The oil-based skincare revival
You may have noticed the rise, or perhaps we should say the revival, of oil-based skin care products on the market. If the skincare and beauty industry wasn’t already confusing enough, we now are left wondering whether we should be focusing our attention on anhydrous or waterless products. Like any new trend, it is probably a good idea to know the benefits of what is in the pretty bottle of oil you have purchased and whether it is something suitable for your unique skin type.
The use of oil in skincare and beauty takes us back to the ancient world. Richly scented oils were desired by the wealthy to improve their appearance, to treat skin problems and to be used in religious rituals that connected them to the gods. The rise of society’s obsession with cleanliness thanks to the marketing genius of the soap companies in the 1930s meant that body and face oils took a back seat in the skincare and beauty space. People became used to squeaky clean skin and oil became the enemy. Big Brand Beauty perpetuated this idea by downgrading the use of oils (which are still part of most products on the market) and selling the idea that water-based skin care, in the form of light moisturisers and lotions, was best for hydrating skin.
The revival of oil-based products coincided with the organic movement; people began looking for alternatives to the artificial, synthetic, unhealthy, and often unnecessary ingredients in our consumables. Without the need for fillers, stabilisers, and potentially harmful preservatives, it finally became oil-based skincare’s time to shine.
There is far more to oil-based products that simply avoiding the nasty ingredients. The natural chemical compounds found within cold pressed plant oils called fatty acids are vital for survival, health, and wellbeing, both inside the body and on the skin. Fatty acids provide insulation and shock absorption, are a source of vitamins and energy and are also essential for healthy cell growth.
Oil based skincare is not just for certain skin types. For dry skin, the greatest challenge is repairing the damaged upper layer and ensuring that the skin not only receives nourishing moisture but retains it. Richer oils such as avocado oil stay on the skin longer and work with the body’s natural processes to heal the damaged skin barrier. It is a common misconception that using oil on oily skin will exacerbate problems such as further block pores or result in a greasy complexion. In fact, oily skin often overproduces oil because it is damaged and in need of deep hydration and by applying oil to the skin, natural oil production is reduced.
Well formulated oil-based skin care products help dissolve debris and unwanted oils. Their heavier texture may take some getting used to and they don’t provide the squeaky-clean feel like a foaming or exfoliating cleanser, but they do support a healthy pH and can help correct oil balance for a glowing, luminous complexion that cannot be achieved by other types of products.
Oil based products offer more value for money. Water-based products can contain between 2-25% water, which can evaporate before your skin can make use of it. With oil-based skincare products you are paying only for the oils themselves. Without water they do not need emulsifiers and often add the double duty active ingredient of Vitamin E to nourish the skin as well as extend the shelf life of their product.
Oil based products can include cleansers, face oils, serums, and balms. There have been so many advancements in ingredient additives for oil-based products in recent years which offer a whole range of benefits but there are also many that have simply looked to the delicate yet potent oils and infusions that have served the skincare test of time.
As Avocado growers we love our avocados and avocado oil but read why dermatologists recommend using avocado oil in your daily beauty routine here.
We would also recommend you are fussy with your oil-based products as they are not all what they seem. Read why organic cold-pressed avocado oil is our hero ingredient and superior to other cosmetic grade avocado oil on the market. (Avocado Oils Ain’t Avocado Oils)
Want to know how you can use Carbine Ridge Avocado Balm 10 ways? Read this.