If you’re looking for easy, natural skincare, it’s hard to beat almond oil for skin. It was my first natural skincare product, and I fell in love with how good it felt on my skin and how easy it is to use.
While these days, I prefer to create my own skincare which use almond oil (see here) so I get the benefits of almond oil and shea butter, there are many almond oil benefits on skin and using almond oil straight out of the bottle is a valid (and good) choice.
If you are looking to understand exactly what almond oil is, what the best sweet almond oil for skin is and what the benefits of almond oil on the skin are, keep reading!
I am going to walk you through all the reasons why you should consider almond oil skin care as well as exactly how to use almond oil on your skin and answering questions like whether you can use almond oil for whitening skin and whether sweet almond oil for skin acne is a good idea.
If you want to skip ahead and just buy the type of almond oil that will help your skin, click here to buy quality almond oil in the US or here to buy it in Australia.
What Is Almond Oil?
Almond oil is made purely from almonds which are seeds at the centre of almond fruit. Almond fruit grows on almond trees (otherwise known as prunus dulcis).
Almond oil is the oil extracted from these seeds.
There are two main types of almond oil which relate to how they are produced.
Refined Almond Oil
Refined almond oil is the cheapest and easiest way to produce almond oil and it uses high-heat and chemicals to extract the oil.
This produces an oil that can resist higher temperatures which can make it handy in cooking. It also has less taste and the heat and chemicals destroy many of the natural nutrients.
Since it is cheaper to make, it’s also cheaper to buy this type of almond oil.
Unrefined Almond Oil
Unrefined almond oil means the oil has been extracted without using chemicals and heat.
This is more expensive to do (and thus, to buy) but it leaves most of the nutrients within the almond oil.
It is also sometimes called cold-pressed or virgin olive oil. Note that organic almond oil for skin refers to almond oil that is produced from organic almonds and doesn’t necessarily mean its unrefined.
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Bitter Almond Oil Vs Sweet Almond Oil
There are two categories of almond oil – sweet and bitter. This refers to the type of almond tree that the almonds come from that make up the oil.
The term almond oil could refer to either type although usually it’s used interchangeably with sweet almond oil which is the most common type.
What Type Of Almond Oil To Use On Skin?
There is a clear winner when it comes to the best almond oil for your skin and that is unrefined, sweet almond oil.
Unrefined almond oil has most of its nutrients so if you want all the benefits of almond oil for skin, you’ll need this type.
The rest of this article describes the uses and sweet almond oil benefits for skin which is the most studied and best type of almond oil for your skin.
While you can find positive reports of using bitter almond oil for skin on the internet, it has not been widely studied, isn’t widely available and can be toxic.
So definitely buy sweet almond oil for your skin.
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PinBenefits Of Sweet Almond Oil For Skin
If you were wondering is almond oil good for your skin, below are all the reasons why it’s a big fat yes. There are many skin benefits of almond oil.
Easy To Apply
Almond oil is super easy to apply to the skin, with a little going a long way. It glides smoothly onto the skin and feels nice and soothing. A bottle of sweet almond oil should last you quite a long time.
Emollient And Moisturiser
Almond oil is an emollient and a moisturiser meaning it can help smooth the skin by filling in gaps and acting like a barrier (emollient) and also help the skin attract and retain moisture (moisturiser).
Mostly Non-Comedogenic
Almond Oil is not all non-comedogenic (meaning it will not clog pores). It has a rating of 2 out of 5 meaning it will most likely not clog your pores.
Making almond oil for combination skin a good choice of oil for dry, normal and oily skin types. Always test a patch of skin first.
Can Help Repair Skin And Anti-aging
One study found that sweet almond oil has potential to help repair skin cells and can help to reduce the signs of aging.
Can Reduce The Appearance Of Scars
The vitamin E content in almond oil can help to soften the skin and reduce the appearance of scars.
Almond oil was used in ancient Chinese medicine to reduce scarring. It is said to also help in reducing the appearance of acne scarring.
Can Treat Skin Conditions
Sweet almond oil has been used for centuries for many skin conditions.
These range from eczema, psoriasis and acne. It is not totally clear if sweet almond oil can be used to treat acne however.
Can Help Enhance Complexion
Almond oil is an emollient and can possibly help to enhance your complexion and skin tone.
Can Reduce Puffiness And Dark Circles
Almond oil is anti inflammatory and could possibly help treat swelling and dark circles under eyes.
Treating Dry Skin
Because almond oil is an emollient and moisturiser it makes it particularly good at treating dry skin.
It has been used for many centuries to treat conditions relating to dry skin like psoriasis and eczema.
May Help Reduce Sun Damage
Almond oil is loaded with vitamin E. In a study, vitamin E was found to reduce the damage done by the sun so almond oil can be good for treating sun damaged skin.
However, always be sure to test a patch of skin before using it yourself.
Good For Baby Massage
Sweet almond oil for baby skin has been studied and is said to be safe for baby massage.
Always consult with your doctor if you have questions before using a new product on your baby.
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Is Using Almond Oil For Acne Prone Skin A Good Idea?
The effects of almond oil for skin acne aren’t totally clear. Yes, it is mostly non-comedogenic. However, this doesn’t mean it won’t clog pores for those with oily prone skin.
Almond oil is high in a fatty acid that is said to help eliminate excess oils from the skin. However, this isn’t totally clear. Almond oil is used by some people to treat scarring and has been said to help reduce the appearance of acne scarring.
If you are interested in using almond oil for acne, you should apply a small amount to a test patch of skin and see what happens before applying it all over the face.
Can You Use Sweet Almond Oil For Skin Lightening?
Can I use almond oil for skin lightening? In short, sweet almond oil for skin whitening is not going to provide you with much effects.
Many people on the internet are keen to tell you to use almond oil for fair skin, but this has not been studied and much of the information is not complete.
So if you have been looking to use sweet almond oil for skin whitening, the short answer is don’t bother.
Is Almond Oil Good For Baby Skin?
There have been studies to confirm sweet almond oil is safe for use on babies skin. Sweet almond oil has even been found to be safe for use by nurses to hydrate preterm babies skin.
This is all good news is you are looking for an oil to use to hydrate your baby’s skin or for use as a regular oil to use for baby massage. Baby massage is a super great way to relax and calm your baby while providing precious bonding time, and sweet almond oil is a great choice for this.
If your baby has sensitive skin or has experienced reactions in the past, it is a good option to consult with your doctor before trying a product like sweet almond oil on your babies skin.
Are There Any Bad Almond Oil Side Effects On Skin?
There actually are not many known bad side effects to using almond oil on the skin, However if you have an allergy to nuts, you should not use almond oil. If you are going to be around anyone with a known nut allergy you should avoid using it around them.
If you have ever experienced eczema, you need to be particularly careful when trying a product like almond oil and performing a patch test before use is a good option to ensure you don’t have any ill reactions.
It is always a smart idea to test a small patch of your skin for any bad reactions to the oil despite if you experience skin conditions like eczema or not. If you have particularly sensitive skin it is a good idea to perform the test a number of times over a number of days to get an accurate body response.
One study performed indicated that sweet almond oil may cause preterm labor in pregnant women but further research would be needed to ensure the accuracy of this.
Other than this, sweet almond oil for skincare does not have many known risks associated.
How To Use Sweet Almond Oil For Skin
As stated above, my favourite almond oil uses for skin are in my DIY skincare recipes like my face cream here. This way I get the benefits of almond oil plus other ingredients. It’s also easier to apply.
However, you can also use almond oil directly on your skin to get all of the benefits of sweet almond oil on skin listed above.
Simply,
- Pour a small amount of almond oil on your hand
- Rub it into your skin
Done! Told you it’s super easy to use almond oil on skin.
My only caveat to this is if you want to use almond oil for sensitive skin. Do a patch test first on just a small section of skin. Wait a few hours and make sure there is no reaction before continuing to use almond oil on your skin.
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Final Words
Almond oil if unrefined is a great choice of oil for the skin, and can benefit it in a number of ways. It can be used to treat dry skin conditions, for baby massage, to reduce the signs of aging and scarring, it is easy to apply and best of all, it is all natural and chemical free.
If you have been looking for an oil to use on your skin that has the potential to have multiple benefits for your skin, almond oil may be a great choice for you. I love to use almond oil in my home made skincare products and have found many benefits of using it.
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Always remember to do a patch test before applying your sweet almond oil to the skin if you experience sensitive skin.
I hope you have found this guide to almond oil and the benefits of sweet almond oil helpful and you find almond oil as soothing and moisturising as I have for my skin.
Read my full guide to using almond oil on your face here or on hair here. You can also read more about using coconut oil on skin here, coconut butter on skin here or find all my guides to natural living here.
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