U
nless your skin was incredibly dry, oils
were mainly reserved for glossing the
limbs of pop stars in music videos
and providing a laughably low level of sun
protection for holidaymakers in the 1970s. But
things have thankfully changed and the past
decade has seen treatment oils and cleansing
oils go through some intense development to
reach their current incarnation as a serious
beauty contender.
While serums may have the monopoly on
concentrated active ingredients, oils have more
than enough features to make them a worthwhile investment. For starters, botanical oils
have been used for centuries to cleanse and
hydrate the skins of everyone from the Ancient
Egyptians to the Aboriginal people of Australia, and are one of the most impressively
versatile extracts used today. An oil can cleanse,
make-up, even waterproof formulas, better
than any other product without you needing
to scrub and buff your skin into oblivion. An
oil will also go deep within the pores to dissolve the dense pockets of sebum and
bacteria that collect beneath the surface and
will trap harmful pollutants and irritants within
its oily grasp so that all the daily nasties on
your skin can be easily washed away.
So how do you go about incorporating them
into your daily routine? Oils work best when
applied as the very last step in your routine;
usually after moisturiser and before sunscreen
in the morning, and in place of a night cream
in the evening. For dry or mature skins, use
them twice a day if you can but for those with
oilier complexions, save them for your evening
routine only.
To get the most out of your chosen oil, how
To get the most out of your chosen oil, how you apply it is just
as important as when you apply it.
balance, nourish and anti-age the skin, and
because it’s not water based, it can penetrate
the surface layers in the blink of an eye. That
means quick results and instant relief for sufferers of some of the most common skin
concerns including dehydration, uneven
texture and congested pores.
The other beauty of facial oils is the majority
of their benefits are already present. Popular
oils like Jojoba, Rosehip, Argan and Evening
Primrose already possess high levels of essential fatty acids, protective antioxidants and
nourishing emollients, so when these are added
to other oils, extracts, vitamins and botanicals,
you have the makings of a very effective facial
treatment or cleanser.
Yes, oils can be used to cleanse the skin too
and all skin types at that. That little trick of
quickly penetrating the skin we mentioned
earlier? Well that comes in handy during the
cleansing stage of your routine as well. Perfect
for evening cleanses, an oil will break down
you apply it is just as important as when you
apply it. A cleansing oil needs to be massaged
into dry skin (yes, make-up and all) for a few
seconds to not only loosen debris but to stimulate blood flow beneath the surface. This is
what gives the skin a healthy youthful glow.
Then wet your hands and continue to massage
the face to turn the oil into a light milk before
removing everything with a damp face cloth.
For your face oil, don’t rub or smooth it into
the skin like you would a moisturising cream
or lotion. Warm the oil up between your palms
then firmly press and pat it into the skin. You
will be left with a complexion that feels beautifully soft, plump and nourished but
remember, the more you apply the longer it
will take to sink in. This also applies to body
oils, which have the same benefits as a face
oil; just smooth them over semi-damp limbs
after a warm bath to lock in moisture and add
a glossy sheen. Because who doesn’t want to
look like J.Lo circa 2001?
ISSUE #01 | SUMMER 2016 | SkinHealthMagazine.com 21