Brilliant Farmgirl's Beauty Secrets™

Having been acne-prone, I am all too familiar with the acne-prone mentality. For the longest time, “Is this oil-free?” was my skincare-shopping motto. I avoided "the O-word" in my skincare and cosmetics at all costs. However, through searching and researching for my ideal skincare regimen, my knowledge on oils has been revamped forever. I can no longer imagine an “oil-free” skincare routine. Read on to find out why.

Ok, here’s the thing. In the United States, when something states “Oil-free” on the bottle, it does not mean what you think it means. It is simply telling you that the product is free of animal, plant and mineral oils. Sounds great on paper, but the reality is: many “oil-free” products feel thicker and greasier than non-“oil-free” products. Why? Well, to ensure that “oil-free” moisturizers still have a nice moisturizing texture and finish, skincare companies use synthetics esters and waxes in lieu of animal, plant and mineral oils. Often times, these fillers look, act and feel just like oils. And just as often, these fillers are comedogenic whereas the some of the aforementioned oils are not.