Natural Beauty: 4 Facial Oils To Boost Your Glow

Why We Love Facial Oils

We love, love, LOVE facial oils here at The Clean Beauty Edit. They are a firm favourite because they can make an immediate difference to the look and health of the skin. In fact, we like to think of them as the ultimate skincare secret. Why is that, you ask? Because when you compare them to a cream moisturiser, you need very little - just a few drops after cleansing will leave skin luminous, soft and plump, needing less make up and skincare products overall. We find that our skin looks so glowy and healthy when using oils that we end up using less make up too, and the oils tend to be so versatile that they can also be used on hair, lips, eyes and cuticles too (cutting out the need for separate products and streamlining our bathroom shelf).

Facial oils will help to calm, hydrate and brighten the skin and are ideal for sealing in water and forming an additional protective barrier, especially during the colder, harsher months. The reason facial oils have endured for thousands of years (the ancient Egyptians loved Moringa Oil), is that they are easily available, visibly effective and you can usually see some benefit immediately after use. You have got to love the texture too which feels wonderfully luxurious and comforting on the skin, meaning that those who love using facial oils usually remain very loyal to their favourites, buying them time and time again.  

 

How They Work

Your natural skin barrier, the stratum corneum, is the outermost layer of your skin, responsible for keeping moisture locked in and free radicals, pollutants, UV rays and irritants out. When it is working well skin looks healthy, even and plump. When skin starts to lose moisture (due to aging, dehydration, poor nutrition or environmental factors) this natural protective barrier becomes compromised and it opens the door to a host of potential problems, so keeping the skin barrier working well is crucial to overall skin health and radiance. As skin ages, the barrier becomes more delicate and thins leaving skin more prone to dehydration, sensitivity, environmental harm, and signs of aging.

Botanical oils are an easy way to create an additional barrier layer because they are high in essential fatty acids which penetrate the cells of the skin and help to lock in moisture. The oils are rich in antioxidants too which can work in conjunction with other important natural skingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid (which helps to further retain hydration and skin plumpness).

 

Oil vs Cream

Cream moisturisers can contain a combination of waxes, water, botanical extracts and oils. The waxes tend to seal in the moisture but they can also clog pores and seal out some of the oils, water and ingredient benefits so they don’t work as efficiently as an oil. With an oil there are usually less ingredients to contend with, while the ingredients that are there are often very high-quality and they all sink right in to the deepest layers, locking the good stuff in and keeping toxins and other pollutants and irritants out. Plant-based formulations usually contain a natural blend of antioxidants, essential fatty acids and polyphenols to help skin perform its natural function, delivering nutrients down through its many layers. If oils are more expensive than creams it’s usually down to the high level of nutritious ingredients included, all combined without the additions of water, fillers and preservatives. As one usually needs less product when using an oil, and because the quality of the ingredients is so high, they often work out at much better value when you consider longevity and results.

 

Suitable For All Skin Types?

Brilliant for all skin types, facial oils are ideal for dry, dehydrated and aging skin, but they are also beneficial for oily and blemish-prone skin as the essential fatty will help to form a protective barrier against pollution, bacteria and other aggressors while the high level of nutritious antioxidants and beneficial ingredients will help to manage sebum levels, and soften and heal the skin better than harsh scubs and treatments. It might seem counter-intuitive to use oil on oily skin but, in all but the most extreme cases, oils will help to improve the health of your skin and control oil without stripping or disrupting PH levels. If you skip using moisturiser on oily skin because you are afraid you might break out you risk sending your sebum levels into overdrive exasperating your existing problems.

 

When to apply

Oils are ideal for night-time, as there is plenty of time for the ingredients to sink deep into the layers of the skin overnight, ensuring that you wake up with luminous, radiant skin in the morning. You can also use a facial oil as a base layer for very dry skin and add another cream moisturiser over it to increase benefits and hydration.

A light layer of oil can also be used in the morning as a moisturising primer before your make up, on specific dry patches, and added to your favourite cosmetics to boost glow. 

 

Our Favourites

 

Nunaїa Nourishing Radiance Serum, €79

Best for: Dull, dry skin

Key features: This luxurious, 99.5% organic oil contains a potent combination of superfood ingredients to deeply nourish and restore the skin. Sacha Inchi, a powerhouse ingredient from the Amazon rainforests that is clinically proven to promote skin cell regeneration and resist free radical damage. Maracuja is a powerful antioxidant botanic concentrate that will help to brighten skin and stimulate collagen production. Chia contains high levels of Omega’s 3 & 6, and the serum has them in ideal ratios to promote optimal skin health. Avocado contains natural fatty acids that are very similar in their composition to skin’s own sebum, and these fatty acids sink deep into the layers of the skin to lock in moisture. It is also packed with skin-friendly Vitamins E and A.

It helps to balance the skin's natural moisture levels, reduce redness and the appearance of inflammation, while also enhancing skin tone and texture.

 

Evolve Organic Beauty Miracle Facial Oil, €36

Best for: Aging skin

Key features: This is a lightweight oil that is perfect for dry and mature skin as it contains natural retinol from Organic Rosehip and also antioxidants from Organic Argan oil which will help to regenerate and revive skin. Organic Blackseed oil nourishes and reduces signs of redness and irritation.

 

Olio E Osso Finishing Oil, €140

Best for: Sensitive skin, redness  

Key features: This magnificent oil contains a combination of minimally processed natural oils that are extremely rich in antioxidants, phytosterols, vitamins E, C, A & K, as well as Omega’s 6 & 9. The nourishing formulation is very pure and contains only natural oils, including Avocado oil, to deeply nourish and calm the skin so it is ideal for even the most sensitive among us.  

 

Antipodes Divine Face Oil, €27

Best for: Aging and damaged skin

Key features: We love this sumptuous, soothing oil to help us create glowing, soft skin. The Avocado oil boosts collagen and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, scars and age spots. Rosehip oil contains high levels of skin-friendly vitamins A&C and also essential fatty acids, while it can also further to help to reduce the appearance of scars and aging.

 

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