In case you haven’t been told… Oils make great skincare for acne-prone skin!
(True, it DOES depend on the oil!)
I know it can be scary to think of putting oil on your face…
the fear of clogged pores…
more breakouts…
or the fact that you *already* have oily skin (which, by the way, is often a compensatory mechanism for dry skin or a lack of the right balance of skin oils!)
Let’s first break down what your skin barrier is and why oils can help repair it!
Your Skin’s Lipid Barrier
Your skin’s outer protective barrier contains lipids, or fats. These fats are made up of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids.
The fats in your skin’s lipid barrier keep your skin hydrated, and protect it from UV damage, pollutants, and free radical damage.
But when your skin’s lipid barrier is compromised, you’re more prone to inflammatory skin conditions like acne.
Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid that makes up part of your skin’s lipid barrier. However, those with acne tend to have lower levels of linoleic acid in their skin surface lipids.
Linoleic acid is ESSENTIAL for healthy skin!
When you have lower amounts of linoleic acid, you’re missing out on its skin-repairing, protective benefits.
While working on replenishing your essential fatty acid balance via your diet is important, you can also use topical oils to help repair your skin barrier.
All oils have different combinations of essential fatty acids, including linoleic acid, oleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid.
Yet research has shown that oils containing higher ratios of linoleic acid are better at repairing your skin barrier.
Linoleic acid-rich oils also tend to be non-comedogenic, meaning they don’t clog your pores and cause more breakouts, unlike oils higher in oleic acid (i.e. olive oil) which can be comedogenic in some individuals.
Linoleic acid-rich oils include:
• Black cumin seed oil
• Borage oil
• Rosehip oil
• Evening primrose oil
That’s why my face serums in my new Wild Roots Alchemy skincare line all contain linoleic acid-rich oils, as these oils are amazing at supporting the health of your skin barrier and helping clear acne!
Introducing my new Wild Roots Alchemy skincare line and my Elemental Face Serums!
Wild Roots Alchemy is my new holistic skincare line designed for women with acne-prone skin who want to align their skincare with Nature’s cycles and seasons. All products are formulated and lovingly handcrafted in small batches by yours truly.
The Elemental skincare line is a group of 4 face serums that match the 4 constitutional skincare types and 4 elements:
🜃 Earth: for congested, oily skin prone to cystic acne
🜄 Water: for oily or combination skin with blackheads or deep cysts
🜁 Air: for dry, sensitive skin that reacts to stress
🜂 Fire: for dry, inflamed, reddish or reactive skin
Want to know your elemental skin type? Take my quiz to find out and get more holistic tips to support your skin type!
The Elemental face serums are made with organic herbs and linoleic acid-rich oils designed to support your skin’s constitutional tendencies and maintain its luminous glow!
HOW TO USE: These oils are best used as the last step of your skincare routine. Simply apply a few drops every morning and evening on top of a water-based moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
