We live in a world of seemingly infinite choices, especially when it comes to beauty, skincare, and healthcare products. On top of all of the choices, there always seems to be something new and “in the now.” While face and body oils aren’t necessarily new, they do seem to be one of the latest trends. Trends tend to fade, but it is unlikely that this one will because the benefits are too great and the variety of them is so vast that there is literally something for every skin type, condition, and concern. There are simple oils that you may recognize from your kitchen like coconut and olive oil, blended oils that also include ingredients like peptides, essential oils like lavender and jasmine, and exotic oils such as maracuja and marula. Choosing the right oil just depends on what you want that oil to do for your skin.
A few quick things:
1. A little oil goes a long way. Start with a drop or two.
2. If you tend to be more sensitive or have allergies, test your oil out on your wrist first before you apply it to your face and or body.
3. While there might be cheaper alternatives available, it is best to buy the highest quality oil to ensure that the ingredients are pure and properly extracted. Since you only need to use a little at a time, your oil will go a long way.
Here are some of the top choices for different skin types/conditions to get your started.
Acne and acne-prone skin: Tea tree oil will do wonders toward eliminating your blemishes! Research has shown that 5% tea tree is the equivalent to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but way more gentle on your skin. You can use tea tree oil as a spot treatment.
Oily skin: Grapeseed or peppermint oil is your miracle worker. Both of these oils can actually help to regulate your natural oil production.
Irritated skin: All the way from East Africa, marula oil from the marula nut is a blessing for irritated skin. It is high in oleic acid, which is a fatty acid that our bodies naturally produces. It is also high in antioxidants that work to defend your skin against UV rays and pollution in the air. This wonderful oil absorbs quickly, but leaves behind a lasting moisturizer.
Discolored or scarred skin: Rose hip seed oil is chalked full of essential fatty acids, vitamin C, and natural retinol (vitamin A). Using rose hip seed oil can help reduce the appearance of discoloration and scars, while also helping to increase cell turnover.
Sensitive skin: The same way that chamomile tea helps to soothe you mind, body, and soul, chamomile oil is great for calming irritation and reducing redness. It is a natural anti-inflammatory.
Hydration: Avocado oil is one of the best oils for mega hydration. It is loaded with lipids (see previous article) and antioxidants. Based on how the fruit is when you eat it, you can probably guess that it is a bit heavier of an oil. It is typically mixed with other lighter oils, but if you skin is ultra-dry using it at night is a blissful remedy.
Combination skin: If you have combo skin, avocado oil might be a bit too heavy for you. In this case, maracuja (passionfruit) is an excellent choice. This exotic oil acts as a natural anti-inflammatory and contains collagen-boasting vitamin C and omega 6 fatty acid.
Face lift: If your skin needs a bit of plumping up, dilo oil from the dilo tree that is found in Fiji is your tropical cure. Dilo oil is high in omega 3, 6, and 9 and helps to plump up skin and reduce fine lines.
This is just the beginning! There are dozens of different types of oils and innumerable combinations of oils and other beneficial ingredients. As with most things regarding health and wellness, little changes or additions to your routine can produce amazing results. The proper skincare regiment can make all of the difference in the health and appearance of your skin. What is your skin missing? Stay tuned next week for the best brands and products on the market.
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