Cold-Pressed Skin Care Is Everywhere (but What Exactly Is It?)
Lately we’ve seen the phrase "cold-pressed," adorning the labels of quite a few beauty products, which got us wondering about what the term actually meant. We did our research and found that it's an extraction method that's commonly used in fancy green juices and bottles of olive oil alike.
So, what makes this process special and why is it being used in skincare? Cold-pressing pulls nutrients from ingredients without using high heat (which can destroy some of the beneficial vitamins and fats in them). As Suzanne LeRoux, founder of One Love Organics further explains, “Similar to cooking, if you heat ingredients at a high temperature or for too long, it can degrade the amount of nutrients in them, lessening the benefits for your skin and body.”
Does this mean that products that don’t feature cold-pressed ingredients are bad or ineffective? Of course not. But if you’re on fence about one facial oil over the other, this production method could be the deciding factor. OK, ready to shop cold-pressed products? Here are our six favorites.
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Kiehl's Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil Herbal Concentrate
Finally, a facial oil that’s meant for acne-prone skin. Lighter than most formulas we’ve tried and completely non-comedogenic, this herbaceous blend features cold-pressed cannabis sativa seed oil and green oregano oil to soothe redness and strengthen the skin barrier against further irritation. (Note: The aromatic scent can come off as a bit medicinal at first, but it grows on you—trust.)
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The Organic Pharmacy Cold Pressed Rose Hip Oil
This rich formula is loaded with cold-pressed rose hip oil that’s supremely hydrating and especially helpful for weathering the transitional months leading up to winter. Yup, it’s great for dry skin types. Plus, the addition of Vitamin E works to reverse sun damage and lighten up any discoloration caused by UV rays or past acne scars.
Act + Acre Cold Processed Hair Cleanse
Make no mistake: This is not your ordinary shampoo. Rather, it’s a hair wash or cleanser, as it’s aptly named. As such, it feels more watery—even slightly diluted—when you first pour it out of the bottle. Rest assured, once you begin to massage it onto wet hair, it lathers up and spreads evenly across your scalp. Packed with cold-pressed ylang ylang, vetiver, amaranth oil and rosemary, it gently cleanses and conditions your strands without the addition of sulfates.
Becca Skin Love Glow Glaze Stick
We’re not ashamed to admit that this beauty product is the MVP of our daily routine. This ultra-sheer highlighter is virtually goofproof thanks to its creamy texture (that comes courtesy of cold-pressed avocado, melon and murmuru butter). Swipe it over any spot that needs a boost of moisture—like your eyelids, cheekbones or lips—and bask in the next-level glow that makes you look like you just emerged from a red-carpet facial.
One Love Organics Skin Savior Wonder Balm
Meet the one-pot wonder that can be used as a makeup remover, moisturizer and spot treatment. The multitasking balm features a base of cold-pressed coconut oil that’s able to break down longwearing foundation and stubborn mascara, soothe chapped lips and smooth fine lines or dry patches.
Briogeo B. Well Organic + Cold-Pressed 100% Castor Oil
By now you may have heard of the many uses for castor oil, but in case you need a quick refresher: the nutrient-dense oil can tame flyaways and split ends, soothe an itchy scalp, condition brows and nourish eyelashes to encourage growth. This cold-pressed iteration from Briogeo contains the highest amount of nutrients and zero filler ingredients. Basically, it’s just the good stuff and we recommend using it all over.