We all want flawless skin, but with environmental stressors, our skin barrier can be compromised. To counteract this, essential fatty acids are key to protecting and nourishing your skin!

Essential fatty acids help keep the layers of our skin nice and plump and provide natural defense against dehydration. They not only maintain a healthy balance in our cells but also reduce inflammation, making them powerful tools for keeping skin juicy, plump and smooth while also preventing visible signs of aging. 

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.

Importance of a healthy skin barrier

Your skin barrier is basically a protective shield that keeps bacteria out and our natural oils within. It helps to keep water in the skin so that it retains its plumpness and moisture level.

Your skin cells contain a mixture of sebum, ceramides and fatty acids. All three are necessary to be healthy and  support a well functioning skin barrier for healthy, plump, smooth and hydrated skin.

When your skin barrier gets damaged, you get visible redness, peeling, and skin that feels dry, sensitive, tight and stings and burns when products are applied. Fine lines become more pronounced and our skin becomes more susceptible to dark spots, cracked skin, eczema and even breakouts. 

Your skin barrier also helps guard against environmental pollutants that could cause problems such as increased sensitivity to irritants, wrinkles, dark spots and uneven skin tone. 

Benefits of Essential fatty acids on your skin

Essential fatty acids help decrease trans-epidermal water loss and protects skin from infection with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory function. 

Essential fatty acids can be found in some plant oils - eg, Prickly Pear, Squalane and Sunflower Seed Oil which when applied to skin, may help improve skin texture and tone. 

Benefits of essential fatty acids on skin include: 

• Regenerate and heal a damaged skin barrier
• Improve hydration to reduce dry flaking skin 
• Regulate oil production 
• Smooth plump skin by improving elasticity
• Reduce signs of ageing 
• Nourish and protect against environmental damage 

All in all, essential fatty acids is therefore very important to maintain and protect our skin barrier!

How to add essential fatty acids to your skincare routine

Ready to plump up your complexion? Make sure you're getting enough EFAs!

Keeping your skin plump, smooth, radiant and soft is as easy as making sure you get enough essential fatty acids in your diet. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) can be found in foods like nuts, seeds, and fish, or taken in supplement form for those who are unable to get enough from food sources alone.

Using plant oils rich in fatty acids can be an excellent way to nourish your skin and improve its texture. Plant oils that are rich in essential fatty acids include prickly pear, sunflower and rosehip oils. Delivered in the form of facial oils ranging from heavy to light, you can choose the right one that can be used with serums and moisturisers to nourish and plump skin. 

Prickly pear oil in particular, has an exceptionally rich essential fatty acid profile of over 60% linoleic acid which is incredibly beneficial for skin barrier health and reducing inflammation, great for acne prone skin concerns. 

You can find prickly pear oil in our Super Restore Oil which delivers the benefits of omega 6 and 9 fatty acids along with retinol-like benefits from bakuchiol and hydrating squalane for healthy, smoother looking skin.