Okay. So oils can remind you of the same stuff that pizza and chips are fried in. They may feel greasy and you might look like a shiny, slippery mess but here are five solid reasons why you need them in your skincare routine - for happier, healthier, radiant skin!

1. Oils are highly moisturising and ones that rate zero to low on the comedogenic scale will not clog pores and cause breakouts.

The first biggest misconception is that oils will cause breakouts. Choosing oils that rate low on the comedogenic scale can help avoid getting your pores clogged so stay away from coconut oil and cocoa butter on your face if this is a concern. 

We make sure all our facial oils contain non-comedogenic to low comedogenic oils to help you get all the heavy power of a facial oil but without concern for clogged pores.

Adding high quality, plant/nut/seed oils like jojoba, olive squalane and sweet almond oils into your skincare regimen can really plump your skin with essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants to help increase skin elasticity. 

2. Your skin NEEDS essential fatty acids. Plant oils are rich in fatty acids.

Your skin's lipid layer naturally contains essential fatty acids which are essential to smooth, hydrated skin. Two important ones to know are linoleic acid and oleic acid. 

Why does this matter? Some studies have shown that oily skin have higher levels of oleic acid, which is thought to contribute to more breakouts, and people with dry skin have lower levels of oleic acid. Hence why it can be beneficial to balance skin with oils higher in the type of essential fatty acids they are lacking.

Plant oils have varying essential fatty acid profiles. Oils like sunflower oil and sweet almond oil are higher in oleic acid, making them ideal for dry skin concerns whereas oils like black cumin seed, rosehip and evening primrose oils are higher in linoelic acid so more suited for oily to combination skin concerns.

One research showed applying plant oils high in essential fatty acids like sunflower oil can help repair skin barrier on patients with a history of essential fatty acid deficiency in their skin.

Essential fatty acids "decrease trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), they’re antimicrobial, and they’re anti-inflammatory,” Olga Bunimovich, M.D., a dermatologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

3. Oils are fat-loving and can penetrate your skin faster to give you better results

Oils are lipophilic meaning they can penetrate into the lipid layer of your skin to keep your skin hydrated and plump. Water-based products often don't work as well due to our skin naturally designed to keep water out. 

4. Facial oils are versatile and compatible 

There are so many ways you can get the most out of your facial oil as they are really easy to include as part of your skincare regimen. You can wear them alone or layered in the last step of your routine as a sealant on your skin, or mix a few drops with your existing moisturising cream/lotion. It can also be used as a cuticle oil, or applied on dry skin patches on your body and even rubbed onto the ends of your hair to condition. 

Oils are also good for dissolving away makeup, dirt and grease on your skin as part of the oil cleansing method which is a gentle way of cleansing your face without stripping your skin dry of its natural oils. See our Facial Cleansing Oil - formulated with hydrating, non-comedogenic, skin-friendly oils. 

5. Pure plant oils are completely natural

Facial oils are often 100% concentrated without added fragrances and preservatives which make them really powerful, active little bottles of goodness.