By Shelley Levitt

Skin Care Oils: Your New Best Friend

I've been intrigued with skin care oils ever since I met celebrity makeup artist Gina Brooke a couple of months ago. She told me that instead of foundation she blends oil with concealer for all her clients -- those clients just happen to include the likes of Anne Hathaway, Madonna and Naomi Campbell.

You too might have noticed that facial oils are popping up a lot lately, as cleansers, moisturizers, even anti-acne treatments. Can they really be good for your skin? I posed the question to New York City dermatologist Jessica J. Krant.

Here's what she had to say.

What's your advice on the do's and don'ts of skin oils?

Dr. Krant:

If an oil feels too heavy or leaves any residue that makes you look or feel greasy, just don't use it. Many oils are lighter and can achieve what you want without any problem effects.

If you have oily skin, can you still use a facial oil?

Dr. Krant:

Yes. Believe it or not, most people can use cleansing oils and even some moisturizing oils with no problem. Women with oily skin often feel they need to use harsh, stripping cleansers to remove surface oil, but in fact, this often causes the skin to overproduce oil to compensate. Applying a light oil instead signals to the skin that there is enough surface moisture and lubrication for the cells, which has the effect of turning down your skin's own natural oil production. What's more, adding a light oil to the skin's surface does not cause pore clogging or acne, contrary to popular myth.

What are the benefits of facial oils?

In addition to balancing skin moisture, using an oil cleanser is gentle on the skin, since oil acts as an organic solvent, dissolving makeup and dirt without abrasive detergents.

 

 

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"Skin Care Oils: Your New Best Friend"