When you think of boiled oats as a remedy, it’s hard not to go back to childhood days. I vividly remember climbing into a sticky oatmeal bath whenever I had a skin condition and the instant soothing (and slimy!) feeling of oats on my itchy skin.
It’s one of those things my mom swore by, like a 7-Up dish for an upset belly or that going out with wet hair would surely have fatal consequences. But, like most of these seemingly dramatic warnings, there is a truth behind the positive effects of oats.
What is colloidal oatmeal?
If you haven’t heard of colloidal oatmeal, it’s a natural skin protectant made from ground oat grains into a fine powder. (Yes, the same ones you put in your breakfast bowl!).
Better than your mom’s soothing, sticky bath recipe, there is a wide range of skincare products that use oats for its many beneficial properties.
What are the advantages ?
Colloidal oatmeal is known as an emollient (something that softens and soothes the skin) and has been officially classified as a skin protectant by the Food and drug administration.
Because it contains lipids and saponins, it has been shown to help with three things: retain moisture, soothe dry and sensitive skin, and have antioxidant properties.
What skincare products have it as an ingredient?
If you have dry, sensitive, or eczema-prone skin, using colloidal oatmeal skincare products is a great way to soothe and hydrate skin, and Aveeno has a popular line that does exactly that. These five skincare discoveries are a great place to start.
Soothing bath soak
Frequent bathing in hot water can dry out the skin. This soothing bath soak starts hydrating before you even leave the bath. It is made with 100% natural colloidal oatmeal and helps relieve dry, itchy skin.
Daily Moisturizing Body Lotion
This lotion is a crowd favorite (98% of reviewers recommend it), and it’s easy to see why. Formulated with prebiotic colloidal oatmeal, it is clinically proven to lock in moisture and help protect and nourish the skin.
Daily Moisturizing Hand Cream
At a time when we wash our hands more than ever, this moisturizing hand cream is a godsend. Like the previous body lotion, it’s made with prebiotic colloidal oatmeal and its fast-absorbing formula provides 24-hour hydration – great to keep in your purse on the go.
Vanilla Oatmeal Yogurt Shower Gel
Your skin is dry and tense after the shower? Try this daily moisturizing yogurt shower gel. Made with prebiotic colloidal oatmeal and probiotic Greek yogurt, it gently cleanses skin while infusing it with rich moisture. Plus, it smells divine!
Daily Hydrating Creamy Oil
Clinically proven to soften and soothe dry skin, this creamy moisturizer is made with sweet almond oil. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, provides 24-hour hydration and improves your skin’s natural balance for healthy-looking, nourished skin.
Feeling better starts with great skin. With ingredients like Triple Oat Prebiotic Complex and Shea Butter, AVEENO® body care products gently cleanse and moisturize, leaving skin smooth, soft and healthy-looking. Buy the range now.