If you dismissed oil-free serums or moisturizers in the past, it might be time to take another look
Oil-free serums and moisturizers are a great choice for people with oily skin, who are afraid of creams clogging pores, but they can also be beneficial for people with other skin types.
In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of oil-free moisturizers and how they can improve the health and appearance of your skin. We will also provide tips on how to choose the right oil-free moisturizer for your needs.
I have always had a problem with skincare products. I would use something during the summer that was too heavy and it would cause breakouts. Or, I would use a daily moisturizer during travel that wouldn't work in different environmental conditions.
I also needed a skincare moisturizing product that would keep my skin hydrated every single day. I needed a skin hydration product that could adapt to the changes my skin went through during my monthly hormonal cycle, seasonal changes, or environmental challenges.
Most of us have 2-3 or more different moisturizers for this reason. But what if there was a simpler way? What if there was one product that you could use on your skin, no matter what the season was, or which time of the month it was in your cycle?
Luckily, there is such a product - an oil free serum or moisturizer. If you have dismissed oil free products because you believe that they won't work for your skin type, think again! Read on to find out how this type of skincare product can serve as a staple in your skincare routine.
What is an oil free serum or moisturizer
An oil free serum or moisturizer is a lightweight hydration product that provides moisture to the skin without making it feel oily. It is ideal to make your skin soft and prevent the appearance of dehydrated skin. This type of product contains ingredients that work hard to keep the top layers of the skin hydrated, thus improving the appearance of uneven skin almost immediately.
Ingredients such as glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, various gums, and polymers mixed with calming ingredients such as licorice root extract, and ingredients with antioxidant benefits.
Some also contain anti-acne ingredients, such as a certain percent salicylic acid. A good oil-free serum will not contain any oils, but might contain a small percentage of triglycerides or esters. These ingredients provide emollience and are generally tolerated by all skin types.
Since our skin contains mostly water, adding a hydrating product can give a dramatic and immediate improvement to the appearance of the skin.
Are oil free serums or moisturizers good? Are they effective for dry/oily/acne-prone/aging skin?
Hydration is essential for all skin types. Whether you have dry, oily, or combination skin, keeping your skin hydrated is crucial to maintaining its health and preventing signs of aging. Here are some reasons to use a moisturizer that does not contain any added oils.
🌱 An oil-free serum or moisturizer for oily skin types can help to hydrate your skin without causing breakouts and will help your skin appear matte.
🌱 Hydration focused gel moisturizers that are oil-free can help aging skin by brightening the appearance of dull skin. They can also help by reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, which is a direct effect of the skin-plumping ability of a hydrating skin product.
🌱 By keeping your skin hydrated, an oil-free moisturizer can also help to minimize the appearance of large pores.
🌱 Deeply hydrated skin will show improved skin texture, making your skin look better with our without makeup.
🌱 Oil free serums and gel moisturizers can also be used by people with dry skin to provide a base layer of hydration before layering on heavier products. You will actually see better results from your heavier products when you use an oil-free moisturizer or serum as the first layer.
🌱 If you are not consistent with exfoliating your skin, a regular moisturizer can make your skin look dull after a while. A water cream or oil free face serum will not cause such a build-up.
How to choose the right oil-free serum or moisturizer for your needs
Not all oil free moisturizers are the same. If you are looking for the very best ones that work without causing further dryness or irritation, here are a few tips.
🍀 Look for one that also works as a hydrating serum. Ingredients like plumping hyaluronic acid, soothing and antioxidant-rich white or green tea, and water soluble vitamins like Niacinamide and Panthenol can help the skin barrier while boosting natural collagen production of the skin.
🍀 Avoid the ones with added fragrances and dyes. Just because a product looks or smells pretty, it doesn't mean it's best for your skin.
🍀 If you have sensitive skin then look for ingredients like licorice root extract, that calms redness and skin irritation. Some other commonly used calming ingredients are oatmeal extract, feverfew, and both white and green tea extracts.
🍀 The best oil free moisturizers should have amino acids, hydrolyzed proteins or peptides to help bring deep hydration to the skin’s barrier.
🍀 If you have acne prone skin, then look for ingredients like salicylic acid in your gel serum or moisturizer or Willow bark extract, which is a gentler, more natural exfoliator. The natural tannins in Willow bark extract will help prevent excess oil and the gentle exfoliant salicin may help smooth texture and give a nice matte finish.
🍀 Pay attention to the gelling agent in your gel cream or gel serum moisturizer. In my experience, natural gums are better tolerated than synthetic polymers when it comes to sensitive skin. Use a website like incidecoder.com to figure out what type of ingredients are in the oil-free face serum or water cream that you are considering.
How do I know if my serum or moisturizer is oil free?
The easiest way would be to look through the label and look for the words “oil” in any form in the label. However, not all oil based ingredients, especially ingredients produced in a lab, are listed as oils. I would recommend that you look at a third-party ingredient listing site to find out what each ingredient does. An example of such a site is incidecoder.com.
On this site, you can search by brand name or product name. If the brand name and product names are missing from the database, you can copy and paste the ingredient list and get immediate information on the type of ingredient used in a formulation and the function of that ingredient.
How to use a hydrating face serum for best results
Gel formulations are different from traditional creams in the way they are applied to the skin. They work best when they are applied soon after cleansing onto skin that is damp. Do not dry your face with a towel before using a gel serum or moisturizer!
Dry your face as best as you can with your hands and then dry your hands on a towel. Apply a thin layer of your lightweight hydrating serum and gently massage until it is fully absorbed. If you do this correctly you will notice baby smooth skin once the product is absorbed, especially if the formulation contains Hyaluronic acid.
Why I created an oil free, hydrating face serum
When I started formulating products for my skincare brand Forshelli, I knew I wanted to create a product that would be purely hydrating. I wanted something that would provide pure water-based nutrition and help support the skin barrier, without the addition of oils, butters and waxes.
After over 60 different iterations and one year of testing, I came up with a formula I was happy with. I had this formulation checked by 3 different cosmetic chemists and they helped me improve this formula to make it gentle yet effective.
After using this prototype formulation for a while on my very sensitive skin, I started to notice that my pores were looking smaller, my skin was brighter and more even, and I noticed that this formulation was also reducing fine lines around my eyes. Plus, my skin had a really nice glow to it.
I was so happy with the results of my new hydrating product that I decided to share it with my friends. I started by giving them each a sample and asked for their feedback. They all loved it! They said they saw an improvement in the appearance of their skin texture, smaller pores, fewer lines, brighter and more even skin tone, and a soft glow. One friend even said her makeup looked better when she used this deeply hydrating product than when she didn't.
Forshelli Hindre Face Serum is now being used by customers and I keep getting positive feedback on how this product has transformed their skin. I’ve heard from customers who have use it to improve skin texture and are so happy when they finally see a natural glow.
Several customers are also very intolerant of fragrances and have done really well using this refreshing moisturizer that does not contain any type of fragrance, not even essential oils!
Forshelli products are cruelty-free and made in small batches, so you get fresh product every time.
Special offer: Right now you can get $10 off your order when you sign up to be a Forshelli Insider.
What’s your experience using oil-free products? Love them? Hate them? Comment below.
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