When it comes to skincare, there are two main types of products: water-based and oil-based. While water-based products have gained popularity due to the belief that skin needs water to stay hydrated, oil-based products are often overlooked. In this post, we will explore the differences between water-based and oil-based skincare and why you should consider incorporating oil-based products into your skincare routine.
Water-based Skincare
Water-based skincare products are any kind of product that has water in it. The problem is, any product made with a mix of water and oils needs to have certain ingredients in them to keep the product from separating and going bad. These ingredients include preservatives and emulsifiers, which have been proven to dry skin out and be very harmful for our skin and health and in the long run.
Beauty companies have been telling us for decades that water-based skincare is best for us using the theory that skin needs water to stay hydrated. But the thing is, the water within a cream or product evaporates on the surface of our skin before it would actually penetrate, so it doesn't actually do much except create a nice texture.
Water-based products are often recommended to people with oily skin because the logic is that if your skin is oily, you shouldn’t add more oils. However, the truth is that oily skin is actually certain people's reaction to having dry skin. When some people's skin is dry, their skin starts over producing sebum, an oily-waxy substance that protects skin from drying out. So even if you have skin on the oily side, it is still important to use oils to moisturize.
Beauty brands love water as an ingredient because it's incredible cheap to use, but the truth is it is unnecessary for water to be inside a product. The nutrients we want are coming from plant oils, butter and extracts. It is good to have damp, clean skin before apply a moisturizer, but you can simply wash your face or refresh with some botanical hydrolat water before moisturizing.
Although adding water is unnecessary, it wouldn't be such an issue if it didn't need the shelf-stabilizing additives that dry skin out and kill the good bacteria our skin needs. Many water-based creams, also shampoos and other products, have some kind of alcohol added, which gives this refreshing, hydrating feeling for a moment but then ends up drying the skin out more.
Oil-based Skincare
Oil-based products, on the other hand, are made with oils and butters, and do not have any water in them at all. These products are often overlooked due to the misconception that oils clog pores. However, the truth is oils and butter are packed with the vitamins, omega's, and all the good stuff our body needs. There are hundreds of different kinds of plant oils. Some are thicker and more prone to clog pores, but there are many that are super light and easily absorbed by the skin and should not be the cause of clogged pores or acne at all.
The creams that are oil-based don't need any added preservatives, emulsifiers, or other shelf-stabilizing ingredients. Oils and butters naturally preserve themselves (this is why we preserve artichokes in oil, not water). The oils and butters used in oil-based products have a naturally long shelf life.
Using oil-based products in your skincare routine can have many benefits. These products are great for people with dry skin, as they help to moisturize and nourish the skin. They can also be great for people with oily skin, as they can help to balance the skin's natural oils. Oil-based products are also really great for people with sensitive skin, as they are way gentler and less irritating than water-based products.
Plus, because oil-based products are a bit more dense than water-based moisturizers, a little bit will really go a way long way, which means oil based creams will last a lot longer and save you some money in the long run. They also keep skin soft and moisturized for a lot longer than water-based moisturizers. Woop woop!