What Is an Oil Infusion (And Why Is It Different From a Regular Oil)?
If you’ve ever seen ingredients on a skincare label like calendula oil, vanilla oil or oils that come from petals and buds of plants but aren't listed as an essential oil and wondered how they are made when they can't be cold pressed, you might be looking at something called an infusion.
At its simplest, an oil infusion is oil that has been slowly infused with plants.
A regular cold-pressed oil such as olive, jojoba or sunflower comes from pressing seeds, nuts or fruits. These oils are brilliant in their own right. They nourish the skin, help soften and protect it, and support the skin barrier.
An infused oil goes a step further.
To make an infusion (sometimes known as a maceration), plants like calendula flowers, chamomile, vanilla or lavender are placed into a carrier oil and left there for weeks or months. During this time, the oil gently absorbs the plant’s beneficial properties that are naturally oil-soluble like soothing compounds, antioxidants and nutrient-rich plant chemicals.
The result is a hybrid oil that's packed with tonnes of benefits for the skin.
How Is an Infusion Different From Adding Extracts?
Many modern skincare products use ready-made extracts or powders that are bought in and added at the formulation stage. While these can be effective, they’re often more processed and separated from the rest of the plant.
Infusions are different because they:
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Use whole plants, not isolated components
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Are made slowly, without harsh processing
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Allow the oil and plant to work together as one
This makes infused oils especially well suited to sensitive, reactive or compromised skin, where gentleness really matters.
Why It Matters When Brands Make Their Own Infusions
Not all infused oils are created equal.
When a brand makes its own infusions in-house, it has complete control over:
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The quality and freshness of the plants
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How long the infusion takes
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The conditions in which it’s made
This care shows up in how the product feels on your skin.
In-house infusions are usually:
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Fresher and more potent
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Made in smaller batches
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Treated as the heart of the formulation, not an afterthought
This is one of the reasons we’re so drawn to brands like Lyonsleaf and Inlight Beauty where infusion isn’t a marketing story for them, it’s the foundation of everything they do.
Lyonsleaf: Skincare Made the Way It Used to Be
Lyonsleaf is a brand that feels wholesome and authentic from the very first use.
Run by a troupe of plant-loving women with a deep respect for traditional herbalism, Lyonsleaf make their products in Somerset using methods that haven’t changed much over generations. Their infused oils aren’t rushed, outsourced or industrialised. They’re made slowly, by hand, in small batches.
Calendula flowers, marshmallow root, and comfrey are carefully dried and then infused into sunflower oil over a long period of time. This gives the oil time to fully absorb the plants’ soothing and protective qualities.
This is why Lyonsleaf products feel so instinctively right for:
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Eczema and dermatitis-prone skin
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Babies and children
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Skin that reacts easily or feels inflamed
Their balms and creams don’t try to “fix” the skin aggressively. Instead, they create a safe, nourishing environment where the skin can begin to settle and repair itself.
In our holistic facials and skincare consultations we often recommend Lyonsleaf to customers who are overwhelmed, over-treated, or simply want something they can trust completely.
Inlight Beauty: Infusions Turned Into a Daily Ritual
Inlight Beauty uses the same traditional infusion principles but translates them into skincare that feels luxurious, sensorial and deeply intentional.
Founded by Dr Mariano Spiezia, a medical doctor and herbalist, and now run by a small tightly-knit team on the Cornish coast, Inlight’s approach bridges science and tradition.
What makes Inlight’s infusions so special is the attention to timing and vitality. Herbs are infused in organic jojoba oil when they are at their most potent and are left for a full moon cycle in their infusion room on a bed of stones which are warmed gently by sunlight. They also use tuning forks and crystals to direct vibrational energy into the products. Each infusion is chosen for the role it will play in the final product, whether that’s supporting skin renewal, boosting radiance, or comforting stressed skin.
When you apply an Inlight product, you can feel that the oils are doing more than just sitting on the surface. The textures melt in slowly, the skin feels supported rather than coated, and there’s a sense that the product is working with your skin’s natural rhythms.
Inlight is particularly loved by those looking for:
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Age-supportive skincare without harsh actives
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A deeper connection to their daily skincare ritual
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Products that feel both effective and nurturing
Discover Infusion-Based Skincare at Blomma Beauty
At Blomma Beauty, we carefully choose brands that respect both skin and process. Lyonsleaf and Inlight Beauty represent this beautifully. One rooted in simplicity and family tradition, the other in ritual and refinement.
If your skin is craving calm, nourishment and care that feels genuine, infused skincare is a wonderful place to begin.
Explore Lyonsleaf and Inlight Beauty online or in our Angel studio, and experience the difference slow-made skincare can make.
