Oil-a-phobic

One of the hardest things for me when going natural was confronting the oil-a-phobe in me and allowing products with oil to be put on my face. As someone who is prone to breakouts, I was a committed "oil-free" facial product user. It was a good move at the time, since most products use mineral oils like paraffin and petrolatum. "Oil-free" on the label usually meant those weren't in the mix. The reason mineral oils will clog your pores is because they tend to solidify as they settle on your skin. They also don't absorb and rather sit on top of  your skin creating a waxy layer that blocks your pores and doesn't allow them to breathe and release toxins as they should.

What I didn't know, and was so happy to learn, is natural oils act very differently. They remain in a liquid state (save a few heavier oils) and are absorbed directly into the skin, allowing it to breathe and actively nourishing it with beneficial vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Some oils, such as olive (extra virgin), jojoba, sweet almond, and mandarin actually have cleansing properties, and many others include benefits such as wrinkle-reducing, cell renewal, toning, brightening, sun filtering, anti-inflammatory.... and the list goes on and on. My skin is definitely clearer, softer and brighter since making the switch. If you are concerned with breakouts, avoid using moisturizers with avocado and coconut oil on your face. They do wonders for the lips and body, but can potentially be too heavy for the face for those with acne-prone skin. Coconut oil specifically is a solid at room temperature and will block facial pores if used too heavily.

The bonus of natural plant oils is they are biodegradable and completely consumable, so you know the 60% being absorbed into your body is only going on to have added therapeutic effects.

Some tips on moisturizing:

Always apply your moisturizer immediately after cleansing and toning to allow the plant oils to trap moisture in the skin. This is especially important as we age, as the collagen and elastin fibers in our skin are less able to hold onto moisture.

If you have oily skin, don't overwash your skin (more than 2-3 times a day), it encourages additional oil production. Also avoid over-moisturizing, especially on skin that hasn't been cleansed first. This is an easy way to trap dirt and other pore clogging particles.