
Herbivore Orchid Facial Oil: The Answer to Glowing Skin?
Main Image – Live That Glow
In my eternal quest for the perfect dewy skin look I’ve been through my fair share of facial oils to either mix with my foundation or to use as the perfect base for makeup.
Given that (plus my general love for all things Herbivore) it was only a matter of time until I tried a cult favourite, the Orchid Youth Preserving Facial Oil.

Image – Live That Glow
Herbivore Orchid Facial Oil
While definitely not a dry oil, this lightweight alternative is easy to work onto skin and absorbs quickly, leaving just a slight oiliness behind on my skin, and making it one of my favourites for nighttime use or during the day as part of a glowing skin look.
One of the standout features of this oil is that it offers a blend of humectants (which attract water to the skin) and emollients (which keep oil and water from leaving skin’s top layer), making it both hydrating and moisturising.
Orchid extract (a humectant) also contains calcium and zinc, while camellia seed and jasmine sambac oils add moisture, and squalane (a powerful emollient derived from olives in this case) protects skin against moisture loss.

Image – Live That Glow
The Full List of Ingredients
Capric Triglycerides, Cymbidium Grandiflorum (Orchid) Flower Extract, Camellia Oleifera (Camellia) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Olive Squalane Oil, Tocopherol, Jasminum Sambac (Jasmine) Absolute
How to Use it
Designed to be used on cleansed, toned skin morning and/or night, Orchid Facial Oil acts as a layer of moisture and can be used ether alone or on top of oher serums or moistursiers.
Herbivore recommends using between 4 and 6 drops before massaging in and allowing 1 to 3 minutes for it to absorb before applying makeup. But acually, while this is lovely pre-makeup, my preferred way to use this is actually mixed with my makeup. Using something like Drunk Elephant’s D Bronzi Anti-Pollution Drops or alternatively a foundation or even concealer, this creates a lightweight, dewy finish that looks particularly lovely on no makeup-makeup days.
Similarly, to add glow to a matte blusher (particularity any cream ones), a tiny amount of this mixed in adds a luminosity to any cheek products. Ditto for highlighter too.
The Takeaway
Beyond the relaxing scent of jasmine, the results are healthy, hydrated skin and a gentle glow, which works even better when mixed with my favourite foundations; the Kosas Tinted Face Oil or Mac Face and Body.
As a bonus, this natural product is also cruelty-free and vegan..
Great for: Skin types that enjoy a combination of hydration and moisture.
Not for great for: Oilier types, which might find this a little rich.
Herbivore’s Orchid Facial Oil is from £22 for 8 ml, Cult Beauty UK and $64 for 1.7 oz/ 50 ml, Herbivore US