What are Essential Oils?

It seems like a simple question, but ... would you know how to differentiate essential oils from vegetables? Contrary to what is commonly thought, they are not the same. If we speak in generic terms, oils are "organic substances related to our skin," explains Hemely Varela, director of training at Darphin. Aromatherapy essential oils can come from flowers, fruits, barks, seeds or even roots. And what do they do? "They help us to balance our skin, since they provide essential lipids." In general, oils protect, moisturize and give flexibility and luminosity to our skin, as well as anti-aging behavior, since they thin and smooth expression lines.

Essential oils and vegetable oils. They are the same?

"Not at all," says the expert. Essential oils are molecularly distinct from plants, like the pure plant essential oils. "Vegetable oils are substances extracted from the fatty parts of plants, known as triglycerides." A vegetable oil has a large, heavy molecular structure that activates the skin and provides essential and non-essential fatty acids essential are those we need to consume or apply to the skin because we do not synthesize them. "

The best known oils from beauty accessories are almond, argan, jojoba, olive ... They have been used in cosmetics since ancient times and are classified depending on the size of their molecules. And is that its power of penetration depends on its size. Thus, the avocado has less power of penetration because its structure is bigger and the sunflower oil penetrates more deeply in the epidermis by its small structure.

Essential oils, source of well-being

"They are badly called oils, their molecular structure has nothing to do with that of vegetables," says Hemely Varela. "Essential oils are very volatile non-greasy substances, which have been used for years to provide pleasure or well-being, both physical and psychological, and penetrate the skin much deeper than vegetables thanks to its small organic structure. Another part, its process of distillation and obtaining is very different from the one of the vegetables ".