Oatmeal
Comfort Food for Sensitive Skin
What Is Oatmeal?
Oats (Avena sativa) are whole grains harvested from the oat plant. After harvesting, the outer hulls are removed in a rotating drum using centrifugal force, leaving behind the oat kernels, known as groats.
These groats are then gently heat-treated in a process called kilning. Kilning removes excess moisture, stabilizes the natural fats in the grain, and prevents rancidity, while also giving oats their familiar, warm, nutty aroma.
From there, the groats are processed depending on the final use. For oatmeal (rolled oats), the groats are steamed and flattened into soft flakes. While oats are the whole grain, oatmeal refers to the processed forms we cook with — such as rolled oats or steel-cut oats.
Although oats were once considered little more than animal feed, they became a staple food in the mid-1800s, thanks to Ferdinand Schumacher. Often called “The Oatmeal King,” he was the founder of a company that eventually became Quaker Oats, selling oatmeal as a hearty breakfast.
Long before modern skincare, oatmeal was also valued for its ability to soften, calm, and protect the skin. For centuries, finely ground oats have been used in beauty bars and baths to gently exfoliate, soothe irritation, and support healthy skin.
Why We Use Oatmeal
We use oatmeal, also known as rolled oats, in our organic bath teas because it is one of the most skin-soothing, gentle, and universally tolerated plant ingredients available.
Oatmeal is naturally rich in compounds that calm inflammation and reduce itching, making it especially helpful for dry, sensitive, or easily irritated skin. Many people still remember the comfort of an oatmeal bath for chickenpox or itchy rashes, and for good reason: oatmeal works.
Oats naturally contain saponins — gentle, soap-like compounds that create a mild foam when mixed with water. These natural cleansers help lift away dirt, impurities, and excess oil without harshness, which is why oats are often chosen for sensitive, easily irritated, or acne-prone skin. In bath teas, oats disperses into the water to create a soothing, milky soak that comforts stressed or reactive skin without stripping moisture.
Oatmeal in a Bath Tea
When used in a bath tea, oatmeal disperses into warm water to create a calming, skin-comforting soak.
Oatmeal baths are especially helpful for itchy, inflamed, or compromised skin. The oats help reduce inflammation, soften dry skin, and form a protective film that supports the skin’s natural barrier. Natural saponins gently cleanse the skin, while the warm bath itself enhances relaxation and comfort.
Key Benefits in a Bath
- Soothes Itching & Irritation: Helps ease itching and redness from irritated skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, rashes, and bug bites
- Moisturizes: Forms a protective film, helping the skin retain moisture
- Gentle Cleansing: Natural saponins in oats provide mild cleansing, making it great for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
- Deeply Comforting: Enhances the calming effects of a warm soak
One of the reasons oatmeal has been trusted for generations is its exceptional gentleness. When dispersed in bath water, oats soften and comfort the skin without irritation, even for the most delicate skin types.
This makes oatmeal especially well-suited for sensitive skin and young skin, which is why we include it in our Baby Me Bath Tea to help soothe dryness and calm irritation from the very beginning.
Our Oats
We source our USDA-Certified Organic oats locally from Stutzman Farms, an Amish farm in Ohio, where oats are milled using traditional methods. This careful processing helps preserve the natural integrity and skin-soothing qualities that make oatmeal such a trusted ingredient.
