For many, the idea of using oil in your skincare routine can be off-putting, conjuring up images of greasy skin. But even if you have naturally oily skin, you’ll be amazed at the benefits you can gain from using natural oils.
Follow this guide to the right oils for your skin type and discover the difference they can make you. You can either look for the oils in creams you see in the shops, try out the products featured here, or experiment at home by applying a drop or two of natural oil under your regular cream.
Oil and Water can mix
Regardless of your skin type, you need a balance of moisture and oil to stay healthy. Here’s how it works:
• Dry skin loves creams and serums infused with hydrating oils such as rosehip, avocado, or olive. Prep with gentle cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin. If you’re face and hands are only dry during winter or when you fly, try mixing a few drops of oil into your moisturiser for extra hydration when needed.
• Oily skin adores jojoba as it regulates and rebalances the skin’s natural sebum (oil) production. Sebum is essential to your skin’s wellbeing, so it’s not something you want to get rid of. It lubricates it from the barrier that stops water from evaporating, so having the right balance is the key.
• Congested skin is susceptible to breakouts and can also benefit from oils. It’s important to check the label to make sure your choice is non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores. For a spot treatment, try something with a natural, antibacterial tea tree oil, dabbed directly onto the spot.
If you’d like to use natural oils on your skin, here are four of the best options for you to consider.
• Vitamin E
Due to its impressive antioxidant benefits, vitamin E is found in many skin products. In fact it is considered to be the most important oil-soluble antioxidant, as it helps to protect skin cells from damage that results from environmental factors, such as pollution and UV light. It’s also a great moisturiser because it helps the skin retain water.
• Argan oil
Grown in the semi-arid south west of Morocco, the argan tree produces fruit that is crushed to release its oil. The oil is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids so it’s excellent for rehydrating the skin and making it more radiant.
• Jojoba
The liquid from the jojoba seed has long been a skincare staple. Jojoba is a wax that turns liquid at room temperature and is rich in fatty acids and vitamins A, D, and E. Jojoba is similar to your skin’s natural sebum, so it’s ideal for intensive moisturising as well as nourishing and protecting.
• Coconut oil
Extracted from white coconut meat, this oil has good antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties and is wonderful for the skin and hair. A common ingredient in many soaps and body products, it can be used on the face, but go easy as it tends as it tends to draw out impurities, which may cause breakouts. Don’t use refined, bleached, or deodorised oil, and look for organic virgin coconut oil from fresh coconuts.
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