Cold weather is conducive to luxurious trappings: think leather, cashmere, fur, velvet, all the surfaces that in summer promise only a wealth of sweat. The same goes for skincare, as lightweight creams give way to ultrarich oils meant for crisp, dry days. Cult classics like Bobbi Brown Extra Face Oil have long held down the category, but a new lineup of miracle tonics out this fall are a cut above what’s come before, with opulent ingredients and chic shelf style.

Offering very real skin benefits, oils are being increasingly recommended by dermatologists for their antioxidant boost, often derived from nut, fruit, and plant extracts that are quickly absorbed, and they’re nothing if not chameleonic, as easily used on the face as the body. It’s part science, part magic: Taking cues from elixirs of unknown origin, oils suggest being in on a secret—and that’s always a luxury perk.

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