Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1545716
42 ASCP Skin Deep Summer 2026 HOW DOES IT WORK? Camellia oil works on several levels of the skin simultaneously, with each part of the oil playing a role. LINOLEIC ACID is the barrier builder. While it's present in smaller amounts, it does the most important work—it acts as a building block for a special group of skin lipids called acylceramides. These ceramides hold the stratum corneum together, like mortar between bricks. Without enough linoleic acid, the skin cannot build a strong barrier. Dry skin, atopic dermatitis, and some forms of acne all show low linoleic acid in the surface oils. A linoleic- rich oil gives the skin the raw material it's missing. OLEIC ACID, also found in human sebum, is the main player. This is why Camellia oil absorbs so quickly and blends into the skin's natural oil layer instead of sitting on top, occluding. It's also a penetration enhancer, which means it helps other ingredients move through the surface, which is both a strength and a caveat we will come back to. POLYPHENOLS add another layer of defense. These are the plant compounds that give Camellia oil its broader antioxidant range. Kaempferol, quercetin, and others (depending on the variety) work through diff erent pathways than vitamin E. Together, the two systems give the user's skin a wider net of protection against environmental stressors like UV exposure and pollution. SQUALENE mirrors what the skin already makes. Because the skin already recognizes squalene, it absorbs without resistance and slides into the surface lipid layers. Plus, it contains antioxidants on its own, making it extra supportive for the skin. STEROLS round it out. Plant sterols (phytosterols) are structurally similar to cholesterol, which is one of the three lipid families that build the skin barrier (along with ceramides and fatty acids). They can help calm infl ammation and support the lipid matrix on which the barrier depends. TOCOPHEROLS protect what is already there. They are the family of compounds we call vitamin E. As fat-soluble antioxidants, their job is to neutralize the free radicals that drive oxidative stress, break down collagen, and create the visible damage we call "aging skin." They also stabilize the oil itself, slowing the opportunity for it to become rancid in the bottle. INGREDIENT DECK GETTY IMAGES Slow application, intentional touch, a moment of attention: Those are the things that build a habit. Camellia Oil's Function Camellia oil does four things in one application: • Restores the fatty acid raw materials the barrier needs • Mimics the skin's own oil chemistry, so the skin accepts Camellia oil without resistance • Protects against oxidative damage from two directions • Supplies cholesterol-like sterols that fi t into the existing lipid framework