You’ve likely heard a lot lately about how beneficial consuming healthy oils can be for your body. But what about the best oils for skin when applied topically? Read on to discover five natural oils that can each help your skin in unique ways. When combined, these oils even work together synergistically to help you achieve younger, smoother, and healthier skin.
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What Are the Five Best Oils to Take Care of Your Skin?
The outer layer of the skin is called the epidermis. Its job is to protect your skin from outside elements while at the same time absorbing nutrients that skin cells, as well as the whole body, can utilize. Take a look at the ways in which these five best oils for skin do just that.
1 – The Nutrient Powerhouse: Olive Oil
Olive oil is a powerhouse substance that most know about as a sprinkle for salads, fish, and other foods. Pure olive oil has a high nutrient load, including vitamins D, E, K, and A as well as omega-3 fatty acids.
According to a study conducted at Rutgers University, olive oil also contains a substance called oleocanthal, which can rupture part of the membrane walls of cancer cells. This makes olive oil potentially cancer-protective as a food.
All the “good stuff” you get when you consume olive oil can be a boon for your skin as well. A 2016 investigation conducted by researchers at Thailand’s Chiang Mai University suggests that olive oil can moisturize the skin.
“With its heavy consistency, [olive oil] is a great choice for an all-body application,” says Dr. Rajani Katta in a recent article. Katta is a board-certified dermatologist and the author of seven books.
Dr. Katta also explains that while olive oil is usually very mild and does not trigger reactions in most people, it is wise to always choose organic, extra-virgin varieties for both internal and topical use.
2 – The Healing Plant Wax: Jojoba Oil
Found primarily in the American Southwest and Mexico, jojoba “oil” is technically not an oil at all; it’s actually a “plant wax” that comes from jojoba seeds. Jojoba is a common base ingredient for massage oil blends because it is mild, light, and non-toxic for most people.
What you may not know is that jojoba also has many healing properties in and of itself, besides being a great “carrier” for essential oils. It contains plant esters and omega-9 fatty acids that are proven anti-inflammatory agents. According to a 2012 Iranian study, jojoba can help with skin infections and wound healing and can also slow down the general aging of the skin.
Normally oils aren’t recommended for sunburn, because oil tends to trap heat in. However, natural “waxes” like jojoba can be very beneficial for soothing sunburn and for burn healing in general.
A 2011 Italian study found that jojoba accelerates wound healing through its ability to enhance collagen synthesis. The authors of the report published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology hypothesized that a solution of just 1% jojoba oil “could be used in the treatment of wounds in clinical settings.”
3 – An Oil for Oily Skin: Apricot Kernel Oil
Apricot kernels contain a compound called amygdalin. This is a phytonutrient that has been associated with its anti-cancer effects for decades.
Its discovery has an interesting history. In the 1930s, an Irish adventurer and military man, Major-General Sir Robert McCarrison, discovered a tribe in the Middle East called the Hunzas. McCarrison was impressed by their almost perfect health and wrote about it in his journal.
In the 1950s, the biochemist Dr. Ernest Krebs read McCarrison’s account and decided to investigate. He discovered that the Hunzas’ long life span and resistance to disease had to do in large part with diet, which consisted of bone broth, fresh grains and vegetables, the occasional meat or dairy product and, you guessed it, apricot kernels.
Later, Dr. Krebs discovered the “secret ingredient” in the kernels which made them so healthy. It was the glycoside amygdalin as well as key enzymes that acted like catalysts for amygdalin.
While many have written about the internal disease-fighting benefits of amygdalin, some have also done research on how it can help the skin.
This oil is a dandruff-reducer. Because of its high antioxidant content, it helps protect against oxidative stress. It has anti-aging properties and can help to reduce age spots as well.
But that’s not all. According to several studies, apricot kernel oil can also clear up inflammation that can lead to psoriasis. A 2016 Chinese investigation found that the same apoptotic effects that target cancer cells also make apricot seed kernels effective against cellular pathways which lead to this condition.
Amygdalin in the form of apricot kernel oil can be an amazing moisturizer, too. It can exfoliate the skin and can significantly help clear up acne, since it prevents the buildup of “sebum” in the glands. Sebum build-up is usually the cause of “oily skin.” Apricot kernel oil has been shown to help balance sebum production.
4 – The Natural Anti-Inflammatory: Avocado Oil
Research has long proven the skin benefits of avocado oil. It is an oil found in many moisturizers, creams, and even sunscreens because it consists mostly of monounsaturated fatty acids. The lipids found in avocado oil have been connected to heart health and anti-inflammatory benefits for years.
Avocado oil also contains many types of vitamins and minerals including vitamins E, D, C, B6, and A, along with potassium, iodine, calcium, lecithin, oleic acid, phenolic acid, and magnesium.
Recent studies have connected avocado oil to benefits for specific skin conditions. For example, a 2013 report in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine detailed significant anti-inflammatory effects of a 50% avocado oil solution when compared to a control group in an in vivo study. The researchers also found that there was an increase in collagen density in the group that was using avocado oil.
The authors speculated that when avocado oil is used naturally or in pharmaceutical mixtures, it “can promote increased collagen synthesis and decreased numbers of inflammatory cells…and may thus be considered a new option for treating skin wounds.”
Other research has found that avocado oil is not only be great for clearing up acne, it can also benefit the scalp, hair, and nails too.
5 – The Anti-Aging Champion: Vitamin E Oil
Finally, there’s vitamin E, which is perhaps the most well-known natural oil for skin health. Vitamin E is a necessary nutrient for your body as a whole, too. It plays a key role in the immune system since it helps with cell regeneration. It’s also vital for the cardiovascular system and neurodegeneration (the creation of new brain cells).
Studies show that when it comes to clearing up “blotchy” skin and more serious conditions such as melasma, or hyperpigmentation, pairing vitamin C together with vitamin E can be very effective.
A randomized, double-blind trial of over 50 women who had melasma conducted by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Manila concluded that oral administration of vitamins A, C and E “proved to be safe and effective among Filipino women with epidermal melasma.”
Vitamin E also has anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties and is high in antioxidants which can help with blood circulation. It can assist in clearing up acne and can lessen the effects of scarring. This is why most over-the-counter skin creams contain vitamin E oil, or alpha-tocopherol.
Making the Wise Choice: Quality Oil Blends for Your Skin
We cannot emphasize enough how important quality is when finding a moisturizer, eye cream, or serum that utilizes the benefits of healing oils.
When it comes to the healthy oils listed above, the only way to truly benefit from their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and blemish-defying properties is to go organic all the way.
The vitamin E content in AnnieMak Clean Skincare Restore Vitamin C Serum comes from 100% organic, high-quality sources only. Because it is paired with high-quality, organically sources vitamin C, you get the evidence-based benefit of both of these vitamins together in one formula.
Moreover, AnnieMak Clean Skincare Renew Eye Cream contains avocado oil, olive oil, apricot kernel oil, and jojoba oil. All of the oils are also organic and work synergistically to create an amazing, age-defying effect for youthful, healthy, glowing skin at any age.
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