Oatmeal is beneficial for almost any skin type – oily, dry, sensitive, and everything in between.
Oats are loaded with antioxidants, lipids, and many other nutrients that are important for your skin. Oatmeal absorbs easily into the skin, which means these properties can help your skin even more. While most products are diluted when you add in water or oil, oatmeal actually becomes more potent and powerful when combined with these ingredients.
Oatmeal absorbs excess oil and naturally cleanses the skin, and because it contains zinc it can actually help reduce inflammation and help your skin prevent breakouts. All three of these actions (oil control, cleansing, and reducing inflammation) are all very important for those with blemished skin. Due to its natural cleansing and exfoliating properties, it can even help remove blackheads!
The anti-inflammatory property of oatmeal is also beneficial to those who suffer from dry or irritated skin. Oatmeal has a very low pH, which is very calming to red, inflamed, sensitive skin. Because of its natural emollient properties, oats also act as a moisturizer and a gentle exfoliator to help remove dead, dry skin.
Itchy skin is common with dry or irritated skin, often because the skin’s pH is off balance. This is where oatmeal comes in, because it can help balance those levels while softening, moisturizing, and protecting the skin. In fact, the oatmeal actually creates a protective barrier to help hold in the moisture.
Oats also help exfoliate the skin, which is why we love them in some of our Dry Masks, like the Charcoal or Turmeric. Exfoliating the skin is important no matter your skin type! Removing dead skin helps reveal glowing, healthy, new skin cells and discourage the build-up of dry or dead skin cells.
Using oatmeal in your skincare routine is definitely important, and will help boost your overall skin health. We have several products with oatmeal in addition to our dry masks, like our Blueberry Goatmeal Square Bar and Goat’s Milk Honey and Oats From Scratch Soap, plus our seasonal Millionaire’s From Scratch Soap.
Here is a recipe to make your own oatmeal bath! This will make about 1/4 cup, which is for one use.
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons of plain epsom salt (or use our Dye-Free Bath Salts!)
2 tablespoons instant/quick oats
15-30 drops of essential oil (optional)
Directions:
Grind up the oats in a blender until it resembles fine dust. Add oatmeal and epsom salts to a bowl and mix together; add essential oils if desired. Add to a hot bath.
