
I love a good bowl of oatmeal in the morning, especially when it’s cold outside. Oatmeal is so filling, healthy and chock full of vitamins. It’s also great for the skin. There’s the old wives’ tale that oatmeal has soothing properties. Turns out it’s true because oatmeal is packed with antioxidants. Let’s learn some more about this super ingredient.
Eat It or Bathe In It
Oats or Avena Sativa (it’s official scientific name - you’ll find this listed on your skin care product labels) – are what make up oatmeal. You may also find it listed as colloidal oatmeal if it is an active ingredient in your skin care product.
The oatmeal you eat and what you bath in or use on your skin are similar but not exactly the same. The form of oatmeal that goes into personal care products is whole oats grounded into extremely fine powder. It’s definitely a versatile ingredient.
Packed with Antioxidants
Oats boast a whole host of antioxidants including vitamin E, flavonoids, ferulic acid and lipids with a high amount of fatty acids, and therefore, antioxidant activity to protect the lipids from oxidation according to Truth In Aging.
Soothes Skin
The US Food & Drug Administration approves colloidal oatmeal (another form of oats) as an over-the-counter anti-irritant product as an active ingredient in skin care products. This is because oats are able to form a barrier on the skin to prevent irritation, lock in moisture and protect dry or damaged skin.
According to a study published in National Center for Biotechnology Information:
“oat extracts exhibit direct anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, which may provide the mechanisms for observed dermatological benefits while using the colloidal oatmeal skin protectant lotion.”
Additionally when skin becomes itchy or inflamed the pH level rises – colloidal oatmeal has the ability to rebalance the pH level by soothing the skin.
Cleanses Skin
Let’s not forget this final awesome benefit of oats as a skin cleanser. Avena sativa has fantastic absorption properties that make it excellent at removing dirt and impurities while providing gentle exfoliation. So it’s not harsh and leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and clean.
Block Island Organics & Oats
Due to avena sativa’s great cleansing features and its ability to lock in moisture, it’s a key ingredient in our Organic Purifying Facial Cleanser. It’s an important factor in keeping your skin vibrant while not drying it out after washing.
Learn More Ingredient Truths
Want even more secrets behind our ingredients? Check out Our Ingredient page or our Ingredient Truths series.