{"id":2260,"date":"2026-02-03T16:57:25","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T15:57:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/labodicton.be\/stella\/?p=2260"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:05:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:05:11","slug":"why-oil-based-ingredients-benefit-the-skin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stella.fr\/fr\/why-oil-based-ingredients-benefit-the-skin\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Oil-Based Ingredients Benefit the Skin?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Oil-based ingredients have been used in skin treatments for thousands of years. Historical evidence indicates that ancient Egyptians used almond, Egyptian balsam (Balanites aegyptiaca<\/em>), castor (Ricinus communis<\/em>), moringa (Moringa oleifera<\/em>), olive, and sesame oil (Sesamum indicum<\/em>) in cosmetic preparations (McMullen R.L.<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on this historical use, the growing demand for natural cosmetics has increased interest in using botanical ingredients in skincare. Oils from seeds and nuts such as argan, coconut, jojoba, and rosehip are now widely used in topical products to support skin health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers report that these oils help restore the skin barrier, promote wound healing, reduce scarring, and provide antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given these reported benefits, a key question arises: what evidence supports their benefits for skin health?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To address this question, this article reviews the diverse benefits of oleo-ingredients for promoting skin health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Skin as an Oil-Based Barrier<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The skin, the largest organ in the human body, works as a protective barrier<\/strong>. Its functions are to maintain temperature and hydration, while protecting the body from environmental injuries and microbial infections. Indeed, damaged skin allows entry of chemical irritants, microorganisms, and allergens that promote and amplify skin inflammatory and immune responses (Moore E.M., et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before discussing the specific effects of botanical oils, it is important to understand the structure of the skin and the critical role that skin lipids play in maintaining its structural and physiological functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two-layered Structure of the Skin<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The skin is composed of two primary structural layers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The outermost layer is the epidermis.<\/strong> It consists mostly of skin cells (keratinocytes) that are continuously replenished and shed. Among those keratinocytes are sebaceous glands, hair follicles, and sweat glands (epithelium<\/em>). The upper epidermal layer, the stratum corneum<\/em>, is also made of protein cells and lamellar lipid bodies. These lamellar lipids are mainly ceramides (50%), cholesterol (25%), and free fatty acids (15%).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mix of lipidic, proteinic, and protein compounds prevents water loss. It helps maintain the acidic pH of the skin surface and the diverse skin microbiome needed for optimal immune defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Underneath is the skin’s second layer, called the dermis.<\/strong> It is a mixture of loose and dense connective tissues. The dermis is composed of various cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and white adipocytes, and is surrounded by fibrillar collagen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though the dermis is not as exposed to environmental threats as the epidermis, it provides functional and nutritional support and is critical for maintaining healthy skin and repairing wounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Key Role of the Skin Lipid Barrier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The epidermis, and more specifically the stratum corneum<\/em>\u2019s surface, is covered in lipids. <\/strong>These lipids come from both the epidermis itself and oil-producing sebaceous glands. They are found in decreasing amounts on the scalp, face, chest, abdomen, legs, palms, and soles. Palms and soles do not have sebaceous glands, but still receive small amounts of lipids from other parts of the body (Moore E.M., et al.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This extracutaneous lipid traffic into the epidermis plays a significant role in forming the permeability barrier and the skin’s water-retention capabilities, thereby helping the skin maintain its protective and structural functions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In case of skin diseases or wounds, the external damage caused by physical (mechanical injury, UV-irradiation, heat, excessive moisture, pressure, or friction), chemical (solvents, irritants, or allergens), or microbial assaults (bacteria, fungi, or viruses) results in injuries in the form of wounds, burns, calluses, or scars (Moore E.M., et al.). Dry, cracked, or fissured skin is often accompanied by major changes in its lipid profile, leading to excessive trans-epidermal water loss and direct exposure to allergens and microbes, which further irritate and inflame the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientific studies show that dietary intake or topical application of specific fatty acids benefits the maintenance and repair of skin damage.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When applied to the skin, certain botanical oils contain essential fatty acids that are incorporated into ceramides, helping restore skin structure and function. Other fatty acids act as antimicrobials or antioxidants and are delivered to the skin surface to naturally reduce oxidative damage and provide basic antimicrobial defenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These factors help explain why the inclusion of botanical oils and oil-based ingredients in cosmetic formulas, dating back to the dawn of civilization, is still of interest in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Botanical Oils Provide Nourishing Fatty Acids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The main reason botanical oils are of interest to the cosmetic and dermatologic industries is their high concentration of fatty acids.<\/strong> Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with long hydrocarbon chains. They serve several physiological functions in the skin, such as providing energy, forming the lipid barrier, activating receptors, converting into lipid mediators, and synthesizing complex lipids (Wang X., et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each oil is composed of various fatty acids, including saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated forms, all esterified to a glycerol backbone. This structure forms triglycerides, can rapidly penetrate the skin’s lipid matrix, and interacts with cell membrane proteins, thereby altering skin structure. (Moore E.M., et al.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab The content and composition of fatty acids in the skin significantly influence skin health \u00bb<\/strong> (Wang X., et al.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of those fatty acids are essential: they help restore the skin barrier, promote wound healing, reduce scarring, and exert antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. But a deficiency can lead to dermatological issues and increased transepidermal water loss (Wang X., et al.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Botanical fixed oils clustered according to their fatty acid composition and saturation SFA:MUFA:PUFA ratios.
(source image : https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/files\/Articles\/482611\/fphar-11-00785-HTML\/image_m\/fphar-11-00785-t004.jpg<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Essential Fatty Acids<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are necessary for health but cannot be synthesized by the body. They must be obtained through diet or topical application. EFAs support skin health and help prevent trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) (McMullen R.L.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two key botanical EFAs are linoleic acid (omega-6)<\/strong> and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3)<\/strong>. Both are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and serve as precursors to important biologically active molecules, including omega-6 and omega-3 derivatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The benefits of omega PUFAs, including linoleic and linolenic acids and their derivatives, include the following (Moore E.M., et al.):<\/p>\n\n\n\n