The Most Common Oil or Wax in your Facial Oil

The primary reason for writing the blog The essential guide to Fatty Acids, is so that I can analyse FACIAL OILS as a product category. Current thoughts are facial oils are extremely expensive; their are so many of them and how do you find the best option for your skin.

That is my quest. To help you find the best facial oil for your skin type. Before that, hours and hours of homework. My journey began with the blog above. In summary, fatty acids are synthesised in the epidermis (top layer of the skin) and are absolutely necessary for normal, healthy barrier function of the skin. The epidermis doesn’t produce sufficient fatty acids, so topical applications work. Importantly, there are some fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6) fatty acids that cannot be synthesised by our bodies. These “essential fatty acids” are contained in some oils and topical application of them only helps our skin.

Today’s blog: the most common oils in facial oils.

My method is outlined below, but in a nutshell for 64 facial oils (including a few cleansing oils), I identified the following oils as being the most common.

For example, Jojoba Oil appears in 35 out of 64 oils. That is, 55% of facial oils contain Jojoba Oil.

Why are these ingredients being used?

Sweet Orange Oil and Lavender Oil are being used mainly for the aroma. That leaves eight other oils and in a nutshell this is why they are being used:

1) Sunflower Seed Oil

• Topically applied sunflower seed oil (250mg) has been demonstrated to increased the Linoleic Acid content of the epidermis and enhances skin barrier recovery. This results in barrier repair, reduced water loss (or trans-epidermal water loss) from the skin, which in turn reduces skin drynessm scaliness. All this happens with 2 weeks of application of sunflower seed oil.
• Cheap, Colourless and is a medium absorbing oil
• Sunflower oil contains higher linoleic acid than olive oil.
• Sunflower seed oil has been shown to preserve SC integrity and improve hydration of the adult skin (making it an excellent emollient)

2) Grape seed Oil

• Rich in anti-oxidants; is a fast absorbing oil
• Grape seed oil has Reseveratrol, which exhibits anti-microbial properties.
• HIGH in Linoleic Acid, Vitamin E and anti-oxidants, all of which are fantastic for the skin

3) Jojoba Oil

• Ironically, Jojoba Oil is a liquid wax and not per se an oil.
• Is known to be “skin-identical,” which means that its composition is similar to that of the skin’s actual sebum.
• Its used because it very moisturising; is an excellent non-animal alternative and does not leave a greasy feel on the skin.

4) Rosemary Oil

This is also used for its aroma. If I find anything different I will update this blog.

5) Rose Hip Seed Oil

• Primary anti-aging oil because it contains Retinoic Acid (a form of Vitamin A) ant this may smooth wrinkles by hydrating the skin and reducing signs of ageing.
• Its used for wrinkles and scar removal.
• As an oil, its very rich in linoleic acid and Alpha linolenic Acid

6) Squalane

• The use of Squalane is gaining in popularity because
  • it now plant sourced, cosmetic grade squalane is readily available. Previously squalane came from animal sources..
  • its part of the skin surface lipids. Our bodies naturally produce squalane, and it reduces free radical oxidation.

Rice Bran Oil

(I will come back to you)

****

Methodology

List of all products from Sephora USA and Cultbeauty

If you would like the spreadsheet, drop me a request at email@happyskindays.com

1. Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil
2. The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-pressed rose hip seed oil
3. Sephora Collection Multi-Purpose Oil
4. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
5. SUNDAY RILEY Luna Retinol Sleeping Night Oil
6. Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil
7. Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
8. Youth To the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Oil
9. SUNDAY RILEY U.F.O. Ultra-Clarifying Face Oil
10. SUNDAY RILEY CEO Glow Vitamin C & Turmeric Face Oil
11. Kora organics noni glow face oil
12. Wishful Get Even Rose Face Oil
13. Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Balancing Oil
14. The Ordinary “B” oil
15. Herbivore Lapis Blue Tansy Face Oil
16. Biossance Squalane + Antioxidant Cleansing Oil
17. Herbivore Rosehip Anti-Aging Face Oil
18. Caudalie Make-up Removing Cleansing Oil
19. Sunday Riley Juno Antioxidant +Superfood Face Oil
20. Tarte Maracuja Oil
21. Caudalie Vine(active) overnight detox oil
22. Farmacy Honey Grail Ultra Hydrating Face oil
23. Tatcha Gold Cameillia Beauty Oil
24. Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate
25. Fresh Seaberry Skin Nutrition Cleansing Oil
26. Lancer Omega Hydrating Oil
27. La Mer Renewal Oil
28. pai Rosehip Seed & Fruit Universal Face Oil
29. The Ordinary Organic Rose Hip Seed Oil
30. The Inkey List Rose Hip Fruit Oil
31. The Ordinary Marula Oil
32. HONEST Beauty Facial Oil
33. VOTARY Seed Facial Oil
34. Jordan Samuel Soothing Facial Oil
35. Herbivore Orchid Youth Preserving Facial Oil
36. Oskia Restoration Oil
37. Disciple Good Skin Oil
38. Disciple Dreamy Skin
39. Farsali Rose Gold Elixir
40. Elemis Superfood Facial Oil
41. Herbivore Lapis Balancing Facial Oil
42. Kate Somerville Dilo Oil Restorative treatment
43. The Inkey List Squalane Oil
44. Caudalie Divine Oil
45. fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice Antioxidant Face Serum
46. Aesop Fabulous Face Oil
47. Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Cell Repair Night Oil
48. Herbivore Phoenix Regenerating Facial Oil
49. EVE Lom Radiance Face Oil
50. EMMA Hardie Brilliance Facial Oil
51. Mara Universal Face Oil
52. Tata Harper Retinoic Nutrient Face Oil
53. Zelens Z-22 Absolute Face Oil
54. Pixi+C Vit Priming Oil
55. de Mamiel Winter Facial Oil
56. Augustinus Bader Face Oil
57. Mara Evening Primrose + Green Tea Algae Retinol Face Oil
58. Uma Ultimate Brightening Face Oil
59. UMA Clarifying Face Oil
60. UMA Total Rejuvenation Night Face Oil
61. UMA Absolute Anti-Ageing Face Oil
62. Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydrating Oil
63. Laura Mercier Nourishing Rose Oil
64. goop Enriching Face Oil