We hear more and more about “green beauty” and “clean beauty”, but what exactly are we talking about? It is a concept that encompasses products that do not contain ingredients that are harmful to humans or the environment. This is why they are an interesting alternative to so-called traditional cosmetics which are composed of chemicals which can have repercussions on health and are often more expensive than their natural counterparts.

Certified organic by Ecocert Greenlife according to the Cosmos standard, and 100% natural, Divine Essence® beauty oils are guaranteed virgin and the vast majority of them are unrefined. Their exceptional cosmetic properties make them excellent skincare products. They nourish it, protect it from dehydration, external aggressions and premature aging. In addition to helping to repair and regenerate the skin, they are also excellent anti-aging agents. They can also be combined with Divine Essence® essential oils.

Naturally rich in fatty acids and natural principles such as vitamins, antioxidants, phytosterols, carotenoids, or even squalene… your skin will no longer be able to live without them.

The whole art of taking care of your face to have radiant skin lies in hydration, the supply of fatty acids and vitamins. Commercial creams are a summary of all this, but with the addition of other more or less chemical components, such as parabens.

Hydration before anything else

Unlike moisturizers, beauty oils do not contain water: it is therefore recommended to moisturize the skin, by spraying the face with organic floral waters (hydrolats) before any application. As they form an oily layer that prevents the water contained in the skin from evaporating, beauty oils preserve the hydrolipidic film of the skin, a natural defensive barrier.

All the ingredients contained in beauty oils regulate the different cellular systems and membrane exchanges. They promote better metabolic and physiological function.

The Chemical Composition of Beauty Oils

Most beauty oils contain three kinds of fats, in varying proportions: saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Oils are classified according to which fatty acid they contain the most.

Vegetable oils containing more omega 3s have better skin absorption, meaning that are better able to penetrate into the skin. Conversely, oils containing more saturated fat penetrate less.

Types of fats

• Saturated: Cocoa, Coconut and Shea butter / Very high fat content.

• Mono-unsaturated or omega 9: Olive, Sweet Almond, Avocado, Argan and Apricot Kernel Oils / High fat content.

• Omega 6: Arnica, Calendula, Carrot, Tamanu, Prickly Pear, Black Cumin Oils and St-John’s Wort / Moderate fat content.

• Omega 3: Sea Buckthorn, Rosehip, and Sacha Inchi are beauty oils with higher skin absorption. They oxidize more quickly than other oils.

• Macerated oils

These are vegetable oils to which other plant matter has been added, in order to extract its active ingredients. Plants are macerated in sunflower or olive oil, and then the mixture is filtered. For example, Arnica, Calendula, Carrot, St-John’s Wort.

Active ingredients found in beauty oils

• Azadirachtin A: Found in Neem, it promotes wound healing, and is highly recommended for eczema and irritated skin.

• Beta-carotene – carotenoids (provitamin A): Found in Argan, Sea Buckthorn, Avocado, Calendula, Carrot and Black Cumin Oil. Carotenoids give these oils their orange colour. They are antioxidants that can protect the skin against free radicals and give a glowing complexion.

• Calaustralin and inophylloids: Found in Calophyllum Inophyllum – Tamanu oil. These have powerful restorative and wound-healing properties. Inophyllin is an antibacterial compound.

• Phenolic compounds (oligomeric proanthocyanidins, procyanidins): Found in Argan oil, they are anti-oxidants and protect against skin tissue degeneration.

• Triterpene esters: They are anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and can reduce swelling. Found in Calendula oil wich is also rich in flavonoids, a group of antioxidants.

• Nigellin: An antibacterial compound found in Black Cumin oil.

• Phytosterols: Found in Sea Buckthorn, Avocado, Shea, Hazelnut and Apricot Kernel. These are anti-oxidants that promote wound healing, slow signs of aging, protect against UV rays and improve sub-cutaneous circulation.

• Retinol: Also known as vitamin A, found in Rosehip oil and Sacha Inchi. It is involved in skin cell regeneration and immune function. It regulates sebaceous glands, stimulates collagen and can increase skin thickness.

• Squalene: Found in Rosehip oil. It is an emollient and antioxidant that serves as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of vitamin D. It helps to regenerate the skin’s lipid layer and give it a healthy glow.

• Sterol: Found in Prickly Pear and Sacha Inchi oils, it improves the skin’s natural barrier and sub-cutaneous circulation, and slows signs of aging. An anti-inflammatory compound that protects skin against UV rays.

• Tocopherol (vitamin E): Vitamin E is an antioxidant and anti-aging ingredient, recommended for dry or mature skin, and for after-sun care. It also prohibits oil oxidation. This vitamin is present in the majority of beauty oils.

• Vitamin K: Found in Rose Hip beauty oil, it promotes coagulation and reduces redness.

Choose the right beauty oils for your skin care needs

– Anti-aging: Argan, Sea Buckthorn, Prickly Pear, Jojoba, Rosehip, Carrot
– Dry skin: Sweet Almond, Avocado, Apricot Kernel, Carrot
– Mixed to oily skin: Hazelnut, Jojoba, Carrot
– Mature skin: Argan, Sea Buckthorn, Rosehip, Jojoba, Carrot
– Acne-prone skin: Black Cumin, Jojoba
– Irritated or rosacea-prone skin: Tamanu, Rosehip, Neem
– Sensitive Skin: Sea Buckthorn, Sacha Inchi, Rosehip

Try Divine Essence® organic beauty oils today. Take care of yourself simply and naturally.

Source: Michel Turbide, aromatherapist, teacher and speaker

Natural and Organic cosmetic certified by ECOCERT Greenlife according to ECOCERT standard available at http://cosmetics.ecocert.com