Can you use oil on your face?

If the texture of a facial oil is very different from what usually is used in serums, moisturizers and lotions, introducing a treatment oil into your beauty routine may cause some confusion, but believe us, it's certainly one of the best habits to adopt.

How to hydrate your skin?

To better understand the moisturizing function of an oil like L'Huile Précieuse de SOWÉ or like our organic vegetable oils , it is important to understand the ways in which skin is moisturized through the application of cosmetic products.

Today we can mainly observe two ways to hydrate our skin.

• The first is to develop formulas containing several types of moisturizing ingredients: occlusive ingredients whose action is to create a film on the skin's surface to prevent transepidermal water loss (e.g. vegetable oils) and emollient ingredients which, in addition to moisturizing, provide a soft touch to the skin (e.g. lanolin, butters, petrolatum). In fact, studies have shown that vegetable oils are effective in providing an occlusive effect on the skin, and can be a long-lasting alternative to synthetic emollients such as petrolatum, often used in cosmetics and renowned for its occlusive properties. While petrolatum had a more pronounced immediate effect, over the long term (6 hours) most vegetable oils showed results comparable to petrolatum.
• Another way to hydrate is to use moisturizing ingredients capable of penetrating the skin's surface layers and transporting water to its interior, thus balancing its moisture level (e.g. glycerin, sorbitol, hyaluronic acid, urea).

The difference between moisturizers and oils?

Most moisturizers and lotions contain occlusive, emollient and hydrating ingredients, which ensure the skin is supplied with water and retain it at the same time, in order to hydrate in both directions and maintain this hydration for as long as possible . In the case of oils (where occlusive ingredients predominate), their main function is to retain water in the skin, which allows the skin to stay hydrated for longer. Our oil, L'Huile Précieuse, is formulated from 7 vegetable oils, which ensures that you keep your skin hydrated in the long term. Thus, the oil does not replace a cream, but can be used in addition, for a more effective routine. However, to get the most out of these products, you need to know your skin well and understand its needs.

How to use an oil in combination with a moisturizer?

Which one should I apply first? The answer to this question depends on your skin type and the type of moisturizer you use.

• If your skin is very dry and you are using a thicker day cream with more occlusive ingredients, you should apply your carrier oil before your moisturizer to get the benefits of the oils and greater hydration with both products together.
• If, on the other hand, your skin is normal and you use a lighter moisturizer, you should apply your vegetable oil at the end, after the cream. This way, the oil will help retain moisture, and the absorption of the ingredients in both products will be more efficient.
• For sensitive and combination to oily skin, you can benefit from both products by mixing a few drops of the carrier oil of your choice with your moisturizer.

In general, applying L'Huile Précieuse as a complement to your moisturizer will always depend on the type of moisturizer you are using. However, experiment and observe how your skin reacts and how it feels more comfortable because the best advice for you is always to know your skin well. For more information, do not hesitate to consult our article explaining how to integrate L'Huile Précieuse into your beauty routine.

Sources

• Kim, B., Cho, H.-E., Moon, S. H., Ahn, H.-J., Bae, S., Cho, H.-D., & An, S. (2020). Transdermal delivery systems in cosmetics. Biomed Dermatol, 4(10), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41702-020-00062-6

• Pinto, J. R., Silva, S. A. M., Holsback, V. de S. S., & Leonardi, G. R. (2022). Skin occlusive performance: Sustainable alternatives for petrolatum in skincare formulations. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 00, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.14352