What if I told you that your skincare products almost definitely contain ingredients that are contributing to and accelerating the aging of your skin’s cells?
The aging culprits in your skincare are polyunsaturated fats. To understand how this process works, I’ll take you through a mini science lesson.
To keep it simple, polyunsaturated fats, also known as PUFAs, are mostly plant fats that are deficient in hydrogen atoms, making them unsaturated. On the other hand, saturated fats have connected hydrogen atoms. PUFAs remain liquid at most temperatures. Read to the end to see a list of these “bad oils.”
The missing hydrogen atoms in PUFAs make them very unstable and susceptible to oxidation if exposed to light or heat. Our bodies meet the oxidation requirement of heat, and when our skin comes in contact with sunlight while using PUFAs, further oxidation occurs. Oxidized oils damage the integrity of our cells. Oxidation is simply a chemical reaction with oxygen that changes the chemical structure of the substance. Oxidation creates free radicals, which damage and age the body as well as contribute to illness. Thus, using PUFAs can be incredibly damaging to our cells, immune systems, and even hormones.
Hyperpigmentation, photo-aging, wrinkles, and liver spots are all examples of damage caused by oxidative PUFAs.
Most of us use moisturizers, sunscreen, cleansers, lotions, and other products that contain PUFAs. Since PUFAs are heat and light unstable, as soon as those products using PUFAs are absorbed and processed in our bodies or exposed to sunlight, oxidation occurs. As a result, we have free radicals in our bodies, premature aging, skin spots, a slowed metabolism, and even cancer.
Another issue found in many “clean” skin care products is that water is listed as the first ingredient. In such cases, water must always be accompanied by a preservative. Avoid any product that has phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, and sodium benzoate, among other things. These preservatives are toxic and very harmful to your body.
Finding PUFA free skin care products is not easy. I challenge you to find one skincare product in your house without a PUFA. Let me know if you do find one. I’m always looking for clean brands!
I have been consciously PUFA free for about two years now. I wish I had known this information earlier in my life, but it’s never too late to start this journey. Knowing this information motivates me to advocate for safe, clean, nontoxic products. You can find a quick shop list of NoKap’s favorite nontoxic, PUFA-free skincare brands on our beauty page. Or click here.
I challenge everyone to modify their regimen to be as low PUFA as possible, and nourish their skin with truly helpful products. It’s worth it, you’ll see.
PUFAs Include:
Argan Oil
Almond Oil
Rapeseed Oil
Canola Oil
Camelina Oil
Black Cumin Seed Oil
Cottonseed Oil
Corn Oil
Evening Primrose Oil
Flax/Linseed Oil
Grapeseed Oil
Hemp Oil
Maracuja Oil
Peanut Oil
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Red Raspberry Seed Oil
Rosehip Oil
Safflower Oil
Sesame Oil
Soybean Oil
Sunflower Oil