Oatmeal is a breakfast staple whose health benefits are too numerous to list! But eating oatmeal isn’t the only thing you should add to your daily routine. Using oatmeal for skin care has its own benefits. In this article, we’re going to give you 10 reasons to add this superfood to your skincare routine so you can discover healthy, glowing skin!
1) Skin hydration
One of the best-known benefits of oatmeal for the skin is its ability to moisturize and nourish dry skin. Studies show that skincare products containing oatmeal can help to hydrate the skin, reducing dryness and associated symptoms (such as itching, flaking and tightness). This is particularly true of colloidal oatmeal, which, when applied topically, forms an occlusive barrier on the skin, helping to prevent excessive water loss. This makes it an excellent choice for dry skin treatment regimens.
2) Reinforcing the skin’s natural moisture barrier
While keeping your skin well hydrated helps protect your skin’s natural moisture barrier, it’s also important to maintain a balanced pH. Healthy skin has a pH of around 5.0, which means it’s slightly acidic. Most skincare products are formulated specifically to complement the skin’s natural acidity, but exposure to certain stress factors can throw the skin out of balance. If left untreated, this alteration in your skin’s pH can make you more vulnerable to unpleasant skin problems, such as severe dryness and irritation.
That’s where oatmeal comes in. It’s a pH buffer, which means it helps maintain your skin’s ideal pH. This makes oatmeal a particularly useful skincare ingredient for people whose skin is stressed or irritated, or who are prone to sensitivity.
3) Gently exfoliates your skin
Dermatologists recommend exfoliating the skin – face and body – at least two or three times a week. Try oatmeal as an exfoliant to naturally remove dead skin cells and reveal the smooth skin hiding beneath all the hard-to-see buildup from excess oil and dirt!
4) Protects your skin
Fun fact about oatmeal: it contains flavonoids. If you don’t know what they are, let us explain. Simply put, flavonoids are a type of compound that helps your body function more efficiently and protects it from external toxins and chemicals.
They’re also known for their ability to absorb UVA rays, but don’t let that fool you. While the flavonoids in oatmeal help protect your skin, they’re no substitute for sunscreen.
5) Cleanses naturally
Oatmeal is also a natural cleanser because it contains saponins, a group of carbohydrates found in plants. They are known for soothing the skin and for their antioxidant properties.
Saponins make oatmeal a gentle yet effective cleanser, as they don’t strip the skin of its natural oils or dehydrate it. This natural cleanser removes the dirt and oil that can clog your pores!
6) Fighting eczema
Oatmeal has many features that make it useful for relieving eczema symptoms. Experts classify oatmeal as an emollient, which means it holds moisture against the skin. It also has anti-inflammatory qualities and reduces itching.
Eczema causes inflammation, irritation and itching of the skin. It is most common in children, but adults can also suffer from it, and the specific symptoms vary from person to person.
Studies have shown that children who took oatmeal baths for one to three weeks saw a marked improvement in their lesions. Another study of itchy skin sufferers found that 71% of participants saw their itching disappear almost entirely after taking oatmeal baths and washing with an oatmeal-based cleanser for three months.
To maximize the benefits of a colloidal oatmeal bath for eczema relief:
- use lukewarm water, never hot
- mix oatmeal well with water
- soak for 10 to 15 minutes
- rinse after bathing
- gently dry with a towel, without rubbing the skin too much
- moisturize your skin immediately after bathing
- oatmeal can make the bath slippery, so take care when getting in and out.
7) Improves your skin tone
We all want a clear, luminous complexion. One of the benefits of using oatmeal on your skin is that it can give you exactly that!
If you have age spots, acne scars or skin discoloration, try oatmeal (or oat protein), which is known to help improve skin imperfections.
The fact that oats are used in products such as body scrubs, soaps and exfoliating creams shows just how beneficial they can be. You can use an oat facial (a mixture of oat powder and milk) every morning to brighten your skin.
8) Reduces skin inflammation
As you now know, oatmeal is an all-natural solution that contains many skin-soothing components. One of the benefits of this superfood is that it helps treat acne. Acne is often followed by inflammation, which oatmeal can also easily combat!
9) Stimulates collagen production
Collagen is a protein produced by the body that gives skin a plump, youthful appearance. It’s a popular ingredient in many expensive beauty products.
Good news! Oatmeal stimulates your skin to promote collagen production – naturally!
10) Absorbs excess sebum
Excess sebum on your face can be a scourge to deal with on a daily basis, and can lead to acne breakouts. As oatmeal is known for its absorbency, you can use it to easily (and naturally!) get rid of excess sebum.
Now that you know all the benefits of using oatmeal for skin care, take a look at a few ways you can easily incorporate it into your home routine.
- Add Oatmeal To Your Bath
Add oatmeal to your warm bath water with a few scoops of baking soda. Stay in the tub for about 15 minutes and pat yourself dry as you leave.
- Make An Oatmeal Mask
You can make a skin-healthy oatmeal mask with just a few ingredients from your kitchen! For example, mix a cup of milk and a tablespoon of honey with two cups of oats. Leave the mixture on your skin for about 15 minutes, then rinse off with cool water.
- Create An Exfoliator
To create an oatmeal scrub, mix your oatmeal with honey and water. Gently rub the mixture over your face, then rinse with lukewarm water.
The next time you’re looking for a breakfast option with plenty of health benefits, look no further than a bowl of oats, which have a positive impact on our health and skin.
