When it comes to beauty products, oil tends to get a pretty bad rap. But all oil is not created equal! Here at One Love, we think it’s important to point out the difference between pure plant oil (GOOD) and mineral oil (BAD).

THE GOOD
First of all, what is pure plant oil? Plant oils originate from the nut or seed of trees, fruits, vegetables and flowers. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and fatty acids that are vital to well being, health and beauty. The quality of the pure plant oil is critical to proper performance too—always choose fresh, cold pressed plant oils.

Photo by Vicki Kendall

THE BAD
Mineral oil, on the other hand, is a by-product of the distillation of gasoline from crude oil. Yep! the same stuff you put in your car goes into many cosmetic products. Many cosmetic companies like to use mineral oil because it is cheap, has no odor and never goes rancid. However, mineral oil forms a film on the surface of your skin akin to plastic wrap. (Yes, plastic is made from oil, too!) This film does lock in moisture—but it also blocks pores, traps dirt and bacteria and ultimately accelerates the aging of the skin because oxygen cannot get through. It’s a bit like wearing a plastic mask every day. No wonder we’re scared of using “oil” in our beauty products!

Photo by ilulicious

THE PRETTY
Unlike mineral oil, plant oils are actually crucial for healthy and beautiful skin.

Photo by Tim Walker

Here are the top 3 reasons why we love these oils:

1. Beauty (and health) starts here.
Plant oils help fortify and strengthen the skin’s own natural protective barrier, which is vital to overall skin health. The skin’s natural protective barrier is a mixture of sebum and micro flora that is unique to each individual. It is our first line of defense against germs and is also essential to maintaining moisture. The first step to radiant, glowing skin is the support and maintenance of the skins own natural protective barrier. You can do so by massaging the skin with pure, plant oils.

2. Nature’s Fountain of Youth!
Fresh, pure plant oils are the key to anti-aging. Plant oils nourish the skin with moisture, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, while still allowing the skin to breathe and eliminate toxins. Most importantly, the use of pure plant oils supports the production of collagen, which is responsible for skin’s plumpness, smoothness and elasticity. Collagen will quickly dehydrate if the skin’s natural protective barrier is stripped or damaged and will cause the skin to appear saggy and dull. When the skin’s natural protective barrier is properly protected with a gentle skin care routine that includes pure plant oils, collagen production is at its best.

3. A better way to fight acne.
Plant oils are the best choice for oily and acneic skin. Overproduction of sebum, your skin’s own natural oil, can be a response to over aggressive cleansing. When highly antiseptic soaps or harsh detergents strip the skin, the skin reacts by producing even more oil to protect the skin. The solution is to gently cleanse the skin and apply a light, nourishing plant oil. This eliminates overproduction of sebum, calms the skin and helps achieve balance.

For example, the strong bactericidal properties of lauric acid, a nutrient found in virgin organic coconut oil (the base of our Skin Savior Waterless Multi-balm), helps to create an antiseptic layer on the skin that discourages the growth of acne. The most basic cause of acne is excess sebum coupled with the presence of bacteria. Coconut oil discourages overproduction of sebum by providing natural moisture to the skin, while the high lauric acid content helps to fight surface bacteria. In fact, the U.S. National Library of Medicine highlighted lauric acid, which is found in coconut oil, as a potential alternative treatment to replace antibiotic therapies used to treat acne.

The genius of nature!