Over the past few years I’ve learned two very important things about skin care: soap is too harsh to be used regularly on the skin and oils are the best moisturizers for your skin. I’ll be talking about the wonders of natural oils today.
Contrary to popular belief, oil as a moisturizer is good for you in many ways. Most people – myself included – have been brought up to believe that oil is bad for your skin because it makes you breakout; hence, most mainstream commercial skin care products are oil-free. However, like dissolves like; therefore, oil dissolves oil. It is important to check the comedogenic rating of the ingredients in your cream to ensure that it is less than two (depending on your skin type) to ensure that the product will not clog your pores. Natural (especially organic) oils not only moisturize your skin but provide many vitamins and nutrients that are beneficial to your skin and your health. For example, argan oil – my absolute favourite carrier oil to use on my face – is one of the best moisturizing agents out there. It has a comedogenic rating of zero, which means that it will not clog pores; plus, it’s super fast-absorbing. It is an antioxidant-rich oil, with high Vitamin E and A, Omega-6 fatty acid (linoleic acid) content. People who have acne-prone skin have low levels of linoleic acid so argan (and any other oils with a high Omega-6 fatty acid content for that matter) can help fix that skin imbalance. For a simple face moisturizer, just massage a few drops of argan oil onto your face.
Before I go, I want to quickly talk about “mineral oils” and petrolatum. You see these ingredients in most mainstream commercial skin care and beauty products (such as Aveeno) as the second ingredient listed. Both are petroleum by-products and yes, they are considered “natural” too (there are both “good” and “bad” natural ingredients!). They are used mainly because they act as occlusive agents to trap moisture in your skin, they have a long shelf life, and they are cheap. There are numerous debates about whether or not this ingredient is carcinogenic, but that is not the focus for the purpose of this piece today. I personally avoid this ingredient though, mainly because it just sits on top of your skin. It traps tiny particles and bacteria in your skin and does not let your skin breathe, nor does not deliver any of the fabulous nutrients and vitamins to your skin like natural carrier and essential oils do. Most importantly, it is bad for the environment.
I’ve honestly noticed a HUGE difference in my skin since I switched to using serums. I apply 2 drops of Lionheads Ultimate Serum and my skin is instantly moisturized without being greasy or heavy. While some people are misinformed about the relationship between oil and skin, others have tried serums but didn’t use them correctly. You must apply on damp skin – that is, after you wash your face or after you apply toner. This allows for easy application and for the serum to be distributed evenly. The other reason why people are hesitant to try serums is because they seem to be expensive. If you use 4 drops a day and a 25ml container provides 500 drops, this means that one little jar will last 125 days or 4 months! The other benefit of using serums instead of creams is that they are undiluted with water or waxes; your skin directly absorbs all of the nutrients and vitamins that the oils provide. Plus no preservatives are required and they last way longer than creams which are water-based!
Since I made the switch to serums, my skin is noticeably smoother, healthier looking, and more supple. You should try it! PS. Lionheads now offers a 10ml size for all serums.
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