How to pick the right face oil?

While oil and skin sound like an unlikely pairing, a face oil can actually be the solution to easy maintenance of healthy skin.

Before you start wondering, why you would add oil to your face, you should know that many skincare products that you already use, also have oils in them. Most moisturizers, lotions, any skincare product that helps retain moisture and creates a protective layer on your skin, uses some form of oil to do so. 

But with so many face oils available in the market, how do you know which one is the right face oil for your skin’s health? 

First, let’s understand what is a Face Oil?

A face oil is generally one or more oils that are blended together to support the skin’s health. It is applied in small quantities, is typically non-sticky and gets absorbed quickly into the skin. Depending on the combination of oils selected in the formulation, the face oil can have many different benefits. 

What is the science behind a Face Oil?

Face Oils work in three ways on the skin

1. Emollient: As an emollient face oils help the stratum corneum - the outer layer of the epidermis. The fatty acids moisturize and keep the skin feeling soft and smooth. 
2. Occlusive: As an occlusive face oils actually become a protective layer on top of the skin. They lock and actually extend the hydration of your skin. It supports the reduction of transepidermal water loss.
3. Topical: Based on the type of face oil selection, it can help with specific skin concerns as well. If the oils selected have high antioxidants, it will support faster skin repair and reduce damage. If it has anti-inflammatory oils then it can help soothe irritated skin and so on. 

Does a Face Oil suit all skin types?

Yes, face oil can suit all skin types, including oily skin!

Of course for dry skin, facial oil is a miracle worker because it can replenish and nourish instantly. It is an absolute must morning and night. 

For normal and combination skin as well, a facial oil is perfectly suitable. This is because it helps protect and preserve the existing moisturization. And depending on the ingredients it can deliver so many other nutrients and vitamins directly to your outer skin layer. This can result in boosted glow, healthier skin, faster repair of dark spots or fine lines. Additionally, for people who use the AC alot in their daily routine having normal or combination skin, a face oil can help your skin from drying out. Many mix it in their make-up foundation or use it as a base before going to work. 

For oily skin, although it may seem counterintuitive to add oil, it would be interesting to note that the skin is an organ that can understand very quickly what it needs and adjust accordingly. Generally, when your skin is producing too much oil it is doing so because it is trying to cover up for a lack of hydration. However, by applying oil on it you can actually control and balance the oil production. Try it for yourself and let us know!

How to pick the right face oil?

To find the right face oil always work backwards from your skin objective. What does your skin need? 

• Is your skin drying out?
• Do you feel your skin looks dull and unhealthy?
• Is your skin repair taking too long? Dark spots taking ages to go away?
• Are you looking to slow down your wrinkles and fine lines?
• Is your skin too irritated and needs soothing?

Based on your objective, find an oil that has the right ingredients. Different oils contribute different benefits to your skin. 

Here are some ingredients that you can look out for in your face oil:

Acai Berry Oil: This extraordinary oil is extracted from the Acai fruit, renowned for its high concentration of antioxidants, ferulic acid and epicatechin that support the lightening and controlling of pigmentation and fine lines. Rich in palmitic and stearic acid it has a naturally occuring moisturizing effect on the skin. Vit C and Anthocyanin content ensure anti-inflammatory properties.

Argan Oil: Containing a magnificent array of essential fatty acids with a 0 comedogenic rating, Argan Oil replenishes moisture and locks it in leaving skin feeling soft and supple . Argan Oil also has a form of Vit E in it's natural composition, adding antioxidant properties that help protect against environmental damage.

Moringa Seed Oil: Moringa Seeds Oil is rich in Vitamin A, C and E giving it potent antioxidant properties. It's skin barrier repair functions come from it's Oliec acid content, a fatty acid that reduces moisture loss keeping the skin hydrated. Moringa Seed Oil also has a calming, anti-inflammatory effect on the skin because of plant sterols and amino acid content.

Turmeric Root Oil : Turmeric Root promotes healthy and soothed skin. It is a natural inflammation blocker because of its circumin content. It also has a number of antioxidants like the lipophilic, polyphenolic antioxidant pigment that helps repair damaged skin, restoring a healthy glow.

How to add a Face Oil to my skincare routine?

A face oil is quite versatile in it’s usage. 

It can be used in the morning routine, night time routine, for face massages and tools, as well as in your makeup. 

Morning Routine: Use your face oil as the last step of skincare, before sunscreen, it can even replace your moisturizer. 

Nighttime Routine: Use your face oil as the last step of skincare before you go to bed. Wake up to soft, happy skin!

Makeup: Use it as a base/primer or you can even mix it into your oil based foundation to get a dewy glow.

Face Massage and Tools: Face oils add the perfect slip you need to enjoy a face massage, use a Gua Sha, a Jade Roller or your fingers to rejuvenate and sculpt your face. 

The right face oil can be your best friend when it comes to achieving smoother, clearer and more youthful-looking skin. Don't worry too much about picking a specific face oil, just make sure that it has the right ingredients for your skin concern and type. Brands like Orrganic Elemennt have created multi-purpose face oils that can tackle multiple skin concerns with one product. You can have a look at it here: https://orrganicelemennt.com/