OK, so I'm willing to bet some pretty good money that most of you are aware that oatmeal is great for your skin. At the same time, I wouldn't be shocked in the least if some of you are guilty of what I used to do—literally pouring Quaker Oats into my bathwater and then being pissed when all I ended up with was a tub of soggy mess. The problem was, I didn't take time to do the appropriate research. What I mean by that is, I wasn't supposed to be out here using raw oatmeal; I was supposed to be using colloidal oatmeal. And yes, y'all, there is a significant difference between the two.
Probably, the best way to explain what colloidal oatmeal is is to think of oat grains—ones that contain the whole bran which typically isn't the case when it comes to the kind of oatmeal that you eat—that have been ground to the point where they are super fine. Then, after that, they are boiled to the point of becoming an extract. Once oats are in this state, they contain the kind of vitamins, minerals, oil-replenishing lipids, moisturizing beta-glucans, and avenanthramides that are really great for your skin. This is colloidal oatmeal.
What To Know About Colloidal Oatmeal For Skin
Now that you know what colloidal oatmeal is, you're probably wondering if you can make it yourself. The answer is yes; you can check out a DIY video here. Or, if you'd prefer to purchase some, drugstores typically carry it, although I'd recommend hopping on Amazon and getting it there (it tends to be purer). Either way, if you're looking for a way to bring out the absolute best in your skin, colloidal oatmeal is definitely a natural, healthy, and totally worthwhile investment. Here are some of the reasons why.
1. Colloidal Oatmeal Cleanses, Exfoliates and Seals Your Skin
Did you know that we shed anywhere between 30,000 and 40,000 dead skin cells a minute which equates to around nine pounds a year? Still, between dirt, sweat, and the products that we put on our skin, some of those cells can stick to our skin or get trapped in our pores. One way to prevent this from happening as much is to bathe with colloidal oatmeal soap. Not only does it deeply cleanse your skin, but the texture of the oatmeal serves as an awesome exfoliant.
Plus, colloidal oatmeal also has flavonoids in it that are able to protect your skin from harsh pollutants and chemicals, along with protective phenols to even and brighten your complexion. Oh, and colloidal oatmeal also has polysaccharide and lipid content to seal in moisture which makes it even better.
Exfoliant Tip: A great way to exfoliate your skin is to mix a half cup of colloidal oatmeal, a half cup of brown sugar (it's another great exfoliant), and three tablespoons of olive oil (it's loaded with antioxidants). Apply it to clean damp skin, all the while gently massaging the solution. Then rinse.
2. Colloidal Oatmeal Relieves Eczema and Psoriasis
Although the true cause of eczema is a mystery, I do find it interesting that it tends to occur in families that have a history of allergies, asthma, or both. This is the type of skin condition that is pretty much always going to itch; then, if you scratch it, you're only going to make it worse as it oftentimes creates a scaly rash that oozes and then crusts over.
The reason why colloidal oatmeal is an effective treatment for skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis (a condition that causes your skin cells to multiply 10 times faster than normal) is because first, it cleanses the infected area. Then, the oatmeal literally binds to your skin in order to create a protective barrier that not only soothes inflammation but traps in healthy moisture so that your skin feels less dry or irritating.
Eczema and Psoriasis Tip: If you put two cups of colloidal oatmeal, along with one-half cup of baking soda (its antibacterial properties reduce symptoms), into a tub of warm water and soak in it for 20 minutes, it can relieve itching and irritation by as much as 67 percent.
3. Colloidal Oatmeal Heals Acne
There is a certain kind of bacteria (propionibacterium acnes) that leads to acne breakouts. One thing that colloidal oatmeal does is remove that bacteria so that it doesn't clog up your pores. Another cool thing about this particular kind of oatmeal is, if you've got naturally oily skin, it absorbs excess moisture. Not only that, but it has a remarkable way of maintaining a healthy pH balance. That's why colloidal oatmeal can work in your favor if you use it as a facial mask or even a pimple spot treatment.
Acne Tip: One teaspoon of colloidal oatmeal, a half teaspoon of sweet almond oil (it removes excess oil), along with three drops of tea tree essential oil (it's a powerful antibacterial oil) and lavender oil (it soothes inflammation and heals damaged skin) as a spot treatment. Wash your face, apply it directly onto your pimples for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water.
4. Colloidal Oatmeal Reverses Aging Signs
Colloidal oatmeal also has proteins, fatty acids, Vitamin E, and antioxidants like quinones, flavones, flavonols, and anthocyanidins in it. All of these things work together to protect your skin from free radicals and sun damage. Colloidal oatmeal is also one of the best all-natural anti-aging treatments because it contains beta-glucans. Long story short, those are natural sugars that are found on the cell walls of things like bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae, lichens, and plants. They are oftentimes given to people during surgery in order to prevent an infection. As a bonus, the properties in them have been proven to soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Anti-Aging Tip: Combine two tablespoons of colloidal oatmeal, one tablespoon of manuka honey (it's a wonderful humectant), and one teaspoon of lemon juice (it's loaded with antioxidants that help to trigger collagen production). Apply it to a clean face and neck. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes, rinse and moisturize.
5. Colloidal Oatmeal Is Great for Sensitive Skin
If your skin happens to be super sensitive, that's just one more reason to give colloidal oatmeal a try. Something else that the oatmeal contains is a chemical compound called saponins; they work to deeply cleanse the skin without irritating it in the process. In fact, colloidal oatmeal is considered to be a powerful cleanser while still being considerably gentler than soap. That's what makes it a winner in keeping sensitive skin clean and comfortable.
Sensitive Skin Tip: Make your skin feel amazing, every time you wash it, by making your own colloidal soap. Click here for a DIY recipe.
6. Colloidal Oatmeal Soothes Itchy Skin
Something else that colloidal oatmeal has in it is phenolic alkaloids known as avenanthramides. The reason why these are relevant is because they contain properties that help to significantly reduce any hypersensitivityor inflammation that may cause your skin to feel itchy and irritated.
Matter of fact, if you or your child happen to come down with chickenpox, soaking in a tub that has colloidal oatmeal in it can provide instant relief.
Itchy Skin Tip: One way to create immediate relief to itching skin is to make your own colloidal oatmeal lotion. You can find a fairly easy-to-make recipe here.
7. Colloidal Oatmeal Soothes an Itchy Scalp Too
There are all sorts of things that can lead to an itchy scalp. Product build-up. Dandruff. An inflammatory condition known as seborrheic dermatitis. Scalp psoriasis. Irritation from chemical treatments. The list goes on and on. Something that can bring major relief to any itchiness that is caused by these conditions is colloidal oatmeal. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties will reduce the irritation as the oatmeal seals in moisture to reduce excessive dryness and scalp flaking.
Scalp Tip: Combine a half cup of colloidal oatmeal with a tablespoon of lemon juice (it deep cleanses your scalp), a tablespoon of olive oil (it reduces bacteria while increasing blood circulation to your hair follicles), and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (it contains alpha-hydroxy acid which exfoliates your scalp). Apply the mixture to freshly washed hair. Massage it gently into your scalp, let it sit for 10 minutes, then rinse and style as usual.
So, there you have it—seven really good reasons to either make or pick up some colloidal oatmeal. It's one of the best things that you could ever do for your skin. That is a promise.
Feature image by Shutterstock
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However, to my surprise, I received an email that read: “It’s with great excitement that we announce your film, Super High: A Period Piece, has been selected for the 24th Anchorage International Film Festival.” After looking at the flight distance from Atlanta to Anchorage—a solid 10 hours one way— I’d decided this would be one I wouldn’t attend.
That was until there was a follow-up email that shared that the festival was sponsoring two excursions for filmmakers: A Northern Lights Tour and A Glacier Hike.
With that, I knew I had to make the trip to the 49th state! I flew Delta, which offered the shortest layovers—just 50 minutes each way. For a more comfortable flight on the longer legs that were about six hours between my layover city and Anchorage, I upgraded to first class with an in-app discount for $256 (the regular price of a first-class ticket runs about $2,100), which was so worth it for additional space and service for the six-hour trek.
Courtesy of Bianca Lambert
"So What’s Alaska Like? Did You Have To Wear a Snowsuit? What’s the Food Like?"
These are among the major questions I’ve gotten. Anchorage reminds me less of a bustling major city and more of a small town with an easygoing feel. When I arrived, they’d just had snow a few days before, so it was cold, and the streets were slick. So, I was so happy I’d invested in a pair of snow boots. For my first few days, the locals said it was warm. Warm to them being 20s at night and mid-30s during the day.
However, by the time I left, fresh snow was on the ground, and temps were well into the single digits—and it felt like it. Oh, the sun doesn’t rise until 10:30 a.m., and it sets around 4 p.m. That was among the most challenging things to experience because I felt like I never really woke up. So, between the lack of sun and the four-hour time difference, I felt tired the whole time I was there.
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And, for coffee, I thoroughly enjoyed That Feeling Co. The coffee was great, and being surrounded by plants helped to perk up my spirits.
The Northern Lights
Iceland is one of the most popular places to see the Northern Lights, so I was very excited to know that Alaska also gets to see the Aurora Borealis light show. Typically, many people visit Fairbanks to see them, but there are tours offered in Anchorage too! When prepping for the late-night tour, we’d heard that the night we were heading out to see the lights, the cloud coverage likely meant we wouldn’t be able to see them. Bummer. I know. So, we could sit the tour out or still try. But, in my mind, I was like, why would I come all the way to Alaska not to try?
So, at about 9:30 p.m., we piled into vans and headed out to chase the Northern Lights. We traveled about an hour and a half from Anchorage, and when we stepped out of the van, it was cold and pitch black. And unfortunately, after a couple of hours in the cold, those clouds in the sky never parted for us. I know that when we see the posts of people who do get to see Mother Nature do her thing, we don’t have all of the context of the science, which is Aurora Borealis.
Sometimes, the weather just doesn’t do what we earthlings would like, which can lead to disappointment. However, our guide did give a recommendation. When you book a trip to see the lights, give yourself four to five days to see them. Don’t bank on one day because, at the end of the day, this is science.
Courtesy of Bianca Lambert
Now, On to the Glacier!
Just six hours after returning from the Northern Lights tour, we were up for the glacier tour because they were back-to-back! I was exhausted and so excited. If someone had told me I’d hike on a glacier, I would have given them a mean side-eye. I mean, where on earth does one climb a glacier? Let me share a few destinations with you, just in case you want to plan an icy adventure: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Chile, Argentina, and Alaska.
Aside from the fact the Matanuska Glacier is 22,000 years old, it’s the largest glacier accessible by car in the United States—27 miles long and four miles wide, making it one of the easier ones to see IRL. As a girlie with generalized anxiety disorder, I get anxious about doing this kind of thing because I know that to see these world wonders is usually a mountainous trek.
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Courtesy of Bianca Lambert
Once we got there, we were surrounded by fresh, fluffy snow, and it was COLD! In the negative cold. I was thankful, I’d over-prepared. If you even go on a glacier tour, I recommend a few things: Balaclava, heavy-weight gloves, cashmere socks, snow boots, and lots of layers.
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If you’re open to adventure travel, I highly recommend putting a glacier tour on your list of things to do. There are a few reasons. First, standing on an ice age-old massive piece of glacier was my 2024 version of touching some grass. I was reminded that I’m a speck on this spinning rock and need to spend more time grounded in that fact as I move through the world. I looked to the sky and thought of how proud my ancestors would be, even though I know they’d be telling me to get my butt home and off a dog on a glacier!
Secondly, I gained an ever-large appreciation for Mother Nature as I learned that glaciers are the world's largest reservoir of freshwater, containing around 69% of the world's freshwater. Again, another fact that helped me gain perspective. Lastly, it’s just fun and stunningly beautiful!
After this, I’m looking forward to my next cold-weather adventure! Iceland and Argentina are at the top of the list!
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Featured image courtesy of Bianca Lambert