, I've seen so many massive improvements in my skin.

For starters, the hydration this oil offers is unmatched. I've used plenty of noncomedogenic oils before and found that most of them still leave me feeling dehydrated after a few hours—not this one. It leaves my skin so soft, supple, and bright. It also helps fade dark spots and alleviates that tight, dry feeling that comes with skin dehydration. I can't say enough good things about it. The photos above were taken three weeks apart, so you can tell this oil works quickly. It's also great for my sensitive skin, and it never causes any breakouts. It's truly the perfect oil for me and will forever be a nonnegotiable item in my routine.

Let's dive into what makes this one-ingredient oil so great. First, plum oil is loaded with polyphenols, antioxidants, and omega fatty acids that really lock in moisture and protect against environmental damage. Polyphenols can also act as a natural UV sunscreen booster, making it a great addition to the brand's SPF Plumscreen ($78). Vitamins A and E help heal and hydrate the skin while promoting cellular turnover.

For any other acne-prone folks out there, I can also tell you it's super gentle on skin and never causes any breakouts for me. Everyone's skin is different, but I can say that my skin tends to fare better with one-ingredient oils, and if you have a similar skin type, this one should work out for you, too.

Co-Founder of the brand Allison Taylor started Le Prunier with her sisters, Jacqueline and Elaine. Taylor shares, "We were truly inspired, first and foremost, by being raised on our fourth-generation farm in Northern California. As teenagers, we would travel with our father on business trips throughout Asia and Europe and noticed how highly regarded the dried plum was as a super fruit. Although dried plums are a super fruit, no one was thinking about or looking at them from a skincare lens, so we set out to innovate and change this. Our plum kernels had previously been a waste product and were being thrown out on the farm. We knew there had to be a better use for these antioxidant-rich byproducts. After two and a half years of research with world-renowned labs and many brainstorming sessions, we finally settled on launching our Plum Beauty Oil in 2018."

Honestly, I'm sure it's not shocking that I wrote a dedicated story to this oil—it's a cult favorite among editors. It can be used so many ways—on your hair, skin, nails—you name it! Taylor also adds, "If you have sensitive skin, this product will be a game changer. Our proprietary blend of plum varietals is a single ingredient, so it's extremely gentle on the skin. Our whole line just received the Seal of Acceptance from the National Eczema Association, which we're really proud of! Plum Beauty Oil is actually six times and eight times stronger than argan and marula oil at defending against hydroxyl radical damage (i.e., toxins, UV rays, etc.). My sisters and I have all struggled with hormonal acne over the years also, so the goal was to create an elegant, nourishing oil that calms and soothes skin while leaving you with the most incredible glow. Plus, the all-natural scent of subtle marzipan is so unexpected and unique. People absolutely love it."

Like Taylor, what I love most about the brand's products is that they're so versatile and easy to incorporate into any routine. In addition to the oil, I use the brand's body cream and sunscreen—both receive equally as enthusiastic marks from me. Taylor has a few tips and tricks for how to get the most out of these products: "I love cleansing in the morning and immediately applying Plumscreen SPF as my four-in-one primer, skincare, moisturizer, and SPF. It creates the perfect base for makeup if I'm wearing any that day. Plum Beauty Oil is generally always my last step in my evening routine. I typically layer my thinnest serums first and then forgo moisturizer, simply applying Plum Beauty Oil for that added hydration. It truly gives the best glow. My skin tends to get really itchy during the winter months, especially after I shave my legs, so the Plumbody Crème has been a godsend. I dry-brush before showering and then apply a thick layer of Plumbody once I hop out and dry off. It leaves my skin feeling incredibly soft and silky for a full 24 hours. It's amazing."

Trust me, you won't want to miss out on the brand's suite of products. Shop my other favorites below.

Shop My Favorite Le Prunier Products