Let's talk about oils in skin care.
Back in the 90s to the mid 2000s, oils in skincare products was a *huge* no-no. Practically every product on the market boasted of oil free features- moisturizers, makeup removers, and cleansers alike.
Cut to roughly a decade later, and serums, oil treatments, and even oil cleansers have made a huge impact on the skincare industry.
While many have embraced the oil renaissance, there are still many of us who are unclear on the actual benefits of oils in our skincare routines. What does oil actually do?
Firstly, there are two types of oils on the market: wet oils and dry oils.
Wet oils are slower to absorb, and tend to leave a residue on the surface of the skin.
Wet oils prevent what we call transepidermal water loss - or slow release of water molecules (and serum treatments, as well as moisturizer) from your skin cells.
Wet oils are the key of the “sealing” aspect of skincare oils- both in body and face products.
Wet oils seal in any product applied prior to them, and block out any other products or pollution after application. This is why we use oils as the final step in skincare - it locks in and maximizes product absorption.
Wet oils, used in excess, and depending on your skin texture CAN cause clogging and should be used with moderation- especially on oily or combination skin.
Some popular examples are:
- coconut oil
- jojoba oil
- hemp seed oil
- apricot kernel oil
- tamanu oil
Dry oils are oils that are much faster absorbing into your skin than wet oils- usually within minutes.
These oils tend to carry many more benefits that absorb quickly into the mantle of your skin.
These are suggested to:
-Prevent aging, through promoting collagen production to firm the skin and reduce fine lines
-Moisturize, due to the presence of linoleic acid (a fatty acid) - which also re enforces the water barrier of your skin (keeping water in your body and blocking out foreign moisture)
-Many dry oils also are high in various fatty acids, antioxidants, and potentially anti inflammatory properties.
Some popular dry oils:
- sunflower oil
- avocado oil
- rosehip seed oil
- squalene
- evening primrose oil
- grapeseed oil
So, which is better? Dry and wet oils BOTH have benefits, however using them TOGETHER is suggested to be the most beneficial to the skin- it keeps a balance between absorption of key benefits, and locking in moisture and treatments.
Many skin oil products, our Luminous for example, feature both types of oils for that reason.
Luminous features dry oils such as sunflower seed oil, hazelnut oil, neroli oil, and chamomile oil.
We offer Luminous specifically for facial use. Also very popular, is the enchanting Body Veil meant for all over body use. These two products are offered as a duo for a bit of savings as well.