ARE FACE OILS SUITABLE FOR SENSITIVE SKIN?
Do we need to use face oils when we already use a moisturiser?
It can be confusing with all the different types of oils and advice on how to use them. Serums, boosters, eye cream and spot treatments are all products that are now supposed to be included in a skincare routine. But when you have sensitive skin you can get fed up trying out lots of product suggestions only to find you’re just irritating your skin even more!
Whatever other steps you take in your skincare routine we think moisturiser and oils are the best way for helping your skin feel comfortable. Moisturisers contain water and humectants which will directly hydrate your skin, while a face oil will provide a barrier to seal in that moisture.
Let's start off with looking at what a moisturiser does first and how a great face oil will complement it.
MOISTURISER BENEFITS
Moisturisers are wonderful for protecting and hydrating the skin. Essentially a moisturiser contains mostly water. Additional ingredients will then hold that water in and help to draw more airborn moisture to your skin.
When you moisturise your skin after cleansing and toning it feels like it's having a lovely drink, easing the shiny tight feeling you usually get with sensitive skin.
This is because most usually contain these type of ingredients;
1. HUMECTANTS - which attract water molecules and draw them into the skin giving a softer and smoother appearance.
2. EMOLLIENTS - used to soften and also help to strengthen the outer layer of skin by filling in the spaces between skin cells. They also act as a layer to seal moisture in.
3. OILS - there are many different types of oils in moisturisers that are good for your skin but are mostly all-rounders that help the other ingredients with protection. They are often the types of oils that don’t penetrate the skin as deeply as ones chosen for specific benefits.
These oils can be made up of large molecules and if they’re too big to penetrate the skin layers they will sit on top and act as a barrier without giving much benefit.
Alternatively there may not be enough oil in the moisturiser to add an adequate protective layer and the water content will evaporate fairly quickly from your skin leaving it feeling feel tight and dry again. Some moisturisers have too many emollient ingredients, which can be seen when it appears to sit on the skin's surface, leaving a white film.
FACE OIL BENEFITS
Strengthens and repairs the skin barrier which will help regulate skin function and sebum production.
The various antioxidants you find in oils help to give your skin some protection from free radicals and environmental damage.
They can even out skin tone and reduce discoloration which helps to give a better look especially when you applying make-up.
They enhance collagen production and improve elasticity which reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles and helps brighten up dull skin.
Reduces acne breakouts and blemishes with their anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal properties.
Different oils have specific benefits, and dry and sensitive skin especially, can get a lot of help by using an oil that has specific qualities for your needs.
The right face oil can also help balance oily skin and help with breakouts and sore patches.
If this is added into a holistic approach in general to your skin, (drink more water, eat your veggies) then you should quickly see some good results.
Often there is no need to buy an expensive moisturiser. If you find a reasonably priced one that you're happy with and it doesn’t irritate your skin then hang on to it! Even better if you can find one that incorporates some SPF sun screen in it.
You're then free to add a chosen oil depending on what issue you'd like to address. It can then be changed around depending on what your needs are at different times or which one works best on your skin.
Take a look at our cheat sheets which give you a quick guide to the types of oils we use in our skincare and why they've been added to each different type of blend.
WHEN DO YOU APPLY YOUR FACE OIL - BEFORE OR AFTER MOISTURISER?
This used to be a confusing subject as there was lots of conflicting advice. Most advice now generally says to apply it after moisturising but before sunscreen. To be honest we don’t really know if there is a fact-based definitive answer to this as there are still plenty of differing opinions.
All we can recommend is what we've found works well for us and others who have sensitive or sore skin - so this is our third way.
TRY THIS!
Through talking to our customers and experimenting ourselves we've found the best way to use oils is not before or after - but at the same time. Add some moisturiser into the palm of your hand and drip a few drops of your face oil in the middle. Lightly give it a quick dab together and then apply to your face.
This also has the benefit of saving you time and actually reducing one of the steps of skincare. It also helps to spread both products quickly on your face.
By using a moisturiser that includes a good factor sun screen you've completed a morning routine in three steps. And there's nothing better than saving time in the morning (and evening).
SHOULD I REALLY MIX MY FACE OIL WITH MY MOISTURISER?
There are more and more articles suggesting it's a good idea and mixing your oils with either a moisturiser or a serum can actually be a superior way to apply face products. It helps to distribute both products more evenly, reducing oily patches and stopping dry patches getting an uneven coverage.
When you have dry and sensitive skin the last thing you want is to keep applying and rubbing more products into your skin, so dabbing or gently patting the mix into your skin one one go certainly helps keep extra friction on sensitive skin to a minimum.
FLOWERY WHIFF FACE OIL BLENDS
Through lots of testing and feedback we think we’ve found a great way to give your skin as much love as it needs without breaking the bank. Our face oils are blended to also help skin in different environments. This is because all the oils we use are beneficial to sensitive skin anyway so will help it whatever you decide to use.
All are fragrance free so that any allergens found in fragrances or essential oils won’t be a problem. Here is a quick guide to what oils are in our five blends.
Only you can decide which oil is best for your skin, but by looking at the benefits or testing a few out, we’re certain you’ll find one that will keep your skin happy and irritation to a minimum.
Take a look at our five different face oil blends.