06 Jul 2020
Anuji Gunasekara
Skincare 101
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What You Should Know About Face Oil

Face Oil: Sought after skincare secret?

Though the history of the face oil dated back to the Cleopatra era, it was recognized as a no-go product until the recent past. But over the past few years, face oils are becoming popular and securing prestigious shelf space. Now, face oils are considered as the decent and luxurious elixir, often formulated to work with plant-based oils that can sink deep into the skin.

What do facial oils do?

Our skin naturally produces oils - known as sebum. But, this process slows down significantly with age. However, the skin still needs oil to maintain a healthy balance; otherwise, it becomes dry, leading to tired and matured texture. At this point, facial oil serves as an extra level of protection while strengthening the lipid barrier and softening the outer layer of the skin - the stratum corneum.

Moreover, face oil attuned with the goodness of botanical actives, the potential benefits are countless making it a bonafide addition in your daily skincare routine. A couple of additional benefits, apart from an extra dose of hydration offered are shown below.

What are the benefits of using botanical face oil?

1. Nourishes and revitalizes the skin

Plant oils provide highest undiluted nourishment, in the form of vitamins, phytosterols, and essential fatty acids. For examples,

Apricot kernel oil features more polyunsaturated acids that protect the skin's natural oil barrier, thereby keeping skin hydrated, plumper, and younger-looking.
Marula oil is beneficial for smoothing and softening fine lines & wrinkles, and keeping skin hydrated and well-nourished due to the high content of L-arginine and glutamic acid.
Jojoba oil assists in skin repair and damage control to preserve the vitality of the skin, thanks to the Vitamin E and B-complex in it.

2. Protects against sun damage

Marula oil shields against the harsh sun as it is made up of antioxidants including phenolic compounds and vitamins E & C, which neutralize free radicals and prevent skin damage caused by the harmful ultraviolet ray.
Rosehip oil has antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E that can combat synergistically against visible sun damage and prevent photoaging.

3. Skin soother

Many botanical oils such as jojoba, rosehip, and evening primrose contain compounds that help soothe and calm inflamed skin.

Jojoba oil possesses anti-inflammatory properties which help to relieve chapping, reduce redness, ease the effects of skin conditions such as psoriasis, or dermatitis.
Evening primrose oil is rich in omega-6 fatty acids which facilitates the healing process and calms inflammation.
Marula oil has β-sitosterol, and Δ5-avenasterol that provide potent anti-inflammatory action, reduce skin redness, and alleviate irritation while complementing sensitive skin.

4. Balances the skin

Botanical oil contains a wealth of Linoleic Acid & Vitamin A that is readily absorbed by the skin while balancing sebum production and greasiness that is linked with acne-prone skin. A good example is jojoba oil, it is similar to sebum, it signals to sweat follicles that your skin doesn't need additional sebum for hydration thereby reducing congested pores.

5. Brightens and enhances the complexion

Oil such as rosehip has natural exfoliators that can help reduce dullness and leave you with glowing, vibrant skin. Moreover, plant high in vitamins A (retinol) and C promotes skin cell turnover and cell regeneration while enhancing the complexion.

Do face oils go on before or after moisturizer?

If your face oil is lightweight and made of unsaturated oils, then it is best to apply it to the skin and allow it to sink in before slathering moisturizer because light unsaturated oils are more penetrative.

Other things you may want to know when choosing a face oil:

Lightweight and Unsaturated Oils: Choose a lightweight and unsaturated face oil (rich in the likes of linoleic acid), which is non-comedogenic (doesn't clog pores) and can be readily absorbed and penetrated deeply into the skin, as it works mainly from within assisting in rebuilding the lipid layers.
Antioxidant Ingredient: Make sure it includes a powerful antioxidant like vitamin E in the oil for slowing down the oxidation.
Packaging: Make sure to choose a face oil that comes in an opaque or dark glass bottle to prevent UV infused free radical forming which can generate aging free radicals and even cellular damage.

Hope you find this useful. Comment below if you incorporate any face oil products into your skincare routine.

Reference:

Anuji Gunasekara

Chimiste Cosmétique / Formulation

M.Sc. en microbiologie médicale, B.Sc. en sciences appliquées (majeure en chimie et botanique) et plus de 8 ans d'expérience industrielle. Au cours de sa carrière, elle a formulé plus de 600 nouveaux produits, reformulé des produits existants et créé des études expérimentales pour résoudre des problèmes lors de projets.