What Are Lipids and Why Do They Matter in Your Skincare?

Even as temperatures rise it is important to maintain a skincare routine that includes lipids. Lipids are fatty acids or their derivatives and include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids.

Fatty acids are energy sources and membrane constituents. They have biological activities that influence cell and tissue metabolism, function, and responsiveness to hormonal and other signals.

Moreover they aid the skin's natural repair process and play a crucial role in maintaining the skin's protective barrier —which holds moisture, protects the skin from damage and keeps dirt and impurities out. Promoting a health lipid barrier is particularly important as we enjoy summer activities that can be drying to the skin, like swimming and sun bathing.

If glazing your body in a slick of oil does not sound appealing on a hot, humid day follow these tips to ensure proper absorption for glowing not greasy skin.

1. Apply oils to damp skin. For the body this can happen straight out of the shower. You can also mist the entire body with our REFRESH mineral mist (now available in 7.2oz) to hydrate the skin and increase the penetration of our body oils and balms. To prep the face we recommend using both REFRESH and RENEW.

2. Apply oils while inside, at least 15 min prior to stepping into the heat. This will allow ample time for the oils to be well absorbed. If you like, any residual oil can be blotted off prior to stepping out.

3. Not all oils are created equally so choose oils appropriate for your skin type. BALANCE is particularly wonderful on hot, humid mornings as it’s a lighter more astringent blend. REVIVE, a fresh, light, readily absorbed emulsion, will nourish the eye area without being heavy or greasy like traditional eye creams. In the evenings we’ll be using REPAIR, especially if we’ve spent the day outdoors exposed to environmental stressors. And while we love our balms for hands and feet, this time of the year we’re massaging the body with our REPLENISH oil.

Follow along and let us know how your skin feels.