Emu oil has been like a limited-edition Chanel bag in the past: You heard it was amazing, but you had no idea where to get it, and if you finally did find it, it was rather elusive or expensive.
Thanks to the increasing popularity of skin care oils, emu oil is becoming increasingly common in skin care products. But of all of the skin care oils I have reviewed, emu goes towards the top: Emu oil has been found to have better skin penetrating abilities than mineral oil (Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 2007). This means that emu oil may help to increase the penetration of other key ingredients into the skin, as when it is used with retinoids, antioxidants, AHAs, or even other oils.
The same study also suggested emu oil may also have more superior moisturizing ability than mineral oil.
What are the Best Products with Emu Oil?
Wink Natural Cosmetics Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancer ($39)
Wink is an excellent source of natural fatty acids that may stimulate eyelash growth; these include:
- Emu oil, which is an excellent source of hydration, and also increases the penetration of other oils into the hair and hair follicle.
- Castor oil is another incredible ingredient. A major component of Wink, castor oil is a great solvent in which other oils can dissolve. When applied, castor oil is 90% ricinoleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid that has been proven to soften skin and reduce bacterial proliferation (Phytotherapy Research, 2002).
- Argan oil is rich in fatty acids (linoleic acid and oleic acid) that are able to maintain hair and skin elasticity, smoothness, and radiance. In studies, linoleic acid has been proven capable of reducing inflammation and increasing moisturization levels.
- Jojoba oil is a very rich oil. One study shows that use of jojoba oil shows modest swelling, indicative of moisture retention, in the skin after use (Journal of Dermatological Science, 2008). Jojoba oil can also help to increase the penetration of other ingredients into the skin, something that may be useful for anti-acne treatments, such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or retinoids (Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 1984). I imagine that it also increases the penetration of nutrients into the eyelashes!
Testimonies from Wink Natural Cosmetics indicate lashes should be about 12-15% longer and 15-20% thicker after a few months of regular use. As someone who doesn’t have very many lashes and who doesn’t like Latisse, I’m very happy with Wink Natural Cosmetics Wink Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancer!
Wink Natural Cosmetics Eyelash and Eyebrow Enhancer has a very light and thin texture, despite being made of oils. I delicately took the applicator and swept it across the tops of my lashes on both sides, top and bottom, twice per day. I noticed that my lashes looked longer after about 2 weeks of regular use. It definitely also made my lashes look darker, for some reason.
I’m proud to be offering it in our Shop now too, because I liked it that much!
Age Advantage Wrinkle Reduction Glycolic Day Creme ($69.98, AgeAdvantage.com)
If you want to get the skin-penetrating benefits of emu oil coupled with a potent anti-aging ingredient, look no further than this creme.
Unlike emu oil, you see glycolic acid pretty commonly in skin care creams. Glycolic acid enhances exfoliation, which in turn smoothes the skin, quickens the rate of cell turnover, decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increases the fibroblast proliferation of collagen.
In addition to containing glycolic acid, Age Advantage Wrinkle Reduction Glycolic Day Creme also contains alpha lipoic acid, argireline, and coenzyme Q-10. A brief rundown of each:
- Alpha lipoic acid has a very important role in enhancing the uptake of coenzyme Q10 (which is also in the cream). A 5% alpha lipoic acid cream tested in one study featuring 33 women (average age: 54.4 years) found that their fine lines were reduced, and their skin smoothness was significantly increased with use of alpha lipoic acid for 12 weeks. I estimate that this is higher than the percentage in Age Advantage Wrinkle Reduction Glycolic Day Creme, however.
- Coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone, is found naturally in the human body as something essential for the production of cells (Mayo Clinic). Coenzyme Q-10 levels are at their highest for the first 20 years of life and then subsequently decrease as we age. It works best in conjunction with alpha lipoic acid.
- Argireline has been shown at 5% concentration to decrease wrinkles up to 30% after once-daily use for 28 days (International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002). Argireline at double that dose (10%) has also been shown to have truly significant wrinkle-fighting effects (International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009). I also estimate that this is higher than the percentage in Age Advantage Wrinkle Reduction Glycolic Day Creme, but in this case, the emu oil may help the penetration of argireline into the skin, and hence increase its potency somewhat.
Bottom Line
Emu oil is a fantastic addition to any skin care (and eyelash growth!) regimen, and I hope to see it in more beauty products in the future.