Oat has a long history as a healthy food. Oat has also become an important raw material for cosmetics. I have written earlier a comprehensive article about oat before. You should also read it so that you can see how wonderful substance oat actually is. In this article I will introduce different powders made from oat; oat silk and colloidal oatmeal. Both are perfect for making cosmetics. Colloidal oatmeal and oat silk have many uses in cosmetics. Let’s see what these two powders actually are!
Colloidal oatmeal and oat silk are not exactly the same product
I myself have previously believed that colloidal oatmeal and oat silk are the same thing. In reality, there is a subtle difference between these two products. This difference is obvious when looking at the use.
Colloidal oatmeal
Colloidal oatmeal is made from dried, dust-like finely ground oat grains. The name colloid refers to the powder’s small particle size. For colloidal oatmeal, the whole grain with the husks is used. The husk part of the oat grain, the bran, is especially rich in skin-soothing ingredients and vitamins. Due to the rich vitamin and antioxidant content, colloidal oatmeal is suitable for care products.
Oat silk
Oat silk is made from the same dried oat grains. This time, the oat grains are peeled before grinding. The husk on the surface of the grain, the bran, is removed from them. This results in a particularly fine, white, silky powder. Oat silk is used in cosmetics as an ingredient in powders and for cleaning the face.
Homemade oat powder is not the same as colloidal oatmeal
Of course, you can grind oat flakes into flour at home, but it doesn’t match colloidal oatmeal. The particle size of colloidal oatmeal is significantly smaller than that of homemade powder. Oat flour from the grocery store is also too coarse for cosmetics use.
Cosmetic oat powder should be very fine. Finely grind oat powder is significantly more effective on the skin. Colloidal oatmeal is processed to improve solubility. Oat that is just ground will clot. It is not soluble and is not easy to use in cosmetics. The fine, dust-like structure of cosmetic oat guarantees absorption of the oat nutrients into the skin.
Cosmetic oats contain a lot of active ingredients
A special oat variety is selected for oat flour used in cosmetics. Oats used as food do not have that many skin-protecting and caring properties. Cosmetic oat is rich in various skin-care phytochemicals.
- beta glucan helps maintain skin moisture
- antioxidants such as vitamin E reduce inflammation, soothe the skin and fight signs of aging
- phenols are strong antioxidants that protect cells from damage (UV radiation)
- saponins have a cleansing effect on the skin, like a gentle cleanser
- oat is a very oily plant. Oat oil is especially good for treating dry and eczema skin because it naturally contains ceramides. Ceramides are lipids that make up about half of the surface layer of the skin. In skin diseases, the production of ceramides is disturbed and therefore ceramides are recommended in connection with eczema and other skin diseases. Dry skin also often suffers from a lack of ceramides.
How colloidal oatmeal is used in cosmetics
Cosmetic oatmeal is a wonderful product because you don’t even have to know how to make cosmetic products. Mix a dash of water into the colloidal oat powder; you get a super good and gentle facial cleanser just like that.
Remember that cosmetic oatmeal cannot withstand temperatures above 75 degrees. When hot, they start to form porridge, and of course that’s not the intention.
Next, I will tell you a few examples of how cosmetic oat can be used in skin care.
In addition to this, colloidal oatmeal has many other uses in cosmetics.
• Oat bath treats the skin and reduces itching. Oat baths have been used successfully in the treatment of itchy eczema. Oats are rich in anti-itch substances. Oat bath is also suitable for small children. Add about a decilitre of colloidal oatmeal to the bathtub. Mix the powder carefully with water and enjoy the bath about 20-30 minutes. After bathing, rinse your skin in the shower. Do not use any detergent in order to save the caring elements of oat on your skin.
• Add colloidal oatmeal to whipped body lotions as starch. Colloidal oatmeal soothes the skin and at the same time give the cream a nice, dry, velvety-like touch.
• Colloidal oatmeal is perfect as a base for exfoliating face masks. Just add a dash of water and/or oil and, if you wish, other active ingredients. A lightly exfoliating mask is made from colloidal oatmeal, honey, water and very finely ground salt. Salt and honey have the ability to soften dead skin cells. Colloidal oatmeal gently wash and remove the detached skin cells away.
• A nourishing oat mask is made from safflower oil, colloidal oatmeal, water and liquid honey. You can add other oils to the mask. I personally prefer blackcurrant seed oil or evening primrose oil in face masks.
Colloidal oatmeal for pet care
Colloidal oatmeal is so mild and completely non-toxic that you can also treat your pet’s skin with it. An oat bath helps with mild and temporary skin problems such as mosquito bites and mild, temporary itching. A dog suffering from a severe rash and prolonged itching should definitely be treated by a veterinarian.
You can add about a decilitre of colloidal oatmeal to your dog’s bath water. Try to make your dog comfortable in the bath for at least 10 minutes. Colloidal oats relieve the itching of the dog’s skin and possible skin irritations. After bathing, rinse your dog’s coat in the shower.
If your dog has a nasty, itchy mosquito bite, you can make a paste of colloidal oatmeal and apply it directly to the itchy spot. This way you don’t have to bathe the whole dog.
Oat silk is purified, finely ground oat flour
Oat silk is whiter in colour than colloidal oat. Oat silk does not contain all the vitamins of colloidal oats. Therefore, it should not be used for the same purposes as colloidal oats. There is no silk protein in oat silk. The word silk refers to the silky texture of oatmeal. The particle size of oat silk is about 50 microns. Oat silk is a very useful for powders, colour cosmetics and facial cleansers.
Oat silk cleanser
Make a face cleanser from oat silk. Add some kaolin to it and maybe also finely ground sea salt if you want more cleaning power. Oat silk alone is gentle for dry skin. Take a teaspoon of powder in your palm. Add a dash of water to the palm of your hand and mix into a smooth paste. The paste resembles cleansing milk. Apply the paste to the face and massage in circular motions. Wipe the paste off the face with a muslin cloth or rinse the face with water. You may not need a moisturizer or face oil at all.
Two-part Skin cleansing with oat silk
Do a two-part Skin Cleansing with Oat Cleanser and Oil. Choose the oil you like, for example safflower oil. Apply about a teaspoon of oil on the face and massage gently for about one minute. Now prepare the oat silk cleaner according to the previous instructions. Apply the cleanser to oily skin and rub lightly so that the oil emulsifies into the oat cleanser. Now you can wash your face with either water or a damp muslin cloth. Oatmeal cleanser leaves your skin clear and glowing. The pores are closed and the skin looks cared for.
Oat silk and Colloidal oatmeal are products worth trying
I recommend trying cosmetic oat powders. Oat powders are anhydrous products that will be preserved for a very long time. Oat powders are safe products that are suitable for the whole family, including small children and pets. Did you know that cosmetic oatmeal in the world is quite often Finnish origin. Large quantities of cosmetic oats are exported from Finland all over the world.
Have you used colloidal oats or oat silk in cosmetics?