Breakouts. None of us like them and they always seem to come at the most inconvenient times. But why do they occur and what can we do to reduce them? Today we’ll be answering these questions and whether you can use a face oil during a breakout…
WHY DO BREAKOUTS OCCUR?
There are two main factors which impact the balance of water and oil our skin needs to be healthy and not breakout.
Progesterone, estrogen and testosterone
Having an imbalance of these three hormones can affect the levels of oil and water in the skin. An increase in progesterone causes breakouts as it leads to pores closing, inducing a larger build up of sebum (our natural oil) underneath the surface of the skin. The sebum then mixes with dead skin cells and bacteria which feeds off it, resulting in a breakout.
If you experience breakouts during your time of the month this is probably why.
If you don’t drink enough and give your skin a deep clean during your premenstrual and menstrual period, it’s likely you will experience a breakout as the changing levels of hormones will impact the appearance and texture of your skin. For example, you are likely to experience: dry lips, dehydrated skin, a dull complexion, puffiness around the eyes, reduction in elasticity and your skin is less able to heal.
Linoleic acid and oleic acid
Most people who are prone to breakouts at other times of the month are lacking linoleic acid (omega 6) in the sebum and have an abundance of oleic acid (omega 9). Linoleic acid (which your body does not naturally produce) is lightweight and thin, allowing it to be absorbed easily by the skin. The benefits of linoleic acid are that it has a moisturising element which can help your skin to retain water and keep irritants out. Oleic acid on the other hand is rich and thick. It makes the sebum heavier and by itself, is comedogenic which means it clogs pores. Oleic acid works in a similar way to too much progesterone in that it results in the closure of pores and an increase in sebum mixing with dead skin cells and bacteria. Too much of this and too little linoleic acid commonly results in a breakout.
USING FACE OILS DURING A BREAKOUT
Many people avoid face oils during a breakout as they fear it will aggravate it rather than alleviate. The simple answer to whether you can use a face oil during a breakout is yes. The longer answer is yes but look for one with high linoleic acid content.
Our face oil is 100% natural and does not contain synthetic ingredients, palm oil, mineral oils, phthalates, SLS / SLES, and silicones which could exacerbate your breakout symptoms. One of the ingredients is rosehip oil. We selected this French fruit oil as it has been proven to increase skin moisture and elasticity. It is also anti-inflammatory, meaning it can reduce redness and pain during a breakout and soothes sensitive/dry skin too. Not only this, rosehip oil has high linoleic and linolenic acid content making the oil thinner and more easily absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin – fully nourishing and protecting it. While our face oil does also contain ingredients such as organic sweet almond oil and moringa seed oil which both contain oleic acid, the formula has been developed with oils which help create balance in skin, and does not lead to clogged pores or a buildup of sebum.
TOP TIPS FOR REDUCING BREAKOUTS
- Double cleanse twice a day. Cleansing helps to remove excess sebum which as it builds up underneath the skin, leads to breakouts
- Exfoliate 1-2x per week. Exfoliating with a non-abrasive exfoliator helps to rid your body of dead skin cells and to clear out clogged pores. This combination reduces the build of sebum and prevents the mixture with bacteria leading to a breakout.
- Stay hydrated. Water helps to flush out toxins and keep hormones balanced.
- Use a moisturiser and face oil. The more you can keep your skin nourished with products containing linoleic acid, the more you are able to minimise your breakouts.
- Go for a facial. A great form of self-care, facials again help to clear out clogged pores and supports with removing excess sebum. If a regular facial is not within your budget, then a daily face massage with a face roller will help keep the circulation moving underneath skin.
- Let your skin breathe. It’s a good idea to have makeup free days or to change your products for something lighter, particularly in summer, to reduce the speed in which your pores become clogged.
DO YOU USE FACE OILS WHEN YOU HAVE A BREAKOUT?
We’d love for you to tell us in a comment below.
