What are the categories of skin care oils? What are the effects and uses of skin care oils?

Skin care oils are very popular nowadays, and many big brands have launched skin care oils to seize the market. If you don’t know how to choose and use skin care oil, how dare you buy it? Today I will share with you how to choose and use several common skin care oils on the market.

What are the categories of skin care oils?

There is no exact definition of skin care oil. All skin care products with oily texture can be counted as skin care oil. Just like the water, lotion and cream we are familiar with, the distinction is basically made based on texture and touch.

The main ingredient of skin care oil is oil, a natural mixture of fatty acids, glycerides, squalane and other ingredients. According to the source of the oil, it can be divided into skin care oil with mineral oil as the main ingredient and skin care oil with plant oil as the main ingredient:

For example, Johnson's baby oil is basically a large bottle of mineral oil. Of course, you can use this oil to massage your baby because it can reduce friction; you can also use it to dissolve baby's dandruff. However, since mineral oil is not easily absorbed, skin care oils with a very high proportion of mineral oil are not recommended as daily products.

In fact, good skin care oils are basically based on plant oils as the main ingredients, among which there are mainly two types: single base oil and compound essence oil.

1. Many base oils can be used directly for skin care

Like essential oils, carrier oils are also a term used in aromatherapy.

When we usually talk about essential oils, we generally refer to single-ingredient plant essential oils. However, most plant essential oils cannot be used directly on the skin (only tea tree essential oil and lavender essential oil can be used in moderation). They need to be "diluted" with plant oils that are mild and non-irritating to the skin and also have skin care effects - the plant oil that "dilutes" the essential oil is the carrier oil.

Many base oils can be used directly for skin care. The more common ones are olive oil, argan oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, grape seed oil, etc.

2. The compound essence oil has a more obvious skin care effect than the single base oil

In terms of ingredient composition, some plant skin care oils only contain base oils, while some skin care oils are made up of multiple ingredients. On the basis of one or several base oils, a variety of essential oils and other oil-soluble functional ingredients are added.

Depending on the added ingredients, skin care oils also have different functions and focuses, just like some creams focus on moisturizing while others can whiten.

Overall, the changes that the compound essence oil developed and formulated by the brand will bring to the skin will be more effective and obvious than skin care oil with a single base oil ingredient.

▍Recommended skin care oil

Since mineral oil is not easily absorbed, we will just talk about vegetable oil.

Single base oil

Since the length of fatty acid carbon chains and the degree of fatty acid saturation of different skin care oils are different, this also determines the different skin feels and applicable skin types.

For example, olive oil is made up of 15% saturated fatty acids and 85% unsaturated fatty acids; coconut oil is just the opposite, 85% saturated fatty acids and 15% unsaturated fatty acids.

Knowing this, you will know which oils are more friendly to dry skin.

Not suitable for dry skin:

Almond oil, almond oil, castor oil, avocado oil, olive oil. These oils are better suited for normal skin. They act as occlusives, so if the skin is dry to begin with, it will be difficult for additional moisturizers to get close enough to have a protective effect.

Dry skin is more suitable for:

Palm oil, coconut oil, argan oil. These oils contain more medium- and long-chain fatty acids, which act as lubricants, binding oil and moisture to the skin and providing a moisturizing effect.

There are three most popular skin care oils on the market: coconut oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil.

Coconut Oil: Best for Young/Dry/Non-Acne Skin

Coconut oil is a good source of saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and lauric acid. It is known as gold for the digestive tract and is very suitable for consumption if you don’t mind the calories.

If used for skin care, coconut oil is relatively gentle and even suitable for babies. Studies have also found that the antibacterial and moisturizing effects of crude coconut oil can treat contact dermatitis and burns.

But at the same time, because coconut oil contains ingredients that clog pores, some people who are afraid to use Vaseline and mineral oil also hate coconut oil. So remember! Be sure to use it after cleansing your skin!

If you have dry skin, after using it for a month you will find that your skin's moisture and oil content are significantly improved and your skin becomes softer. But if you have medium or oily skin, don’t blame others if the beans burst and the mouth becomes dull and closed at the end.

Jojoba Oil: Best for Normal, Acne-Prone Skin (If You Must Use Oil)

Jojoba oil, known as liquid gold, has the most similar chemical molecular arrangement structure to human sebum among all oils. It has a light texture, is both hydrophilic and lipophilic, and is easily absorbed by the skin.

Because jojoba oil is similar to natural sebum, after using jojoba oil, the skin will mistakenly think "I already produce so much oil", and will stop secreting more oil, moisturizing and achieving water-oil balance at the same time. At the same time, it can also enhance the skin's own moisturizing and repairing abilities.

Studies have shown that after use, jojoba oil can spread moderately on the surface of the skin and play a moisturizing role. It also has special chemical molecules that speed up the penetration of other skin care products, such as benzoyl peroxide or retinol, which helps to remove acne.

Argan Oil: Best for Normal Skin with Signs of Aging

Because it contains more vitamin E, linoleic acid and oleic acid, argan oil is very effective in protecting the skin, improving skin elasticity and brightening the skin tone. But most argan oil products on the market are not what you think.

It is difficult to buy pure argan oil without careful investigation. Because making pure argan oil is time-consuming and expensive, many manufacturers mix it with other oils such as olive oil.

If you really want to use argan oil, you need to first make sure that there is only "argan oil" on the ingredient list. Some companies will add extra minerals and vitamins, and then change the ingredient list to "macadamia oil" to fool you.

The only downside is that the argan oil is too thick. Oily skin and acne-prone skin should stay away from it.

Summarize:

Coconut oil is suitable for young normal/dry skin

Jojoba oil is suitable for medium/oily skin of all ages

Argan oil is suitable for mature skin/medium skin/dry skin

Please remember: using too much of any skin care oil will cause harm, and a dime-sized amount is enough for your face.

Compound essential oil

This type of oil often comes from major brands. Here are a few popular ones.

HABA Squalane Pure Beauty Oil

Reference price: 120 yuan/15mL

Squalane is the lipid that is closest to human sebum. It has antioxidant properties, is compatible with most skin care products, and can accelerate the penetration of active ingredients in the formula into the skin. HABA's oil has good ductility and a light texture. It does not contain pigments, preservatives, fragrances, mineral oils, or surfactants. It is perfect for people with sensitive skin to use in combination with other moisturizing or functional essences in winter.

Clarins Orchid Face Treatment Oil

Reference price: 450 yuan/30mL

Clarins' flagship product is a combination of essential oils extracted from various plants. It not only deeply moisturizes dry skin, prevents dry lines and fine lines, but also brightens dull skin tone. Generally in winter, add 3 drops after using toner, warm it up and apply it on your face and massage until it is absorbed.

Kiehl's Night Repair Serum

Reference price: 450 yuan/30mL