What is PUFA?
Betchya wouldn’t have guessed that PUFAs are oils found abundantly in so many skincare products. Even the fanciest ones out there! (Except the ones you’ll find here, just keep reading).
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) are less stable oils than fully saturated oils. Because of this instability, ingesting PUFAs or applying them topically to be absorbed through the skin can cause susceptibility to free radicals and cellular damage. Not only does this disrupt our endocrine system and hormones, but it can also accelerate the aging process.
PUFA, being an unstable oil, is more likely to bond with oxygen when heated or in light. This is called oxidation, which can cause exposure to free radicals (as Peat previously explains), and boy do they wreak havoc on our skin cells! The goal is to avoid oxidative stress to the most beautiful and visible organ of our body: our skin. So be sure to read your labels thoroughly and ask the retailer about the product if you are unsure of any ingredients.
Read more about Ray Peat PhD’s research on PUFAs >>
The majority of us who are on the path to natural health understand the importance of what we putin our body, however, what you puton your body is equally important.
Even though you are not ingesting your skincare products, they can still be absorbed through your skin. This can affect the well-balanced system of health that you work so hard to maintain every single day.
(Read our related article: The Surprising Connection Between Your Skin and Your Hormones)
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids are a particular group of oils often portrayed as healthy, helpful, and healing.
However- there are some underground health superheroes, like Ray Peat PhD, who supports a different set of principles when it comes to oils and skin health.
(Seriously, just look at this man’s skin. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-8apT2jdb8/ His skin is proof that a non-PUFA lifestyle can benefit healthy aging.)
In an interview with Ray Peat PhD, he is asked about PUFAs:
Q: “How do they cause oxidative damage?”
Ray Peat: “Unsaturated oils get rancid when exposed to air; that is called oxidation, and it is the same process that occurs when oil paint "dries." Free radicals are produced in the process.
This process is accelerated at higher temperatures. The free radicals produced in this process react with parts of cells, such as molecules of DNA and protein and may become attached to those molecules, causing abnormalities of structure and function.”
But why are they even in beauty products to begin with?
Ray Peat was asked:
Q: “Why are the unsaturated oils so popular if they are dangerous?”
Ray Peat: “It's a whole system of promotion, advertising, and profitability.”
Now stay with me on this unconventional learning journey, because the world’s best fully saturated skincare line does exist and it's about to swoop in to save your skin years of aging.
I will tell you about it in just a moment, but first, here is a tid bit of wisdom on how to safeguard your skin from PUFAs.
You first need to know what should be avoided. The most common PUFAs are:
- Oils from nuts and seeds
- Rosehip oil
- Seabuckthorn oil
- Almond oil
- Flax seed oil
- Sunflower oil
- Chia seed oil
- Passion fruit oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Hemp seed oil
- and many more (pretty much anything from a nut or seed with a few exceptions)
There is also corn oil, vegetable oil, soybean oil, canola oil, fish oil, and cod liver oil to name a few.
On the other side of the spectrum, topically using fully saturated oils can safeguard your skin from further damage and accelerated aging. The fully saturated skincare line that I’m going to share with you can not only help your skin resist aging, but it moisturizes, builds firmness, and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Ray Peat PhD states:
“When an oil is saturated, that means that the molecule has all the hydrogen atoms it can hold.”
This means that it is less susceptible to oxidative stress and free radicals that can result in skin damage and aging.
So which saturated oils are best for topical use and where do I find them?
MuruMuru Seed Oil (over 90% saturated, very little percentage of PUFA)
https://kossma.com/collections/frontpage/products/solid-beauty-balm
Squalane oil (fully saturated) - moisturizer derived from botanical bio-fermented sugarcane
https://kossma.com/collections/frontpage/products/squalane-oil-sugarcane
We use squalane oil in many of our products. Since facial skin is thinner and more sensitive than other parts of the body, it’s important to use the right products. Squalane is proven to be one of them.
From a research article on moisturizers,squalane oil “acts as a quencher of singlet oxygen, protecting human skin surface from lipid peroxidation due to exposure to ultraviolet (UV), and other sources of ionizing radiation.”
And now…
Drum roll please!
The one and only non-PUFA, fully saturated, botanical skincare line…
Are you ready?
The world’s first fully saturated skincare line that has your health in mind. Not only are we non-PUFA and fully saturated, we are also cruelty-free and plant-based. Win-win!
Our products are made with care in small batches, hand-blended, and packed with pure ingredients. No artificial chemicals, ingredients, or perfumes so no pesky hormone disruptors either.
The skin is the organ that mirrors health. In order to build a strong relationship with our skin, we have to understand that anything we apply topically can interact physiologically and reflect our health back to us.
Do good by your skin and invest in your health with KOSSMA’s natural and fully saturated skincare line.
References:
Kate Deering -https://katedeering.com/2013/08/polyunsaturated-fats-essential-or-toxic/
Ray Peat PhD -https://raypeat.com/articles/articles/unsaturated-oils.shtml
Ray Peat PhD -https://raypeat.com/articles/articles/unsaturatedfats.shtml
Moisturizers: The Slippery Road -https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4885180/