Oils are one of the most misunderstood ingredients in skin care products and also generally the most 'unwanted,' but are oils good for your skin?

~ The MOST COMMON skin problems include~
excessive dryness... excessive oiliness... blackheads... premature aging... rough texture...dry or oily patches...acne & eczema.

If you have any of these skin symptoms, then more than likely you have been looking for a solution for quite some time. In your search you have probably found many lotions and creams that say they are beneficial for your skin. Here's the truth:

The main ingredients in your lotions, creams and serums are oil and water. They are whipped together generally with emulsifiers, binders and thickeners, creating the product you put on your skin. By the way, the emulsifiers, binders and thickeners usually do absolutely nothing for your skin. If the product contains synthetic or artificial emulsifiers, binders and thickeners they very often trigger allergic reactions. Often these are polymers and co-polymers which are simply put: plastic and can even be stored in your internal organs. You will not find these in KISST products! The one emulsifier that we use is a vegan source and will not damage your skin or clog your pores.

The real question that people should be asking is:

WHAT KIND OF OILS SHOULD I USE ON MY SKIN?

Most traditional over the counter products contain MINERAL OIL which is classified as a petrochemical pollutant and xenohormone. The mineral oils which are so commonly found in the majority of cosmetic products are indeed a health hazard. Mineral Oil is a synthetic petrochemical which is used because it is incredibly inexpensive and has an infinite shelf life. It allows the large cosmetic companies to vastly boost their profit margin, at your skin's expense! It can have negative effects on hormones, is not readily absorbed by the skin, and can also slow down cell renewal. It is also one of the most likely causes of premature aging. In fact, it is believed that sunscreens produced from mineral oil may promote skin cancer as well as colon and breast cancer. A derivative of crude oil (petroleum) that is used industrially as a cutting fluid and lubricating oil, mineral oil forms an oily film over the skin to lock in moisture, toxins and wastes, but hinders normal skin respiration by keeping oxygen out. However, cosmetic manufacturers do not put health warnings on their products, and in the US, the FDA does not require this information to be on packaging. In addition, mineral oils feel greasy and uncomfortable because they sit on the surface of the skin as a suffocating barrier that causes skin conditions such as acne, blackheads, and whiteheads because the skin cannot breathe!

Good oils are totally natural, totally bio-compatible, and totally bio-available, meaning they can be absorbed completely by the skin, even nourish and balance the skin. All natural oils, fats and butters, are complex compounds called triglycerides. All natural oils and fats are a mixture of triglycerides with a different fatty acid attached. To further explain, an oil molecule is formed from one glycerin molecule and three fatty acid molecules. All fatty acid molecules are lipophilic and hydrophilic. Lipophilic means that it has a great affinity for oil. Hydrophilic means that it has a great affinity for water. The glycerin component of an oil or fat is an alcohol with three locations on its molecule where the hydrophilic molecule of the fatty acids attaches. The best oils contain essential fatty acids because these cannot be synthesized (made) in the human body. The most important are linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic acids.
There is a plethora of good oils and butters from which to choose, oils that are all natural, organic,

cold-pressed, unrefined and derived from vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts are the best. Some of these include: almond, aloe vera, amla, apricot kernel, argan, avocado, black currant seed, black raspberry, borage seed, calendula, camellia, carrot seed, castor, cocoa, coconut, cottonseed, cranberry seed, evening primrose, flax seed, grapeseed, hazelnut, hemp seed, jojoba, karanja, kokum, kukui nut, macadamia nut, mango, meadowfoam seed, neem, olive, palm, palm kernel, peanut, pomegranate, pumpkin seed, red raspberry seed, rice bran, rose hip seed, safflower, sea buckthorn berry, sesame seed, shea, squalane, sunflower seed, tamanu, walnut, watermelon seed, wheat germ. This list is not all inclusive.

To simplify... most natural oils are good for your skin.

Natural oils provide properties that will help balance any skin condition. These oils do absorb into your skin as they balance, nourish, lubricate, and protect. They do not cause your pores to clog, become enlarged, or create skin conditions. In fact, natural oils balance your skin bringing dryness and sebum production to a more normal condition.

Natural oils are rich in nutritional constituents: essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (omega 6), alpha-linolenic acid (omega 3), GLA, medium chain fatty acids: caprylic, capric, lauric, myristic; long chain fatty acids: palmitic, stearic; vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, E, minerals calcium, iodine, iron, zinc, chlorophyll, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, protein, phytochemicals, micronutrients...

So if anyone tells you that an oil or butter is not an important part of your skin care products, then they are not a trained or skilled skin care professional! This means they do not understand the physiology of your skin, proper skin health, or what your skin truly needs.

Veronica Phelps

KISST Organics