We all know about the nutritional benefits of oats, which are considered to be one of the healthiest grains – but did you know that they also have great skincare benefits, too? That’s why, at Farmologie, all of our products (aside from our coconut body oil) contain both colloidal oatmeal and oat kernels – and why, today, we thought we’d tell you a little more about this dynamic duo!
What is colloidal oatmeal?
Colloidal oatmeal is a type of oat flour – but not all oat flour is colloidal oatmeal! Colloidal oatmeal is an oat flour that contains the whole oat kernel – including the bran, which is where the majority of the beneficial natural ingredients are found.
It’s pH balanced to preserve your skin’s natural pH level, and is anti-irritation, meaning it’s an incredible ingredient for those of us with sensitive skin!
What is oat oil?
Yep, oats really can produce oil – who’d have thought? Oat oil – or Avena Sativa, as it’s also known – is a natural emollient, which means its composition is similar to the oils and lipids found naturally in the skin, and works by filling in the gaps between the skin cells to help reduce water loss.
The oats in our oat oil are a by-product of the food industry, and the extraction process uses naturally sourced ethanol, which makes it totally sustainable, too.
What are the benefits of colloidal oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal acts as a superfood for the skin; avenanthramide, a natural compound almost exclusively found in oats, is anti-irritation and reduces redness, to help soothe and relieve even very dry and sensitive skin.
Colloidal oatmeal also contains beta-glucan, a natural sugar that helps to bind water to the skin to improve hydration, whilst the oils and lipids it also contains help to form a protective barrier over the skin to lock in that hydration.
Finally, the added bonus in using colloidal oatmeal for skin and body care is that the starch in oat flour also stops any products containing it from leaving a greasy layer on the skin – win/win!
What are the benefits of oat oil?
Oat oil is a non-greasy oil which is easily absorbed into the skin, making it a great ingredient for use in body and skin care. It’s rich in Vitamin E and ceramide, meaning it is both moisturising and helps the skin actually retain that moisture!
Oat oil is also a natural emollient, which means it has a similar composition to the oils and lipids naturally found in your skin, and fills in the gaps between skin cells to help reduce moisture loss – what a star ingredient!
Where do you source your oats? Are your oats sustainably sourced?
Both our colloidal oatmeal and oat oil are sustainably sourced from Scandinavia; our colloidal oatmeal is sourced from Finland, where they are able to be subjected to the incredibly harsh conditions which make them produce a higher quantity of beta-glucan, and which is why our colloidal oatmeal is of such incredible quality!
They’re grown specifically for the purpose of being used for their incredible skincare properties by traditional farmers, and are then processed locally to minimise the associated carbon emissions.
Our oat oil, on the other hand, is sourced from sustainably grown oats in Sweden, and is actually a by-product of the food industry, meaning it is a product that would otherwise be wasted in the process of making food.
Which of your products contain colloidal oatmeal and oat oil?
All of our Farmologie products (apart from our coconut body oil) contain this incredible duo! Not only does this mean that our products are suitable for both dry and sensitive skin, but also that they’re enhancing the skin barrier at the same time!
This killer combination means that our Farmologie moisturisers are able to help soothe your skin and lock-in moisture without leaving the skin feeling greasy, and our Farmologie body wash & bath soak are able to gently cleanse without stripping away the skin’s natural oils, and helping to preserve the skin’s natural pH levels.
Have you tried our colloidal oatmeal and oat oil Farmologie formulations, yet? Are you keen to know about any of our other star ingredients? Let us know below and we’ll get writing!
Pssst! Looking for an oaty formulation for the kids? Our Childs Farm unfragranced baby oaty bubbles contains oat oil!