Why We Prefer Herbal-Infused Oils in Our Skincare Lineup
When it comes to natural skincare, the choice of ingredients is paramount. Two popular options that often come up in natural skincare are herbal-infused oils and essential oils. While both are derived from plants and have their own set of benefits, we made the conscious decision to prioritize herbal-infused oils in our facial skincare lineup, and here is why…
Herbal-Infused Oils vs Essential Oils
Herbal-infused oils are made by steeping herbs in a carrier oil at a very low temperature over a period of time, allowing the oil to absorb all the beneficial goodness the plant has to offer. The process is gentle and slow, resulting in a nourishing oil that contains the herb's healing and nourishing compounds.
Common carrier oils used for infusing herbs are jojoba oil, castor oil, coconut oil, rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil and almond oil. The infusion process captures the essence of the whole plant leaving a final product that is soothing, nourishing and mild that can be safely used on all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Essential Oils, on the other hand, are highly concentrated solutions made via steam distillation or cold pressing of plants. This process extracts the active compounds that give the plant its aroma and therapeutic qualities. Because of their potency, essential oils are often used in very small amounts. Their intensity can irritate the skin in high concentrations, especially the face.
Why We Prefer Herbal-Infused Oils in Our Facial Skincare Products
Gentle and nourishing for all skin types: Infused oils offer a gentle approach to skincare, making them suitable for all skin types. Unlike essential oils that can sometimes irritate the face, herbal-infused oils are much milder and can be used liberally without the risk of irritation.
Well-Rounded and Balanced Benefits: Herbal-infused oils capture the benefits of the whole plant, rather than isolating specific compounds. Also, the slow infusion process preserves the nourishing skin-loving nutrients that provide more versatile healing, hydrating and soothing qualities to the skin.
Enhanced skin barrier support: Herbal-infused oils are rich in fatty acids and antioxidants that are beneficial for a strong and healthy skin barrier. Essential oils, while beneficial in many contexts, can sometimes strip the skin of its natural oils that make up the skin barrier.
Here at Sun & Moo, our top priority is to create natural skincare products that work for every skin type. We believe nature knows best!
We make our own herbal-infused oils with organic herbs and flowers that have a wide variety of healing, soothing and nourishing properties. We do so by grinding up the herbs and flowers and soaking them in a carrier oil at very low temperatures for several days, so we are able to really capture AND preserve all of the nutrients the plants have to offer.
That being said, we are not trying to discredit essential oils completely! We do use them in some of our products – products meant to be used on the body, not the face. As mentioned earlier, essential oils can be beneficial in many contexts, one of which is sleep support.
Our Magnesium Tallow for Sleep balm contains grass-fed and grass-finished tallow, magnesium chloride oil and calming essential oils such as cedarwood, lavender, neroli, chamomile and sandalwood, everything you need for a good night’s sleep!
It can be used as a nightly massage balm or aromatherapy cream that should only be applied to the body, not the face. We recommend applying it to the inner thighs, wrists and the soles of the feet which are great spots for the magnesium to absorb efficiently.
Many of our customers have reported that Magnesium Tallow For Sleep has helped them relax and sleep better!