Depending on how old you are, the idea of oatmeal as a skin-soothing agent may not be a surprise. As a child, I remember getting chickenpox and taking a bath in oatmeal to calm the itching, and this was not just an old wives tale. Scientific studies show the benefits of colloidal oatmeal on the skin. The studies date back to the 1950s, and the FDA recognized it as a safe and effective over-the-counter skin protectant in the 1980s. Fast-forward to today; many skincare products contain colloidal oatmeal. This article is going to break down where colloidal oatmeal comes from, colloidal oatmeal’s skin benefits, and how to incorporate products that contain colloidal oatmeal into your skincare routine.
What is Colloidal Oatmeal?
Whole grain oats are processed to make colloidal oatmeal or hydrocolloidal oatmeal. The oats are ground into very tiny particles. Then the particles are added to water, and this is how the colloid is formed. Colloids are mixtures that have tiny particles evenly mixed throughout another substance. So colloidal oatmeal is just finely ground oatmeal particles mixed with water.
What Are the Colloidal Oatmeal Skin Benefits?
Hydrating
The advantages of colloids in skincare are they act like an emollient. Colloids form a hydrated film on the skin that holds onto water and keeps an area hydrated. In addition to creating an emollient barrier, oatmeal contains many popular ingredients. Oatmeal is a beneficial ingredient because it is a natural source of polysaccharides, proteins, and antioxidants. Possibly the most popular polysaccharide naturally present in oatmeal is beta-glucan. Beta-glucan is a large sugar molecule polysaccharide that can attract and retain water molecules. This functionality makes beta-glucan a humectant. Humectants are very popular in skincare. Hyaluronic acid is the most popular humectant because it holds significant water. Beta-glucan cannot hold as much water as hyaluronic acid but is still an effective moisturizing ingredient.
Relate Post: What Does Hyaluronic Acid Do: A Complete Guide
Antioxidant
Colloidal oatmeal also contains antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential because they are ingredients that combat oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a chemical process that occurs in your skin due to injury or damage. For example, if you are not wearing sunscreen and UV light interacts with your skin, it damages the DNA in your skin cells. This damage can cause the formation of many small molecules called reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress occurs when an area is filled with reactive oxygen species. When your skin tissue is in, oxidative stress molecules are released that destroy collagen, kill skin cells, and throw off the moisture balance.
Related Post: Why is Sunscreen Important?
Your body does have natural protection mechanisms like antioxidants that are naturally occurring in the skin and sebum like squalane and melanin. However, these natural antioxidants and skin protectants aren’t adequate for preventing oxidative stress and premature aging.
Related Post: Understanding the Science Behind Aging in Skin: Tips for Youthful Glow
In addition, wearing sunscreen using skincare products with antioxidants is a great way to give your skin an added layer of protection from reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. Antioxidants bind to reactive oxygen species and neutralize them to prevent them from triggering the release of these molecules that destroy collagen and kill skin cells. Some of the antioxidants present in oatmeal include tocopherol, vitamin E, flavonoids, ferulic acid, and avenanthramides.
The combination of humectants like beta-glucan to attract water molecules, antioxidants to neutralize the skin-damaging reactive oxygen species, and the hydrated film that is formed by the colloidal oatmeal particles that behave like an emollient all make colloidal oatmeal an excellent skincare ingredient.
How Should You Use Colloidal Oatmeal In Your Skincare Routine?
Although many beneficial ingredients are present in colloidal oatmeal, I think the best way to use this in your skincare routine is as a moisturizing serum or hydration helper. Colloidal oatmeal is typically water-based but it is a bit thicker than some of your other water-based serums. Because of this, it should be used near the end of the water-based steps in your routine. The colloidal oatmeal forms a hydrated film on your skin. This means it locks in moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. When your skin is hydrated it maximizes the penetration of the actives you put on in earlier steps.
Colloidal oatmeal is also an excellent product to incorporate into your routine if you have dry skin or a damaged skin barrier. The emollient properties of the colloidal film can rehydrate the dry skin patches and alleviate itchiness. Additionally, if your skin barrier is damaged, the hydrated film will hold water onto your skin. This is important to prevent discomfort and more damage while your barrier repairs itself.
Some Colloidal Oatmeal Products Worth Trying
The Aveeno Calm and Restore Oat Gel Moisturizer is one of my favorite products that contains colloidal oatmeal. The product comes in a small glass jar and is cooling when applied. To maximize the benefits of the oatmeal, the product contains colloidal oatmeal and oatmeal extract.
The Inkey List has an Oat Cleansing Balm for sensitive skin. This product is not a moisturizing product like many formulations that include colloidal oatmeal. However, it contains oat kernel oil. Several other oils are included in the formulation. All of the oils make it an excellent oil-based cleanser for the first step in your routine.
1 Comment