Hello and welcome to the SZIA SKIN blog! This is the first of (hopefully) many blog posts on health, fragrance, and all things skincare! If you’re on this site then you probably know what the term low-PUFA refers to, but if not, there’s no need to fear! This article is for you.
So, what on earth is a PUFA you ask? PUFA stands for polyunsaturated fatty acid and is the predominate fatty acid in most seed oils (soybean, sunflower, grapeseed, etc.). Unlike saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, found in coconut oil, olive oil, tallow, and shea butter, PUFA’s contain two or more carbon-carbon double bonds. In comparison, monounsaturated fats contain only one double bond, and saturated fats have no double bonds at all.
“Okay, thanks for the high school chemistry flashback, but why does all this double bond stuff matter?” Well, to put it simply, the more double bonds connecting carbons, the more susceptible the fat is to oxidation and producing free radicals. These free radicals react with, and attach to parts of the cell, causing abnormal cell function and structure. This process can damage cell health, increase chances of skin cancer, and speed up the aging process, all of which we want to avoid!
Unfortunately, despite their negative effects, high-PUFA seed oils have become standard in the skincare industry due to their low price point in manufacturing, as most of these seed oils are by-products of other industries. Popular body oils on the market have negative reviews from customers receiving rancid products due to the high-PUFA oils oxidizing. To avoid this, Szia Skin only uses low-PUFA oils such as jojoba oil, olive oil, and coconut oil, so that you can enjoy your skincare products without the worry of them going rancid or contributing to aging and cellular damage.