Sage Oil for Clearer Skin

In the herb world, there are popular players, and there are the B-listers — but why are certain herbs so popular, and not others? We at Puristry focus on learning all about the Earth around us, and fully utilizing the nutrients and power within plants. That’s why you’ll see many florals and herbs listed on our product labels.

When we think of our favorite herbs — or the herbs most likely to be in skin care — peppermint, basil, or rosemary might come to mind But there’s another powerful herb that’s often overlooked: sage! Known as a sister plant to rosemary, it’s a potent and ancient herb that’s used not only in Thanksgiving feasts, but as an effective contributor in cosmetics. For that reason, we’ve included sage oil in all of Puristry’s natural, organic beauty products. Here’s the scoop on its amazing benefits!

Sage Oil as a Cleanser

Where do we all start with skin care? For us, it’s cleanser. Getting all the makeup, sweat, excess oil, and anything else that may have landed on our faces is the first thing we want to do each evening and morning before starting our day. With a product like our Nopal Cactus Cleanser, we highlight soothing but cleansing ingredients that feel familiar to the skin rather than upsetting our skin’s balance and trying to make it be someone else’s definition of normal.

This cleanser is high in organic aloe, which gently cleanses deep into our pores, soothing away anything foreign to the skin. The glycerin then helps to plump our skin for a more youthful appearance. Glycerin also helps to suck in extra moisture to keep our face hydrated throughout the cleansing process. Finally, the sage oil inside acts as a cleansing agent, bringing full antimicrobial properties to destroy any germs. Our Nopal cleanser also contains cedarwood, sage, green tea and yuzu for a variety of effects including brightening the skin, toning the skin, balancing the skin and neutralizing the skin which helps prep our faces for the next step in our skin care.

Antioxidants in Sage Oil

One of the ways to infuse plant power into cosmetics is by including the plant’s essential oil into the mix. We like to think of essential oil as the life force of a plant. It’s the source of all the strongest vitamins and nutrients found within the flower or herb. Sage oil has many properties that contribute to healthy balanced skin. Some of the major topical benefits of this essential oil are its antifungal and antibacterial properties. This means when applied to the skin it’s working hard to help kill away bacteria, grime and anything on the surface trying to cause damage to our skin.

Another very important property of this oil is that it contains antioxidants. As we know, antioxidants also fight bacteria and free radicals on the skin, which can cause premature aging and fine lines. This evidence is why many praise sage oil’s antioxidant power to help reverse signs of aging.

But by far, our favorite property of sage essential oil is its ability to help balance oil production in our skin. Now, don’t freak out! Some might think an essential oil would make our skin look and feel oilier, right? However this essential oil, and others such as lavender and rosemary, actually are able to balance our skin, to help reduce excess oil production for a gradually more normalized skin type. A product like our contains both sage and lavender oils and is certified USDA organic. Apply this oil after your serum but before your moisturizer and eye creams for the perfect boost of deep skin hydration.

The Refreshing Scent of Sage Oil

There are a few things that some less natural beauty brands often incorporate in their skin care products. The first is loads of water – which as you may know from our recent post on water-free cosmetics, isn’t a very effective ingredient choice for cosmetics. The second ingredient that isn’t welcome on our skin? Fragrances, or parfum. The idea behind a scented skin care item is nice; we all want to feel soothed while smelling something soft and pleasant, but fragrances can come along with lots of dehydrating alcohol and synthetics, which increase your risk for rashes and irritation.

We at Puristry decided: forget about fragrances! This was an easy choice, considering our formulas are naturally scented by purifying and toning essential oils, like sage oil. Sage has been used for centuries as an air purifier to cleanse spaces and welcome positive energy. The scent is herbal by nature, with an earthy undertone and fresh, light spicy kick similar to mint. When combined with the shea, honeysuckle, vetiver and bergamot in our Seaberry Moisturizer, the result is a fresh, spring-infused scent that’s crisp and neutral.

DIY Sage Body Oil

While Puristry products come locked and loaded with sage oil, you can also try your own DIY recipes! For those who prefer to dodge heavy floral fragrances, sage will be a welcome change for an after-shower body oil treatment. The earthy, herbal scent will make you feel like a woodland goddess (speaking from experience, here) -- or like you’ve just stepped into a cozy log cabin on a winter retreat.

To reap the benefits of sage in your body care routine, start with a carrier oil. We prefer sweet almond oil, since it’s great for essential oils, all skin types, and not too expensive! For the average adult, a 2% dilution ratio is considered safe*. That means you’ll be using 2% sage essential oil -- so for example, for 15ml (3 tsp) of carrier oil, you’d use about 8 or 9 drops of sage oil. Whisk the two thoroughly and massage into skin!

*If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your healthcare provider before using essential oils on the skin.

You can also try diffusing sage oil for a de-stressing meditation session. The fresh, balsam-like scent of sage is popular in aromatherapy for comforting and calming troubled minds. Why not try a body massage with your DIY body oil, while breathing the soothing scent of sage? Sounds like a win-win for mind and body!

What have we learned about sage? That on top of being an ancient herb used to purify and boost positive energy, sage oil has many powerful benefits for our skin. When properly harvested and balanced with other ingredients, sage oil is a key contributor to reaching and maintaining balanced skin. For those with oily skin types, sage oil has powerful properties in sebum control, which is a fancy way of saying it helps reduce excess oil production. An unexpected bonus of keeping our skin well moisturized with oils is that it can reduce pore inflammation for a smoother skin appearance. Speaking of smoother skin, sage oil also helps to clear bacteria and inflammation on the skin, so that unsightly monthly cheek or chin pimple can kiss our faces goodbye. Our skin care has got blemish fighting power built in. Incorporate our Nopal Cactus Cleanser, Restorative Facial Oil and Seaberry Moisturizer for the perfect dose of sage oil skin benefits.