Mink Oil

Mink oil has a lot of benefits that are most commonly linked to beauty products, where it is used as a moisturizer to protect skin and keep it supple. It gives the skin a smooth appearance, also avoiding it from being easily prone to damage. Minks or Mustelidae, were widely found in areas of the Northern hemisphere. Minks are related to weasels, and have long curvy wiggly bodies, and easily adapt to water and land. Minks are the most sought after source of high quality fur. They're not always slaughtered for their fat to make the oil, where it can be extracted in small amounts through a syringe from the abdominal region (seeing that it contains high traces of this).

What is Mink Oil?

Mink oil is basically fat that is broken down into a smooth oil, which is used in cosmetics, hair / skin care products, and even for keeping leather boots' skin in top-notch condition. Besides being related to weasels, the family line also consists of otters. The American mink's fur is expensive and luxurious, used for making leather clothing as well, and this is done through 'fur farming'. It is an act that is condemned as inhumane and cruel where animal rights activists to this day still show their displeasure for the abuse. Due to this overindulgent form of farming, the sea mink which was also sought after for its fur, is now an extinct species.

Mink Oil Uses and Benefits

Mink oil has a lot of uses that it caters for; check out how this oil is used in many ways, when it comes to everyday use.

Cosmetics
Some cosmetic companies infuse mink oil into the product's core ingredients, as it is known for shielding one's skin from damage. When putting on makeup, women first apply mink oil over their skin before putting makeup on or mixing a little of it in foundation which is known to procure better results.

Hair Care Products
It is incorporated in hair care products like in hair sprays and shampoos. It provides good hold, luster and an overall smooth feel and look. Companies like TouchOfMink, really know how to use this to their advantage when compiling together a myriad of products to assist you in taking care of your hair and skin. When natural oils deplete from one's hair, mink oil is used in moisturizing shampoos, to replace these essential hair oils. Conditioners and oil treatments have mink oil in them as well.

Skin Care Products
It helps repair reddened, dry, oily, scaly and rough skin, and is used as a moisturizer. It isn't oily in nature, eliminating that greasy effect when one applies it. Fur trappers found that when mink fat came into contact with their hands, they saw how soft it made them feel. It is now sold where the oil is merged with cosmetic properties, or even in its pure form.

Leather Boots Care
Milk oil was first used on leather boots by fur trappers, who found that by applying this to their boots, it made it more flexible and waterproof. It is used in leather care products where the sebum of these minks, prove to be a good way of using it for leather care, making them last longer, and pack in that sheen effect rather than giving it that dull appearance. It is mixed with beeswax, to further make its effects stronger. It is also used for polishing handbags, leather car seats, saddles and briefcases.

What You'll Need

• Soft cloth
• Hair dryer

Method

• The first step is to slightly warm the boots using either a hair dryer or another source of heat for a couple of minutes to allow it to absorb the oil better once applied.
• Paper towels can be used to apply the oil, or you could use any kind of cloth like chamois or ordinary cotton.
• Use the cloth against your fingers and apply the oil paste to it, until you see it being absorbed by the leather.
• It should turn clear when applied to the boots.
• Do one section of the boot at a time and not all at once, until the whole boot is evenly covered by mink oil.
• When you're done, keep the boots to rest overnight so that it can dry up, and the following morning repeat the same steps as above one more time.

Other Factors and Uses

• Some leathers can turn a shade darker after the use of mink oil.
• It can be used to condition anything that is leather based, to polish and restore its sheen and texture.
• You can put this oil on your leather boots every few months to keep them in good shape.
• This oil doesn't damage anything that it comes into contact with while applying the sebum, like the laces or the heels of your boots.

Mink oil is a very potent substance in everything to do with care and maintainability. Use this oil to your advantage whenever the need arises and spread the word of its long-lasting results.