Environmental stressors accelerate skin aging. So we are excited about Volto Urbano, an innovative brand with skincare formulations based on peer-reviewed research. The result is barrier-repairing, restorative skin care that combats external aging factors. Today we look at Moisturizing Blue Oil, a lightweight, restorative, go-to oil packed with skin-enhancing goodness.

Moisturizing Blue Oil is a natural shade of translucent lapis blue

About our Exposome
Our skin has seen some things. Bad things.

We know sun exposure damages (and ages) skin. Research reveals environmental stressors are also a significant oxidative factor. Turns out, skin aging is more influenced by extrinsic than intrinsic processes.^[1]

Our “Exposome” is the collective experiences our skin sustains which results in accelerated aging and damage.

In a review of environmental studies evidence, European scientists, specializing in environmental medicine and/or skin biology concluded that air pollution, UV radiation, frigid temperatures, dust, dry air, tobacco smoke exposure, and even our cosmetics and skincare can take a collective environmental toll on the skin.^[2]

Skin experts conclude “the skin aging exposome consists of external and internal factors and their interactions, affecting a human individual from conception to death as well as the response of the human body to these factors that lead to biological and clinical signs of skin aging.”[3]

Studies also show air pollution can also make existing skin conditions, like atopic dermatitis, even worse. ^[4]

But you can fight back.

Finding the Right Skincare For Your Environment

Products to counteract environmental impacts may work well in one location but be unsuitable for another.  Skincare needs in a cold, dusty, rural area are very different than a hot, humid, polluted city.

Many K-beauty oils masterfully address environmental concerns in certain environmental conditions. But these oils are often too heavy and oily for stateside use.

If you are concerned about the impact of environmental stressors, you have probably tried a few products. If K-beauty oils are too heavy for your skin, Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil is a lightweight but highly effective oil option.

Volto Urbano uses only research-backed ingredients to fight environmental skin damage

The Experience

Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil is a light oil, despite some rich ingredients. It doesn’t feel greasy or tacky. Just a few drops leave even dry skin smooth while quelling redness and irritation. My skin just drinks it in and it dries down to a silky finish.

Rich in Vitamins A and C, it counteracts environmental damage without drying or irritating skin.

It can be applied directly to facial skin or mixed in with your favorite cream.

Moisturizing Blue Oil really shines in hot humid weather. New England is experiencing record high temperatures. This hot, sticky weather is paired with moisture depleting air conditioning. We especially love that Moisturizing Blue Oil is a protective, hydrating barrier without feeling at all heavy on the skin. Skin looks refined, plumped, and dewy.

Only a few drops of this lightweight oil are needed. The oil has a natural lapis blue hue. This is due to the chamomile derived, skin-soothing Guaiazulene.  Let’s take a closer look at Moisturizing Blue Oil’s researched-backed, skin-loving ingredients:

the Ingredients

This formula has a hydrating Sunflower Oil base combined with soothing, skin rejuvenating natural ingredients

Helianthus Annuus

Helianthus Annuus is better known as Sunflower Seed Oil. Sunflower Seed Oil is hydrating, nourishing, and an excellent supporting oil base or carrier oil for the other treating oils in this formulation.

Functions as a lipid buffer against drying ingredients or topical medicines ^[5] Sunflower Oil softens skin irritated by drying topicals. It hydrates and calms red, irritated skin.  Linoleic acid Gives sunflower seed oil anti-inflammatory properties.  It is a natural treatment for atopic dermatitis. ^[6]

It retains moisture in the skin and is also rich in vitamin E.

 

Safflower

Carthamus tinctorius

Carthamus tinctorius is safflower seed oil. It is lipid-rich.

Safflower Oil is high in Omegas 3, 6, and 9. It hydrates dry skin, soothes irritation, and enhances skin texture and appearance.

 

Aleurites moluccana

Aleurites moluccana is kukui seed oil. It is used to intensely hydrate and moisture skin.

This oil can do something unusual: it can penetrate into the deep layers of the skin. This is exciting since it also helps promote collagen production. The deeper the skin can make collagen, the firmer it looks.

 

Borage flower

Borago officinalis

Borago officinalis is borage seed oil. It is a lipid-rich plant oil.

Borage calms the skin. It is high in nourishing long-chain gamma-linoleic fatty acid.  It keeps skin healthy and hydrated while reducing skin irritation and inflammation.

 

Amyris Bark

Amyris balsamifera

Amyris balsamifera is Amyris bark oil which is a moisturizing oil from the torchwood tree.

It is often used as an essential oil for relaxation. It also has skin rejuvenation benefits that slow down the appearance of aging.

 

citrus aurantium dulcis

Citrus aurantium dulcis is orange peel oil.

Orange Peel has more Vitamin C than the fleshly orange fruit, almost double. It fights free radicals, removes blackheads and acne, and reduces wrinkles.

Orange peel oil

 

Clove flower and leaf

eugenia caryophyllus

Eugenia caryophyllus is clove leaf oil.

Clove leaf oil can firm the skin.

It is also an anti-inflammatory that reduces acne-causing bacteria. ^[7]

 

guaiazulene

Guaiazulene comes from Chamomile

Guaiazulene is an oil that comes from chamomile. It is named for the Spanish word for blue due to its’ natural deep blue-violet pigment. Guaiazulene is used as a natural colorant, such as the natural blue hue of this translucent oil.

Like chamomile, it holds skin-soothing properties including being an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-fungal agent.

 

lavandula hybrida

Lavender

Lavandula hybrida is lavender oil.

Lavender Oil softens and conditions the skin.

Lavender’s anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties keep skin healthy. It has soothing properties to calm any imbalances such as inflammation or dry skin flaking.

The linalyl acetate in lavender enhances cell growth in the skin.

tocopherol

Tocopherol is a form of Vitamin E.  Tocopherol softens skin texture and reduces scars. Vitamin E makes old scars soft and pliable. Once the skin is pliable, other treating ingredients are more effective.

 

Evening Primrose

Evening Primrose Oil

Oenothera biennis is evening primrose oil.

Evening Primrose Oil is full of Omega-6 fatty acids for glowing skin.  It is excellent as a topical ingredient to provide moisture without clogging the skin and is helpful for eczema and acne.

It supports elastin, moisture, and skin firmness. [8]

 

tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate

Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is fat-soluble Vitamin C. Its’ fatty acid component penetrates the skin easily. It pairs well with other vitamin C forms for enhanced effectiveness.

 

Olea Europaea

Olives

Olea Europaea is olive oil unsaponifiables.

Olive Oil moisturizes but won’t clog pores. It has skin enhancing Omega-3s and polyphenols.

Linoleic acid has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin.

Olive Oil within a formulation removes the greasy feel of direct application.

 

tocopheryl acetate

Tocopheryl Acetate is the most potent form of Vitamin E. It helps skin retain hydration and softens fine lines.

 

Rosa Canina

Rosa canina is rosehip fruit oil. It is a polyphenol antioxidant.

Rosehips

Rosehip Seed Oil is high in Vitamins A, C, and E. They provide nutrients, fade acne scars, and promote cell turnover. Rose Hip Seed Oil is a Vitamin C variant that is both a treatment and a hydrating ingredient. It offers the benefits of Vitamin C and Retinol serums such as lightening dark spots but without causing irritation.

Rosehip oil also has omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids to soothe and moisturize eczema or dry skin. [9] There is generally a strong scent that is subdued within this formulation.

 

Jojoba Oil

Simmondsia Chinensis is jojoba seed oil. It is a lipid-rich plant oil.

Jojoba Seeds

Jojoba oil is an emollient, made of 98% monounsaturated fats. Jojoba gives elasticity and softness to the skin.

Jojoba is a carrier oil, increasing the efficacy of other active ingredients. As a carrier oil, it enhances the ingredients it is paired with instead of creating a barrier.

 

C13-15 alkane

C13-15 alkane is a silky, softening emollient.

 

Grapeseed Oil restores and softens skin

Vitis Vinifera

Vitis vinifera is grape seed oil.

Grapeseed Oil is nourishing to the skin and contains building blocks for collagen production. Grapeseed is highly beneficial to damaged skin requiring restoration, such as burns and scars.

High in Polyphenols, Vitamins C, D, E, and Omega 6, it treats dry skin, wrinkles, discoloration, and aging.

 

About Volto Urbano

Few brands address the impact of environmental stressors without excessively stripping or overly oiling the skin. Volto Urbano produces highly moisturizing skincare that combats environmental skin damage.

We also like Volto Urbano’s natural plus clean lab-synthesized preservatives approach to steer clear of harmful chemicals while maximizing the efficacy of natural ingredients.

We love that the Volto Urbano range doesn’t contain buzzword or trendy skincare inclusions. They only use ingredients proven to be effective.

Volto Urbano develops skincare formulations are based on peer-reviewed research published in dermatological and chemist scientific journals.

Not sure how to combat environmental stressors in your region? Take Volto Urbano’s “My Regimen Builder” quiz to find recommendations suited to YOUR skin.

Stay tuned for our follow-up post on our tips and tricks for getting the most out of Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil at Volto Urbano

Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil is a lightweight oil that counteracts environmental skin stress

QUESTIONS?
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references

1. Rinnerthaler, M., Bischof, J., Streubel, M. K., Trost, A., Richter, K. (2015). Oxidative stress in aging human skin. Biomolecules 5, 545-589. doi: 10.3390/biom5020545
2. Krutmann, J., Bouloc, A., Sore, G., Bernard, B. A., Passeron, T. (2017). The skin aging exposome. J. Dermatol. Sci. 85, 152-161. doi: 10.1016/j.jdermsci.2016.09.015
3. Ibid
4. Kim, J., Kim, E. H., Oh, I., Jung, K., Han, Y., Cheong, H. K., et al. (2013). Symptoms of atopic dermatitis are influenced by outdoor air pollution. J. Allergy. Clin. Immunol. 132, 495-498 e491. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2013.04.019
5. Loden M, Andersson AC. Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skin. Br J Dermatol. 1996;134(2):215-20.
6. Lopez Perez G, Torres Altamirano M. Indications for sunflower oil concentrate in the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Rev Alerg Mex. 2006;53(6):217-25.
7. Fu Y, Chen L, Zu Y, et al. “The Antibacterial Activity of Clove Essential Oil Against Propionibacterium acnes and Its Mechanism of Action”. Arch Dermatol.2009;145(1):86-88. doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2008.549
8. Muggli, R. (2005), “Systemic evening primrose oil improves the biophysical skin parameters of healthy adults.” International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 27: 243-249. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2494.2005.00274.x
9. Grajzer, Magdalena, et al. “Characteristics of rose hip (Rosa canina L.) cold-pressed oil and its oxidative stability studied by the differential scanning calorimetry method” Food chemistry 188 (2015): 459-466.

ABOUT THIS POST

Volto Urbano Moisturizing Blue Oil was submitted to Style Chicks for consideration purposes. All opinions and experiences are 100% our own.