Photo by Jocelyn Morales on Unsplash
What can’t oats do? They’re in your coffee, your smoothies, your mason jars, and now they can even be on your face. DIY oat masks and other forms of oat facial care are the new craze, and I think you should give it a try too! Peep the oats skin benefits like a repaired moisture barrier, irritation relief, and more.
1. Why are oats good for the skin (face + body)
2. Benefits of oats for your skin
Oats are truly great for all parts of your health. They are an extremely nutrition packed food, high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. The specific minerals most commonly found in oats are manganese, biotin, and vitamin B1. They are also super high in fiber which is great for people with gut issues and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
I’m sure you’ve heard of or even tried overnight oats. Many workout influencers strongly encourage them due to all the great benefits that oats contain. Overnight oats are also a fun and easy breakfast recipe that can be flavored in hundreds of different ways.
Via Giphy
So yes, we eat oats in all different forms, but have you ever tried incorporating them into your daily skincare routine? It turns out that oats have many benefits for our skin when applied topically.
It is important to exfoliate your face at least twice a week in order to get rid of the older, top barrier of the skin. Personally, with sensitive skin, I have had a hard time finding a gentle exfoliator that does the job without completely irritating my whole face. Luckily for me and all my other sensitive skin people out there, dermatologists highly recommend using oats as a natural and gentle exfoliator.
How to make:
This exfoliator is a super simple DIY. All you have to do is blend up some oats to make a fine powder, and add some water to it to create a paste. Gently rub this mixture all over your face and wash off. You can also use this mixture to moisturize other parts of your body, such as your arms and legs!
Many soaps and washes branded for babies contain oats. This is because oats are great at relieving dry and itchy skin which many babies experience. Oats contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe irritated skin.
Via Giphy
DIY oatmeal bath soak:
Once again, many parents do this for their babies but it can also be used for anyone with sensitive skin. For this oat bath, you’re going to want to pour a cup of oats into running, hot water. Once the bath is filled, soak in there for about 10-15 minutes at max so that your skin does not dry out. When you get out of the bath, make sure to pat your skin dry so you don’t wipe all the moisture off your body. This bath should help soothe the skin and prevent further itchiness.
The popular skincare company Kiehls states that oats are the best for hydrating the skin and reducing dryness. It basically adds an extra layer of protection to the skin that locks in the skin's natural moisture and keeps it from drying out. Many of the Kiehls products use oats as one of the main ingredients.
Since oats contain a property called flavonoids, they provide natural protection for the skin barrier. More specifically, flavonoids work by helping your body function more efficiently and keep toxins out. This also works as a topical skin treatment because the flavonoids will absorb UV rays and provide an extra sort of barrier. However, do not use this as a sunscreen replacement! You still need good ol' SPF.
Via Giphy
DIY oat protection:
Grind up as oats to turn it into a fine powder called “colloidal oatmeal”. Once you have the powder, mix it with either coconut oil or shea butter to create a lotion-type texture, and apply it to the body. Leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing it off. If you want to use it on your face, use water or coconut oil (so your skin won’t break out).
If you struggle with blemishes, acne scars, or pigmentation like most people do, then using oats may be your saving grace. Oats are known to help brighten the skin and help to heal scarring and redness. Similar to the DIY face mask and exfoliator, any of these oats skin care techniques can help brighten your skin and significantly improve skin imperfections.
I mentioned a few different DIY oats skin care techniques you can make by yourself. I believe that a DIY technique is always the best because it has the most natural and whole ingredients. Remember that oats don’t only benefit your facial skin but can also benefit your legs and arms as well.
However, if you want more of a consistent oats skincare purchase that may contain other beneficial ingredients, then you're in luck. There are many natural brands that have come out with a whole line of oat-based products because of the great benefits it has for the skin.
Oats are way more than simply a breakfast staple. They provide great nutrients for your insides, but they also provide amazing benefits to the skin when applied topically. If you have irritable, itchy, and dry skin then I definitely would give oat skincare a try. After all, you probably have a box or two sitting in your pantry waiting to do amazing things for your skin.
Written by Emma Carlson
SOURCES:
