Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 essential fatty acids (EFAs) are all in a family of unsaturated fatty acids that have a common carbon to carbon double bond. They are differentiated by the position in which the bond is in: the n-3 position for Omega-3 EFAs, the n-6 position for Omega-6 EFAs, and the n-9 position for Omega-9 EFAs (that is to say the 3rd, 6th, and 9th respective positions from the methyl end of the fatty acid). All of these fatty acid types correspond with different types of oil, or rather different specific fatty acids. Omega-3 EFAs include alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicospentaenic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); omega-6 EFAs include linoleic acid, gamma linoleic acid, and arachidonic acid; omega-9 EFAs include oleic acid and erucic acid. There are many other specific fatty acids that fall under these three headings, but the ones listed here are the most notable that you can expect to find on supplement, food, and cosmetic labels.

So is it important that you know all that information when evaluating a skincare product? Well, kind of. The ratio of specific fatty acids within oils does carry the connotation of the properties of that oil, such as how well it will absorb into the skin, how it will feel once applied, and what kind of effects it may have. Human skin utilizes all these oils in different ways, as they are all necessary to some degree for optimal health; however, of the three main types of essential oils there is by far the brightest spotlight on Omega-3 EFAs. Oils that contain a high percentage of Omega-3 essential fatty acids are linked with a marked reduction in inflammation, both when taken as oral supplements and when applied directly to the skin. They also have been linked with an increased ability to mitigate damage from UV exposure and calm irritation/redness related to eczema. Likewise, because they are the natural factions of oils, they also provide moisturizing benefits to dry, parched skin.