Don’t you find it irritating when, a few minutes after applying a moisturizer, your skin starts to feel all icky and greasy? Many people feel this way, maybe that’s why they switch to an oil-free moisturizer. What you may not realize is that you may be doing yourself more harm than good. Let’s look at some of the reasons why an oil-free body lotion or face cream can be very bad for your skin.
“Oil Free” Does Not Necessarily Mean Skin-Friendly
Go to a beauty store and read the product labels of the oil-free moisturizing creams and lotions available there. You’ll find that most of them, especially those from the high-profile cosmetics companies, contain one or more of the following ingredients that can harm your skin and your overall health:
Benzyl alcohol and several other types of alcohols dry out the skin, and this takes away the point of using a moisturizer in the first place! Also, since they strip away the skin’s protective natural acids, you become more prone to skin infections.
Triethanolamine or TEA is a pH balancer that has quite a few potentially disastrous health effects. It can combine with amines in your beauty product to form nitrosamines, can cause cancer. And while scientific literature doesn’t have conclusive evidence that TEA by itself is carcinogenic, animal tests have shown that it can cause skin erosion, inflammation, and hyperpigmentation (unusual darkening of the skin) even when only small amounts were applied.
Parabens are preservative chemicals used to extend the shelf life of skin care and anti aging products: you’ll find them listed on oil free moisturizer labels as methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, and several other variations. While approved by the FDA for use in cosmetics and other consumer products, there is nevertheless widespread concern over their potential to disrupt the endocrine system and their possible role in diseases like cancer. One study published in The Journal of Applied Toxicology shows the presence of parabens in tumors taken from breast cancer patients.
Oil-free moisturizers don’t sound too good now, do they?
Oils in Facial Moisturizer and Moisturizer Cream Products That ARE Good for Your Skin
Not all oils in facial moisturizers or body lotions cause clogging of the skin’s pores or lead to acne outbreaks. Of course, there are certain oils that do this, such as mineral oil. However, consider the moisturizing benefits of the following natural oils that are safe for your skin, and which don’t leave you feeling greasy or unpleasantly slick:
Jojoba oil. This is a vegetable oil whose chemical makeup is very similar to sebum, the oil that our skin produces. Hence, there is little threat of skin breakouts or other allergic reactions. What’s more, it’s suitable even for those with oily skin because it helps regulate the body’s sebum production.
Avocado oil. This natural oil has healing properties and contains many nutrients essential for healthy skin. In addition, it has been shown to reduce age spots, as well as increase the amount of skin collagen in the body.
Macadamia oil. Like jojoba oil, it is very similar to human sebum. It is rich in palmitoleic acid, which tones, conditions, and moisturizes the skin. It is suitable for all skin types, and its high absorption rate means it moisturizes the skin very rapidly.
Now that you have become more aware of how an oil-free moisturizer might not be the best thing for you, I hope you do some more research so you can find the best skincare product with which you can moisturize your skin safely and effectively.
Tags: lotions, moisturizer