Hydrophilic oils and balms appear in more and more brands, but they continue to raise questions: what is it and does everyone need it? We tell you what the power of these products is and why you should try them.
The word “hydrophilic” means “friendly with water” – if literally. In reality, this term refers to the ability of a molecule of a certain substance to bind to a water molecule, forming a new compound. This is the meaning of a hydrophilic agent – we apply a fatty oily substance to the skin, but by adding water, we get a light, tender milk.
Hydrophilic products have become popular along with the fashion for Asian skin care – in particular, for Korean and Japanese cosmetics, where hydrophilic oil is an absolute must have in any “beauty ritual”.
At the same time, it must be said that among European brands there are those that have been producing such products for a long time – for example, Clarins, Clinique, Estée Lauder and The Body Shop. However, the craze came to us precisely from the East.
They are either a liquid oil or a solid balm, usually similar in consistency and density to honey or not completely hardened ghee. Some brands produce balms in the form of compact sticks, which are convenient to take with you on a trip or, for example, to a fitness club.
Using hydrophilic products is also very simple – they need to be applied to dry skin, massaged in a circular motion on the face, paying special attention to those areas where there was makeup, especially resistant products or those areas that are prone to oiliness (usually this is the T-zone – the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin). After that, you need to wet your hands and massage the skin again. Instead of an oily layer, it forms a light creamy one, which means that you can wash your face clean.
The beauty of hydrophilic balms and oils is that they act as gently as possible.
Some cosmetologists and home care enthusiasts prefer to wash hydrophilic products with a soft, damp towel or microfiber, which has the added effect of gently exfoliating the skin.
The beauty of hydrophilic balms and oils is that they act as gently as possible. If soap and alcohol products damage the protective layer of the skin, wash away important fats for it along with impurities and thus can lead to drying out of the epidermis, then products based on fat do not sin.
They “pick up” the unnecessary, but protect the necessary on the surface of the stratum corneum. According to many experts, this is the most gentle and at the same time thorough way to cleanse the skin: on the one hand, it will be possible to remove even the most persistent makeup, on the other hand, it will not damage the hydrolipid protective mantle of the skin.
It is important to understand that replacing hydrophilic oil with ordinary vegetable oil will not work without loss of efficiency.
First, some of them have a higher ability to penetrate the skin than hydrophilic ones, which can lead to the opposite effect than a thorough cleansing.
Secondly, in order to wash off ordinary oil, you still need a soap product, otherwise an unpleasant and often unwanted greasy layer will remain on the skin.
Thirdly, in order to dissolve all impurities and persistent makeup, the face will have to be massaged long and hard, and neither our skin nor cosmetologists like this.
In recent years, brands have also begun to produce hydrophilic body products – they will be especially valuable for those whose skin is prone to dry, flaky and irritated. They are also much better suited if you have hard tap water at home.
For young children, including infants, and people with eczema, atopic dermatitis, and other skin conditions that make the skin more fragile and sensitive, these oils and balms can also be an excellent and comfortable alternative to the usual foaming cleansers.