Face oils made quite the impression by knocking down the doors to the traditional skin care regimen. There was some serious confusion by consumers thinking why would an oil be better than a moisturizer? How do you use it? What order does my routine go now? To get things straight, not all facial oils are created equal. There’s a lot of mixed opinions by dermatologists, however it really comes down to how YOUR skin reacts and what it requires. Typically facial oils are added as a step after moisturizing, to truly lock in the hydration but some people forego that and use the oil itself as moisturizer (like the hubs and I). It’ll have to be trial and error (sorry guys!) because remember, every body is different.
You also need to be wise with the ingredients of a facial oil because it’s all about business in the end. Just like grocery shopping and reading the ingredients list, the order goes from highest to lowest content (facts!).
In my Massage Therapy practice, I used to purchase a gallon of formulated massage oil for $100 a pop, twice a year. The label stated that there was aloe and jojoba oil included (ou wow – how amazing) and it didn’t stain sheets so that was a big plus. A few years (4) later and dabbling into making my own products, a light bulb sparked and I thought “why don’t I make my own massage oil!” So I proceeded to research the ingredients list (because it wasn’t on the label, so I needed to dig) and guess what? The first ingredient was CANOLA OIL (the LIES!). I literally paid $200 a year for canola oil and some measly squirts of aloe and jojoba. I was real mad so I made the transition to organic olive oil (and I get it from Costco so it’s a great price).
So you better believe that usually a facial oil has the cheapest carrier oil as the majority, with particular ratios of the extras due to the company’s proprietary formula. But, if it’s a naturally higher priced item, you could definitely expect the price to reflect on the ingredients used (and remember, more isn’t always better!) You can totally spend $60 for something that sounds fancy and really pay $60 for 55 ml of mostly avocado oil. Companies should be cautious and take into consideration the appropriate dilution for the ‘average’ consumer, but that’s never a guarantee unless they publicly state it or are transparent. Hence why there is always a warning label for products since there isn’t a guarantee that there won’t be any adverse reactions to the consumer. A company can’t cater to everyone’s individual needs.
Researching carrier oils (I’ll have that posted in a few weeks) is optimal for ensuring the best outcome for your skin. Acne also serves as a factor and facial oil may not be appropriate if its primary ingredients are naturally pore-clogging.
To make it yourself (and save a LOT of coin) check out a recipe I formulated below that I use personally. I (and my husband) use facial oil in lieu of moisturizer and find it’s great in both summer and winter seasons.
– 50 ml glass amber bottle (never use plastic, the essential oils eventually break plastic down)
– Glass dropper (same as previous)
– Fractionated coconut oil (always do a patch test)
– 1 drop Blue Tansy essential oil
– 2 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
– 10 drops Frankincense essential oil
– 5 drops Helichrysum essential oil
– 1 drop Myrrh essential oil
– 2 drops Copaiba essential oil
Combine all ingredients in the amber bottle, shake, and let it sit for a couple of hours to ensure proper blending.
This recipe is a dilution ratio of 2% (very appropriate for the face), but you can always start lower and build up to your preferred strength.
And there ya go.
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