I recently realized that although I’ve talked about and loved this product for years, I hadn’t written a dedicated post solely to the moisturizing love of my life, Maya Chia Supercritical Chia Oil. Well, the time has come.

I stumbled across this product years ago when a fellow sensitive-skinned beauty blogger was raving about the product. Although I would classify my skin type as “normal with a tendency to be sensitive” (is that really a type?), so many serums and oils have managed to make my skin feel suffocated and congested. I’ve always considered myself to be a “less is more” kind of gal, so when I read about how hydrating yet lightweight the Supercritical Chia Oil was, I knew I had to try it.

Before we dive into my personal reasons for adoring the Supercritical, let’s talk about pure Omega-3 Chia Oil. This oil is for anyone who wants to deeply (yet naturally) moisturize their skin. This face oil is ultra lightweight, soothing and quickly absorbs without any greasy feeling.

Chia Seed Oil (especially the oil sourced by Maya Chia, which most closely mirrors the plant itself because of the way they extract the oil – psst the extraction itself is called “supercritical,” hence the name) is high in naturally occurring Vitamin B3 and Zinc, which is particularly useful in quelling inflammation associated with acne. Chia oil also far exceeds the omega fatty acid content of many major sources (wild caught salmon, for example) which means it is exceptional for restoring the skin barrier function. It also has incredibly high antioxidant levels and contains magnesium and calcium, which is great for the skin as well. Essentially, it really is a skincare superhero.

In this study published in the Annals of Dermatology on end-stage renal patients, they developed a condition called xerotic pruritus. Over an 8-week period using a 4% topical solution of chia oil, the results were pretty dramatic. That study concluded that Chia Seed Oil was clinically proven to significantly increase skin hydration, reduce trans-epidermal water loss and increase the skin barrier function.

Now, I was a pharmaceutical rep for over a decade…you can show me study after study, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to work for me. I need some real-world application if you know what I’m saying. Well, I’ve been using this oil for years and it still remains my #1 moisturizer.

Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. Why do I love it so much?

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