Did You Know…

Did you know that this little baby is packed with so much goodness for your skin? Prickly pear oil is loaded with nutrients needed for the skin, along with its ability to treat cuts and burns and treat digestive problems. It is a labor intensive process of obtaining the oil and requires a lot of fruit to produce a small amount of product, hence the cost of the oil, but it is well worth it.

It contains…..

Linoleic acid which regenerates the skin cells and strengthens the epidermal layers.

Oleic acid that locks the moisture into the skin.

Polyphenols which are micronutrients that are full of antioxidants that fight free radicals . These are the nasties that cause inflammation to the skin, break it down and cause the ageing process.

Vitamin E and fatty acids Omega 6 & 9 which serve as the essential building blocks of the skins surface, therefore enhancing the smoothness and overall appearance of the skin.

With regular use prickly pear oil can help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, keep it hydrated and help it to maintain its glow. I have become a big fan and intend on using it in more products to add to the range.

Can You Use Oils On Oily Skin?

I think one of the big myths is if you have oily skin then you can’t use oils . This isn’t the case, and in fact some oils are used to treat acne as they control the excess oil production ie. hemp oil. It is about finding the right oils to use and that means using the ones that are non comedogenic . These are the ones that do not clog the skin. Oils have a rating on a comedogenic scale which ranges from 0 - 5. O being that the oil will not clog the skin and 5 being best to avoid as it will . You want to find oils that sit between 0-2 . These are the non comedogenic oils.

Oils are a natural way to deliver nutrients and fatty acids to the skin. Non comedogenic oils tend to have a high linoleic acid content which is lighter and absorbs into the skin without clogging pores. They restore the skins barrier function . Topical application of oils high in linoleic acid can help sebum from becoming sticky and hard which is the cause of clogged pores and pimples.

There is a large range of oils that are safe to use on oily skin that fall in the non comedogenic category like grapeseed oil, sunflower seed oil, hempseed oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, fractionated coconut oil, prickly pear oil, camellia oil, sea buckthorn oil, passionfruit oil, black cumin seed oil, guava oil, blueberry seed oil, pomegranate oil, shea butter & roseship oil.These can be combined or used on their own , although personally I like to combine them and get the different benefits from them.

As a side note if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant it is always a good idea to check with your doctor to see which oils are safe to use.

The Importance of Hyaluronic Acid in Skincare

Hyaluronic acid is one of the top 3 ingredients I always look for in my skincare. As we age we lose this naturally from our skin and its about replacing it in our moisturisers and serums if we want to retain the glow and plumpness in our skin.

Firstly what is hyaluronic acid? Well it is a slippery substance that our body produces throughout our body, mostly in eyes, joints and skin . It helps things to move smoothly ie. our joints, it helps to keep things hydrated ie. our eyes and it helps keep things flexible ie. our skin .

As we age our skin lines and this is due in part to the loss of hyaluronic acid production . You can take a supplement internally , inject it or you can apply this topically to your skin to help reduce the fine lines and wrinkles.

It holds up to 1000 times its weight in water which is why this is such a great ingredient for improving overall skin flexibility and elasticity. For me, this means that it is a MUST in a skincare routine as we age.