What do facial oils do exactly?

It might seem counterintuitive to put oil on your face when your face is oily. Wouldn’t that make your skin even more eeky and cause more clogging of your pores?? We are here to say this loud and clear — OIL IS YOUR BEST FRIEND, especially if you have oily skin!

Many people have made a switch to facial oils, and just ask them about how their skin is now glowing everyday. Just a disclaimer though, you have to use an oil that is right for your skin type. We will provide a quick guide below. 

OUR SKIN AND ITS NATURAL BALANCE

Our skin is literally - a big deal. It is the largest organ of our body, and this incredibly flexible and watertight barrier that protects us from bacterial infections and diseases. One way that it does this is by producing a layer of oil to protect us from any external aggressors. A skin that is OIL-BALANCED will result in a glowing complexion. Therefore, the problems start to kick in when this balance goes out of whack.

OIL IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

Your skin needs oil to maintain a healthy balance, otherwise it gets too dry and that can cause a whole range of problems from wrinkles to breakouts. When you switch to a facial oil, you are helping to maintain moisture in your skin and protect it from environmental stresses.

HOW ABOUT OILY SKIN?

Certain oils can help to balance out oil production. The key to this method is to choose an oil that is right for your skin type - which means oils that have smaller molecules and easily absorbed into your skin. Natural plant oils contain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits which will help to clear and cleanse irritated skin. 

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FACIAL OIL FOR YOUR SKIN

Oils have a comedogenic scale (0-5) that measures how easily they can clog pores. This also directly translates to the viscosity of the molecules within each oil. 

0 - widely believed to be non-pore clogging and therefore most suitable for oily and sensitive skin types. 

Examples: Argan, Camellia Seed

1,2 - will not clog pores for most people, but some people will experience breakouts or milia seeds

Examples: Jojoba, Avocado, Rosehip, Evening Primrose

3 - moderate likelihood of clogging pores and breakouts/milia seeds

Examples: Marula, Soy

4,5 - high chance of clogging pores

Examples: Coconut, Palm, Wheatgerm

Therefore, choose the right facial oil for your skin type. Argan is the safest choice you can go for if you have very sensitive and blemish-prone skin. If however you experience some form of dryness, picking a richer oil that may be higher on the comedogenic scale may be necessary to ensure that your skin is fed with sufficient fatty acids and vitamins to keep it moisturised. The oils of 4-5 rating are more suited for use on your body. 

PERFECT PRIMER FOR YOUR MAKE UP

Did you know that facial oils also act as the best primer for your make up? Due to its lipophilic nature, the molecules penetrate skin much quicker than creams and can provide that instant plumping effect!

PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE

As a closing, we want to highlight however that not all oils are created equal. Remember to avoid all mineral oils, and always choose oils that are packaged in dark glass. Dark glass packaging ensures that its contents are protected from sunlight and any potential contamination. Plastic bottles can sometimes leak into the oils and...you don’t want to go there. 

Please drop us a comment below if you have any further questions!