Oils on the face still sound odd to you? Well, we’re here to destroy your barriers. Facial oils, or for that matter all plant and nut-derived oils, contain a certain amount of Linoleic, Linolenic, Oleic acid which are the essential omega fatty acids for a healthy skin barrier. Can they break out your skin? Probably, if you don’t use the right facial oil according to your skin type. Let’s take a deep dive into understanding and picking the right facial oil to glow up every single day!
What is Linoleic Acid?
Linoleic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that is commonly found in plant oils and is essential for bodily functions. Linoleic acid is not easily synthesised by our body but it is the parent fatty acid of Omega-6. So to sum up all these fancy science terms, we can say that Linoleic acid is the fatty acid that can fuel and nourish our body cells. This can benefit healthy cell growth so say hello to strong nails, good skin, healthy hair. But wait, didn’t we say that our body cannot easily make this fatty acid? Yes. That is why we have to include it in our diet and skincare. We’ve also heard of Linolenic acid and that’s another essential fatty acid that is nothing but Omega-3 fatty acid. Just like Linoleic acid, Linolenic acid is also not produced by our body and hence we need to include Linolenic too in our diet. You can find Linolenic in nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils.
Let’s understand what it can do to our skin if it is present in our skincare products. It’s majorly present in plant oils so it is present in skincare in the form of oils. But wait, oils on the face? Well yes, Linda. They don’t harm you if you’ve made the right choice. Not all oils clog your pores.
What is Oleic Acid?
Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) that is found in vegetable oils and even nuts. Oleic acid is produced by our body and is also known as Omega-9. Just like every other nutrient, your body will decrease its production of Oleic acid as you age. Oleic acid makes sure that your cell’s membrane (the outermost layer that defines the cell shape) is thick enough and so it plays a vital role in transporting minerals in and out of the cell. It also helps in fighting pathogens and boosting the health of your heart and mind.
Oleic acid in skincare products can help you repair your skin barrier. In case, you don’t have any major skin concerns but you’re looking for something to just maintain your skin with then Oleic acid is a great addition. To ensure that your body has enough Oleic acid, add nuts and vegetable oil like Olive oil, Avocado oil to your diet.
Which are the oils that are rich in Linoleic and Oleic Acid?
Every oil and butters are rated with a scale called comedogenic scale. So along with understanding the oil’s composition, one must also know the comedogenic rating while picking a facial oil. Comedogenic scale is the measuring scale that helps us understand how likely a particular ingredient can clog your pores and lead to blackheads or whiteheads. A rating of zero means the ingredient is non-comedogenic and a rating of five means it is highly comedogenic and should be avoided by acne-prone, sensitive skin types.
Here are the oils that are richer in Oleic acid-
- Olive oil- Its Oleic acid content is 60-85% and has a comedogenic rating of 2 which means that it may clog your pores if not used properly.
- Avocado oil- Its Oleic acid content is 75% and has a comedogenic rating of 3 which means that it is likely to clog your pores.
- Almond oil- Its Oleic acid content is 70% and has a comedogenic rating of 2 which means that it may clog your pores.
- Argan oil- Its Oleic acid content is 40-50% and has a comedogenic rating of 0 which means that it will not clog your pores at all.
- Macadamia nut oil- Its Oleic acid content is 85% and has a comedogenic rating of 4 which means it will clog your pores.
Here are the oils that are richer in Linoleic acid-
- Grapeseed oil- Its Linoleic acid content is 65% and has comedogenic rating of 1 which means it may not clog your pores.
- Hemp seed oil- Its Linoleic acid content is 60% and has a comedogenic rating of 0 which means that it will not clog your pores at all.
- Rosehip oil- Its Linoleic acid content is 35-50% and has a comedogenic rating of 1 which means that it will not clog your pores.
- Evening primrose oil- Its Linoleic acid content is 70% and has a comedogenic rating of 3 which means it will clog your pores.
- Sea buckthorn oil- Its Linoleic acid content is 30% and has comedogenic rating of 1 which means that it will not clog your pores.
Can you use an oil that has just Oleic Acid?
Most of the plant-based oils that have Oleic acid in them, will also have other fatty acids paired with them. This is because isolated Oleic acid penetrates deep within your skin and hence leads to irritated and inflamed skin. Oleic acid can also clog your pores if you apply an oil richer in Oleic acid than the other fatty acids. If you’re of acne-prone or sensitive skin then an oil rich in Oleic acid could be heavy for your face skin. Opt for an oil that has Linoleic acid along with Oleic acid.
Sublime recommends Health Horizons Hemp Skin & Hair Oil. It’s good for your skin barrier and scalp barrier too. We ain’t gonna say much, just gonna let this oil do the talking!
So our verdict is that you cannot use an oil that has just Oleic acid. And you must also avoid applying oils that are richer in Oleic acid on your face.
Who can use face oils that have Linoleic and Oleic Acid?
Anybody and everybody. It’s a myth that those with oily skin type must avoid oils. Oils that are rich in Linoleic acid cannot clog your pores. So it is about finding the right oil according to your skin type and concern.
Those who have a compromised skin barrier, dullness, hyperpigmentation, etc must include a suitable facial oil. Natural oils can be rich in lipids that can address these skin concerns. Let’s understand how to pick facial oil according to your skin type!
According to my skin type, which face oil will suit me?
Facial oils are generally used to massage your face without tugging on your skin. If you’re applying facial oil during the day then you must ensure to only use a couple of drops for the whole face. We don’t want that oily goop on our face which can easily attract bad organisms. According to the skin type, here’s our guide to help you pick a suitable facial oil. We do recommend patch testing before starting to use it.
1. For dry skin
You can opt for an oil that could be a bit richer in Oleic acid and also has Linoleic acid, Linolenic acid in it. While picking a facial oil, you want to ensure that you aren’t using something very heavy since it can clog your pores, especially if you have open pores and a damaged skin barrier.
Sublime recommends Pure By Priyanka Swarnprabha Antioxidant Facial Oil which is rich in Kashmiri Saffron, Argan, Almond, Hempseed, and other such nourishing oils. Perfect for dry skin types!
2. For oily skin
You must stick to an oil that is rich in Linoleic acid since they are usually rated low on the comedogenic scale. Linoleic acid is lightweight and works perfectly well to repair your skin barrier. For oily skin type, you can apply a selected range of oils that have a 0 to 1 rating on the comedogenic scale. You must also avoid oils that are high in Oleic acid since they could make your face pretty oily and be the red carpet for the pathogenic organisms to harp on your skin.
Sublime recommends Herbis Botanicals Superlunary Face Oil that has Hemp Seed oil, Watermelon seed oil, Tea tree oil as the key ingredients. This is surely a win for oily and acne-prone skin types.
3. For combination skin
To balance out the oil production, you need nothing but a good facial massage with facial oils that are rich in Linoleic acid. This can help you control oil production by massaging your face daily with lightweight facial oil.
Sublime recommends Ras Luxury Oils Radiance Beauty-Boosting Day Face Elixir With Vitamin C that is rich in Vitamin C, Rosehip oil, Jojoba, Argan, and many such enriched oils. This makes for a perfect replacement for your Vitamin C serum during the day.
4. For acne-prone and sensitive skin
You must stick to facial oils that have a 0 or 1 comedogenic rating. These oils will generally be high in Linoleic content. Linoleic acid can heal wounds, repair your skin barrier by adding lipids to your skin. A healthy skin barrier is the first step to avoiding mess for sensitive and acne-prone skin types.
Sublime recommends Ozone Signature Kumkumadi Taila which has pure saffron, Goat’s milk, and even Sesame oil that is rich in Omega fatty acids. For those with sensitive and problematic skin, pure Kumkumadi oil like this one can help to improve your skin health holistically.
If you have an acne-prone, oil skin type then here’s your guide to pick a facial oil!
Summing up
Oleic acid and Linoleic acid in facial oil are meant to improve and heal your skin barrier, open wounds and bring the balance of oil production in your cells. While Oleic acid can be produced by your body, Linoleic acid is not. One must include oils rich in these acids since they are known as good fats meant to improve your bodily functions. These acids in skincare can change your skin game and that is why we totally dig facial oils that are rich in Oleic and Linoleic acid!
-Divya Salvi
