Colloidal Oatmeal
How does colloidal oatmeal benefit your skin?
Benefits
Calming, Dryness, Even Tone
About
One of Tatcha’s most precious ingredients in our timeless formulas is colloidal oatmeal, treasured for its therapeutic results and powerful relief. This ingredient can be found in The Indigo Cream, which was awarded the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, classifying it safe for even the most sensitive skin. The rich, soothing cream provides daily hydration in a fragrance-free, velvety-rich, and healing formula. Calming relief can also be found in our Indigo Soothing Body Butter, which features indigo, squalene, and colloidal oatmeal to heal and hydrate all skin types, even sensitive ones. For the hands, colloidal oatmeal is featured in our Indigo Soothing Hand Cream formula, designed to alleviate dry, irritated hands.
“ Colloidal oatmeal is a variant of oatmeal that has been used for centuries as a soothing agent to relieve the painful itch and irritation common with sensitive skin.
Science
Made from the Avena sativa plant, colloidal oats are first ground, boiled, and steamed to keep their natural oils fresh. Oat grains are then further milled into a fine powder and, lastly, turned into a liquid or paste. The colloidal oatmeal particles form an occlusive barrier on the skin, keeping it hydrated and supple. This barrier protection is one of colloidal oatmeal's most impressive benefits on the skin and is due to the high concentration of starches and beta-glucan in the oats. Beyond hydrating and soothing, colloidal oatmeal is also naturally anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antipruritic.
History
The first recorded use of oats for skincare dates back to ancient Egypt where rolled oats were added to baths to help soften and soothe dry, inflamed skin. Later, oatmeal flour was often recommended as a topical therapy for a variety of dermatological conditions in Roman medical literature. In 1945, ready-to-use colloidal oatmeal became available, and soon after several clinical studies demonstrated its benefits as a remedy for inflamed, dry, and itchy skin.
Provenance
The Avena sativa plant is part of the oat genus made of 15 varieties. The origin of the plant is believed to have formed in the Fertile Crescent in the Middle East and then spread westward into cooler and wetter areas. Modern day oats are best grown in temperate climates and are usually harvested in the late summer or early autumn.
Did You Know?
Oats soothe the body from the inside, too. Oats contain an ample amount of melatonin and tryptophan, which help regulate sleep cycles. They’re also a great source of fiber, B vitamins, and minerals, making oats wonderful for the health of your skin and overall well being, too.
