Abyssinian Oil Gel

Care for your skin with nourishing Abyssinian oil fortified with essential barrier lipids. Ditch those traditional balms. Discover how water-free does not always mean greasy. 

Ingredients:

Full List of Ingredients: Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Ceramide NG, Ceramide NP, Cholesterol, Oleic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Ceramide AP, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol

Usage Information:

Directions: Apply a small amount to the skin and spread evenly as desired. Store product in a cool, dry, dark place.

Caution: For external use only. Do not ingest. Use only as directed. Do not add water or any other substances directly to the container. Do not use on damaged or inflamed skin. Avoid direct contact with eyes. If contact occurs, rinse thoroughly with water. If irritation occurs, discontinue use. Keep out of reach of children. 

Shelf Life: 12 months

More About Your Skin:

The stratum corneum—the outermost layer of the skin—is often described using a "brick and mortar" model. The skin cells (corneocytes) act as the bricks, while a specialized matrix of extracellular lipids forms the mortar. This lipid matrix is overwhelmingly dominated by three essential components: ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids. Together, they form a highly organized, liquid-crystalline structure that serves as the body's primary mechanical and physical barrier against the outside world.

Each component plays a distinct structural role in maintaining this protective barrier:

Ceramides (~50% of barrier lipids): Ceramides form the structural backbone of the intercellular lipid lamellae. Their long-chain sphingoid bases and fatty acid tails interlock to create dense, organized sheets. This unique hydrophobic structure prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by trapping moisture within the upper layers of the epidermis while shielding lower skin layers from external irritants, allergens, and pathogens.

Cholesterol (~25% of barrier lipids): While ceramides provide structure, cholesterol acts as a critical fluidizing agent. Without cholesterol, ceramide chains would pack together too tightly, creating a rigid, brittle barrier prone to cracking under mechanical stress. Cholesterol inserts itself between ceramide chains, maintaining optimal membrane fluidity, flexibility, and elasticity so the skin can stretch and movement without compromising barrier integrity.

Free Fatty Acids (~15% of barrier lipids): Free fatty acids—particularly long-chain saturated species like stearic, palmitic, and behenic acid—are vital for maintaining the skin's protective acid mantle (typically pH 4.5–5.5). This acidic environment is crucial for stabilizing the lipid lamellae, supporting normal desquamation (enzymatic shedding of dead skin cells), and inhibiting the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria.