First of all welcome to my first ever blog! I thought it would be easier to share my knowledge here than a long ass description on the gram. I promised myself I wouldn't be those people that just chat for the longest to keep you reading through paragraphs before getting to the point. So let's get to it!

Now if you're into skincare or makeup then you would've most likely come across the terms COMEDOGENIC or NON-COMEDOGENIC and in the simplest terms, it refers to the likeliness of your pores being clogged. So if a product states it's comedogenic there's a likely chance it's going to clog your pores, if it's non-comedogenic then there's little to 0 chance of it clogging your pores.

So what does this mean for you and your skin type? Well, if you have combination, oily and acne prone skin you ideally want to stay away from anything that will clog your pores further, considering your skin is already overproducing in it's natural sebum, which is high in Oleic Acid (we'll get into that a little later). So it's best to avoid leave on products that are high in heavy butters or oils that can add to the oiliness you are already experiencing. That being said, some ingredients that are highly comedogenic are still very beneficial for skin! So long as you use them correctly and in moderation or small doses, for e.g. a cleansing oil or balm.

Comedogenicity is broken down into 5 different levels of likelihood to clog pores so if you're ever in doubt about what ingredients will work well with your skin type you can search it up and see what rating it falls under, here are the ratings and a few examples of common oils used in skincare products. Usually the thicker the oil, the higher chance it will sit on your skin and or clog your pores, the lighter the oil the less chance it will clog your pores.

So now you understand a little more about comedogenic ingredients and their rating's, let's talk about what makes them comedogenic and I'll keep it brief (or at least try).

You may have heard me babbling on about Oleic acid and Linoleic acid on my Instagram stories and posts and that's because, in my opinion these are the most important types of acids your skin needs to replenish, revive and balance oil production, as they are both essential fatty acids that contribute to the maintenance of your skin. When your lacking in one or the other, trust me, your skin will tell you!

Oleic acid is an Omega 9 fatty acid that is particularly beneficial for dryer and mature skin as it's main aim is to moisturise the skin barrier. However it can clog your pores due to the fact that it's mainly found in the richer and thicker comedogenic oils like Avocado oil, and it's also present in the skin's natural sebum.. keep that in mind

Linoleic acid is an Omega 6 fatty acid and unlike Oleic, our bodies cannot produce this naturally, so we have to source this externally, through the foods we eat and the products we use. The main function of Linoleic acid is to retain moisture by strengthening our skin barrier. So it's literally perfect for sealing in hydration, and considering it's mainly present in the lighter weight oils like Rosehip or Hempseed, it has the ability to penetrate a lot deeper in to our skin. So far so good?

So when your skin lacks in Linoleic acid, which can be easy considering we don't naturally produce this, it tends to dry out, as there's nothing retaining moisture and hydration anymore. When this happens, sometimes our skin breaks and this causes breakouts due to free radicals and bacteria growing on the broken skin our skin reacts and starts overproducing our natural sebum as compensation, so it can moisturise the skin (remember I mentioned that earlier?). As it's high in Oleic acid, it's thicker than Linoleic acid, so it can't absorb as easily, which results in the oil sitting on the top layer of skin and causing CLOGGED PORES.

So those with 'oily' skin actually have dry skin over compensated with the skin's natural oils, which is why, it's actually important for oily skin to still be moisturised and not deprive it of moisture. If you do have irregular oil production, best to stay away from high comedogenic oils that will only create more problems, and opt for the lighter weight non-comedogenic oils to rebalance your overall oil production.

I myself have combination skin, which means I have an oily T-zone and dryer cheeks naturally, and it was a struggle at times finding products that would not clog my pores and keep me moisturised at the same time.

So I created a multi purpose non-comedogenic oil to help keep my skin moisturised throughout the day without producing excess oil along my t-zone. The OG Elixir is made from 5 extremely nourishing oils and Ylang Ylang essential oil, which is incredible for regulating oil production. It's legit the only thing I use to moisturise my face! After cleansing and toning, I apply half a pump to damp skin, not dry, and let it absorb in a matter of moments. With the same routine at night I wake up with softer, hydrated and firmer skin! This elixir is ideal for anyone with oily, dry, acne prone, combination and sensitive skin! To find out more about the amazing benefits of this product click here.