Our face and body oils are proven to be an essential part of your beauty routine as they are suitable for all skin types. Made from 100% natural ingredients, they are enriched with nutrients and effectively penetrate the skin to nourish and protect it.
As a diligent student, you have already read our blog on the benefits of oil for skin, right? If not, just click on the following link, here.
Done? Let's get started.
How to choose an oil for my skin?
The last few years have seen the arrival of lots of botanical oils on the skincare market. All brands offer oils with nourishing, moisturizing and repairing properties. But are they really?
Are there different qualities of oils? How do I choose the right oil to moisturize my skin?
Not all oils are the same. And to understand your skin’s needs, you need to know the oil characteristics. First of all, you should know that there are 3 main families of oils:
-
Mineral Oils
Obtained from petroleum and petroleum derivatives or other fossil materials such as coal (yes, you read that right), mineral oils are usually obtained by solvent extraction and then treated to achieve a more acceptable appearance, a lighter smell and better stability. They are also easier to store and less expensive than botanical oils obtained by pressing and are therefore preferred by manufacturers.
But their 'refining' also means that their fatty acid content has been reduced and they are therefore less rich and nourishing to your skin. Unlike botanical oils, they will form an occlusive film that will prevent your skin from being hydrated and nourished if used alone.
And if you don't like what you just read, these oils are very common in cosmetic products. Obviously, these are the oils that cost the manufacturers the least and are therefore, unfortunately, the most used...
-
Botanical oils
Obtained from cold or hot pressing process of oil plants. These pure fats are nutritious, rich in vitamins A, D, E, fatty acids and omega 3, 6 and 9. Each botanical oil is full of recognisable properties for the skin and body. Usually used in cosmetology, aromatherapy or physiotherapy, these virgin oils can also be used in food.
At Sowé, we only use cold-pressed botanical oils thanks to an extraction tool with an endless screw.
No mineral oils.
-
Essential oils
Obtained by steam distillation of an aromatic plant or cold pressing of citrus peel, these oils are a concentrate of active ingredients! What makes them unique is that they contain no fatty acids and are not mixed with water but with oil.
Although they are very often used for aromatherapy, these oils are not safe on their own, especially because of their high content of active molecules. This is why they are not recommended for young children and pregnant women.
At Sowé, we have chosen not to include them in the primary composition of our formulas. We want our products to be able to treat all skin types.
Reactive, hyper-sensitive, eczema-prone or allergic skin should avoid these 'highly concentrated' oils.
To satisfy everyone, our 'boosters', consisting of your choice of 4 essential oils, are offered separately and can be added to your Huile Précieuse Face Oil.
Tip: Always check the INCI list on your cosmetic products and/or their packaging. This will tell you what is in the product. The lists are all written in descending order, which means that the first ingredient on the list is the one with the highest dosage.
What is a cold pressed oil? Why is it better for the skin?
The term "cold pressed" implies that the oil was obtained from the first press, without excessive heat or other chemicals that would diminish its aromas and fragrant properties. These oils have amazing benefits for your health. They retain all their original nutrients and, unlike so-called hot pressed oils, this makes more nourishing.
This extraction method preserves all the essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamin E. The active molecules of these oils remain intact, justifying the cost of using them in the formulation of natural cosmetics.
In other words, you will have an antioxidant-rich oil capable of nourishing your skin thanks to its high fatty acid content! (note: fatty acid does not mean "sensitive" or "finished" fat! At Sowé, make sure all our oils are "dry")
As with olive oil and its first pressing, the quality of a botanical oil is determined by its method of manufacture, "extraction". The oil used to formulate your skin care product can therefore be made :
- By hydraulic press
- By percussion press
- By screw press
Sources :
- DELRAN, Philippe. “Les huiles bio de première pression à froid: besoins et bienfaits….” Bio Linéaires, 29 June 2012, https://www.biolineaires.com/les_huiles_bio_de_premiere_pression_a_froid_besoins_et_bienfaits/. Accessed 23 August 2022
- “Tout ce qu'il faut savoir sur les huiles végétales.” Doctissimo, 31 August 2016, https://www.doctissimo.fr/beaute/beaute-naturelle/huiles-vegetales/huile-vegetale. Accessed 23 August 2022
- “Quelle différence entre huile végétale et huile essentielle ?” Futura-Sciences, 12 March 2022, https://www.futura-sciences.com/sante/questions-reponses/divers-difference-huile-vegetale-huile-essentielle-6992/. Accessed 23 August 2022