Tons of virtual ink has been spilled over facial oils over the past few years, which comes as no surprise seeing as it's that type of product that has polarized the skincare world unlike any other. Now, if your skintype is mostly dry, you probably already love (or even, swear by) them, but if you fall somewhere under the oily/acne-prone spectrum, there's a good chance you avoid them like the plague. Still, I encourage you to keep on reading.
The "Fight Oil With Oil" principle and its caveat
Although most of you are familiar with it, allow me for a quick recap: Harsh ingredients aimed at oily skin, such as excessively foaming cleansers, astringent (i.e. usually alcohol based) toners or overly drying face masks etc, effective as they may be for removing the unwanted oiliness for a short amount of time, end up completely stripping your skin of its natural oils, causing it to overcompensate in sebum production to counteract that dryness. This never ending cycle can be broken with the use of facial oils: they keep the skin moisturized, reduce the need to produce excess sebum, and ultimately help diminish those nasty acne symptoms.
The problem with that principle?
Well, not all facial oils are created equal (which may explain why the "Fight Oil With Oil" principle hasn't worked for you)! Some oils rank high in comedogenicity, specifically oils rich in oleic fatty acids, while those with linoleic fatty acids are generally considered to be safe. I won't go into more detail, as that would defeat the purpose of this post - I just wanted to point out that it's the formula and the ingredients more than anything that you should take into consideration.
Which is how I ended up trying the Herbivore Botanicals Lapis Balancing Facial Oil, although to be fair the sleek packaging and the prevalence of the cruelty-free brand on my IG feed may have had something to do with it as well!
Lapis, as stated on the brand's website is aimed at combination, oily and blemish-prone skintypes or any skin in need of balancing hydration.
What's striking at first glance is its deep blue/blue-green color, all thanks to the
~ Blue Tansy leaf oil it contains. Blue Tansy oil has anti-inflammatory, anti-histamene and anti-bacterial properties, as well as an overall soothing effect. Other ingredients include:
~ Squalane oil (plant derived), a highly stable, non comedogenic oil, that moisturizes and protects from oxidative damage,
~ Jojoba oil, another stable oil, highly recommended for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory benefits, and
~ Kukui Nut oil, an oil rich in linoleic acids, which help enhance the skin's barrier function, on top of absorbing quickly into the skin and having antibacterial benefits.
The formula also contains Vitamin E, and Fractionated Coconut oil, worth mentioning, as it's a chemically altered form of coconut oil that's more stable and lower in comedogenicity (in fact all of the ingredients rank on the lower end of the comedogenic spectrum, 0-2).
So, how did it work for me?
First of all, I love the scent: herbal and highly relaxing! I usually apply it as the last step of my nighttime routine, and wake up to a lovely moisturized and supple skin. I can attest to its soothing abilities: it takes down the redness within a few minutes after application, which is why I often use it after my diy facials that include pore extraction and depilation and leave my skin hella aggravated! I personally wouldn't use it during the day: I don't find it to be a particularly "dry" oil and it takes a while to absorb on my skin, so any makeup application afterwards would be pointless for me.
All in all, I really enjoyed using it! If you're looking for a product, that tackles redness and is suitable for your acneic concerns, give this one a go! Just be warned, it's on the pricier side ($72 for the full size - though I rarely buy anything full size these days)!
Full Ingredients List: Amaranthus Squalane Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Capric Triglycerides (Fractionated Coconut Oil), Aleurites Moluccana (Kukui) Nut Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Tanacetum Annuum (Blue Tansy) Leaf Oil, Jasminum Sambac (Jasmine) Absolute, Rosa Damascena (Moroccan Rose) Absolute.
Disclaimer: Product purchased by yours truly.
Sounds like a great product! And love how you're analysing the ingredients and properties. I'll investigate it once I'm done with my Ordinary oils. Thanks for sharing x
ReplyDeleteThank youuuu! <3 I try to research as much as possible, and look for actual evidence for each ingredient! Skincare is chemistry, which means that there's tons of scientific data behind it... thankfully a few bloggers have started educating their readers, but we're still in the early stages. Huge topic to discuss by the way...! <3
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