Why Are Oils Great Ingredients for Dry Skin?

Dry skin has trouble holding onto moisture, due to an impaired skin barrier. Adding topical oils to your skin helps to improve your skin’s ability to retain water, as well as keep irritants, allergens, and other harmful particles out. In most cases, a combination of moisturizing ingredients is the best approach to hydrating and soothing dry skin. This will depend on your Baumann Skin Type®. However, various oils are often included in the skin care regimen for dry skin types, as they have wonderful hydrating and anti-inflammatory properties.

Why Does Dry Skin Need Oils?

Dry skin does not naturally produce enough lipids (oils) to maintain a healthy skin barrier, which is primarily made up of a 1:1:1 ratio of fatty acids, ceramides, and cholesterol. Adding the right oils to your daily regimen can help restore healthy levels of lipids to your skin and thus improve dry, dehydrated conditions.

Can Oily Skin Types Benefit from Oils?

Most oily skin types do not need to use oils in their skin care regimens, since their skin already produces enough or too much natural oils. However, in some cases, essential oils like tea tree oil may help to combat breakouts and provide additional benefits to the skin. If you have an oily Baumann Skin Type®, you need to be careful that the ingredients in your regimen do not clog pores and cause breakouts.

What Are the Different Types of Oils in Skin Care?

There are three main types of oils that are used in skin care products:

Synthetic oils. Mineral oil and petrolatum are two common examples of synthetic oils. They are byproducts of gasoline production. While mineral oil has been used in cosmetics for centuries for its ability to prevent dryness, recent studies have raised concerns about its potential link to certain types of cancers. It is also not the best choice if you are concerned about using “green” products.
Plant-derived oils. Many oils used in skin care are derived from vegetables and other plants. These include safflower oil, grapeseed oil, and argan oil. These oils have strong anti-inflammatory properties, making them great choices for people with dry, sensitive skin types. Some plant-derived oils that are classified as “edible oils,” such as peanut oil, may cause sensitizations if you are allergic.
Animal-derived oils. Other oils, such as lanolin and fish oil, are derived from animal products. These oils must be processed according to strict guidelines to ensure their safety.

Are Essential Oils Good for Dry Skin?

Essential oils are tricky, because even though they’re plant-derived and “natural,” many are known irritants. If you have dry or sensitive skin, you may not be able to tolerate most essential oils. This is not to say that some essential oils cannot be beneficial, however. Tea tree oil, for example, can be an effective topical treatment for acne, as long as you are not allergic to it. Check with your board-certified dermatologist before using these ingredients on your skin.

Not all natural ingredients are necessarily better for your skin than synthetic ingredients.

What Are the Best Oils for Dry Skin?

The best oils for your skin are determined by your Baumann Skin Type®. Generally speaking, oils that contain linoleic acid are excellent for dry skin, as linoleic acid increases the production of ceramides in the skin. Just a few oils rich in linoleic acid include:

Argan
Black currant
Cotton seed
Evening primrose
Grapeseed
Hemp
Peanut
Safflower
Sunflower
Soybean

Keep in mind that not all of these oils are necessarily the best choices for every Baumann Skin Type®. If you have allergies to peanuts, for example, peanut oil is not recommended. Some oils, such as coconut oil may cause breakouts in acne-prone skin. Olive oils can actually dry skin and make you more prone to allergies (because it causes tiny holes in the skin barrier).

Argan oil is one of my favorite oils for dry skin. Look for 100% pure organic Moroccan argan oil, such as PAORR, to give your skin a healthy boost of hydration and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.

In Summary

Replenishing your skin’s lipid content is an essential step to improve dryness and flaking. Always check with your dermatologist before adding a new oil to your skin care regimen, though, to make sure it will not cause other problems such as breakouts or irritation. To schedule an appointment at Baumann Cosmetic, contact us online or give us a call at 305-532-5552.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for more skin care tips, recommendations, and how-to videos from Dr. Baumann and her knowledgeable team.