Take a look at some of the best carrier oils and butter and what they have to offer.
Plant-based oils have two types of moisturizing properties called occlusives and emollients. Humectants such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and aloe vera are water-soluble and when used with occlusive and emollient properties make for a very powerful moisturizer.
Each one nourishes our skin in different ways. For example, emollients are a godsend for mature, dry skin. They are usually higher in saturated fatty acids. Some oils are good for the combination skin type and some oils that are higher in omega 6 linoleic acid are more suitable for acne-prone skin. There’s a lot to know about stearic, oleic, linoleic etc.. the long fatty acid chain and how they work for our skin but I’ll delve deeper into these fatty acids in a different article.
Emollients fill in and keep skin soft and smooth. Occlusives provide a protective barrier to lock moisture in and help prevent water loss ( TEWL ) Humectants love water and sucks moisture from the air into the skin and helps skin maintain a healthy amount of hydration.
I hope after I break down the oils and butter and their benefits it gives a better understanding of why choosing the right oils might be the answer for helping different skin types.
There are countless more than what I outline here but some of these I use in my skincare creations and what I’m more familiar with thus far. I have yet to discover and experiment with many others.
These oils aren’t just for skin, they’re used for hair, nails and mouth care. Some are also used internally as supplements and for cooking. They are meant to nourish us from the inside out.
Avocado oil is a great moisturizer and helps skin tone, promotes collagen with anti-ageing benefits.
Argan oil comes from argan nuts. It’s lightweight and great for taming hair frizz. Also great for skin, especially mature and combination skin.
Amla oil is rich in vitamin C and is a powerhouse of antioxidants. It tightens and tones skin, reduces fine lines, exfoliates and gives you soft youthful skin.
Broccoli seed oil is not only a great emollient but also contains over 50% unsaturated fatty acids. With its unique long-chain fatty acid profile, this star oil will help the skin to absorb moisture (humectant properties) fill in and smooth (emollient properties) and locks it in by forming a protective layer (occlusive properties) It provides UV radiation protection and can reverse sun damage.
Castor oil keeps the skin hydrated and free from infections. It’s a great remedy for dry skin, acne and wrinkles. It has humectant properties that help pull moisture into the skin. It’s been used for thousands of years as a powerful natural treatment for many health issues. It is also used for promoting hair growth.
Coconut oil is one of the most amazing but misunderstood oils out there when it comes to using it for the skin. A lot of people believe it's a heavy oil and therefore clogs pores. there's no scientific proof of this.
I've always rooted for coconut oil and never believed negative opinions about it. Of course when it comes to any oil, choosing high quality should always be the choice.If inferior coconut oil is used rather than unrefined, this may be the reason for a negative opinion. However unrefined coconut oil has so many beneficial skin-loving properties that can't be ignored and in my experience, it's extremely nourishing for all skin types.
Cocoa butter is not only a decadent dessert for our taste buds but yes, also for our skin. The fat that is separated from the roasted bean is the butter. It has been used in medicine for thousands of years dating back to the Aztecs. It’s a rich emollient with a high percentage of fatty acids. It’s also rich with compounds called phytochemicals that can help to increase blood flow and protect against UV rays. It’s used to help heal scars from acne and stretch marks. Its ability to hydrate the skin makes it extremely nourishing for mature dry skin providing improvement in elasticity.
Evening Primrose oil is high in (GLA) gamma-linoleic acid and linoleic acid and is a great choice for acne-prone skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it particularly healing for problem skin such as eczema, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis. It's great for all skin types.
Fractionated coconut oil is what its name implies. The heavy long chain of fatty acids is separated from the chain leaving a much lighter oil. It provides all the same benefits as its counterpart. A powerful moisturizer and cleanser. It contains properties that soothe and regenerate skin and hair.
Hemp seed oil is high in linoleic acid and gamma-linoleic acid. It helps to balance out oily skin and its powerful anti-inflammatory properties help to moisturize and calm irritated inflamed skin which makes it a perfect choice for acne, psoriasis and eczema. It's a perfect choice for any skin type and its anti-ageing properties reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It's also great for detoxing the skin and promotes stronger nails. It can be used as a sunscreen as well.
Jojoba oil is very close to human sebum ( skins natural oils ) It's hydrating and it balances natural oil production. It's especially good for dry skin and acne-prone skin. '
Kukui nut oil comes from the Kukui nut tree in Hawaii. It has great moisturizing benefits and can be used to protect skin from the sun, wind, etc. It has a rich blend of fatty acids and is high in linoleic acid. It can help relieve muscle pain, eczema, acne, dry and mature skin.
Meadowfoam oil is similar to jojoba oil. It is a rich antioxidant containing vitamin E and a powerhouse moisturizer that locks moisture in and allows other nutrients to penetrate deep into the dermis. It brings balance back to complexions by keeping skin from either being too dry or too oily.
Mango butter is rich in antioxidants and emollients with a light texture that sinks into your skin leaving it soft and silky. It is highly moisturizing and nourishing.
Macadamia oil is fairly light and absorbs quickly into the skin. It’s a popular choice for mature and dry skin. It has omega 6 linoleic acid that helps balance skin sebum production in oily skin.
Olive oil is not only great for cooking but also makes a great choice for many skincare regimens. It’s known to moisturize and hydrate. It also has antibacterial properties that can kill off bacteria making it a good choice for acne-prone skin. Its hydrating properties may prevent premature ageing. Olive oil has a plethora of skin-nourishing properties for all skin types, like most of these oils you would have to write a book to list them all.
Pumpkin seed oil is one of the best oils, particularly for our face. It contains all three omegas 3, 6 and 9 which are most vital for our skin. These fatty acids help to keep a balanced complexion. It’s also high in vitamins and minerals as well as linoleic acid.
Rosehip seed oil feels like it’s healing your skin from the moment you put it on. It’s considered one of the best anti-ageing oils out there. It’s perfect for sensitive skin and will diminish age spots and fine lines. It will replenish collagen thus will tighten and tone. It will even skin tone and improve the overall appearance. It’s full of vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. It’s a natural acne and eczema treatment. It’s non-greasy and super light and some even consider it better than Botox. It’s a miracle oil and that’s why I try and incorporate it in almost everything I make.
Raspberry seed oil is packed with essential fatty acids and vitamins. It can absorb UVC and UVB sun rays that are linked to skin cancer. It’s limited in uva protection. Its other beneficial properties include photosterosis ( helps to prevent TEWL ) Antioxidants with vitamins A and E that help produce collagen, helps to soothe inflamed irritated skin and is also high in linoleic acid. It’s also known to be used for oral health.
Sesame oil has many skin healing properties for all skin types and is a great choice for pulling toxins out of the body when used as a mouthwash.
Sunflower seed oil comes from the sun’s flower. It’s rich in vitamin E which is great for reducing wrinkles and helping the overall appearance of the skin.
Shea oil can be also found as a butter. It’s a heavier oil which makes it good for deep moisturizing. It has numerous benefits and absorbs quickly without leaving your skin feel greasy. It can be used as a daily cleanser. It helps to reduce acne scarring and stretch marks. It evens skin tone. It locks moisture in and provides a protective barrier.
Sweet Almond oil is a nice choice for moisturizing especially during the summer months. It has a quick absorption rate and doesn’t leave a greasy feeling. It will improve skin appearance. It has an abundance of benefits including reducing puffiness, dark circles around the eyes, treats dry skin, improves acne and can help reverse sun damage.
Tamanu oil is rich in fatty acids and is most popularly known for its anti-wrinkle benefits. It’s a luxurious oil with a thick consistency. Its incredible benefits include deeply moisturizing, calming inflamed irritated and itchy skin, sun protection, reduces dark spots, acne treatment, reduces stretch marks and wound scaring. It gently and effectively restores skin back to health.
That’s a long enough list for now like I said there are many other fabulous carrier oils that care for our skin and each one could have its own book. Not to mention essential oils and that’s a whole other topic.
Check out the chart below, it doesn’t show all the oils but enough to get a better idea of what oils might better suit your skin type. If you’re not sure of oils that you’d like to use, make sure to research them first.
People with acne-prone skin have a bit of a tougher time trying to find skincare products that actually work. I know because I’m one of them. Especially before I knew anything about natural skincare, it was literally a nightmare for me. I have proof! here’s a picture of me when I was 19. You can see some breakouts on the bottom part of my face. But wow! what I'd do to be that age again, minus the acne..ahem, lol!
Every commercial product that claimed to heal acne and dermatologist prescriptions, I had tried. Either the products were too drying or would literally burn my face. Nothing seemed to work. My skin did better not wearing makeup at all and not using anything (commercial products) on my face.
In my later 20’s I started to be more serious about my health and started working out and eating super healthy. I noticed my skin starting to look better with way fewer breakouts. But my skin was still lacking and it was really frustrating for me especially on the occasions that I did wear a little makeup, everything I used to cleanse my face would cause breakouts. So I stopped wearing makeup even occasionally.
It wasn’t until I hit my 40’s that I finally discovered natural skincare and the oil-cleansing method. Obviously, this was the answer for my skin or I wouldn’t be where I am today, creating and promoting natural oil-based skincare.
One important thing I want to mention before I close this article. Like I mentioned earlier, having acne-prone skin is hard enough when trying to find the right skincare that will help. While you’re searching the internet on the subject there’s no doubt you’ll find a lot of miss-information out there. One in particular is the comedogenic scale. All I can say right now about it is, do yourself a favour and don’t feel you have to follow it. There’s many valid reasons not to trust it, but I’ll have to write a whole other article on the subject.
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