What are absorbing fluids and why do I need them?

What are absorbing fluids?

Absorbing fluids are anything that helps your skin absorb facial oil. An absorbing fluid can be anything watery or gel-like – even a light lotion or serum. You can use hydrosols, teas, aloe vera gel, even water will help retexturize an oil that’s left behind a little grease layer.

Why do I need one?

Short answer – facial oils can be tricky BUT they are SO awesome we GOTTA make them work somehow!

Using facial oil is so highly recommended for these reasons:

1) Nutrient density and diversity – there are so many fabulous nutrients in plant oils that your skin loves and needs so badly. Facial oils are ultra-concentrated healing systems for your skin.

2) Bioavailability – our skin is actually quite good at keeping intruders out. Makes sense right? It is the barrier between our insides and our outsides! But plants oils have a small enough molecular size and a “safe” enough biology that the skin readily absorbs them – and all the beautiful nutrients they deliver. A lot of skincare just sits on the surface of the skin – not oils – they definitely get absorbed.

BUT. The texture can be a little, well, OILY. Duh!

That’s where absorbing fluids come in – they do a few things that make them a key part of any nourishing system that uses oil:

1) They get rid of the greasy feel! They help the oil get fully absorbed by the skin, and they change the texture. So it goes from being greasy to being dewy.

2) They increase the nutrient profile. They add hydrophilic (water loving) nutrients and help the nutrients in the oil get fully absorbed into the skin.

Now, you do not ALWAYS need an absorbing fluid. You may not have to use one if you are having one of these scenarios:

1) Very thirsty skin – oil sinks right in – completely!

2) Very light/dry oil – again, oil sinks in completely.

How do I use absorbing fluids?

Depends on if the fluid is watery or gel/serum-y.

If the fluid is watery, apply oil first, then the fluid on top.

There are a few reasons I advocate doing the fluid after the oil:

1) POST-APPLICATION TEXTURE: Fluid absorbs into the skin faster than oil, so fluid first, oil second means that the fluid is almost dry by the time you get the oil on your face and the emulsification doesn’t happen as properly or as completely, so the after feel might be a little more oily. If oil goes on first, it “waits” for the fluid and then they can better emulsify.

2) COMPLETE NUTRIENT ABSORBTION: A lot of my absorbing fluids have liposomes and compounds in them that encourage deeper nutrient absorption. If you apply them before the oil, they are less effective at drawing the nutrients contained in the oil into the skin, even though they help the nutrients in the absorbing fluid absorb. Fluid after oil means the liposomes work on the nutrients in both fluid and oil.

I recommend this for any oil/watery absorbing fluid combo for the reasons above. But if you think you like the feel better of water first, then oil, then by all means – you do you. 🙂

If the fluid is gel/serum, then I recommend using an anointing dish to create an emulsion, then applying that mixture to the skin. Simply place a few drops of oil and a few drops of gel/serum in the dish (can also use your palm, but a dish is SO much more delightful and hygenic and wastes less product and is less messy!) and mix with your finger till they combine and then apply to the skin.

If the gel is very lightweight, like Healing Dew, you can also apply it after the face oil, same as a watery absorbing fluid.

And if the skin is very dry and depleted, you can do oil first, serum second. I always say to do the absorbing fluid second, NOT first, because of the reasons above, but again, you do you! There is no OFFICIAL rule and no police!

What’s the difference between toners and absorbing fluids?

Basically, they have different purposes: toners are meant to be used after cleansing – they help to rebalance the skin after cleansing and tighten pores.

Absorbing fluids are meant to help oils absorb and reduce their (sometimes) greasy feel.

Some toners can be used as absorbing fluids (ones without alcohol) and some absorbing fluids can be used as toners (Floral Waters).

Overall though, an absorbing fluid has more active and precious ingredients than a toner and is again, used WITH an oil.

3 replies to “What are absorbing fluids and why do I need them?”

What are absorbing fluids and why do I need them?