From its skincare benefits to therapeutic uses, emu oil has a loyal following. The benefits of emu oil include deep hydration, skin cell penetration, and soothing fatty acids to reverse redness and irritation. Since it’s an animal-based skincare remedy, processing, and quality have a significant impact on its effectiveness.

Emu oil was reintroduced as a holistic skincare and wellness remedy in the United States around 1990. We say reintroduced because, before that, emu oil was prized by the indigenous people of Australia for 40,000 years. We simply lost touch with this natural remedy (and many others) when our culture prioritized synthetic ingredients.

Like any animal-based skincare, the fat of the emu bird is deeply nourishing, with a unique polyunsaturated fat profile. It contains potent antioxidants and is now used to treat chemotherapy-induced bone loss.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Emu Oil Skincare

You may wonder what emu oil skincare is and how you can use it to support a glowing complexion. Emu oil is one of our favorite animal-based skincare options. While it has a loyal following, it’s not very mainstream (yet). Here’s what we know about the safety, benefits, and extraction methods.

 

What is emu oil skincare?

Sourced from the fat of the Australian emu bird, emu oil is a popular natural alternative to synthetic skincare. The fatty acid profile of emu oil is almost identical to human skin, meaning it can profoundly nourish the complexion and reduce breakouts, signs of aging, and inflammation.

Emu oil skincare products are formulated with mindful processing methods and minimal ingredients. Ideally, the emu are raised humanely and regeneratively and fed an organic and non-GMO natural diet. As with any animal-based skincare, it’s so important to pay attention to the animal’s diet and living conditions for a truly high-quality product.

 

How is emu oil extracted?

The oil is harvested, rendered, filtered, and then added to your favorite products. Like any animal-based skincare ingredient, your emu oil should be dry rendered at low temperatures to keep the nutrients fully intact. This should also neutralize the scent of the oil.

Your oil should never be wet rendered or chemically extracted, since this can change the composition of the oil and potentially introduce harmful residue to your product.

Most emu oil is refined or filtered to remove contaminants and enhance the product’s shelf life and effectiveness. Again, this process should be as natural as possible. The oil can be filtered through natural fibers or clay, or it can be left after rendering to settle naturally, which allows any impurities to sink to the bottom.

 

Is emu oil sourcing ethical?

Environmental groups have raised concerns about the ethics of emu oil, claiming emus are harvested only for their oil and that this leads to a significant waste and environmental impact. But with the right emu rancher, these claims couldn’t be further from the truth.

Raising emu for their oil can be extremely regenerative, with a positive global impact. An ethical emu ranch will process the emu and sell the meat at local health food stores and farmer’s markets. The average emu will produce 20–30 pounds of flavorful and premium meat. Then the fat is rendered for emu oil skincare, and any leftover scraps can be used to feed livestock.

 

What are the benefits of emu oil skincare?

The benefits of emu oil skincare include deep hydration, unmatched skin cell penetration, and a fatty acid profile that’s almost identical to your skin.

• Deep penetration into the skin cells. Emu oil particles are extremely small, meaning they can penetrate the skin for deep moisture and nourishment.

• The fatty acid profile is almost identical to your skin. This means that emu oil can fill any nutritional gaps that your skin may have, especially gaps that are driving inflamed, dry, and dull skin.

• Enhanced absorption of other products. Pair your emu oil with a nutrient-dense serum or raw beeswax to enhance the absorption of those products.

• Anti-inflammatory compounds. Emu oil is known to reduce acne, breakouts, eczema, and other inflammatory skin conditions, thanks to soothing fatty acids.

• Extremely gentle on sensitive skin. Emu oil is typically better for sensitive skin than chemical or synthetic products. Many of our customers prefer it to steroid creams and prescription skincare.

• Reduced signs of aging. As part of your skincare routine, emu oil can gently reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.

 

Is emu oil safe for babies?

Yes, emu oil is extremely gentle on the skin, and it’s safe for babies, children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding moms. It’s a go-to remedy for moms who want to nourish their baby’s delicate microbiome with healthy and nature-inspired ingredients. That said, it’s still important to look at the ingredient label of your emu oil skincare. Check for synthetic additives, fillers, and preservatives that could be hiding in your natural products. Also, make sure your emu oil is responsibly rendered at low temperatures for best results.

 

How do I know my emu oil skincare is high quality?

The best way to determine if your emu oil is high-quality is to ask questions. Quality emu oil skincare depends on three things: the emu’s diet, oil processing methods, and product formulation (aka added ingredients). A responsible rancher who cares about their product will be happy to explain the feed and process, without hiding information.

If you’re at a drugstore or beauty counter, it may be harder to identify quality emu oil. In this case, you’ll want to check the ingredients label for recognizable and pronounceable ingredients. You’ll also want to look for labels that confirm the emus are humanely raised with a healthy (non-GMO) diet. At Toups and Co, this is our personal standard and all of our emu oil is sourced from reputable ranchers.

Emus are omnivores, so they eat a variety of different foods from flowers and seeds to insects and roots. A rancher might feed their emus fruit scraps, plants, and dry feed, which is acceptable as long as it’s organic and free of chemicals and antibiotics. Quality emu oil is then rendered at low temperatures and processed intentionally, without synthetics.

 

Is emu oil safe for sensitive skin?

In our experience, emu oil is one of the best things you can use on sensitive skin. It’s commonly used to soothe eczema, hives, and rashes — and often outperforms steroids and topical prescriptions (at least, this is the experience of our customers). If you want to use emu oil for sensitive skin, always check the ingredient label for additives. Even some natural ingredients, like essential oils, can irritate skin that’s sensitive or inflamed.

 

How do you use emu oil skincare?

The best way to use emu oil for skin is to find a formula that’s either a serum or balm. For daily maintenance, a serum can add light moisture before your makeup application. For deeper moisture and nourishment, find a balm or stick that’s easy to apply and use it before bed. If you’re dealing with eczema, breakouts, rashes, or another skin disruption, use your emu oil 2–3 times daily until the problem resolves.

 

The Bottom Line: The Results of Using Emu Oil for Skin Are Worth the Intimidation

When you first learn about the benefits of emu oil, you may feel intimidated about putting animal fat on your face. This is the most common hesitation for animal-based skincare, and we completely understand why. It simply isn’t a traditional practice in our culture. Even with the viral TikToks about emu oil and recommendations from friends, it’s intimidating to try it for yourself.

But here’s something to make you feel better…

We’re one of the first generations who don’t use animal fat as skincare. Until recently, this practice was considered normal, and animal fats like emu oil were prized as one of the most nourishing natural resources available.

We’re the odd ones out.

And as a modern culture that looks down on animal-based skincare, we sure do have a lot of skin concerns. That’s why we encourage you to break free from the hold of synthetic products and return to the ancient wisdom of real skin wellness.

Try Our Ultra-Hydrating + Ultra-Healthy Emu Oil for Skin