Dry Oils in Skin Care
Dry oils are a category of polyunsaturated oils which harden when oxidized so they do not feel wet or greasy on the skin.
A dry oil does not cause skin dryness, nor are these oils dried or powdered when used for skin care.
The term “dry oil” is used more as a trendy skin care topic and is not a general scientific term. It refers to oils that solidify into filmy textures when oxidized.
Products containing dry oils can be used to treat conditions like psoriasis, eczema, acne, and other skin conditions.
Find your Baumann Skin Type to see if dry oils are right for you!
What is a dry oil?
Dry oils are commonly found in products meant to leave a long lasting dry feeling coat on the skin.
They are not typical oils because they’re not solid and creamy at room temperature and they do not make the skin feel greasy.
Dry oils contain unsaturated fatty acids, which are more liquid at room temperature and feel dry on the skin.
What are the differences between saturated and unsaturated oils?
Dry oils are made from unsaturated fatty acids which are not as solid at room temperate as saturated fatty acids are.
Unsaturated fats are tyrosinase inhibitors, so they are regularly used in skin lightening products.
Oils made with saturated fats have a more solid and are creamier than oils made of unsaturated fats. The filmy texture of oils with a preponderance of unsaturated fatty acids is why we call these ” dry oils”.
The name “dry oil” has been incorrected adopted in the skin care industry because they do moisturize the skin and do not dry the skin. However they feel more dry on the skin than saturated oils do.
saturated vs unsaturated fat
Are dry oils good for the skin?
Dry oils can be used to hydrate skin or repair your skin barrier, however they are preferred by oily skin types who really do not need to be using oil on the skin anyway.
This is why it is critical to know your Baumann Skin Type before buying any type of oil for your skin.
Dry oils are commonly used to moisturize dry skin, but they may not be best for your dry skin type.
There are many causes and treatments for dry skin, so choose products base don which of the 16 skin types you have.
Take the Quiz
Which dry oils are used in skin care?
Many polyunsaturated fats can be found in skin care products.
The most commonly used polyunsaturated fats, or dry oils, in skin care products are:
Argan oil
Avocado oil
Borage seed oil
Evening primrose oil
Grapeseed oil
Olive oil
Rosehip oil
Safflower oil
Sunflower oil
Sesame oil
Soybean oil
Tsubaki oil
What is the best dry oil for use on the face?
The best “dry oil” for the face depends upon what your skin type and skin concern is.
Argan oil is typically considered among the best oils for red, sensitive skin, dry or other skin types.
Argan oil hydrates with stearic acid soothes inflammation with a high concentration of linoleic acid.
It is the perfect oil for rosacea and inflamed eczema. Argan is also a good psoriasis oil.
Dry oils are good for treating many kinds of inflammation.
benefits of dry oil
What are the benefits of dry oils?
Like most oils in skin care, dry oils have multiple functions in skin care products.
Dry oils are occlusive, meaning they can help prevent evaporation of water off the skin and be used for “skin slugging.”
Oils in skin care products provide hydrating fatty acids and lipids to the skin barrier, helping it repair damage and hold onto moisture.
Do dry oils dry the skin?
Dry oils do not dry the skin. The oils themselves oxidize, or, dry into filmy substance when exposed to oxygen. This filmy substance hydrates the skin.
No oils decrease sebum production or dry the skin.
Can you use dry oils with retinoids?
Yes, skin care products containing dry oils can be used with retinoids.
Some occlusive dry oils are used in regimen with retinoids in different ways:
Retinoids are absorbed better into the skin barrier when applied before a dry oil
Less retinol get in the skin if the retinol is applied after a dry oil
Improper use of retinoids can cause inflammation and other side effects.
The type of oil you choose for your skin care routine will affect how well retinoids work.
moisturizer and retinoids
What Kinds of Products Use Dry Oils?
Dry oils, or (poly)unsaturated fats, can be found in a number of styles of skin care products including:
Moisturizers
Spreadable body oils
Body oil sprays
Facial washes
Cleansers
Serums
What is the best dry oil body spray?
Look for body sprays with safflower or grapeseed oil for their high concentration of linoleic acid.
High concentration of fatty acids like linoleic acid are a good indicator that an oil is a dry oil.
Two other polyunsaturated fatty acids to look for in dry oil body sprays are eicosatetraenoic and acid docosahexaenoic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid).
Argan oil is also a good dry oil used in skin care products.
Here are some products that contain dry oils:
Biopelle Tensage Radiance Eye Cream
$95.70
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Soothing Cream Moisturizer
$77.56
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Stem Cell Cream
$180.00
Add to Cart
Blue Lizard Australian Kids Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+
$8.99
Out of Stock
DermAvance Arnika Forte Capsules
$40.00
Add to Cart
Bioderma Sensibio Foaming Gel Cleanser
$7.19
Add to Cart
Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum
$126.00
Add to Cart
Biopelle Retriderm Serum Plus 0.75% Retinol
$89.50
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Advanced Cream Moisturizer
$89.66
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Daily Serum SCA 15
$149.60
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Gentle Gel Cleanser
$33.00
Out of Stock
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 40, (10 ampoules)
$149.60
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 50 (10 ampoules)
$195.00
Out of Stock
Biopelle Tensage Radiance Eye Cream
$95.70
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Soothing Cream Moisturizer
$77.56
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Stem Cell Cream
$180.00
Add to Cart
Blue Lizard Australian Kids Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+
$8.99
Out of Stock
DermAvance Arnika Forte Capsules
$40.00
Add to Cart
Bioderma Sensibio Foaming Gel Cleanser
$7.19
Add to Cart
Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum
$126.00
Add to Cart
Biopelle Retriderm Serum Plus 0.75% Retinol
$89.50
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Advanced Cream Moisturizer
$89.66
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Daily Serum SCA 15
$149.60
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Gentle Gel Cleanser
$33.00
Out of Stock
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 40, (10 ampoules)
$149.60
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 50 (10 ampoules)
$195.00
Out of Stock
Biopelle Tensage Radiance Eye Cream
$95.70
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Soothing Cream Moisturizer
$77.56
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Stem Cell Cream
$180.00
Add to Cart
Blue Lizard Australian Kids Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+
$8.99
Out of Stock
DermAvance Arnika Forte Capsules
$40.00
Add to Cart
Bioderma Sensibio Foaming Gel Cleanser
$7.19
Add to Cart
Biopelle Brightening KNR Serum
$126.00
Add to Cart
Biopelle Retriderm Serum Plus 0.75% Retinol
$89.50
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Advanced Cream Moisturizer
$89.66
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Daily Serum SCA 15
$149.60
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Gentle Gel Cleanser
$33.00
Out of Stock
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 40, (10 ampoules)
$149.60
Add to Cart
Biopelle Tensage Intensive Serum 50 (10 ampoules)
$195.00
Out of Stock
Thanks for reading our article on Dry Oils in Skin Care! If you’d like to learn more about which ingredients are right for your skin care regimen, please take the Baumann Skin Type questionnaire!
