How to Use Plant Oils for Flawless Skin

We are not exaggerating when we say that good facial oil is the holy grail product for your skin. It softens the skin, helps to balance the sebum production, fuels skin with essential fatty acids, triglycerides, flavonoids, phytosterols, vitamins, and minerals. It also forms a breathable layer on the skin that protects from harsh environmental impact, as well as traps moisture in the skin, protecting from dehydration. We could continue for a while, but, fortunately, with the growing attention to the power of plant oils, the need for proving the benefits of facial oils is minimal. 

Some people are afraid that oils can make them break out or sensitize their skin. That might be the case if the wrong types of oils are used for the skin on your face. Here is what to consider to ensure that you are getting the maximum benefits of a facial oil without causing breakouts:

• Choose the right oils for the skin. While coconut oil is wonderful for your hair and body, it might be too heavy and comedogenic for the thin skin on your face. The same goes for castor oil. If you still want to try heavier oils, start from small patch tests on small, less visible areas of your face. Testing the oil on other parts of your body will give you little in terms of understanding how it will impact your face, as the face skin is normally 5-10 times thinner than the skin in other areas. If you have very dry skin that is not prone to breakouts, heavier oils can do wonders for protecting and moisturizing your skin.   
• Coming back to comedogenicity: although this concept is questionable and should not be taken as an absolute guiding principle in choosing oils, it still gives some indication about the likelihood of the oil to block pores and lead to breakouts. Thus, if you are afraid that oils can cause your skin to break out, start with those oils that have comedogenic levels from 0 to 2 and avoid those that are higher than 3. For Balancing Facial Oil, we used only oils that have a fatty acid composition beneficial for oily skin and give a desirable skin feel, but also have a comedogenic level below 2.     
• Unscented oils do not sensitize the skin; thus we recommend using plant oils without fragrance. For the same reason, be careful when using essential oils. Avoid using facial oil blends that contain too many essential oils (and of course, never apply essential oil undiluted directly to the skin—it will not only sensitize the skin, it will burn it!). Because we didn`t want to give up the beneficial properties of essential oils for the skin, we use them in concentrations that are proven to be safe for the skin and don`t sensitize it.
• Know your safe use rate. For dry, dehydrated, and older skin types, applying facial oil two times per day will be very effective. For oilier and normal skin types, one time per day could be enough. Experiment and find out what works best for you!
• Do not blame oils if you break out. Our bodies are exposed to around 500 chemicals per day, which can lead to breakout or sensitization. That does not even consider the impact of the environment and hormone cycles. For that reason, it is always advisable to introduce new products one by one to your skincare regimen, to see how they impact your skin while all other products remain the same. 

And here are our short and sweet instructions on how to use our Nourishing and Balancing Facial Oils. 

• Apply a few drops of oil onto your skin once or twice per day. “A few drops” is a relative term, and I personally prefer to go a little above “a few drops,” while you might find that less is better. The dropper on the packaging gives a good estimate of how much oil you need for your skin. 
• There are always discussions on whether the oil should be applied before or after water-based treatments. Our response is that facial oil, in addition to its nourishing and balancing properties, also forms a thin breathing protective layer on the skin that keeps the skin’s moisture from evaporating and also provides protection from environmental factors. That's why we recommend using oil after water-based products.
• Our oils act as a beautiful primer under foundation. Double win!
• If you choose to apply oil once daily, then you might be questioning if you should use it as a part of the morning or evening routine. Both options will work. Our oils will not feel heavy on the skin, so you will have no issues with using them in the mornings. The benefits of using it in the morning are that it can be used as a primer for foundation and it will protect your skin throughout the day. If you decide to use it at night, then ensure that you apply it at least half an hour before you go to sleep.