The Benefits of Oats in Skincare

Everything you need to know about this moisturizing ingredient

By
Aveeno

Date March 3, 2022

While the winter season is picturesque and great for all things cozy, it tends to do quite a number on our skin. Dry skin can quickly become a daily winter struggle thanks to cooler temps, harsh wind, and lower humidity.

With that in mind, it’s crucial to adjust your skincare routine to focus on hydrating and barrier-protecting products and ingredients. Enter: Oats.

This natural skincare ingredient has been used as a hydrating and healing agent as early as 2000 BC in ancient Egypt. In 1945, with the help of modern technology, researchers were able to finely grind up kernels of oats to make dissolvable colloidal oatmeal for topical skincare products such as Aveeno’s Daily Moisturizing Body Wash and Lotion.

If you’re struggling with dry skin this winter, here’s why oat-based products may be your saving grace.

Hydrates and soothes

Oats have been used as a topical treatment for centuries and this has a lot to do with its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s even been proven to significantly improve skin dryness, scaling, roughness and even itchiness.

Aveeno’s Daily Moisturizing Body Wash and Lotion combo is an easy way to add colloidal oatmeal into your daily winter routine. The soap-free body wash is gentle and hydrating, but still highly cleansing, while the lotion is fragrance-free, non-greasy and leaves your skin hydrated for up to 24 hours. Plus: they’ll provide double the moisture when used together.

Fortifies skin’s moisture barrier

Since colloidal oatmeal is primarily made of starches, it acts as a super sponge and can absorb large quantities of water—making it an ideal ingredient for dryer seasons. Oat-based products help prevent water loss and strengthen your skin’s moisture barrier by forming a protective film on the skin’s surface, which is key to keeping your skin happy and hydrated during cooler months.

Balances skin’s pH

While pH is thrown around pretty often in the skincare world, many people still don’t know exactly what it is or why it’s important. A balanced pH is key to having a protective skin barrier. Colloidal oatmeal has been proven to help restore normal pH levels since it “acts as a buffering agent.”

According to a study by the NCBI, colloidal oat-based creams have been proven to “significantly improve skin pH, skin barrier function, and skin hydration” and “1% colloidal oat eczema cream [specifically] improves microbiome composition and significantly repairs skin barrier defects.”

Cleanses + reduces inflammation

Oats have developed a pretty stellar reputation for being soothing due to their anti-inflammatory properties. They’re also a powerful cleansing agent, which makes them ideal for those with sensitive and acne-prone skin. They cleanse gently while not messing with your skin’s moisture content.

If you’re struggling with dry skin this winter, it’s time to look into colloidal oat-based products. There’s a reason why Aveeno is so well known for using this ingredient in its products. Formulated with oatmeal and rich emollients to both cleanse and nourish your skin, the Daily Moisturizing Body Wash will help to replenish your skin’s natural moisture. Building your regimen to follow with the Daily Moisturizing Lotion will further improve your natural moisture barrier and relieve dry skin for a soft and healthy-looking finish.