With all the trends and misinformation floating around out there, it's more important than ever to do your own research whenever possible. Here are two common misconceptions/myths about oils:
A. Real oils never contain bubbles or foam...FALSE
B. The blot test is a foolproof way to test oils. Also...FALSE. (Sorry, loves!)
- Virtually ALL liquids have bubbles. This includes real oils. Bubbles can happen after a product has been vigorously shaken, from air trapped inside the bottle, mixing processes can trap air into the product, applicators can also create pockets of air when they are extracted from the product. This is considered normal.
- "Real oils don't have bubbles" is a myth, primarily due to a misunderstanding that foam means bad oil, contamination, or false oil, and misinformation about what real oils are and are not, as well as misconceptions pertaining to refining, heating, cold-pressing, and chemical processes.
- Real cold-pressed oils are actually MORE likely to bubble and foam. After all-they do have a natural moisture content.
2. Blot Testing is not foolproof nor is it meant to test carrier oils: This test involves placing essential oil on paper and waiting to see whether it evaporates or not, to put it simply. The problem with this is that not all oils have the same structure, meaning that real oils such as vetiver can fail the test. Synthetic oils are designed to mimic the structure of non-synthetic oils and are therefore able to pass the blot test.
- The blot test was only meant for essential oils (which are not even actual oils-they are essences), not meant for carrier oils (actual oils).
Here are some things to look for to tell the difference without breaking the bank:
- Odor: unrefined real oils typically have a plant-like, earthy, or nutty smell. Some flower or fruit oils can smell like the flower or fruit it comes from.
- Color: real, unrefined oils should not always be clear. Real oil colors include shades of brown, red, orange, deep "golden", deep greens, and blue (such as blue tansy, blue cypress, Sea Buckthorn, Pumpkinseed). Oils like Jojoba (clear when refined, golden when unrefined), Squalane, Coconut, Camellia seed, and Grapeseed tend to be clearer.
- Price: the cheaper the product, the cheaper the ingredients. Real oils and real oil blends tend to be more expensive, while synthetic oils and synthetic oil blends are on the cheaper side, especially for large amounts.
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High-quality oil blends range from $20-$60 and higher for an ounce, with more rare oils and rare oil blends reaching over $100 for the 1 ounce.
- Made to Order custom blends typically contain true oils and offer more than 1% of actives, and is usually a go-to for luxury, higher quality oils.
- Cold-Pressed: This means that your oil was extracted through mechanical pressure without chemical solvents or excessive high heat-a method that maintains the beneficial qualities of the oil, such as antioxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids, preserving its purity.
Have you heard any skincare "facts" that you later discovered were mistruths?
To learn more skincare information, visit: News – Dollhouse Botanicals
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