Oils on the skin are pure joy. Everyday when I pump Soft in my hands and rub its goodness, from head to toe, into my just cleansed skin, I imagine my skin cells singing in glee, delighting in all of the yummy delicious nutrients they are being fed. I envision them getting bigger and plumper, kind of like Popeye’s muscles after a can of spinach as they prepare for battle against harsh external elements that come my way. Oils protect and shield the skin like nothing else whilst also leaving it radiant, soft and supple.

Oh oils, you are so misunderstood. If only everyone could grasp your true powers and realize how amazing their skin would be once they took the plunge and slathered you all over, and then I remember, I have a blog. I can debunk the myths and untruths about oils and help people understand how to use them and which ones to use and why. How thrilling!

Oils get a bad rap: they make the skin break out, they congest the pores, they leave the skin greasy and oily. I agree with it all, but not when using the quality of oils that I  consume for my skin or suggest for my clients. Yes, it is true that when you use a substandard oil on the skin, it will remain on the surface longer than most. Your skin is rejecting it, not wanting to absorb (eat) it.  It is solvent extracted, not organic and not cold and/or expeller pressed. This subpar oil is what I refer to as “junk food” for the skin. The heat and chemical processing has adversely compromised the nutrients, essential fatty acids, proteins and vitamins that are the heart and soul of the product. When your skin comes into contact with this “empty” food, it is not recognized and will linger on the surface, leaving you greasy and consequently with clogged pores. The chemicals in these inferior oils also tend to be quite irritating, which can instigate inflammation, i.e. pimples, redness and cysts.  This, by my standards, goes nowhere near my skin!

Now it is time to praise the quality of oils that I use and delve deep into their regenerative, nourishing and surface immune building properties. How when you feed these most precious, antioxidant rich, organic, cold pressed oils to your skin, it responds immediately, strongly embracing and fortifying your body. Your skin, our most complex organ, is able to be completely present and take on the many crucial roles that are natural to it. So how does one choose an oil or apply it to the skin properly? Heed my simple advice and you will sooner than later find yourself using oils on your entire body, face and hair included. And believe it or not, you may never use another cream as a daily moisturizer again! The love affair has begun…

Below is a basic, foolproof guide to using and enjoying oils on the skin…

How To:

• Remember, a little goes a long way, so until you familiarize yourself and are comfortable using oils on the skin, tread lightly…
• Oil and water do mix! Always and forever, apply oils only to just cleansed, damp skin. The water helps the oils better absorb into the skin, leaving you soft, not greasy and the liquid allows for a greater use of the product, as it helps such a tiny bit of it spread completely across the surface, leaving you with a fantastic healthy barrier.
• Use pure and only organic, cold pressed oils on the body. Only purchase oils that are in glass bottles and when in doubt, step into your local organic market and peruse the oil aisle. You will find avocado, sesame, safflower, olive and almond oils there which are absolutely perfect for the skin.
• If you have a *skin condition please tread lightly with oils and initially, just try one at a time. If you blend them and you have a reaction or you just don’t like the effect of it, you won’t know which oil is the troublemaker. Make sure that topically you are using only the bare minimum (you’ll be surprised how far that goes on damp skin). By this I mean one drop spread across 10 fingertips. Trust me… After a good month or two of consistent application, and your skin seems to love oils, feel free to experiment more with them and perhaps you’ll soon find yourself also “slathering them on!”

*acne, eczema, psoriasis, sensitization and itchy skin are examples of some common skin conditions.

The Perfect Skin Food

My favorite oils are the ones that I have been using consistently on my skin and my clients for years. Rose Hips, Sea Buckthorn, Avocado, Vitamin-E oil and Sesame… Oh my goodness. My kind of skin oil is the one that is packed to the nine with vitamins, amino acids, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. Below is a little introduction to my most beloved face and body oils…

• Almond Oil – Almond oil is rich in protein and omega fatty acids. It helps relieve inflammation in the form of  itching, soreness and dryness and can also be used alone as a general moisturizing oil for the body and face. It also blends well with other oils and improves the penetration of essential oils.
• Apricot Kernel Oil – Great for prematurely aged skin as well as sensitized, dry and inflamed skin. It is a fantastic oil to protect against cold weather, so pack it in your travel case when going skiing, snowboarding, etc… Apricot kernel oil is rich in Vitamins A,B2, B6, and E. There also trace amounts of calcium, phosphorous, potassium and sulfur. Apricot kernel oil can also be used for acne skin that is being treated with harsh, skin drying medications and cleansers. This oil will also act as an astringent oil for this type of skin and help balance sebum production.
• Avocado Oil – One of my favorite oils. It penetrates exceptionally into the skin making it an exceptional oil for the body and face. Avocado oil is cooling and anti-inflammatory which makes it a wonderful after-sun oil. It is also best mixed with other natural sunscreen oils to create a protective barrier against indirect sun exposure. Avocado oil contains proteins, lecithin and fatty acids as well as trace minerals and antioxidants. It is another great oil for eczema and dry skin as well as for normal healthy skin. I use it religiously.
• Borage Seed Oil – Contains 15% Gamma Linoleic Acid, and is very helpful for dry, scaly and eczema prone skin. Dilute borage in a carrier oil. Refrigerate.
• Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is beloved for it’s silky, lightweight texture, its delish soft coconut aroma and its ability, because it is is so nutritionally packed, to positively transform even the dullest, problem, sallow, and unhealthy skin into a vibrant and delighted one. Coconut oil is rich lauric acid, which is known for being anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-fungal. A perfect commodity for anyone with acne and severe redness. It is also loaded with vitamin E which your skin ADORES! Coconut Oil is extremely healthy for the entire body and should very well be a staple both in the kitchen and the bath.
• Rose Hips Seed Oil –  This is a truly remarkable oil known especially for its magnificent regenerative and healing properties, helping to repair the skin from scar damage and beyond by promoting new and healthy cell growth. Because it connects especially on the cell membranes, it supports their immune reaction, and initiates their regeneration. It penetrates the skin’s upper layers very quickly making it a superb moisturizer while also supporting the keratin migration cycle that is responsible for the natural regeneration of skin cells. One will notice after using rose hips seed oil consistently on their skin for at least one month, that there will be an increase of renewed cells in the epidermis (beautiful toned and supple skin) in which these healthy cells are producing more collagen & elastin, which will encourage a firmer skin.
• Safflower Oil - Contains vitamin E, one of my favorite skin foods, so it promotes healthy skin and also hair growth. A fantastic antioxidant rich oil to use by those that treat their skin and hair with intense and invasive peels, perms and colors. Safflower oil has a very light texture, and absorbs wonderfully into skin and scalp as it moisturizes deeply and effectively. An overall easy to use and highly antioxidant oil for the entire body.
• Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil - Sea buckthorn oil is connected with its apparent capability to promote the regeneration of the skin. Currently, sea buckthorn medicines are used around the world to promote the recovery of burns, ulcers, bad healing wounds, skin damaging effects of sun, therapeutic radiation treatment and cosmetic laser surgery. This is a fantastic oil for the person who undergoes harsh dermatological skin peels, treatments and cosmetic surgery. The berries are unsurpassed in their natural source of vitamins A and several other carotenes, vitamin E and several other tocopherols and are second only to rose hips and acerola in vitamin C content. This is a highly antioxidant oil. Sea buckthorn is also very rich in vitamins B1, B2, K and P as well as in numerous flavonoids. Furthermore, the berries have remarkably high content of essential fatty acids. Sea buckthorn seed oil is super concentrated. A few drops in a carrier oil like avocado or almond is a perfect facial moisturizer.
• Sesame Oil – Sesame oil is a superbly effective detoxifying oil for the skin and scalp. It warms the skin allowing for  deep cleansing and also penetration of treatment oils and vitamin rich masks. Packed with vitamins, minerals, proteins, lecithin and amino acids, this oil is completely nourishing and immune building which makes it an ideal choice for imbalanced and inflamed skin conditions.
• Vitamin E – Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant, powerful enough to protect against harmful UV light, heavy pollution and a host of other free radicals that every second are on the hunt to deform and malign your healthy cells. Vitamin E also helps regulate vitamin a in the body which is essential to the development and maintenance of your body’s epithelial cells and overall is a fantastic topical protectant, moisturizer and skin food. I love using vitamin E once a month for 3 or 4 days. I swear to you my skin looks like it has been in the most luxe spa somewhere in the Swiss alps… Think I’m kidding? Please make sure that quality is a key factor when purchasing your oil. You will learn as you get to know my writing that an underlying theme in all of it has to do with using only the best and purest ingredients on and in your body! What’s the point if your vitamin E has fillers and chemicals in it? High standards are essential if your goals are optimum health. No compromise.

Are Oils Your Facial Moisturizer?

Yes, yes and yes! There is not a product more magnificent to use as a face and body moisturizer than luscious oils! By simply following the advice noted above, you should have no problem using your oil day or night. You can use them only in the evening and a cream in the day or use a cream only when you feel your skin is communicating that it wants one (yes your body does tell you what it craves or needs.) There are no rules except your personal ones so make sure to listen to your body and pay attention to what it is “telling” you. How else will you know if a product is working?  Though almond oil may be great for sore, sensitive and chapped skin, it may not be great for your type of inflammation, and that is okay. We are all different and it’s definitely no loss. Because you are using food-grade and organic oils, you can use your almond oil in the kitchen and try something else on your skin…

I believe it is important to note that moisturizers play the role of “mom” in some regard. They protect and nourish (feed), so the best moisturizers are the wholesome ones that do the same thing. They are 100% antioxidant, vitamin and mineral based. Remember your moisturizer sits on the skin’s surface and seeps into it ALL DAY long. It better be nutritive.

Oils are your skin’s best friend and a direct source of vitamins, proteins, essential fatty acids, antioxidants and other immune building nutrients.  I believe it is always best to buy your oils where you buy your foods and for precious oils like rose hips, sea buckthorn and vitamin E, it is best to do your research and buy from a reputable company that is highly experienced in the extraction and manufacture of these oils. As for vitamin E, please do not use cosmetic grade vitamin E in a clear glass jar that is sold in the beauty section of your market. Only use pure vitamin E on the skin. Either break open a caplet and apply it directly or source out a product that is not compromised. My favorite liquid vitamin E is manufactured by Solaray.

Have fun with your oils as well. Make blends with essential oils or without to customize a product especially for your skin type. Enjoy!