An Evening Face Oil Ritual with Pomegranate and Saffron
The end of the day is a good time for something slow. A face oil, pressed gently onto clean skin, takes less than a minute and asks for nothing else. Two botanicals familiar across the Middle East suit that moment well: pomegranate and saffron. This guide explains each, and how to build a simple evening ritual around them.
Pomegranate seed oil
The pomegranate has been cultivated across the Middle East and the Mediterranean since antiquity, and it remains a familiar fruit in Levantine gardens and markets. Its oil is pressed from the small seeds inside each ruby aril. It is a rich, golden oil, and it is known for an unusual fatty acid, punicic acid, found in very few other plants.
FAYNAN Pure Pomegranate Seed Oil is a single ingredient, with nothing added. Skin feels soft and supple, with a healthy-looking glow.
Saffron-infused oil
Saffron is the dried stigma of the saffron crocus, Crocus sativus. Each flower gives only three fine threads, gathered by hand, which is why saffron has long been treasured across the region, in kitchens, perfumery and celebrations.
Saffron is not pressed into an oil. Instead, its threads are steeped in a botanical oil, which takes on their warm golden color and character. FAYNAN Saffron Face Oil is made this way, for a radiant-looking evening glow.
The evening ritual, step by step
1. Cleanse
Begin with clean, dry skin.
2. Warm
Place two or three drops on your fingertips and warm them briefly.
3. Press
Press the oil gently over your cheeks, forehead and chin, then down the neck, avoiding the eye area. Pressing, rather than rubbing, spreads the oil evenly with very little.
4. Rest
Give it a few minutes to settle before bed.
Which one, and when?
| Pomegranate Seed Oil | Saffron Face Oil | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A single pressed oil | Saffron threads infused in a botanical oil |
| Use | Face and body | The evening face ritual |
| Feel | Soft, supple, comfortable | A radiant-looking glow |
| Also | A drop mixed into your moisturizer | Naturally golden; keep off light fabrics until absorbed |
You might alternate: pomegranate on most evenings, saffron when you want something a little more considered. There is no rule; follow what your skin enjoys.
During the day
A very small amount of pomegranate seed oil can sit under your usual day routine. Neither oil is a sunscreen, so continue to use your sun protection as normal.
Building on the ritual
- A warm note: add one drop of Turmeric Essential Oil to a teaspoon (5 mL) of pomegranate seed oil. Never apply an essential oil undiluted.
- A resinous note: one drop of Frankincense Essential Oil in a teaspoon of oil; see How to Use Frankincense Essential Oil.
- For the morning: Pure Grapeseed Oil is lighter-feeling, for a very small amount under your sun protection.
- Once or twice a week: a mask of Pure Pomegranate Peel Powder mixed with rose water, rinsed off before your evening oil.
A few things to keep in mind
- Test on a small area of skin before first use.
- Keep away from the eyes.
- Stop using any product if irritation occurs.
- Store tightly closed, away from heat and direct light.
A minute, at the end of the day
A face oil is one of the simplest rituals there is: a few drops, a few moments, and the day is set down. For the oil that moves between hair and body, read Date Seed Oil for Hair and Skin.
Comparing oils? Read How to Choose a Face Oil, or explore the full Skin collection.