Dry Oils Are The Viral Moisturizing Skincare Ingredients That Won't Leave You Greasy
Almost everyone suffers from dry skin — and whether it's your face, elbows, or your whole body, feeling tight and itchy is not a fun sensation to feel. If you find yourself slathering on moisturizer throughout the day, especially in the winter, you're in the same boat as the majority of the population. While we can be diligent about hydrating our bodies, the bad news is, the more we age, the drier our skin becomes. The American Academy of Dermatology Association states that after we hit 40 years of age, we lose a significant amount of sebum and continue to do so as we get older.
Although we can't do anything about aging, we can continue to fight dry skin by drinking water and with good moisturizers. However, many super-lubricating lotions leave us with slippery, greasy skin. A good alternative is something called a dry oil, which may be the answer to your parched skin.
Dry oils absorb quickly into your skin
So, what is dry oil? The term sounds misleading, as it's not technically dry. Oils that absorb quickly into the skin and don't leave a residue are considered dry oils. Some examples include sunflower seed, avocado, rosehip seed, safflower seed, grapeseed, and sesame oils. An example of a "wet" oil is olive oil, as it's fatty. Although olive oil is highly moisturizing, it won't absorb into your skin as fast and will leave you with a greasy residue.
Both wet and dry oils work by trapping moisture into the skin and preventing it from evaporating. However, wet oils aren't as practical for everyday use as they can transfer to clothing and other materials. You can apply dry oils directly onto your skin and within moments, it will leave you with super-moisturized skin without feeling like a wet seal. Also, oils are full of nature's good stuff. Safflower and sunflower seed oils are rich in vitamin E. Rosehip seed contains vitamin C, while avocado oil boasts vitamins A, C, E, K, B, and folate. You can apply dry oils straight from the container but many companies sell a mix of oils along with other helpful ingredients like oat or hemp. Some dry oils even have a bronzing shimmer, perfect for evening out your skin or highlighting certain parts of your body. You might find dry oil a bit daunting at first but it's just as easy as applying lotion.
Applying dry oil on damp skin locks in hydration
As with any moisturizer, don't wait too long for your skin to dry after showering to apply dry oil. While oils don't contain water that hydrates the skin, they work as an occlusive that locks moisture in, so you'll want to act quickly to seal it before it evaporates. Many dry oils contain linoleic acid, a fatty acid that also helps restore and heal your skin barrier. People with oily or acne-prone skin shouldn't fear using dry oils. Stripping your skin of natural oils can cause even more oil production and exacerbate acne flare-ups. Dry oil helps retain your body's natural moisture without clogging pores. Just be sure to use a light oil like jojoba or tea tree, which contain antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Dry oils are great for dry and frizzy hair, as they don't weigh your strands down or make them look greasy. Simply apply a few drops on damp hair and gently work the oil in. Use a wide-tooth comb to make sure all your strands are covered. You can also apply dry oil to your cuticles to soften them up before a manicure or if they're feeling dry and cracked. The best thing about dry oils is that they're lightweight enough to use year-round, and with summer around the corner, we'll definitely be relying on them to keep our skin glistening.