You may have a cabinet filled with all sorts of personal care products, including pricey creams, cleansers, and lotions that are marketed to improve your complexion, help you look younger, address issues like acne, and so on. But, these products are often a major source of toxins as they’re frequently loaded with chemicals and artificial ingredients. While they may have a temporary positive effect on your skin, they typically come with negative long term effects as those compounds are absorbed into the skin and ultimately reach the bloodstream, building up in the body.
Fortunately, there are many natural inexpensive, healthier options that not only work better than most commercial products but come without those harmful ingredients. No matter what type of skin you have, there’s a natural oil out there that you can use to help address problems and support a healthier, more beautiful complexion.
With so many different options, the hardest part can be deciding which oil to use. To help make it easier, here is a look at the various oils, and the best types of skin they work for.
Grapeseed Oil
For women with acne-prone skin or oily skin, grapeseed oil is one of the very best picks, thanks to its astringent properties. The oil derived from the seed of the grape is rich in antioxidants and contains linoleic acid, which is known for its healing and anti-inflammatory properties and is especially powerful for fighting against acne. It’s quickly absorbed into the skin, to deliver its potent compounds deep into cell tissue. While it may sound counterintuitive, applying oil onto your skin actually helps to minimize oil production, and grapeseed oil is ideal for this purpose. It soothes skin that’s already breaking out and also limits excess oil production to prevent acne from forming. That’s because, when you allow your skin to dry out, it can actually increase the oiliness of your skin as that is its natural reaction when it gets too dry. Grapeseed oil is light so it doesn’t leave the skin with a heavy, greasy feeling. Instead, it moisturizes while balancing oily and dry areas.
Grapeseed oil is also excellent for reducing the appearance of dark, under-eye circles. If you use it every day for a few weeks, you’ll notice a significant difference. The oil can help to restore collagen too, thanks to it being rich in those OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins). These compounds help to eradicate free radicals and promote the restoration of collagen at the cellular level. It makes your skin feel firmer, while also minimizing and preventing signs of damage.
Try This: Sky Organics Cold Pressed Grapeseed Oil
Hemp Seed Oil
Hemp seed oil is right up there with grapeseed oil when it comes to healing skin issues. Not only can it help fight acne, it’s been found to help heal skin conditions like rashes, eczema, and psoriasis. Its fatty acids are believed to affect immune responses in the body that can help promote healing, which is also likely to do with its perfect balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. It has a comedogenic rating of zero, which means that it has a zero chance of breaking you out or clogging your pores. Like grapeseed oil, it will help your skin balance its sebum oil production to prevent breakouts.
This oil is also excellent for oily skin as it is easily absorbed, moisturizing without being greasy, and it can help clean and detoxify as well as even out skin tone. While it nourishes dry skin, it doesn’t stick to it and clog pores like many other types of oils often do. If you’re looking for a good moisturizer that doesn’t leave a greasy residue, hemp seed oil is an excellent choice. Because it is so similar to our own lipids, it’s able to penetrate cells and lubricate surfaces that are in between.
That makes hemp seed oil an ideal choice for all types of skin.
Try This: Dr. Adorable Pure Organic Cold Pressed Hemp Seed Oil
Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil, which is technically not an oil but a wax ester, is distilled from the seeds of the jojoba tree native to the Southwestern United States and Mexico. It has a consistency and molecular structure that is similar to sebum, or the oil your skin produces. It’s also lightweight, non-greasy and good for acne-prone and oily skin as well as dry, aging and normal skin. The reason that it’s such a great choice for those who suffer from acne, is its ability to mimic the skin’s sebum, therefore tricking the skin into thinking that it’s already produced enough oil, which reduces the amount of sebum on its surface. Jojoba also absorbs very quickly into the skin, as compared to other oils.
As jojoba oil is naturally similar to human sebum, as mentioned, those with oily skin can benefit the most by using this oil, which will help regulate the skin’s natural production of oil. By mimicking the structure of the epidermis, it allows the oil to penetrate quicker, delivering nutrients sub-dermally, which means that it can actually “convince” the skin that it’s already produced enough oil to prevent problems like greasy skin and excess oil production.
Try This: Leven Rose Organic Cold Pressed Jojoba Oil
Coconut Oil
Coconuts are jam-packed with protein, fatty acids and vitamin E that are easily absorbed into the skin, while also offering antibacterial properties. It makes an ideal moisturizer for nourishing dry skin, as well as for those who have combination skin who want to soothe dry areas. Commercial moisturizers contain lots of water, which makes you feel like your skin is being moisturized. But as soon as that water dries, the skin becomes dry again, not to mention all of those petroleum-based ingredients that can suffocate the skin. Instead, coconut oil offers deep, real long-lasting moisture, while helping to strengthen underlying tissues and helps remove excessive dead cells on the skin’s surface that make the skin rough and flaky in texture.
This oil contains medium chain fatty acids that when applied to the skin, help make it smooth to the touch, and because of these fats, coconut oil can aid in retaining the moisture content of the skin, as the fats eliminate moisture loss through the pores on the skin.
Coconut oil is ideal for addressing mature, aging skin due to its high level of vitamin C, which is essential for healthy skin growth, repair of wear and tear on the skin, keeping skin smooth and protecting it against cracking. It can prevent premature aging and wrinkles too.
Traditionally, coconut oil has been praised for its anti-aging properties. In other cultures, coconut oil has been used for poor-healing wounds and skin infections thanks to its antibacterial compounds.
Try This: Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet almond oil is an extremely nourishing oil that contains more monounsaturated fatty acids than any other oil, giving it the ability to intensely moisturize and relieve dry, itchy, dehydrated skin, as well as to promote younger looking skin.
Almond oil works as a natural face exfoliator to help to remove dead skin cells and stimulate the growth of healthier skin. When applied to the skin, it’s absorbed by the fatty cells; the moisture in the oil is then utilized by the tissues to repair damaged cells and give skin a more youthful appearance. Thanks at least in part due to its antioxidant properties, the oil is also known to help protect skin from UV radiation damage and keep the skin feeling soft and supple.
If you suffer from eczema or psoriasis, sweet almond oil is another great choice, helping to relieve the redness, itching, and inflammation. It also works for acne prone skin types as it serves to heal blemishes too. As it has a light texture, and can easily be absorbed into the skin, almond oil can help dislodge debris from deep within the pores, and may also prevent future breakouts due to its vitamin A content.
Try This: Molivera Organics Sweet Almond Oil
Argan Oil
Argan oil, sourced from the seeds of Moroccan Argan trees, sometimes referred to as “liquid gold,” contains healing and anti-aging properties to keep skin balanced, hydrated, and glowing. It’s excellent for all skin types, including oily, acne-prone, normal, aging and dry skin, excellent for preventing and eliminating scars, stretch marks, fine lines, and wrinkles, as it is loaded with vitamin E and essential fatty acids that offer real moisture without clogging pores. It protects and softens, It absorbs easily and is non-greasy and non-irritating, which makes it a great natural moisturizer.
Argan oil contains triterpenoids that provide impressive health benefits for skin, including treating mild acne and healing of acne-related scarring. It’s even been proven in studies to lower sebum levels in those with oily skin, reducing greasiness and improving overall appearance. As Argan oil is high in linoleic acid, it further helps by reducing inflammation caused by acne while helping to heal skin cells that have been damaged.
This is an ideal oil for erasing signs of premature aging – in fact, that’s why so many Moroccans have famously used it for preventing issues like crow’s feet and wrinkles. Regular use of Argan oil has been proven to reduce the depth and severity of wrinkles, as well as to fade age spots by restoring skin’s youthful elasticity and by increasing the regenerative rate of healthy skin cells.
Try This: Majestic Pure Moroccan Argan Oil
Rosehip Oil
Rosehip oil contains numerous compounds that make it beneficial for the skin – it’s one of the best for anti-aging as well as for expecting moms.
When applied topically, rosehip oil can protect the skin and increase cell turnover, as it contains vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin D and B-carotene, a form of vitamin A, and which are all antioxidants that help fight free radicals. It’s particularly beneficial for aging, dry skin, although it can be used by those with normal skin. This oil is rich in essential fatty acids, particularly oleic, gamma linolenic acid (GLA), linoleic and palmitic. When absorbed through the skin, its fatty acids are converted to prostaglandins, which are necessary for cellular membrane and tissue regeneration.
Rosehip oil also has a high level of vitamin C that makes it one of the richest plant sources for the skin. This is truly one of the best oils for use by expectant mothers as it helps to maintain elasticity and rejuvenate skin, preventing or even eradicating stretch marks. In fact, Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, reportedly used rosehip oil while pregnant to help maintain that beautiful, glowing, wrinkle-free skin she’s famous for.
Try This: Radha Beauty 100% Pure Cold Pressed Rosehip Oil
Avocado Oil
Slathering up with avocado oil can give you the same omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants that you get when eating the delicious fruit. That’s because it’s one of the richest sources of beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid, which can have an immediate effect on the texture and appearance of your skin, making it an ideal option for mature, dry, aging skin. Not only does it do extremely well for hydrating and softening your skin, it’s even been reported to be beneficial for diminishing age spots and smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.
The high proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids in avocado even makes it outstanding for use as a sunscreen, as the fats form a protective layer over the skin. In fact, avocado oil is said to have the highest natural SPF among all vegetable oils. It will protect against both UVA and UVB rays as well as protect the skin against environmental damage, due to its high level of powerful antioxidants. Thanks to its high palmitic acid content, avocado oil is also quite easily absorbed by human skin, helping to keep it firm and smooth.
Avocado oil is also often recommended as an effective treatment for acne and blackheads, eczema and other forms of skin inflammation, thanks to its high concentration of anti-inflammatory oleic acid. Just a small amount of this soothing oil tends to go a long way in relieving that persistent itching, redness, swelling and other common symptoms of eczema. When it comes to acne, the oil’s vitamin C and K helps boost the immune system, and fight acne-causing bacteria. Vitamin E helps to keep it hydrated to prevent excess oil production which further helps to battle acne.
Try This: Now 100% Pure Avocado Oil