Oils - The power of them inside and out!

Did you know that our body produces oil to help our skin retain its water? Not only that but it also uses this to act as a powerful barrier to the outside world, the skin is the largest organ and its completely exposed to the elements of nature, toxins, air, etc. Picture it like the science experiments we used to do as kids; where you would add oil and water in the same jar and the oil would sit on the surface because it has what’s called, a lower ‘specific gravity’ than water, so sits above the water. This is much like our skin. Many things can damage the body’s ability to protect and provide oils for the skin, detergents are a big one! They strip the oils from our skin; if you have ever experienced that dry tight feeling after you have cleansed your skin, this a good sign that you can be stripping too much of those much-needed oils from the skin's barrier.

So, what Fatty acids make up the barrier of our skin?

Sebum is waxy excrement which is what our body excretes through its sebaceous glands. These microscopic-sized glands sit within the dermis compartmentalized in what is called the Stratum Germinativum and excrete the sebum up through to the outermost layer called the Stratum Corneum. Creating almost a waterproofing effect similar to how people waterproof swede shoes! Weird to think about it like that but its actually incredibly genius. Sebum consists of the following:

• Triglycerides.
• Wax Esters.
• Squalene.
• Free Fatty Acids.

Fun Fact, this doesn’t just occur as we get older and are more prone to the oily imbalances of acne, etc. This is a system developed prior to birth. In the last three months of fetal development, the sebaceous glands are matured and produce what is called Vernix Caseosa. This is a waxy opaque colored coating that protects the surface of the skin from amniotic fluid and overexposure to bugs during the process of birth and a few hours after birth to help create a stronger barrier defense between their sheltered environment of the womb and the outside world.

Looking after the skin with oils –

In your regime of skincare it's important to note two things:

• Water is extremely important; oil does not hydrate the skin but it keeps the hydration in, so keep hydration up.
• Not all oils are created equally, be mindful of the types of oils you are putting on your skin, some can be bound with harmful ingredients and aren’t 100% pure and also have a comedogenic effect, clogging the pores.

Comedogenic Vs Non-Comedogenic

What do these two words mean and why are they so important? Non-Comedogenic is what you want to look for when selecting any topical products for your skin especially your face that tends to have larger pores than the rest of your skin. Non-Comedogenic is best because its far less likely to interact and clog your pores, causing them to widen and dirt to get in causing acne and infection.

The comedogenic scale ranges from: 

0- 5  Zero being the ultimate goal when it comes to Non-Comedogenic to 5 being the most comedogenic and likely to affect your pores.

Where do different oils sit in regards to this rating? Let's have a look...

• Hempseed Oil rating - Zero

• Safflower Oil rating - Zero

• Pomegranate Seed Oil - 1

• Rosemary Essential Oil - 1

• Turmeric Essential Oil - 1

We thought, wouldn’t it make sense to use something so beautifully rich in these amazing oils on our skin!? And the feedback has been incredible! One case study from one of the girls in the office reporting it helped her acne clear up after years of struggling to balance her skins inflammation. You can read this case here.

The ingredients?

• Turmeric Essential Oil.

• Rosemary Essential Oil.

• Hemp seed oil.

• Pomegranate seed oil.

• Safflower Oil.

References: 

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   Urvashi Bhagatcorresponding author and Undurti N. Das corresponding author

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