Have you ever wondered why CHARLíS includes so many healthy oils (and essential oils) within our formulas? Well, there is a good reason, and that is what this article is all about!

In Part 2 of this series on oils, we will share some important facts you need to know when choosing essential oils as well as vital information about the aromatics and “extracts” you will find in all CHARLíS products. In this article, however, we are going to zero in on non-aromatic healthy oils and why some can be so beneficial for skin health.

Let’s get started!

Why Are Some Oils So Healing for the Skin?

So, “what’s the skinny” when it comes to skin-healing oils? To understand this, let’s first look at what oil is. Technically speaking, an oil is a flammable, “surface-active” substance that remains in liquid form when it is at room temperature or above. Oils do not mix with water, but they can mix with other oils. Oils, as well as fats, are also known as “triglycerides” because they are made up of varying combinations of glycerol and 3 types of fatty acids. Oils also fall into another broader category called lipids. Besides oils and fats, lipids also include fat-soluble vitamins as well as other substances such as monoglycerides, diglycerides, and phospholipids.

All of the substances within the lipid category, including healthy oils, do similar things for the body. They all help in chemical signaling, storing and utilizing energy, and maintaining the structural integrity of cells. (1) Just looking at this last benefit alone, it is easy to see how important certain lipids can be for maintaining healthy-looking as well as healthy-functioning skin.

To prove this point, did you know that simply consuming certain kinds of fats can help your skin to look and feel its absolute best? A 2001 Dutch study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that supplementation with “polyunsaturated fatty acids” can protect against ultraviolet light, balance out sebum levels, increase elasticity, increase skin hydration, and directly contribute to clearing up many common, skin-related conditions. (2)

Specific Oils in CHARLíS Products are Superstar Ingredients!

It's easy to see how healthy oils can benefit the skin in general, but why did we choose specific kinds of oils for CHARLíS one-of-a-kind formulas? Of course, I won't be able to discuss all of the oils that we use because there are just too many, but we can take a look at a few “superstars” that rise to the top:

Argan Oil – Argan oil, which comes from the Argania Spinosa tree native to Morocco, is probably the most well-known oil with known benefits for the skin. And rightly so since argan has been used for centuries for this very purpose.

First of all, argan is high in certain kinds of fatty acids, in particular skin-nourishing omega 9 (also known as oleic acid) and omega 6 (also known as linoleic acid). Because of its fatty acid content, argan oil has been found in numerous studies to be of great benefit for acne-prone skin. Argan oil also contains significant amounts of vitamins A and E as well as phytonutrient antioxidants which help boost its healing effects for skin-related conditions. According to a 2015 study report published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, topical application of argan oil significantly helped improve skin elasticity in postmenopausal women. (3)

Argan oil was little known before the turn of the century, but today it is an absolute staple for many people in their beauty routine. It is also found as a key ingredient in the CHARLÍS Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer.

Coconut Oil – More than likely, you already know about the soothing and healing effects of coconut oil in general, but did you also know that this amazing source of healthy fat is a natural “anti-bacterial” and “anti-fungal?” This means that it can be your ally in calming acne outbreaks which often occur because of bacterial overgrowth. It is also effective in helping with other skin ailments and infections as well as wound care. (4)

In addition, coconut oil can be deeply hydrating for the skin. Medium-chain fatty acids within coconut oil help to gently repair the skin’s natural moisture barrier while key nutrients such as vitamin E help protect from harmful outside sources (like too much UV sun exposure). All this adds up to an all-around reliable source of healing for the skin that can be perfect as a carrier oil or as a stand-alone.

When choosing your coconut oil, whether for food consumption or skin care, always make sure that your brand of Coco Nucifera is 100% organic and non-GMO and has been manufactured with minimal processing.

We include 100% non-GMO, organic Cocos Nucifera oil in the formulas that are part of the CHARLÍS Orange Blossom Body Collection, including the Orange Blossom Body Lotion, Body Butter, and Shower Gel.

Castor Seed Oil - Originally from tropical regions in Africa and India, the Ricinus Communis plant is the source of castor seed oil and has been used for centuries for its anti-inflammatory properties. Many people today use pure castor oil “packs” externally for healing inflammation in the gut and other areas of the body.

By extracting the naturally occurring oil from the seeds of the castor plant, all the anti-inflammatory goodness of castor becomes super-concentrated. This includes phytonutrient substances such as ricinoleic acid, a form of fatty acid known for its ability to lower inflammation. Because of all this and more, it is safe to say that castor seed oil is an “anti-inflammatory powerhouse” able to significantly soothe inflamed, acne-prone skin as well as dry, irritated skin. (5)

Some studies have even found that castor seed oil can be beneficial for those with eczema. Not only can castor seed oil help already-affected skin, but it can protect against pathogenic bacteria that may infect the skin and cause outbreaks in the first place. (6)

Castor seed oil is used in the CHARLíS Orange Blossom Lip Balm, which is also part of the new CHARLíS Skin Collection.

Rice Bran Oil - You may hear the name “rice bran oil” and zero in on the word “bran,” which is one of the best sources of fiber for overall health. Rice bran, or Oryza sativa, can help with so much more than regularity, however. Did you know that rice bran contains over 100 antioxidant compounds, including omega-3 fatty acids and micronutrients such as selenium and zinc?

And when rice bran is concentrated into an oil, it can help the skin in a myriad of ways. In particular, rice bran oil can be effective specifically for reducing wrinkling and other signs of aging. Rice bran also contains a substance called gamma-oryzanol which promotes circulation in the skin for both increased health on the outside and for evening out skin tone on the surface. A 2021 small-scale clinical trial found that a lotion containing just 10% black rice bran extract had a “skin brightening” effect via its effect on melanin production pathways. (7)

Indeed, the omegas, minerals, phytonutrients like ferulic acid, and high antioxidant content found in rice bran oil will inevitably take your skin health to the next level. This is why rice bran oil is included in the CHARLÍS Breath of Life Oxygen Face Serum.

Safflower Seed Oil - The use of safflower for cooking and healing goes back centuries to the ancient Egyptians and Greeks. Early Spanish colonies brought this humble plant with brightly colored flowers to the Rio Grande area of the American southwest, where it thrived in the arid conditions. Safflower is sometimes called carthamine and still today it is used as a cooking oil as well as in many cosmetic products.

Safflower seed oil is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and highly antioxidant, making it ideal for wound healing and for clearing up conditions of the skin. Most of all, however, safflower seed oil contains high amounts of both vitamin D and linoleic acid, making it ideal for helping your skin “lock moisture” in place. Yet, while safflower seed oil creates a barrier to prevent moisture from escaping, it will not clog pores like other moisture-locking substances often do. (8)

Like castor seed oil, when the oil of safflower seeds in particular is extracted, the benefits become highly concentrated. This is why safflower seed oil is included in our flagship product, the CHARLíS Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer.

Experience Rich, Deep Healing with Soothing Oils

The four “superstar” oils mentioned above are just the beginning of all the goodness to be found in all CHARLíS products. To find in-depth information about any of these oils as well as others, you can begin your search HERE.

And, of course, it goes without saying that all of the oils and other ingredients used in every single bottle in the CHARLíS Face and Body Collections are always lab-tested and verified as ToxicFree(R) by the independent ToxicFree(R) Foundation before they ever go out to you. For that reason, you can rest easy as you experience the super hydrating, healing effects of all of the plant-based oils available in all CHARLIS formulas.

References:

1. Biochemistry, Lipids
2. Nutritional skin care: health effects of micronutrients and fatty acids
3. The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity
4. The Fatty Acid Composition of Vegetable Oils and Their Potential Use in Wound Care
5. Effectiveness of utilizing VCO oil and castor oil on natural creams for dry skin treatment due to environmental factors
6. Emollient treatment of atopic dermatitis: latest evidence and clinical considerations
7. Evaluating the Efficacy of Lotion Containing Black Rice Bran (Oryza sativa L. indica) Extract as Skin Brightening Agent: A Clinical Trial
8. Phenol Content and Antioxidant and Antiaging Activity of Safflower Seed Oil (Carthamus Tinctorius L.)