THE BENEFITS OF THE OILS FOR THE SKIN
IN RECENT YEARS, WE HAVE SEEN THE USE OF VEGETABLE OILS FOR SKIN CARE IN MANY COSMETIC RANGES.
CHARME D’ORIENT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS MINIMALIST APPROACH TO BEAUTY, THANKS TO THE PERFORMANCE OF ITS FACE AND BODY OILS.
HERE’S AN ARTICLE BY LUCIE MARCHAND ON THE UNIVERSPHARMACIE.FR WEBSITE EXPLAINING THE USE OF OILS AND THEIR FUNCTIONS.
By Lucie Marchand
Oils have taken the cosmetics market by storm. Whether used pure or as part of a skincare product, they have many virtues and can be adapted to your different needs. Vegetable oils, essential oils, organic or non-organic, oil complexes? It’s hard to choose… Today, we’re going to help you make the right choice by taking a look at different oils, their qualities and how to use them.
What’s the difference between vegetable oils and essential oils?
Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil is a fatty liquid derived from hot or cold-pressed oil seeds or fruits. The fluid, oily texture of vegetable oil can be applied to both skin and hair. There are many vegetable oils with different cosmetic properties. Unlike essential oils, vegetable oils are not contraindicated for pregnant women. Once you’ve read through this article, all you have to do is choose the vegetable oil that suits you best!
Essential Oil
Essential oils have only the name in common with vegetable oils. The creation process is completely different. There are 3 types of distillation: hydro-distillation, cold pressing of fruit pericardium (citrus) or oleoresins. The essential oil is the essence of different parts of the plant, such as the bark, leaves or flowers.
There are a large number of essential oils, and the same goes for their virtues. They can be purifying, soothing, relaxing, astringent, anti-inflammatory and so on. Some essential oils are perfectly suited to skin care. Others are recommended for internal use.
And what’s the difference with oily macerate?
Oily macerates are produced using a different extraction technique, which involves macerating plants in vegetable oil. The texture is generally thicker and greasier.
Why use a vegetable oil and how to choose the right one?
Vegetable oils contain fatty acids that penetrate the cell walls of the epidermis. The skin is strengthened. The excess oil on the surface can form a film that prevents the epidermis from becoming dehydrated. But be careful not to apply too much! You could prevent your skin from breathing.
The best plant oils for the skin are those rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Choose vegetable oils because they have a very good affinity with the epidermis and provide vitamins, omega 3 and 6 and antioxidants. The most commonly used vegetable oils are argan oil and sweet almond oil. You can also enjoy the benefits of jojoba oil, which is gentle on the skin and hair and suitable for all the family. It’s best to choose organic products.
It’s a good idea to find out exactly what you need and which oil is best for you, as some may not be suitable for the skin on your body or face.
Which oil for which need?
Depending on the oil you choose to use, you can either apply it pure to clean skin or mix it with your daily moisturiser. Here are a few examples of oils classified according to your different needs.
Dry Skin
Your skin is naturally prone to dryness. Sometimes it’s the outside world that attacks the skin: cold, wind, sand, sea, etc. Other causes of dry skin include poor nutrition and hydration, and certain skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema. Certain medical treatments can also dry out your skin. Most plant oils are perfectly suited to dry skin. At the top of the list are :
• ultra-nourishing Sweet Almond oil;
• Calendula oily macerate;
• regenerating Argan oil;
• Avocado oil;
• Borage oil;
• Monoï oil;
• Sesame oil;
• Nigella oil;
• wheat germ oil;
• Chaulmooga oil.
Oily Skin
When you have oily skin, you naturally want to avoid applying a vegetable oil to your face. Some of them are not recommended, while others have a fabulous effect on combination and/or oily skin.
Jojoba oil is ideal for oily skin. What makes it so? Its structure is very similar to the sebum produced by your body. So it helps to balance sebum production. Non-comedogenic, it won’t clog pores and lets your skin breathe. And what other oils are useful for oily skin? Well, we have grapeseed oil, argan oil, rose hip oil and hazelnut oil.
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is skin that is reactive to certain situations or products. It does not really correspond to a skin type, as you can, for example, have oily and sensitive skin. When your skin is hyper-reactive, it means that it has exceeded its tolerance threshold. Several factors can make skin sensitive: hormonal changes, stress, use of aggressive products, lack of hydration, the weather, etc.
If your skin is sensitive, you may experience the following discomforts: tightness, redness, inflammation, discomfort, tingling, overheating, itching, etc. To prevent further damage to your skin, you need to adopt specific skin care products, protect your skin and strengthen its cutaneous barrier.
Here is a selection of oils particularly recommended for sensitive skin:
• Apricot kernel oil is the most effective oil for caring for sensitive skin. Rich in oleic and linoleic acids, it has softening and emollient properties. It also reinforces the
skin’s hydrolipidic film.
• Camelina oil, with its anti-inflammatory properties, is ideal for sensitive skin. It is rich in omega 6 and 9, strengthening the skin’s natural barrier.
• Nigella oil is rich in fatty acids. It soothes skin irritations, reduces the appearance of redness.
• Plum oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, essential for protecting sensitive skin.
Mature Skin
As the years go by, cell renewal in the epidermis slows down. As a result, the skin can lack elasticity and tone. Age marks the skin differently: wrinkles, fine lines, dehydrated and dry skin, dark spots, dilated pores…
To care for mature skin, the most effective plant oils for combating the signs of ageing are :
• Prickly pear seed oil, evening primrose oil and rose hip oil for their antioxidant and anti-ageing properties
• Argan oil for skin elasticity.
• linseed oil for cell regeneration,
• Daisy oil to tighten skin tissue and firm skin.
Eczema
Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes a lot of itching. To relieve the urge to scratch, certain plant oils are ideal for eczema.
Calophylla oil softens the skin, relieves inflammation and promotes healing. Evening Primrose oil softens, moisturizes, soothes and regenerates your skin. Borage oil is softening, soothing and regenerating. Safflower oil soothes atopic skin thanks to its nourishing and lipid-replenishing properties.
What about essential oils?
As mentioned above, vegetable oils and essential oils are completely different. Essential oils are concentrates of aromatic substances, soluble in oil. They complement the use of vegetable oils very well, but they are not without toxicity. Essential oils are not recommended for children under the age of 6 or for pregnant or breast-feeding women. Use them with caution, observing all precautions and diluting with a neutral base.
Choose the right essential oil and combine it with a plant oil: your skin problem will be better treated. For example, Tea Tree essential oil is ideal for oily skin with imperfections. You can also try the anti-ageing benefits of clary sage oil. Another tip: add a little Wintergreen essential oil to your massage oil to soothe your muscles and joints. To combat heavy legs, use the freshness of peppermint essential oil.
As you can see, plant oils and essential oils are invaluable tools for caring for your skin. There are so many to choose from, with so many different properties, you’re bound to find something to suit you.
AUTHOR: LUCIE MARCHAND Lucie has been writing content since the early days of the universpharmacie.fr blog. With a wealth of experience in the parapharmacy sector, she has joined our team to bring new knowledge, advice and other fun-facts to our articles. Lucie’s speciality is scouring the health, wellbeing and beauty news of the moment to find the subjects that speak to our readers.
An outstanding writer, she enjoys researching a subject for hours on end, finding reliable sources and accurate information to produce high-quality content that is accessible to all and easy to understand.
Lucie’s bonus: As the mother of 3 children, Lucie has taken a serious look at all issues relating to the health and well-being of toddlers and mums alike. On the program: everyday problems, tips to make life easier for parents… She’s a wellspring of good advice on these types of subjects and loves being able to share her knowledge with others and through universpharmacie.fr. This article was written by Lucie Marchand and published on 1 July 2022 on the UniversPharmacie.fr website.
