Winter Skin: Plant-based Oils & Lavido Facial Serum

In the wintertime, my skin is drier than usual. My face is less oily, but still prone to breakouts. The climate here in Vancouver is cool and dry, and in the winter, the air gets colder and drier, which seems to wreak havoc on my skin.

I don’t have very dry skin normally; it’s more dry combination: dry nose and cheeks, with a bit of oil on the chin and forehead. People tell me that this is a good thing; that you’ll never get wrinkles with oily skin. But for me, that also means breakouts until you’re 80. When you have dry combination skin, it feels like you can never win. The ultra rich moisturizers only seem to break you out, and the lighter, oil-free moisturizers leave your skin feeling parched and unsatisfied. My only hope? Plant-based facial oils. 

Contrary to popular belief, you can use oil-based products on oily skin. When you use less moisturizer and try to dry out oily skin as an attempt to starve off acne, it often only makes breakouts worse. Failing to replenish your skin’s natural moisture barrier makes your skin go into overdrive and produce way more oils than necessary, leading to more breakouts. This is a huge no-no in the skincare community. Whether you’re oily, dry, or combination, most oils are your friend. 

Notice that I said most oils, because all oils are not the same. Some are comedogenic (pore-clogging) and others are not.  For example, I know someone who can put straight coconut oil on their face and they won’t break out. Coconut oil is very heavy and has a comedogenic score of 4, which means it will break most people out unless they have extremely dry skin that can tolerate it.

Finding the right oils for your skin is a process and takes time. Companies like Lavido do the research for you, and come up with perfect blends for most skin types. They were kind enough to send me their Replenishing Facial Serum, which features organic pomegranate seed oil, distilled lemon myrtle, and cold-pressed mandarin oil, in combination with non-comedogenic plant oils, like evening primrose, jojoba and sweet almond oil. When used daily, this perfect blend of plant oils is said to naturally plump the skin, while restoring and retaining moisture. 

Lavido Facial Serum is:

• vegan
• certified organic
• made w/ cold-pressed oils 
• dermatologically tested
• sls + paraben-free

Since Lavido’s Serum is entirely oil-based (full ingredient list here), I was initially worried it would cause breakouts, but it actually did the opposite. When you use naturally-derived essential oils from plants, they replenish the skin’s natural oils, and even calm acne-prone skin. It turns out that my dry/combination winter skin was begging for this serum all along. 

I like to add plant-based oils into my nighttime routine only, as an overnight treatment, so I wake up with refreshed and dewy skin. If you have drier skin, Lavido Replenishing Facial Serum is meant to be used as a serum first, and then locked in with moisturizer.  Depending on your skin type, you can use this product as a hydrating serum or a moisturizer. I use it in place of moisturizer at night, and it has quickly become a staple in my winter skincare routine. It’s not heavy, but it still feels very hydrating and nourishing. My skin literally drinks this serum up. It also smells incredible, with soft scents of citrus and rose petals, and a texture that makes my skin glow.

It’s like sunshine in a bottle, I swear.

Overall, my face feels softer and looks more balanced and even, which is very rare for me in winter. If you have combination skin, don’t be afraid to try this product. What works for me may not work for you, so it’s always beneficial to do your research before you give facial oils a try.

For more information about Lavido and their full line of all-natural skincare products, check out their website here. Use code ‘LAV15’ for 15% off your order! 🙂