Our skin is our largest organ,
Nearly 70% of what we put on it is absorbed into the bloodstream, so it’s important to take bodycare just as seriously as we do the skin on our faces. For many of us, bodycare goes as far as slathering on some lotion when we happen to think about it, and it’s even rarer that we take the time to find out whether lotion is actually the best way to moisturize.
A question we are often asked is, ‘Are body oils better than lotions’? Both can do the work of moisturizing skin, but lotions are full of toxins and tend to sit on the surface of the skin, body oils go the extra mile. If you’ve been considering a clean swap, choosing a body oil over a lotion is one of the best decisions you can make. Why? To put it very simply, our bodies are literally contained by our skin, and what you put on your body goes into your body. Below are a few reasons why….
Oil retains moisture.
When an oil is lipophilic, it literally means it’s ‘fat-loving’ and will mix well with other oils (fats) similar to sebum on your skin, oil penetrates more deeply into the skin and retains moisture under the surface. Oil can most accurately match the natural sebum of your skin. Interestingly oils are recommended for those with oily and acne-prone skin because they balance natural sebum production and your skin no longer has to overcompensate by producing excess oil, which can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. Kiwi Glow has regular feedback with acne free customers who switched to using our Rosie facial oil.
Lotions are made with a mix of water and oil, but much like a bottle of salad dressing, oil and water don’t mix! To make lotion, oil and water must be combined through the use of additives and emulsifiers. In order to keep bacteria from growing in water, preservatives like parabens or any other synthetics are added into the lotion so that it remains shelf stable. Preservatives tend to be problematic, but the beauty of an oil is that it’s anhydrous, meaning there’s no water present and no need to add any synthetics to the formula to make it shelf stable.
Bioactive refers to the amount of ingredients that are absorbed into your bloodstream after a product is applied to your skin. Because of their lipophilic nature and their small molecular size, the nutrients and vitamins in essential oils can absorb easily into the skin, revitalizing and nourishing on a cellular level and creating a more resilient moisture barrier. Lotions, on the other hand, can moisturize, but typically just sit on the top of your skin until you wash them off. Kiwi Glow has minimal ingredients so you KNOW what is going into your body.
If you’ve ever felt like your skin is dry, tight, or irritated, it’s likely the moisture barrier on your skin’s surface has been compromised. But what is a moisture barrier, anyway, and how does it get damaged? Your moisture barrier is the outermost layer of skin on your body that locks in water and defends against bacteria and other environmental stressors from penetrating under the surface layer of the skin. When your moisture barrier is damaged, whether it’s from harsh chemicals, over-exfoliation, or pollutants, it creates the tiniest cracks in the skin, which leaves your skin vulnerable to outside irritants that can cause wrinkles, breakouts, discoloration, and other issues. Unlike lotions, which tend to sit on the surface of the skin, Oil and essential oils can penetrate through the surface and ingredients like rosehip and sesame naturally heal and restore compromised moisture barriers.
Oil protects your skin
Because oil is natural from nature and does not contain water or fillers, it is able to seal good ingredients in, and keep the bad ones out! Free radicals like pollution, the sun, and exposure to pesticides, among others, can lead to premature aging and damage on the outer surface of the skin. When you switch to an oil, that protects skin starting from the inside out, pesky outside stressors have a more difficult time doing damage to your body’s surface. Sesame oil is particularly helpful in shielding from free radicals and daily wear and tear and can help reverse issues like dullness, premature wrinkles, and discoloration on the skin. Kiwi Glow body oils have a natural SPF protection of 15.
If you’re ready to make the switch, make sure you choose a truly natural body oil like Kiwi Glow which contains beneficial essential oils that ensure your skin is receiving all of the good-for-you ingredients body oil has to offer! Visit kiwiglow.com now.