We’ve all been told since we were acne-fearing teenagers that we must avoid putting oils on our skin – that they will make us greasy, clog our pores and cause breakouts. Well, I am here to tell you that we’ve all been lied to!
It’s true that some oils are pore-clogging nightmares. You may have heard the term “non-comedogenic” in your travels down the skincare aisle. A non-comedogenic oil is one that will not cause pore blockage, leading to breakouts and acne (looking at you, coconut oil). The difference between a pore-blocking oil and a skin-loving helpful one is actually molecular size. It can get a bit boringly scientific beyond that. Fortunately, we don’t have to worry about it since thousands of years of skincare (and several decades of scientific research) have already been done for us.
Most of the oils that are used in today’s facial oil formulations are actually used to help clear up and balance your skin. Major bonus, plant oils are jam-packed with tons of vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids too. All of these things combined help to lock in much needed moisture, soothe redness, and can even protect your skin from future damage. Time to dig deep and bust all these myths.
- Facial oils lock in moisture.
For all you science nerds out there: Our skin produces its own oil called lipids. Lipids help hold the skin cells together, which make up the outer layer of the skin called the stratum corneum. Your stratum corneum is your protective barrier between your skin and the outside world. It keeps water in, and irritants out.
Facial oils mimic our natural lipids and do the same thing! They form a barrier over the top layer of your skin, and lock in that moisture and botanical goodness. Some plant oils even act as emollients, which means they help smooth and soften the skin by filling in any empty spots between skin cells.
- Facial oils are great for all skin types.
For dry skin, it makes sense that a facial oil would be beneficial. You can add it to your moisturizer and layer it on to help boost hydration and hold in water. Sweet almond oil is a great option, rich in fatty-acids, but extremely gentle. Sweet Almond Oil is our hero ingredient in our Rosehip + Calendula Face Serum.
For oily skin, you need to find an oil that is high in linoleic acid, which is an essential fatty-acid that most oily skin sufferers are low in. Hemp seed oil or Grapeseed oil are both extremely high in linoleic acid and are very fast absorbing. We use these special oils in our Rosehip + Calendula Face Serum and Yarrow Face Serum.
- Yes, even if you have Acne-prone skin, a facial oil can be beneficial
When you get break-outs, this means that your body is over producing its own oil, called sebum. With the right kind of facial oil, you can actually train your skin to calm down on the over-production.
Oils like Jojoba Oil or Meadowfoam Seed oil can actually trick your body into thinking it’s already produced enough oil, because they are so extremely similar to our own sebum. Crazy, right?!
Local tip: We here at The Cedar Nook prefer to use Meadowfoam Seed oil in our formulations because it’s pressed right here in Canada! You can find it in our Moisturizing Meadow Oil and Yarrow Face Serum.
- Facial oils are multi-use!
They don’t always have to be used for their one specific job. Facial oils can be used as a make-up primer, or for touch-ups. You can even add a drop to your foundation to make it last longer.
You can use it on your lips, on a sunburn, on your cuticles post mani/pedi. You can even use it on your hair!
- A little goes a long way.
This is a big one. A well-formulated facial oil should only need a few drops for you to apply smoothly all over. Even if you want to add some into your moisturizer to skip that extra step, you should only need a drop or two for added benefits.
And because these beautiful little bottles of gold are so jam packed with plant nutrients, you will eventually start to realize that you need less skincare products and possibly less make-up in the long run!
