The Oil-Free Myth

If you're reading this you're probably wondering how putting oil on your face (especially if your skin is oily) could ever be a good idea. Oil is actually amazing for your skin and this post will explain why.

After all the advertising and products you've been sold saying "oil free" is better, we can't blame you for feeling a little hesitant to jump into a new routine that includes one of our facial oils. We're here to make sure you have the information you need to get started and see the results you want!

Your Skin Barrier

Let's start with the basics. What IS skin, actually? In simple terms, your skin is made up of three layers:

• Epidermis - this is the outermost layer which functions as a waterproof barrier to protect the layers below it. If your melanin is poppin', this is where it's at.
• Dermis - this is the middle layer which is where your nerve endings, hair follicles, sweat glands, and (wait for it...) oil production glands called sebaceous glands are.
• Hypodermis - this is the deepest layer which is mostly tissue filled with blood vessels, arteries, and other fun stuff that keeps your skin alive. 

So, now that we know the layers we can start to understand where the oil comes in handy.

The sebaceous glands in your dermis are everywhere on your body except the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. These glands are busy producing and releasing oil that keeps your skin smooth, springy, and hydrated (yes, even if you're oily!). But how?

Oil & Water Don't Mix

We all know that oil and water don't mix, right? If you pour some oil into a glass of water the oil will float on top of the water. No matter how hard you try to shake and stir them together, they always separate once they sit for a little bit. That is unless you use something to glue or emulsify them together, which our skin doesn't do. It's simpler and more intelligently designed than that.

Remember that outer layer that acts as a waterproof barrier, your epidermis? Well, the oil released from your sebaceous glands is produced in the layer just below your epidermis, which then rises up through that outermost layer. Since the oil can't mix with the water and the other goodies that make up a good portion of your outer layer of skin, the oil rises to the top and seals them beneath it, creating a waterproof protective layer. Just like that oil in your glass of water. Cool, right?

This means your skin is technically oily even when it looks and feels dry to the touch. So, when you use a cleanser anywhere on your body it is washing away dirt, bacteria, and other things that might be stuck to your skin, including on or within this protective oil layer your skin naturally produces. Note that if you have acne-prone skin, this removal of bacteria throughout your skin barrier is especially critical to prevent break outs from recurring.

Restoring the Skin Barrier

Cleansing dirt, bacteria, and dirty oil from your skin sounds great until you realize... you have to put your moisture-locking oil barrier back somehow. This is why every cleanser needs to be followed by some kind of moisturizer. Otherwise you end up with dry skin that can't retain moisture on its own. Nobody wants that.

For our oily friends out there, this is when things can seem a little confusing. While some of us that over-cleanse and don't moisturize properly end up with dry, flakey, and sometimes irritated skin, some of us have the opposite reaction. When "oily skin" gets over-cleansed and improperly moisturized, it attempts to compensate by producing MORE oil to replace what has been removed (and sometimes a little extra on top of that). Usually this encourages us to cleanse EVEN MORE to get rid of the excess oil and then... those oil glands just deliver even more oil. Sound familiar?

If you're reading this right, it means your "oily skin" might actually be TOO DRY and your oil glands are desperately trying to restore the natural balance. When our oil glands over-produce, we are also much more prone to clogged pores, blackheads, whiteheads, and generally unhappy skin. It's a vicious cycle that can cause a lot of distress for both your skin and, of course, you. 

Myth Busted

Here's where it gets better (for everyone). What would happen if after cleansing we replaced the oil our skin produces naturally with... more oil? 

Did the lightbulb just turn on in your head? Crazy, right? 

When you use oil to replenish your skin's natural waterproof barrier, you nourish it with new, clean oil and suddenly those glands don't have to work so hard to seal in moisture. Over time, oil production balances itself out and you get smooth, hydrated, and radiantly glowing skin. 

Sometimes it happens in a few days. Sometimes it takes a little longer. With proper use and some tweaks along the way as your skin adjusts, using oil in your skincare regimen can be a huge game-changer.

It's like turbo-charging the natural system your skin already has in place... especially if it's packed with pure ingredients that deliver all kinds of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants your skin can use to replenish, repair, and transform itself. 

[  clave.  jarabe oil has entered the chat ]

Are you ready to give your skin the boost it needs to thrive? Try our jarabe oil for yourself and see the magic it can do for your skin! We promise you won't regret it. 

Quick Start Tips

• Be patient. Your skin needs time to adjust to changes in your routine and the products you're using. Pay attention to how your skin is reacting and be prepared to make small adjustments along the way to refine your technique for your skin's specific needs.
• Never apply oil to dirty skin. Always cleanse first. Like we discussed, you want to replace the natural oil in your skin with fresh, clean oil. Applying oil to dirty skin (which means the oil on the skin is dirty, too!) and leaving it there will just seal in the dirt and bacteria more and potentially cause break outs or other skin reactions.
• Be careful which oils you use on your skin. Some oils and ingredients are comedogenic, which means they are very likely to clog your pores. Coconut oil on the face works for some people with no issues, but we don't recommend it because it is classified as comedogenic. Our facial products only contain non-comedogenic oils and ingredients. 

As with any blog post, we know this is by no means an exhaustive explanation that covers every possible variation of the topics or issues mentioned, so... 

If you have questions or need a little more detail on your specific skin-tuation that wasn't covered in this post, leave a comment below and we'll help!

        Naomi Eduardo