Well in a way yes. This is a recipe for an oat flour face scrub. This is a variation on the oil cleansing method that is basically using oil to cleanse the skin instead of soap.
Oats are wonderful for the skin and I like to use them in different topical formulations such as oils, tinctures and bath and shower scrub.
Oats contain avenacins which are similar to saponins. Saponins have a soap-like action due to their structure. Which make oats a wonderful cleanser for the skin.
Oats contain different kinds of phenols that have antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties both great for the skin. The antioxidants nourish and combat free radicals that cause the skin to age. The anti inflammatory properties are great for any acne.
Oats are good for moisturizing dry skin, due to high concentration of starches and beta-glucans that have protective and water-holding capabilities.
Two other ingredients in this in this scrub are shea butter and olive oil. Here is what Katie from wellnessmama.com had to say about the benefits of shea butter:
Moisturizing: The concentration of natural vitamins and fatty acids in shea makes it incredibly nourishing and moisturizing for skin. It is often used to remedy dry skin and to help protect the skin’s natural oils.
Reduces Inflammation: A 2010 study found that due to its cinnamic acid and other natural properties, shea butter was anti-inflammatory. One compound in particular, lupeol cinnamate, was found to reduce skin inflammation and even potentially help avoid skin mutations. This also makes it beneficial for some people with acne.
Skin Smoothing: Shea aids in the skin’s natural collagen production and contains oleic, stearic, palmitic, and linolenic acids that protect and nourish the skin to prevent drying. With long-term use, many people report skin softening and strengthening as well as wrinkle reduction.
Olive oil also has wonderful benefits for the skin.
Antioxidant: Olive oil is rich in vitamin E which is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants prevent oxidation of the skin and may prevent premature aging and sun damage.
Antibacterial: The antibacterial properties in the olive oil help to remove bacteria from the skin and can be beneficial in the treatment of infections of the skin.
Nourishment: Rich in fatty acids, olive oil offers deep nourishment for the skin.
There is some evidence that it can be drying for some skin types. I find it to be wonderful for my dry skin, and living in the Middle East it is an amazing local oil. But it’ll you can use almond oil or sunflower oil.
Oat face scrub
Ingredients:
100 grams shea butter
50 grams olive oil
50 grams oat flour (rolled oats ground in a spice grinder or food processor.)
15 drops of essential oils (lavender, geranium, patchouli)
Instructions:
Mix together butter and oil and essential oils using an immersion blender.
Mix in oat powder until fully incorporated.
Store in a clean jar.
Use:
Take a large marble size portion of the scrub and gently massage your face.
You can leave this on your skin for a few minutes to soak up all the benefits of the ingredients.
Wet a washcloth with hot water and wring it out.
Place the washcloth on your face and allow your skin to steam.
Gently wipe your face clean of the oat powder by washing the wash cloth and wiping gently.
You can use the scrub every other day as it is a very gentle exfoliation.