Skincare trends come and go, but there are a few characteristics that will always be desirable. Hydration, minimal pores and oil control are among some of the most common benefits of many skincare products.
For a long time, oil has been demonised in the beauty industry. Products offering lightweight and non-greasy hydration have been popularised by beauty magazines as the way to achieve the holy grail of perfect skin, without the risk of breakouts.
However, the key to nourishing hydration could lie in products that work with the skin’s natural barrier and its natural capacity for oil production. It might seem counterintuitive, but adding more oil could help to balance sebum production while also locking in moisture.
We’re big fans of body oil as a luxurious addition to your skincare routine. But as with most skincare products, there are ways to optimise their use to deliver the best results.
Read on to learn more about the role of body oil in delivering deep hydration, and how to add this to your skincare routine for maximum benefits.
The Rise of Natural Body Oils for All Skin Types
Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It is a vast structure that is optimised to remain supple and maintain a protective barrier against the outside. Different areas of your body often require different types of skincare.
For example, your undereye skin is some of the thinnest on your body, so it requires a thicker cream and lighter touch, while the skin on your knees and elbows is thicker and might require more intensive moisturisation to keep it supple.
When things go wrong with the skin, it’s often down to irritation, which disrupts the skin's moisture barrier. This can lead to something known as trans epidermal moisture loss, which results in dry, flaking skin. In more extreme cases, the skin can become so dry that any movement causes it to crack, leading to wounds that are vulnerable to infection.
When this happens, a back-to-basics approach is recommended. Body oil can play an important role in restoring the skin moisture barrier and delivering nutrients to help support the skin. It’s also great for everyday moisturising as it helps to elevate your daily routine into a self-care ritual.
Body Oil Versus Traditional Moisturisers
Body oil works in a very different way to traditional moisturisers. It’s also worth noting that the composition of the body oil will also change the way the skin responds.
Different oils have different molecular weights, which means some have bigger molecules than others. Larger molecules take longer to absorb, so they will create a lipid barrier on the skin and help to retain moisture, while smaller molecules are absorbed into the skin faster, helping to deliver nutrients and improve skin elasticity.
The skin produces its own oils to help maintain elasticity. This is also known as sebum, and excess production of sebum is linked to breakouts and acne. Those with oily skin might be reluctant to add more oil to the situation, but it can actually be helpful to help control excess sebum production.
Top tip: If you have oily skin, be aware of natural body oils that contain comedogenic ingredients. These contain saturated fatty acid molecules, which are harder than unsaturated fatty acids. This makes them harder to absorb, and they can sit on the skin surface and block the pores, leading to breakouts.
How Natural Ingredients Work in Harmony with Your Skin
If you’re thinking about adding body oil to your skincare routine, it’s essential to choose all natural ingredients to minimise the risk or irritation. Mineral oils are widely used in the skincare sector as a cheap way to deliver hydration, but this petrochemical byproduct is heavily processed and delivers no additional benefits that come from natural oils.
Some of our favourite natural oils include jojoba oil, almond oil and avocado oil. These are non-comedogenic and a combination of light and heavy. They are also rich in skin-friendly compounds such as vitamin E, vitamin B, fatty acids and phytonutrients.
Essential oils can also be included to enhance the antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits. Essential oils also transform a simple body oil into a luxurious sensory experience, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy massage with your daily moisturising routine.
Boosting Hydration with Natural Body Oil
We’ve talked a lot about how natural body oils are superior to their synthetic counterparts, but how exactly do they work? And why is this method of moisturising superior to using a water-based moisturiser?
Luxury body oil helps to lock in moisture by creating a lipid barrier on the skin. By combining oils with large and small molecules, the oil absorbs at different rates. Some penetrate the epidermis quickly, delivering moisture to where it is needed to keep the skin supple, while others sit on the surface, creating a light barrier that prevents the moisture from leaving.
This is in contrast to water-based moisturiser. These contain the water that they are delivering to the lower dermis. They are absorbed, and then humectants in the product help to attract water and hold it in place. However, these rely on the skin’s moisture barrier to prevent trans epidermal moisture loss. If the moisture barrier is damaged, the skin won’t stay hydrated and supple for long.
Top tip: Body oil delivers superior moisture retention, but it cannot produce the moisture. This is why body oil is best applied immediately after a bath or shower for the best results. Your skin will be well-hydrated during this time, and applying body oil to wet skin helps to bind this moisture in place.
Introducing MotherSage Natural Body Oil
Looking for the perfect luxurious natural body oil to add to your daily skincare routine? We have the ideal suggestion. MotherSage Natural Body Oil contains everything you want in an all-natural skincare product.
The lightweight oil is deeply nourishing, any time of day. It contains a combination of sweet almond oil, hemp seed oil and jojoba oil as its base. This is further enhanced with the presence of geranium oil, lavender oil, ylang-ylang, squalane and vitamin E.
Individually, each ingredient delivers a wealth of skincare benefits, from anti-oxidant qualities to protect against free radical damage, to the nourishing and protective benefits of emollients.
Together, these ingredients deliver moisture, moisture barrier protection and repair, skin-friendly vitamins and a wealth of botanical benefits.
How and When to Use Body Oil for Best Results
Making the switch from regular moisturiser applied to dry skin to a body oil is simple. The best advice would be to apply the body oil immediately after a shower. Apply ½ a pipette into your hands and then use this to cover both arms. Then apply ½ a pipette for each leg. You can then cover the rest of your body using a ½ pipette.
For best results, apply after a shower without drying your skin at all. Water should still be beading on your skin. As you massage, these moisture beads will become smaller and smaller until they are eventually gone and your skin is dry.
Since this formulation contains light body oils, it will absorb quickly and leave no greasy residue. You don’t need to follow up with any additional body creams, but you might want to use a body butter for stubborn areas like elbows and knees.
What to Expect: Results Over Time
You’ll notice a change in your skin’s suppleness from your first application. You’ll also notice that your skin remains hydrated for longer. Skin won’t be greasy, but it will likely have a subtle shine.
If you have a badly damaged moisture barrier from using products that have irritated your skin, it might take a few weeks of usage before these signs start to diminish. The skin barrier will not be repaired overnight, but continued use of the body oil while avoiding skincare products that aggravate the condition will help to calm and soothe the skin.
Why Choose MotherSage Over High Street Alternatives?
You have a lot of choice when it comes to luxury body oil, so why pick MotherSage Natural Body Oil above all others? It’s not about what we put in the product that makes it a better choice for all skin types – it’s what we leave out.
There are no synthetic ingredients, no preservatives, and nothing that could trigger irritation or damage the moisture barrier. There are also no ingredients derived from animal sources, or that are tested on animals.
MotherSage is committed to transparency in its formulation and sourcing of ingredients. We take a science-based approach, opting for all-natural ingredients that support the skin’s natural function. Our UK-based production prioritises ethical sourcing for skincare ingredients, so you can enjoy the best nature has to offer.
A Ritual, Not Just a Routine
Skincare can be elevated and transformed from an everyday routine into a self-care ritual. It is a mindful task that can help you to connect with the condition of your skin like never before.
Our unique skincare collection invites you to take a moment to pause every day and marvel at how miraculous your skin really is.
Turning skincare into a ritual is one simple way you can reclaim your relationship with yourself. The focus on products that will enhance your appreciation for your skin.
Ready to explore the MotherSage skin care collection and Natural Body Oil?