Love your Skin with Oils! Face Oils VS. Face Creams

Not just about following celebrities….

There is good scientific reason why celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Miranda Kerr, who are health and beauty trendsetters, choose to use natural, botanical face oils even though they can certainly afford the most luxurious face creams.  They know that the right face oils that contain essential fatty acids (EFAs) are necessary to keep their skin healthy and glowing, just as oils rich in essential fatty acids are required in their daily diet to keep their bodies healthy.

Women who want to have healthier, more luminous skin without exposure to chemicals, toxins or harsh treatments, should seriously consider adding botanical face oils to their skin care routine.  When you look at young, luminous skin, you are looking at skin at its healthiest- with a healthy lipid (oils) barrier that helps skin retain moisture and prevent dry skin.  Unfortunately, as we age, we produce less of the oils that give our skin that coveted healthy glow. The situation is made worse by our modern diet of processed, nutritionally-deficient foods that accelerates the aging process.

So, your job is to bring healthy lipids back to your skin, by topically applying a high-quality face oil as well as consuming a balanced diet that includes essential fatty acids (EFAs) and antioxidants. And of course, drinking sufficient water and getting enough beauty sleep are equally important for healthy skin.

Are Face Creams effective?

Face creams comprise mainly waxes and water, with a few oils mixed in. Waxes form a layer on the skin which helps to hold moisture in. However, there are two downsides to waxes: wax build up may lead to clogged pores, and the wax barrier may prevent the oil component of the cream (the part of the product that actually benefits skin) from penetrating. This is probably the reason why the effectiveness of creams typically diminish over time. They seem to work well, at first, because they help to retain moisture, but as time goes on the wax barrier may prevent oils from delivering important nutrients, like essential fatty acids and antioxidants to the skin.

Are Face Oils good for you?

Compared to face creams which are synthetic fragrance-based products (sometimes with questionable ingredients), natural botanical face oils deliver all of the benefits with none of the downside. When these oils are applied to the skin, they are absorbed directly into the top layers of the skin, where they instantly work to improve the lipid (oils) barrier function and help skin retain moisture. More often than not, you’ll notice a glow immediately from the first application; this lipid barrier (your environmental protection barrier) will improve further over the next few weeks upon consistent application. Don’t be surprised if your friends start to notice that healthy glow too! As lipid barrier damage happens on a daily basis, so maintaining an effective lipid barrier requires continuous input of lipids to the skin.

Besides protecting the lipid barrier on the skin, face oils also prevent a loss of skin resilience and the formation of wrinkles (caused by oxidative damage).

Are Face Oils suitable for Combination/ Oily skins?

Many Asian women have oily/combination skin types. If one has oily skin, it makes sense not to heap more oil on it, right?  Well, think again. You will be surprised that the right botanical oils CAN actually benefit oily skin by moisturizing it and balancing sebum production.  (Yes, oily skin needs moisture too!).

The conventional wisdom that applying oil clogs pores, causes pimples, whiteheads, blackheads and general ‘oily skin syndrome’ is rather outdated. We are often told that those with oily skin should use oil-free moisturizers or skin products with harsh ingredients. The truth is synthetic additives (present in many moisturizers) can actually clog pores causing acne and blackheads, and stripping skin of its natural oils (by using products with harsh ingredients) will cause skin to overcompensate by producing even more oil.

Pure botanical face oils, on the other hand, have chemical structures that make them easy to be absorbed into the skin, nourishing your skin with important nutrients (such as antioxidants, vitamins, essential fatty acids) and replenishing the essential lipid barrier on the upper layer of your skin.

For oily/combination skin types, plant oils like pure Argan Oil and Jojoba Oil are good choices, as they are lightweight oils known for their moisturizing properties as well as balancing of sebum (oil) production.

How to Choose A High-Quality Botanical Face Oil Suitable For You?

Choose botanical SEED oils that are 100% pure, organic, unrefined and/or first cold-pressed botanical oil, without added fragrances or additives.

For dry or mature skin types, Organic Prickly Pear Seed Oil (aka Barbary Fig Seed Oil) and Organic Rosehip Oil make excellent choices. Prickly Pear Seed Oil, one of the most precious face oils on earth, has the highest Vitamin E antioxidants among all other beauty oils in the market, making it a powerful anti-ager.  Rosehip Oil, on the other hand, contains antioxidants Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Both have good amounts of essential fatty acids that help repair cell membranes. You can mix both oils or alternate the use of each oil without any issues.

For oily/combination/acne-prone skin types, Organic Argan Oil and Organic Jojoba Oil make good lightweight choices; both oils are hydrating and helps balance sebum production. The skin’s sebaceous glands will slow down natural oil production because the skin is replenished with the natural oil it needs to stay healthy. In terms of diet, it is recommended that those who suffer from acne outbreaks cut down on refined sugars (soda, sweetened beverages, etc), refined carbohydrates (white bread, pasta, etc), highly-processed foods (like fast food and junk food), and cow’s milk. Try to incorporate more of whole grains, fish, nuts & seeds, fruits and vegetables into your diet instead.

How to Apply Face Oil

Use it as an intense serum-cum-moisturizer. Massage a few drops of face oil gently into skin after face (including neck area) has been freshly cleansed. Always massage in upward motion. Use of toner and additional night cream is optional. Make sure you exfoliate weekly to remove dead skin cells that can prevent the oil from being absorbed effectively.

For hair : Add a drop of oil to your conditioner for silkier, softer hair. Massage a small amount of oil to tower-dried/dry hair ends to tame frizz and add shine.