Benefits of Almond Oil

There are a lot of exotic oils on the market

Because of this, almond oil often goes overlooked.

But as the adage goes, “everything old is new again” Case in point: almond oil.

That is if a study carried out by the National Institute of health is anything to go by.

Almond oil had been used in Ayurvedic, Ancient Chinese and Greco-Persian schools of medicine, to treat many skin conditions including psoriasis and eczema.

So almond oil, with its gorgeous silky slip and skin-nurturing properties, should not be overlooked, especially for those who have lipid deficient, dry, sensitive skin.

So join us, folks here at the NC to find out more about the beautifying benefits of this seemingly magical oil and how to integrate it into your skincare routine.

Benefits of Almond Oil

What is almond oil?

Almond oil is, well, oil made from almonds.

Almond oil is extracted from almonds – which are the almond tree’s edible seeds; they come in both sweet and bitter varieties. The sweet variety is used in personal care applications.

It contains a high level of fatty acids that improve the skin’s barrier function and enriched with vitamins E, B, D, and A, proteins and copper; it’s no wonder it has an affinity with the skin.

We prefer to use unrefined, cold-pressed oils in our products because cold-pressed oils don’t undergo chemical or heat treatments.

Unrefined almond oil is made by pressing raw almonds without using chemical agents or high temperatures. This process retains most of its nutrients.

Fatty acid profile

Almond oil is especially rich in the following major fatty acids,

Oleic Oil: A monounsaturated fatty acid, that contains around 64% to 82%. Oleic acid has a similar chemical structure to your own natural sebum, so the skin’s tissues readily absorb it.

Linoleic Acid: This is a polyunsaturated fatty acid ranging from 8 to 28% with wonderful anti-inflammatory properties, helping to calm and soothe a sensitive, irritated skin type.

Benefits of almond oil

PROPERTIES AND USES

• skin softening
• extremely moisturising
• it is tasteless and edible, so it is a great addition for lip balm recipes
• one of the benefits of almond oil is that it is a lovely mild and lightweight oil
• anti-inflammatory, so it’s the perfect ingredient for stressed-out sensitive skin
• it is a semi-fatty oil, which spreads nicely on the skin
• it only has a very slight smell so that it won’t interfere with essential oils and fragrances
• it has a long shelf life of 12 months, so stays stable for a long period of time
• It is mild and hypoallergenic, so it is safe to use directly, even on sensitive skin

Improves your barrier function: Its rich fatty acid profile means the oil is incredibly emollient – it helps seal the outer layers of skin and keeps moisture inside the skin.  Emollients calm and repair the skin’s barrier, feeding the skin and filling in any cracks at the surface, whilst also improving the skin’s function.  Improving your skin barrier function is a vital part of your skin health, a compromised barrier contributes to transepidermal water loss – where water evaporates from your skin’s surface. So if your skin is inflamed or extremely dry, almond oil is the answer.

Sun protection: A study in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, found that almond oil has UV properties. It can protect your skin from the damaging free radicals that lead to premature ageing and reverse any damage that has happened to your skin as a result of prolonged exposure to UV rays. The damage and premature ageing that is typically caused by exposure to the UV rays were found to be considerably reduced in the study.

Please note; this isn’t a focus on SPF but adding a small amount to your skin and layering with other natural sunscreen ingredients may increase your skin protection and ward of ageing.

Antioxidant-rich: It’s also a form of protection for your delicate skin in the form of potent antioxidants, it’s high levels of vitamin E, magnesium, and copper, so can really help with oxidation – the leading cause of ageing.

Helps to reduce stretch marks: Almond oil has incredible emollient and skin softening properties, which is why it has a beneficial effect on light scarring – enabling your skin to be more supple, helping to reduce stretch marks.

Nourishes the skin: Probably the oil’s most famous benefit is the immediate boost of moisture it gives to your skin. This is thanks to its emollient properties and high percentages of vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. Its fatty acid profile also means, that regularly applying almond oil to your skin is a great way to nourish it, keeping skin soft, nourished and hydrated.

Conclusion

The silky, light texture of this nutritious oil helps to improve your barrier function, reverse some of the signs of photoaging and treats light scarring by keeping the skin soft, supple and nourished.

The high level of fatty acids, serve as a natural emollient; locking in moisture, to form a protective barrier on your skin, making this oil really effective in helping to care for any skin conditions you may have such as like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.

It will glide on your skin effortlessly and never feels too greasy or heavy, which is why it’s often used in massage. This light texture combines really well with other emollients like nourishing Shea Butter and Macadamia nut oil.

With such a list of benefits, it would be hard not to overlook this important oil, which is why you will find it in a number of our skincare products designed to deliver penetrative healing to impaired skin.

If you are concerned about allergies, it is advisable to perform a patch test on your skin first, to check for any reactions. If you suffer from a nut allergy, you should avoid using almond oil.

RESEARCH

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6683240/
https://jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961618P0078X
https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/almond-oil-market