Some oils are of natural origin, others are of petrochemical origin!

First of all, we must make a first essential distinction according to the basic ingredients. Unlike the other ingredients we will mention in this article, mineral oils are not of natural origin, they are of petrochemical origin, that is to say, they are petroleum derivatives ! They form an occlusive film on the skin and although we have the sensation of softer skin, this hydration is very superficial and not long-lasting. In short, they provide no nutrients and cause spots! In addition, they can be contaminated by heavy metals as well as carcinogenic hydrocarbon molecules.

On the label of our cosmetic products we will recognize them under the names: mineral oil, cera microcristallina, synthetic wax, paraffin, petrolatum, ceresin, ozokerite, vaseline.

Distillation or cold pressing?

Floral waters, essential oils and vegetable oils are of natural origin (flowers, leaves, bark, fruits, seeds, etc.), the difference is therefore made in the extraction process. 

Vegetable oils are extracted by pressure (mechanical press) or by solvent . But there is a very important difference here. Cold-pressed extraction allows all the nutrients in the plant to be retained. Conversely, if they are extracted at high temperatures (which increases yields at the expense of quality) or using toxic chemical solvents  (which are found in the oil), they no longer have the same interesting properties. Therefore, choose an organic vegetable oil (cold-pressed) for a quality oil. You can use this article as inspiration to know which oils to use according to your skin type.

Floral waters (or hydrosols) and essential oils are obtained by the same process: steam distillation of plants. But there is a major difference! Essential oil is highly concentrated, while hydrosol is made up of water evaporated during the process: it contains only traces of essential oils. At Alaena, we have therefore decided to exclude essential oils from our formulas because they have many interesting active properties, but they also have a high allergenic potential. Our dermatologists treat allergies every day, so we have chosen not to take any risks and exclude essential oils from our formulas. We prefer to use them in very small doses and for specific pathologies, under medical prescription. 

If you want to know more, you can also read our list of ingredients to ban from our cosmetics .