Oil change: for smooth, soft skin, try switching from water-based products to oil-based ones

Natural Health, June, 2007 by Olessa Pindak

OIL FROM PLANTS and flowers has long been used in beauty treatments. The ancient Egyptians pressed olives and used the off as an after-sun balm. The Queen of Sheba was said to have planted an almond plantation so she could extract the off and use it for her skin. "Otis are the oldest natural skincare," says Liz Earle, author of New Vital Oils (Random House, 2003) and founder of Liz Earle skincare. Unlike water-based products that soak into your skin, off-based products stay on the surface longer and prevent existing water from escaping. That's why it's good to apply off after a bath or shower, when your skin is still damp, to lock in moisture, says David E. Bank, M.D., director of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic, & Laser Surgery in Mt. Kisco, N.Y. Oils also tend to have fewer preservatives than water-based products since water can be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Whether you use skincare products to cleanse, moisturize, remove makeup, or pour into a steaming bath, you'll find an oil-based one that works for you. Go ahead, take a chance: Silky smooth skin is only a rub away.

cleaners

OIL-BASED cleansers typically have fewer abrasives than water-based ones so the wash feels more gentle, says Jeannette Graf, M.D., a dermatologist in Great Neck, N.Y., and author of Stop Aging, Start Living (Crown, Fall 2007).

1. PUR MINERALS MINERAL MELT ($19; www.purminerals.com) combines 12 oils, including sunflower, sesame, and avocado.

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2. SHU UEMURA HIGH PERFORMANCE CLEANSING OIL SINCE 1960 ($62; www.shuuemura-usa.com) contains tea-tree extract that deeply cleans the skin.

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3. SHISEIDO ULTIMATE CLEANSING OIL ($21; www.sca.shiseido.com) uses mineral oil to remove sunscreen and long-lasting makeup.

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4. Made with wild rose extract, SKIN FACIAL TREATMENT CLEANSING OIL ($50; Saks Fifth Avenue stores) is full of antioxidants.

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5. BOSCIA MAKEUP-BREAKUP COOL CLEANSING OIL ($21; www.boscia.net) uses jojoba, rose hip, and palm oils to break down grime, and peppermint to cool skin.

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6. The olive and macadamia nut oils in AMOREPACIFIC TREATMENT CLEANSING OIL ($50; www.amorepacific.com) gently nourish and cleanse skin, especially the delicate areas around the eyes.

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bath oils

MOST BATH oils contain essential oils (concentrated, fragrant variations), which tend to break down in hot conditions, so don't pour the product into your bath until you're ready to climb into the tub.

1. GRUBBY GIRL FLOWER CHILD BATH OIL ($12; www.grubbygirl.com) contains a blend of sunflower and grape-seed oil, and vitamin E that nourishes the skin.

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2. FARMAESTHETICS SWEET SOY OIL IN PINK GRAPEFRUIT ($22.50; www.origins.com) contains soybean and grapefruit oil to brighten your complexion.

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3. SWEET GRASS FARM LAVENDER BATH SYRUP ($8; www.sweetgrassonline.com) is made with castor oil and vegetable glycerin to hydrate skin.

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4. MUNDO LAVENDER BATH OIL ($21; www.mundoproducts.com) contains soothing lavender oil. In addition to pouring it into your bath, you can massage this oil directly into your skin.

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5. JO MALONE NECTARINE BLOSSOM & HONEY BATH OIL ($60; www.jomalone.com) combines almond, jojoba, and avocado oil to soften and moisten skin.

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For at-home skincare recipes designed by Liz Earle, log on to www.naturalhealthmag.com. Seventy-five readers will win a bottle of NatPure Golden Body Oil. Go to www.naturalhealthmag.com/natpure to enter.

face oils

LIGHTWEIGHT OILS like avocado, hazelnut, and peach kernel are ideal for your face. Especially when you rub them on right before bed.

1. The wild rose in KORRES WILD ROSE IMPERFECTION TARGETING OIL ($23; www.sephora.com) is a natural source of vitamin C and helps fight blemishes.

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2. LIZ EARLE SUPER-BALM CONCENTRATE ($33.25; www.lizearle.com) contains avocado oil to nourish skin, lavender oil to calm, and organic rose hip oil to heal.

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3. OLE HENRIKSEN BLACK CURRANT ENERGIZING COMPLEXION OIL ($32; www.olehenriksen.com) contains apricot kernel and black currant oils to trap moisture; and lemon, cypress, clary sage, and tea-tree oil to stimulate the skin.

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4. REN OMEGA 3 OVERNIGHT LIPID RENEWAL SERUM ($60; www.sephora.com) contains rose hip seed and wheat germ oils, two heavier oils that are good for drier skin.

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5. BIO-OIL ($12; at Walgreens stores) contains calendula and lavender oils to soothe and calm skin.

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6. The astringent qualities of sage and rosemary in CLARINS LOTUS FACE TREATMENT OIL ($45; www.clarins.com) help treat oily skin.

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body oils

TO GET THE MOST from these body moisturizers, apply them just after your bath or shower so they can trap, hold, and seal water inside your skin.

1. NEUTROGENA BODY OIL ($10; at drugstores) contains sesame oil, which is light and blends easily.

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