The importance of allowing your skin to breathe
Looking after your skin using our new range of natural botanical Body Oils is a way of caring for your body in the longer term. Changes in temperature, humidity and UV exposure can all affect our skin on a daily basis, since it constantly responds to environmental changes. For example, in hot weather our skin naturally adapts to heat by regulating sebum levels and increasing sweat production. To allow our skin to self-regulate effectively and to prevent it from becoming dehydrated, it is therefore important to use body moisturisers that are super hydrating, but which also allow our skin to breathe. During the summer months we also expose more of our skin to the elements, so this means choosing skincare products which keep our whole body in optimum condition.
Many commercial moisturisers are formulated using ingredients based on petroleum and mineral oils. These are commonly used in skincare products to form a protective seal over the skin to lock hydration in, but they don’t allow our skin to breathe. Quite apart from the negative environmental effects of using petrochemical ingredients, these products block the pores which eventually tend to give our skin a dull, lifeless appearance as well as causing acne or spots. Yet many baby oils are principally based on mineral oil – in contrast, our Baby Massage Oil is gentle, moisturising and healing on the skin, whilst allowing it to breathe naturally.
In the summer especially, it is important to always apply sun protection to any exposed areas of skin. Antioxidants also play an important role in protecting the skin by limiting the production of free radicals, which are linked to ageing, while also assisting with hydration. In the heat, it’s good to apply a moisturising oil daily to the whole body to provide hydration and protection, not just to the face and neck. According to the British Journal of Dermatologists, those people who moisturise their skin regularly accumulate wrinkles at a fraction of the rate than those with dry, under-nourished or dehydrated skin!
The benefits of carrier oils in skincare
Many botanical or ‘carrier’ oils have outstanding skincare conditioning qualities: for example, rosehip seed oil is packed full of antioxidants and essential fatty acids, as well as being one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C. This makes it a primary choice for skin regeneration and nutrition, providing a range of anti-aging benefits. It stimulates skin cell renewal, promotes collagen production, while helping to maintain the elasticity of the tissues. Our new Feed Your Skin Body Oil is unique blend of 9 hydrating and super nutrient-rich oils (fragrance free), including rosehip seed, jojoba and avocado as well as Vitamin E oil. It also contains the remarkable ingredient Dunaliella Salina, a unique unicellular species of green micro-algae harvested from the Dead Sea, which has very rich concentrations of carotenoids, antioxidants and essential vitamins.
Antioxidant properties of essential oils
Recent scientific research studies have confirmed that many essential oils have excellent antioxidant properties that specifically help fight the signs of ageing alongside collagen boosting benefits which enhance skin cell renewal. When aromatic oils are combined with natural botanical oils, together they help keep the skin hydrated by retaining moisture within the cells without clogging the pores, whilst simultaneously transporting essential nutrients deep into the innermost cellular layers. I have therefore formulated our new unique range of Body Oils by blending carefully selected essential oils with specific carrier oils, to combine the benefits of both these 100% eco-friendly, bio-active ingredients.
How our body oils work at looking after your skin
Our new range of Aqua Oleum Body Oils are more effective in providing longer term skincare solutions than traditional moisturisers, because rather than containing a high proportion of water, like a cream or lotion, they instead contain a high concentration of richly nourishing ingredients. This means that rather than focusing on simply hydrating the skin in the short term, they feed the skin from deep within, where the cells are being replenished, thus ‘future- proofing’ your skin for longer. And since your skin is also your first line of defence against any pathogens within the environment, it makes sense to protect it well.
Each body oil is formulated to provide a skincare solution for a specific condition, for example, Scars & Stretch Marks is recommended for use both before and after pregnancy. Wild Rose is aimed at those with mature skin and has a revitalising and rejuvenating effect. Aches & Pains helps alleviate muscular tension and pain, while Exercise Aid enhances performance in sports, both before and after exercising. Natural Detox aids in combatting cellulite and water retention through its unique blend of essential oils when applied regularly. Since stress is such a common problem today, I have formulated several of the body oils as unisex blends to have a profoundly relaxing and soothing effect, which are particularly effective when combined with massage: Tranquility, Unwind and the more sensual After Dark.
Each body oil is completely individual and bespoke in terms of its fragrance and ingredients, so I recommend you try a few of them to find which is your favourite! Each one is handmade and bottled by us in the Cotswolds and as always, they are all are 100% derived from active natural botanicals and are completely vegan-friendly. Remember, all our Body Oils are best applied when the skin is warm and the pores are open, such as after a bath or shower