Why We Don’t Use Oats in Our Skincare
- Meeka Raiter
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
TL;DR - Why we don’t use colloidal oats
Colloidal oats are commonly used to soothe sensitive and eczema-prone skin
Oats naturally contain oxalates, which are being increasingly examined in inflammatory and skin conditions
Eczema is a barrier disorder, meaning compromised skin absorbs ingredients differently
While oats may calm symptoms short-term, they may not support long-term barrier repair for everyone
We choose biologically familiar, low-reactivity ingredients instead
Our philosophy: If an ingredient may irritate compromised skin for some people, it doesn’t belong in products designed for the most sensitive skin.
For those that would like a more in depth dive into this topic: please read on...
Colloidal oatmeal is often praised as a gold-standard ingredient for sensitive and eczema-prone skin. It’s commonly recommended by dermatologists, found in baby products, and widely considered “gentle” and “soothing.”
So it’s a fair question:
Why don’t we use it?
At Carnivore Origins, our decisions aren’t driven by trends or convention or because this is how it's been done for the last umpteen years.
They’re driven by biological logic, barrier science, innate wisdom and long-term skin health.
This is our reasoning.
Eczema is a barrier disorder, not just a surface irritation
Eczema and chronically reactive skin are best understood as conditions of barrier dysfunction.
When the skin barrier is compromised:
Moisture escapes more easily
Irritants penetrate more readily
The immune system becomes hypersensitive
This means that ingredients considered “safe” on intact skin may behave very differently on broken, inflamed, or permeable skin.
For us, this distinction matters.
Colloidal oats contain oxalates
Oats are a plant food. Like many plants, they contain oxalates, naturally occurring compounds that function as plant defense mechanisms.
Oxalates are increasingly being discussed in relation to:
Inflammatory conditions
Skin reactivity
Eczema and dermatitis (primarily in dietary research, but with emerging interest beyond ingestion)
While topical oxalate exposure is generally considered lower risk than dietary intake, eczema skin is not normal skin. Its permeability changes the equation.
Our position is not that oats are “toxic” or universally harmful.
It’s that they may not be ideal for compromised skin, particularly for people who are already reactive or oxalate-sensitive.
Short-term soothing does not equal long-term healing
One reason colloidal oats became so popular is because they often:
Reduce itching
Calm redness
Provide immediate comfort
And for some people, this feels like success.
But many others report:
Burning or stinging over time
Recurrent flares
Skin that feels soothed, but never truly heals
This suggests that oats may mask symptoms for some users without addressing the root cause: barrier repair.
At Carnivore Origins, we’re not interested in temporary quieting of symptoms if it comes at the cost of long-term resilience.
A coherence problem in modern skincare
Here’s where the contradiction appears:
If oxalates are increasingly recognised as potential contributors to inflammatory skin conditions…And eczema is a condition of increased permeability…Then applying an oxalate-containing ingredient directly onto compromised skin deserves scrutiny.
We believe skincare should be internally consistent.
That means:
Not using ingredients that may contradict the healing process
Not relying on ingredients simply because they’re conventional
Being willing to step away from “industry standards” when the logic no longer holds
Our formulation philosophy: biologically familiar ingredients
Instead of grains and starches, we choose ingredients that are structurally compatible with human skin.
Our formulations focus on:
Grass-fed and finished tallow, rich in skin-identical fatty acids
Minimal, purposeful botanicals
No grains, fillers, or unnecessary plant compounds
This approach supports:
Barrier repair
Moisture retention
Skin resilience over time
It’s not flashy.
It’s not trendy.
But it works in harmony with the skin’s biology.
Why we err on the side of caution
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all skincare.
Some people may tolerate oats beautifully. Others don’t. But when we formulate products intended for the most sensitive skin, we choose ingredients with the lowest likelihood of irritation, not the highest familiarity.
Our guiding principle is simple:
If an ingredient may contribute to irritation for a meaningful number of people, it doesn’t belong in products designed for compromised skin.
That’s why you won’t find colloidal oats in our balms.
The bigger picture
This isn’t about demonising oats.
It’s about asking better questions.
Skincare is evolving. As we learn more about barrier health, inflammation, and individual sensitivity, some long-standing assumptions deserve to be revisited.
We’re comfortable being early to that conversation.
With love, Meeka Raiter.
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