Going back to basic chemistry, we know that like attracts like. Well this holds true for oil as well. Oil attracts oil, therefore, if our skin is extremely oily applying oil to the skin will actually degrease it. When our skin is dried out from acne medications and harsh cleansers that strip the natural oils from our skin, the skin will overproduce oil to compensate for what it is lacking.
This doesn't mean we slap on loads of oils everyday and go on our merry way. It is important to know that oil should be applied in a specific manner and order for you to get its true benefits. Oils should really only be applied at nighttime because of their weight on the skin. They can be too heavy and give you too much of a sheen for daytime. If you wear makeup you are creating too much slip for the makeup to stay on throughout the day. Nighttime is the perfect time for oils to penetrate into the skin when your body and skin is repairing itself. The order which you apply oil is just as important as when. Oils can be applied alone after your cleanser and toner OR they can be applied on top or mixed in with your moisturizer. You only need 1 to 2 drops of oil. Overdoing it can actually lead to bacteria build up on your skin. How should it be applied? The oil should be dabbed or patted onto the skin the same way you apply a serum.
So now that you know when, how and what order to apply it. Let's talk about which oils are right for YOU. I'm not going to list every oil because there are so many on the market now. This list of oils are the ones I use the most on myself and my clients because I personally love them. But what I love might not be what you love, so feel free to experiment with other oils as well. Argan, macademia, marula, maracuja oil are some other examples of oils commonly used for the skin and hair.
Aging Skin or Dry and Dehydrated skin
Rosehip Seed Oil- This oil has recently taken the internet by storm and for perfectly good reasons. If you haven't noticed from it's name, this oil comes from the seeds of a rose bush and is slightly orange in color. It's packed with antioxidants, vitamins and fatty acids that are very beneficial to the skin. This is a great natural alternative to chemical based moisturizers filled with synthetic ingredients and parabens. It has wonderful moisturizing properties. But if your not willing to ditch your routine yet, you can always add a few drops to your moisturizer for added hydration. With Vitamins A & C this oil has been used to help treat dry, aging and pigmented skin. It can help tighten sagging skin by improving its elasticity, rebuilding collagen, fading hyperpigmentation and minimizing scars, stretch marks and fine lines.
Grapeseed Oil- This has easily become the best carrier oil I have used. It's so lightweight and absorbs easily into the skin. It is rich in beta-carotene and Vitamin D, C & E and also has essential fatty acids: Stearic, Linoleic & Palmitic which makes it great in the treatment of wrinkles and scars. Grapeseed oil also contains Polyphenols which are antioxidants with anti-inflammatory benefits, which makes it a great oil for moisturizing acne prone skin (especially adult acne). It also restores collagen since it contains "OPC" a flavanoid that firms the skin and keeps it youthful. This oil makes a great base oil for oil cleansing as well. My favorite oil cleansing combination is: 1 part castor oil, 2 parts grapeseed oil and 2 drops tea tree oil, 1 drops Vitamin E oil. (Too much castor oil can be very drying, if you're typically dry you may only need a few drops of castor oil).
Acne Prone (Teen-Adult)
Jojoba Oil- This is one of the most useful oils in my opinion. It can be used on any skin type but it's specifically a special oil for acne prone skin. Jojoba is a very unique oil. It is actually a mix of monounsaturated liquid wax esters and it mimics our own sebum. Therefore, it does an amazing job at balancing out the oil production of our skin. It is rich in iodine which fights the bacteria that is responsible for acne (p. acnes). Most bacteria die when coming into contact with jojoba oil. It has a high content of Vitamin E which promotes healthy clear skin. It is also an antioxidant that protects and prevents free radical damage.
Evening Primrose Oil- This oil is especially effective for hormonal acne. Some women suffer from some type of hormonal acne from teen-adult. Evening primrose oil can be used both internally and externally to balance hormones. Applied directly to the skin can have just as many benefits for hormones and acne. It will greatly help reduce inflammation, speeds up the healing of acne, reduces the size of an acne lesion and prevents future acne scars. It helps reduce redness both topically and orally due to it's anti-inflammatory properties. It provides psoriasis relief due to linoleic acid (an omega 6 fatty acid). It's also great at reducing hyper-pigmentation such as melasma and other types of pigment issues are usually caused by hormonal fluctuations and imbalances. This can also be used as a carrier oil for essential oils or for treatment oils (which are explained below).
Treatment Oils
Sea buckthorn oil- This oil comes from the seeds and berries from the sea buckthorn plant. It can be used to reduce many skin conditions including acne, dermatitis, dry skin, eczema and skin ulcers. I love adding a few drops with another oil (jojoba, evening primrose, or rosehip seed) for facial massage or for added benefits as a night moisturizer. It can also be very soothing to treat sunburns.
Tamanu oil- This is by far my favorite "treatment" oil for healing skin conditions such as ingrown hairs, wounds, scars and acne. This special oil comes from a Tahitian tree that contains a green fruit that dries and produces a greenish oil. It is very rich in fatty acids and is very emollient so use sparingly if you are acne prone. I use this oil in with the sea buckthorn oil for my facial massages as well. This oil can be used as a spot treatment for acne: add 1 drop of tamanu and 1 drop of tea tree and apply to a q-tip, dab on acne lesion before bed. As an ingrown hair treatment: 3 drops of tamanu and 2 drops tea tree to a cotton ball and apply to shaved legs or face to prevent and treat ingrown hairs.
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