If you have Normal skin or Combination Normal and T-zone skin, it basically means that overall, your skin is producing a balanced amount of sebum. Not too much, not too little. So you need oils that are equally balanced in linoleic (Omega 6) and oleic acids (Omega 9) to help your skin maintain its fatty acid balance. You also want to include oils that are going to help support your skin in its ageing journey, and you need to oils that will heal repair and sooth as your skin is going through various changes due to hormones weather, stress, etc.

So here are our plant oil picks for Normal type skin. We love these oils so much that we have included them in our Face Chai Facial Oils and Moisturizing cream. We can't say enough good things about these plant oils and the magic they bring to maintaining your skins elasticity, softness and long term health.

Hey, but dont just take our word for it. Here's a message we received from a happy customer about her experience of Face Chai Facial Oils. 

I love the Face Chai  Facial Oil, because it leaves my face feeling silky soft and evens out my skin tone. I believe it helps with my fine lines around my mouth and eyes. I wont use anything else!!
Vanessa K, Canada

Hugs, Vanessa! You made our day!

So here they are, without further ado, our rockstar plant oil line up for Normal and Combination skin.

Let's dive into the amazing benefits of apricot kernel seed oil for your skin. Used for many centuries, Apricot Kernel Seed Oil continues to be loved for its softening, moisturizing, rejuvenating, and nourishing properties. So what makes it so amazing for Normal and Combination T-Zone Skin?

Apricot Kernel Seed Oil is balanced in both Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, which is exactly what you need to nourish your skin type and lock in moisture. Omega 9s help your skin stay soft, supple, and radiant while reducing the appearance of premature wrinkles and fine lines. Omega 6s help soothe break-outs and reduce the chances of future ones. Say goodbye to oily patches  in the T-zone and hello to a plump, moisturized complexion.

This oil is a natural softener, making your skin feel oh-so-smooth. Its like a silky caress that leaves your skin baby-soft and touchable. Apricot kernel seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties, which means it can calm down any redness or irritation on your skin. Its also a pro at improving skin tone and texture. With regular use, apricot kernel seed oil can help even out your complexion and give your skin a radiant, healthy glow.

There is a reason Castor Oil is so brilliant for skin care. Its all in the fatty acid profile as well its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Its made up of 90% Ricinoleic acid, which we love for its ability to fight acne-causing bacteria and fungal inflections. Its like a gentle detox for your skin, helping to unclog pores. Say goodbye to breakouts and hello to a smoother, clearer canvas.

It is also a serious moisturizing powerhouse,  packed with fatty acids that penetrate deep into your skin, to keep it protected and and soft. And bonus, it soothes itching and inflammation while boosting circulation. 

Rosehips are the tiny, reddish-orange, edible, spherical fruits that remain on a Rose bush after the Roses have bloomed, lost their petals, and died. The oil is cold pressed from the seeds inside the rosehips and it is incredible for your skin. 

First and foremost, rosehip oil is loaded with vitamins and essential fatty acids that deeply nourish your skin, leaving it plump, moisturized, and smooth. Packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, rosehip oil helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving you that youthful, fresh-faced look. Say goodbye to dull, dehydrated skin and hello to a radiant, glowing complexion.

​Rosehip oil is also a true friend to those dealing with acne or scarring. Its anti-inflammatory properties help calm irritated skin and reduce redness, while its regenerative properties can help fade acne scars and promote a more even complexion. The emollience of Rosehip Seed Oil enhances skin resilience and penetrability, encouraging it to repair itself and minimizing scarring as well as acne breakouts. Think of Rosehip oil as a fountain of youth in a bottle!

There is all that and this too: The scent of Rosehip Oil is also known to have a stress-relieving effect, promoting a sense of calm and relaxation in aromatherapy massage.

The teas we know and love, green, black, white, oolong, come from the Camellia sinensis plant. And from its seeds comes Camellia Seed Oil, used for centuries in Eastern Asian beauty care routines to slow down signs of aging, and keep skin smooth and glowing.

First off, camellia seed oil is incredibly lightweight, which means it won't leave your skin feeling greasy or weighed down. And it's gentle and non-irritating. One of its most notable benefits is its moisturizing power. It's packed with Omega 6 and 9 fatty acids that help nourish and protect your skin cells to keep hydration in, leaving your skin feeling soft and supple. 

Camellia seed oil also contains a powerhouse of antioxidants that help to keep your skin looking youthful and healthy, while Its anti-inflammatory properties can calm irritated skin and help reduce redness. A soothing hug for your skin!

Hailed as the Holy Fruit of the Himalayas, Sea Buckthorn berries are naturally abundant in Antioxidants, Phytosterols, Carotenoids, skin-supporting Minerals, and Vitamins A, E, and K, all of which work wonders. It has been used for thousands of years to treat skin concerns from replenishing dry and damaged skin to treating inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea and eczema.

Sea Buckthorn Oil brings its resilience to your skin. It has oil balancing properties that can reduce overproduction of sebum in greasy areas, while also promoting sebum production in areas where it is lacking.This oil penetrates deep into your skin, providing intense moisture and leaving it soft, supple.

Sea buckthorn oil is a champion when it comes to promoting skin healing and rejuvenation. Its Vitamin K helps to stimulate collagen production, which means plumper, more elastic skin. It also has soothing properties and the ability to even out your skin tone. Sea buckthorn oil can help fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation, giving you a more even complexion. Hello, natural brightening!

So, if you have Normal or Combination skin, these oils are truly magical when it comes to maintaining your skin's elasticity, softness, and long-term health. They will keep your skin's fatty acids in harmony, as well as support your skin's aging process, provide healing and repair, and offer soothing properties during times of hormonal changes, weather shifts, or stressful situations. 

I can't tell you enough how much we adore these plant oils, which is why I’ve included them in our Face Chai Facial Oils and Moisturizing Cream. Give them a try and let them nourish and pamper your skin. You'll be amazed at the incredible difference they can make in your skincare routine. Your skin deserves the best, and these oils deliver just that! 

Have you ever wondered what makes skin oily, normal or dry? What are these classifications based on? Quite simply, it is all about sebum, a complex cocktail of lipids (fatty compounds) produced by your sebaceous glands that form a protective barrier against the evaporation of water from your skin cells. Not to go all Goldilocks on you, but If your skin makes too much sebum, you have Oily skin; if it makes too little, you have Dry skin; and if its just right, you have Normal skin. 

You are born producing sebum and, hopefully, you’ll continue doing so throughout your life. Sebum production, triggered by your genes and hormones, is typically at its peak during puberty, sometimes more than double normal amounts. Other hormonal events like menstrual cycles, pregnancy, stress, and menopause can also affect sebum production, as can diagnoses such as Parkinsons. In addition, exposing the skin to too many products that upset its own natural balance can also trigger the over-production or under-production of skin oils, including sebum.

Believe it or not, sebum is actually good for your skin. It protects it from moisture loss, bacteria and fungus infection, and aging. Sebum contains Vitamin E, triglycerides, diglycerides, fatty acids, squalane and cholesterol (interestingly, all major components of anti-aging creams). 

As your body’s largest organ, your skin perform as a number of important, complex jobs—from regulating your body temperature to protecting your insides against germs. Your outermost skin layer is composed mostly of lipids, like sebum, that act as a gatekeeper between your skin and the external environment. Their job is to keep water in and harmful stuff—like bacteria and fungus—out.
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So when we talk about skin care, we are actually talking about keeping water in and germs out. And we do this a couple of ways: one, by creating a healthy skin barrier, regardless of how much sebum your skin makes; and two, by taking care of the other factors that affect sebum production like stress, diet and exposure to irritants.
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Oily Skin is caused by overactive sebaceous glands that produce too much sebum.
The good news is that sebum production tapers off as we age, leading to dryer skin. Lucky you, because oily skin ages more slowly than dry skin, so when you move into your 40s and beyond, you may actually be thankful for your oiliness! 
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One way to test your skin to see if it is full-on oily or Combo skin is to wash it in the morning with a gentle cleanser, pat it dry with a towel. Don’t apply any make-up or moisturizer; wait an hour or two. Now it's mirror time. If your face is shiny all over, you have oily skin. If your cheeks are dry but your forehead and nose are shiny, you have combination skin--that means your skin is producing more sebum where you see the shine (most often in the T Zone) and more balanced sebum production skin everywhere else.
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Your Normal skin presents as smooth, supple, with no visible blemishes, pores, flaky areas or greasy patches. Your skin cells have good elasticity and moisture retention capability. There are no severe sensitivity issues. Its  pH is slightly acidic, due to acids in sebum, sweat and keratin. Hormone changes can increase your skin’s sebum production and bring on a zit now and again, but nothing major that stays more than a day or two.

One way to test your skin to see if it is Normal or Combination skin is to wash it in the morning with a gentle cleanser, pat it dry with a towel. Don’t apply any make-up or moisturizer; wait an hour or two. Now it's mirror time. If your face feels not too oily, not too dry, you likely have normal skin, . If your cheeks are dry but your forehead and nose are shiny, you have combination skin--that means oily skin where you see the shine (most often in the T Zone) and Normal skin everywhere else.
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Overall, Normal skin doesn’t need a whole lot of care. Upside? Well, your skin doesn’t need a whole lot of care! Downside? You may forget to give yourself the daily care you need to maintain your skin’s sebum balance through diet and hormone changes. Also, if the area across your forehead and down your nose to your chin (the T-Zone) gets shiny through the day, you may have Combination skin, which means your skin care routine will need ingredients that can work in both zones. Skin hydration and moisturizing are a must to help support that graceful aging that Normal Skin is so brilliant at doing. 
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We all get dry skin now and then, especially through the winter months. But us card-carrying members of the Dry and Sensitive skin Club (yes, that includes me) will notice certain things about our facial skin that put it into the Dry skin type category.

Your skin sometimes has a dull or ashy complexion, more easily visible in skin with more melanin . That doesn’t mean your skin isn’t sparkling at party conversation—it means that there is an accumulation of dry, dead skin cells on the surface that gives your skin a kind of greyish hue. Occasionally, you see red patches. Sadly this is not because of the blush of a happy surprise! It’s usually a reaction to a skinirritation, as seen in conditions like Rosacea.You notice fine lines and wrinkles more earlier in life. Yeah. I think they euphemistically call that “premature aging”. Sometimes your skin gets so dry it starts flaking and peeling, sometimes cracking. Ouch! And your skin has sensitivities to harsh cleansers, chemicals and even preservatives, leaving your face feeling itchy and dry. Yeah, I know. It’s a lot. 
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What makes skin dry (you guessed it) is a lack of a sebum production. When there is enough sebum, skin cells are plump and elastic--the hallmark of younger skin. But as we age and go through hormone changes, skin loses the lipids or fats it needs to protect its cells and hold onto moisture. The loss of this skin barrier protection also leaves your skin more vulnerable to outside elements, like weather, chemicals, etc. So the name of the game with dry skin is to use ingredients that will help build that barrier protection 
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Skins care is essentially a balance game between cleansing, hydration and moisturizing. This is true for all skin types, using different ingredients that support your skin, regardless of how much sebum your skin is making. 

While cleansing is key for reducing the bacteria that might lead to a break-out, I want to emphasize that not all skin bacteria are bad. In fact your skin is host to a biome that includes helpful bacteria that likes to eat dead skin and other critters. Think of these bacteria as skin barrier patrol. It is another example of how we live interdependently with our fellow creatures, from micro to macro. Our goal here is to work with our skin biome, to feed it what it needs to survive and thrive. 
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And what would that be, you ask? Well, believe it or not, it’s natural ingredients. Join me in the next blog for a look at which natural ingredients help each skin type thrive and a deep dive into face care routines for each skin type. 
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From leaves to bark, Neem has been used for millenia for maintaining wellness, body healing, skin and hair care and for repelling insects. In the ancient Siddha system of medicine originating more than 10,000 years ago in the Tamil Nadu region of South India, Neem is among the core plants used. It met the Siddha medicinal goal of maintaining health for long life. All parts of neem tree were (and still are) used in traditional Indian medicine remedies for various human dis-eases.

The word NEEM comes from the Sanskrit, Nimba, meaning bestower of good health. As far back as 5000 BCE, Indian Ayurvedic texts have described the Neem tree and its remarkable healing properties. In fact healing compounds containing its leaves were found at the excavation of Mohanjo-Daro and Harappa, ancient city sites that date back to this time period and older.

Back in that day (to this day), a Neem tree was considered sacred, symbolizing good health and protection. One would be planted in public gathering spaces or in the front garden of the temple or the home where became part of daily life. Kind of like living among the Ent healers. The Neem tree provided shade from the sun while naturally repelling insects for those sitting under its protective canopy. When wind blew through the Neem tree and into the home, it was believed that the winds carried with them the anti-bacterial properties of the tree, keeping the homes free of bacteria while providing residents with a cool breeze in the summer months. Neem was also used to protect animals, food and grains. Livestock and cattle were fed Neem leaves for relief from ailments; soil was fertilized with seeds, leaves, and bark which all doubled as pesticides.

Used in medicinals, its properties strengthened health and boosted immunity. Infusions from leaf and bark would be drunk to help maintain blood sugar, clear lungs and keep the digestive tract running smoothly; neem twigs would be used oral care; young neem leaves were included in vegetarian curries; the gum from the tree was sucked on to ease a dry throat; and in the summer, the fruit of the tree would be eaten. All this Neem goodness worked together to strengthen the immune system. 

Traditionally, Neem was used topically to address such ailments as fevers, respiratory issues, tetanus infections, rheumatism, arthritis, jaundice, malaria, ringworm, lice, fungal and bacterial infections of the skin, scabies, hives, eczema and psoriasis. And to help help hair grow and remain thick and lustrous. Historically, Neem Oil was even used as a topical contraceptive.

That is  one versatile plant, right?

Neem oil is extracted from the seeds of neem tree fruit. Neem Plant Powders are basically dried and finely ground Neem Leaves. So, what is in Neem that makes it so amazing for skin? Both Oil and leaves have serious Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, Anti-oxidant, Astringent, Oil Regulating and Moisturizing properties: 

• OLEIC ACIDS (OMEGA 9), known to support graceful aging by easing wrinkles and fine lines; protect skin with its anti-oxidant properties; and prevent joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain
• STEARIC ACID, which cleanses skin of dirt, sweat and excess sebum. It does double duty as a skin softener.
• PALMITIC ACID, which is also softens skin
• LINOLEIC ACIDS (OMEGA 6), which moisturize skin, facilitate wound healing, soothe acne and help balance sebum production in the skin. 
• ALPHA-LINOLENIC ACID (OMEGA-3), known to lessen inflammation and control blood clotting on the skin. It also soothes joint pain and eases stiffness to improve flexibility.
• VITAMIN E, known to be an effective anti-oxidant that protects and supports skin in graceful aging. It also helps repair damaged skin tissue found in scars and acne 
• CAROTENOIDS, known to be effective anti-oxidants that prevent cellular damage and protect skin from environmental toxins. It is  a champ in the skin repair department while helping reduce hyperpigmentation caused by UV radiation, hormones, or acne. Carotenoids help skin appear smooth and supple, stimulate regeneration of  skin cells, boost skin collagen and elastin production to increase thickness, elasticity, firmness, softness, and smoothness and hydrate skin by reducing water loss.
• NIMBIN, which has antiseptic, antifungal, and antihistamine properties. It helps relieve redness and swelling
• AZADIRACHTIN, which is an insecticidal and fungicidal pesticide property. It keeps the bugs away

When I was formulating Face Chai for Oily and Breakout Prone Skin, I researched ingredients extensively, looking into their properties, lore and historical uses. With all its benefits to healing breakouts and acne scars and its ability to balance out sebum production, Neem just had to be a featured ingredient. It works beautifully with the other Oily Skin supporting ingredients in this formula. FYI, Neem Oil has a really strong smell. But worry not. I mixed in other skin supportive carrier oils and essential oils to compensate. Your nose will be happy! Your skin will be happier.

Our Facial Oils are a complex blend of lightweight oils specially chosen for their ability to soothe, protect, repair and regenerate healthy skin. I love Neem Oil for its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, antioxidant properties. I am also excited by how these properties help kill the bacteria that gets into pores to cause the infections we know (and don't love) as "zits". Hello Neem, bye bye breakout.

Neem also does its part to stimulate skin cells to regenerate. it also helps heal acne scars and sooth acne irritation, while balancing out the sebum in your skin to reduce the chance of future break outs. Such a win win!

Neem has antioxidants that help protect your skin from environmental stressors. It moisturizes and helps keep skin soft and supple by boosting skin collagen and elastin production to increase thickness, elasticity and firmness. It also helps to reduce hyperpigmentation caused by UV radiation, hormones or acne.  

The Facial Oils can be used daily as a moisturizer, for oil cleansing, for overnight moisturizing or The feedback  from peeps in my test crew who used the Facial Oils for Oily Skin is that pimples and other skin eruptions disappear overnight. The oils are light and easily absorbed, leaving a lovely skin glow.

I have included Dried Neem leaf powder in this wonderful combination of plant powders and clays that blend up into a mask with a pump or two of Facial Oils plus some yogurt, honey or just plain old distilled water. It all depends on what your skin needs in the moment due to hormones, diet, stress. You know, LIFE.

Neem brings its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties to work once more, to help kill the bacteria that could lead to zits, regulate your skin sebum production, and soften and protect it. The formula is quite robust with ingredients that are soothing, oil absorptive, cleansing, astringent and exfoliating. 

Feedback from my testing crew included loving the way the Mask Grains soothed their skin, settled eruptions and gave a gentle exfoliation, leaving  a lovely skin glow. 

I included neem oil in this formulation for its moisturizing properties. I love its ability to deeply penetrate skin and repair heel cracks caused by dryness. It works with the other oils to soothe itchy, red, inflamed skin.

I also chose Neem Oil for its anti-bacterial properties. It teams up with Tea Tree Oil, which has some serious  anti-bacterial properties of its own. By soothing skin irritation and eradicating the bacteria that causes them, Neem Oil and Tea Tree Oil can calm Athletes Foot and nail fungus. Then there is Neems ability to help ease joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain. Neem works with Rosemary Oil to help ease your feet into relaxation.

Neem oil is one of many amazing ingredients in this formula that helps soothe bug bites and insect stings. Neem oil has an impressive, well-researched track record of not only being incredibly moisturizing for all skin types, but anti-inflammatory and soothing as well. Shoo Fly! Is full of ingredients like Neem oil that will take the itchy edge off a bug bite and help decrease swelling of even nasty ones, like wasp stings. 

I had originally formulated Shoo Fly to help keep bugs away. The ingredients I chose do have properties that do that, naturally. But as a small biz maker, my products are classified as cosmetic by Health Canada. Bug repellent, however, is classified as a drug.  So I am not able to make direct repellent claims about Shoo Fly! But I CAN tell you about Neem and it’s amazing properties. You can try it to soothe bug bites. And if it keeps bugs away, well BONUS!!

Nature is full of wise plants who work with us to support our health and wellness. Thanks for hanging out with Neem and me,