What a Face Plant Oil Actually Does (And Doesn't)
2 min read
We believe the more you understand about what your products actually do, the better your skin will be for it. So here's the breakdown.
What It Does
Plant oils are an emollient - one of the most concentrated forms of skin nourishment you can apply. Because our daily face oil contains no water, it doesn't need preservatives to prevent bacterial growth, emulsifiers to hold oil and water together or thickeners to give it texture. Every ingredient is functional. The result is a product that delivers fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins directly to the skin barrier in their most bioavailable form - pure and undiluted.
Our formula brings together five carefully chosen organic, cold-pressed and unrefined plant oils: jojoba, rosehip, pomegranate, tamanu, and plant-derived squalane. Each oil is selected for a specific reason at a specific percentage. Nothing added because it sounded good on a label.
It softens and conditions the skin. It supports and strengthens the skin barrier. It delivers gentle, lipid-soluble actives that work cumulatively over time. And when applied to damp skin, it seals whatever moisture is already on the surface so it doesn't evaporate off.
What It Doesn't Do
It doesn't hydrate. No oil can. Hydration means water content in the skin and oil and water don't mix. An oil sitting on the surface of your skin has no mechanism for drawing water into skin cells. If your skin is genuinely dry or dehydrated, a face oil alone will make it feel better without fully solving the problem.
This is not a flaw in the formula. It's just the chemistry of how oil and water work. And it's why we'll always recommend pairing our daily face oil with a humectant if your skin runs dry.
How to Get the Most Out of It
Apply to damp skin, always. That specific in-between state after cleansing, not dripping wet and not fully dry, is when your skin is most receptive and when the oil has something to immediately seal in.
Warm three to four drops between your palms and press into the skin rather than rubbing. Pressing drives the oil in. Rubbing moves it around the surface. Hold your palms against your face for a few seconds. That's it.
If your skin is dry or dehydrated, apply a humectant first like hyaluronic acid, glycerin or aloe vera. Wait 30-60 seconds, then apply the oil on top. The humectant draws water in. The oil seals it there.
Is It Enough On Its Own?
For normal, balanced skin, possibly yes. Damp skin plus the daily face oil is a genuinely complete routine for skin that isn't struggling. For dry, dehydrated or very reactive skin, add the humectant step underneath and consider finishing with our tallow cream on top at night for maximum barrier support.