In my previous post, we discussed about the myths of using oils in yours skin care and one of the biggest, biggest myths is “oils will clog your pores”. This is one the biggest concerns especially for those with acne-prone skin and oily skin. That’s simply not true. In fact, facial oils can be beneficial for oily skin. It’s the matter of finding the right type of oils for your skin type. 

So what’s comedogenic?

It simply means products that will clog pores and non-comedogenic is the opposite which means product that will help us avoid skin pore blockage.

Comedogenic scale is a rating system that indicates how likely an oil to clog pores. It’s a great reference point to help you read your product labels and avoid choosing the wrong oils for your skin.

In addition to the comedogenic scale, we’ll be bringing the fatty acids categories into the topic – linoleic and oleic fatty acids - as these two are good indicators of a non-comedogenic oil.

In general, oils that have higher percentage of linoleic acid are lower on comedogenic scale than those with higher oleic acid.

What’s Linoleic Acid?

Linoleic Acid is the most recommended for acne-prone skin because research has shown that acne sufferers generally have  a lower concentration of linoleic acid on skin surface, which could be resulting to their clogged pores.

Linoleic acid is found in plant-based oils and contains essential fatty acids that our body can’t produce. We can only get those nutrients from the food we eat and in this case, from natural plant-based ingredients that we apply on skin’s surface.

Okay…and Oleic Acid?

Oleic acid is rich in omega-9s (which can be produced by our body) and contains hydrating, anti-inflammatory properties. However, these oils can be pore clogging for those with oily, acne-prone and even combination skin. Oleic acid is more ideal for dry skin but can benefit sensitive or irritated skin as well.

Some of the oils with high oleic acid such as neem, tamanu and coconut oil could be good for treating acne as these oils have high anti-inflammatory and antimicrobials properties. So, do your research and read your labels :)

So, Which One Should I Use?

Here’s a list of the comedogenic rating and composition of the oils.

Oils                           Rating                      Composition Almond Oil                    2                           High in Oleic Acid Argan Oil                       0                           High in Oleic Acid Avocado Oil                  3                           High in Oleic Acid Coconut Oil                   4                          High in Lauric Acid     Jojoba Oil                      2                          High in Lenoleic Acid Squalane Oil                  0                          High in Lenoleic Acid Marula Oil                    3-4                         High in Oleic Acid Olive Oil                         2                          High in Oleic Acid Rosehip Seed Oil          1                           High in Linoleic Acid Meadowfoam Oil           1                          High in Eicosenoic Acid

 

Now that you have a better understanding about oils, it isn’t that scary after all eh? Check out our range of facial oils here; Daily Boost, Miracle Glow and Blue Tansy.

Feel free to leave a comment or drop us an email at hello@soulgoodproject.com if you have any questions.

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