Oil ≠ Hydration: Why Your Skin Needs Both (Even If You're Afraid of Oils)
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Let’s clear something up—because after 8 years in skincare, I’ve heard this one so many times:
“I can’t use oils… I’ll break out.”
“My skin’s already oily—I don’t want to make it worse.”
“Aren’t oils too heavy for sensitive skin?”
Sound familiar? If you’ve ever been scared off by the idea of putting oil on your face, you're definitely not alone. But here’s the truth: oil is not the enemy. In fact, the right oils—especially bioactive, unrefined ones—can be one of the best things you ever do for your skin.
Let’s break it down.
Hydration vs. Moisture: What’s the Difference?
Think of your skin like a sponge.
Hydration is the water your skin needs to stay plump, smooth, and bouncy.
Moisture (often in the form of oil) is what locks that water in and keeps your skin barrier strong.
If you’re only using water-based products or lightweight hydrators and skipping oils altogether, that hydration is just evaporating off your skin. So even if you’re oily, you can still be dehydrated—tight-feeling, flaky, dull, or prone to irritation.
So, What Do Oils Actually Do?
Here’s the magic:
Bioactive, cold-pressed oils (like the ones we use at Oliveda) do more than just seal in moisture. They:
Nourish the skin barrier
Deliver antioxidants and essential fatty acids
Soothe inflammation and redness
Help balance your skin’s natural oil production
Notice I said balance, not “make your face greasier.” The right oils help your skin stop overproducing oil because they signal to your skin: “Hey, we’ve got enough.”
Why Arbequina Oil Is Different (And Better)
Not all oils are created equal.
At Oliveda, we use Arbequina oil—a rare, unrefined olive oil derived from early-harvest olives grown in the mountains of Spain. Unlike refined oils, which are stripped of nutrients, Arbequina oil is bioactive, meaning it’s packed with compounds that your skin can recognize, absorb, and actually use.
This oil is:
Lightweight and non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores)
Rich in vitamin E, squalene, and antioxidants
Anti-inflammatory and barrier-strengthening
Especially great for sensitive, dry, or mature skin
It’s not a heavy, greasy oil that just sits on your skin—it melts in and nourishes at a deep level.
“But I Have Acne-Prone or Oily Skin... Should I Still Use Oil?”
Yes—especially if you're using products that strip your skin (think foaming cleansers, drying treatments, harsh exfoliants). When your skin gets dehydrated and unprotected, it goes into overdrive trying to fix the problem… and ends up overproducing oil.
Adding a gentle, bioactive oil to your routine helps:
Calm irritation
Reduce oiliness over time
Heal post-breakout marks faster
Support your skin’s natural microbiome
In short: the right oil can actually help balance oily and acne-prone skin, not make it worse! I love this one.
How We Use Oils at Oliveda
I know how hard it can be to trust oil—especially if you’ve had breakouts, or been told for years to use “oil-free everything.” I’ve seen firsthand how bioactive oils like Arbequina don’t clog your pores—they calm them. That shift changed everything for me—and for my clients. We choose unrefined, high-performance oils like Arbequina because they align with your skin’s natural needs. Paired with our olive leaf elixir (rich in hydroxytyrosol), our oil-based formulas are designed to help:
Boost glow
Protect against environmental stress
Strengthen the skin barrier
Support healthy aging without irritation
Every drop is intentional—no filler, no fluff, no greasy residue.
Bottom Line
If your skin feels tight, flaky, dull—or like it's fighting you—it may not need more products. It may just need hydration + oil, working together.
Oils aren’t something to be afraid of. They’re needed! And when you find the right one, your skin doesn’t just look better—it actually functions better.
Ready to experience the benefits of clean, powerful oils for yourself?