Almond Oil: Benefits and Application for Skin and Hair
Almond oil is a pure natural product with many valuable ingredients that do something good for both hair and skin. Here you can find out what effect the oil has and how to use it.
Which almond oil is suitable in the cosmetics sector?
- Almond oil is commercially available in two different versions. The first is bitter almond oil, which is obtained from bitter almonds. It is only used as an essential oil and cannot be used for consumption or as a cosmetic product.
- A distinction is made between sweet almond oil, which is suitable for skin and hair and is also used in the kitchen. It is made from sweet almonds. The oil is obtained by pressing the peeled and dried almonds and can then be refined.
- As a beauty product you should rely on cold-pressed sweet almond oil: Cold pressing ensures that the vitamins and minerals are not destroyed. Make sure you buy organic quality!
Almond oil: Possible applications
Almond oil for the skin
Benefits and Effect:
- Almond oil has many unsaturated fatty acids, whereby the proportion of oleic acid is particularly high. Unsaturated fatty acids are very similar to our own skin lipids, which helps the skin to better absorb these fatty acids. Oleic acid has the advantage that it can penetrate into deep skin layers and improves elasticity there. Palmitic acid, which is a component of the skin’s own acid mantle, is added to support this process. Linoleic acid is added to this, with which you offer your skin UV protection and provide it with moisture. Linoleic acid also has an anti-inflammatory effect and skin irritation is reduced.
- Vitamin E (also known as tocopherol) serves as protection against free radicals, which otherwise attack the collagen of the skin and cause cell damage.
- Vitamin B additionally stimulates cell growth and helps regenerate damaged skin.
- Almond oil therefore provides our skin with sufficient nutrients and moisture, making it soft and helping to prevent dryness lines.
- As an important plus point, almond oil is non-comedogenic, i.e. it does not clog the sebaceous glands and thus does not contribute to blackhead formation.
- Almond oil can also help and be used for neurodermatitis – except if it is already an acute condition.
- Stretch marks can be soothed with almond oil.
Application: Apply a thin layer of almond oil on the cleansed, still slightly moist skin and let it be absorbed. Almond oil does not spread as quickly as coconut oil, for example, and takes a little longer to be absorbed. You do not need to rinse it off! If you like, you can also put a few drops of the oil in the bathtub and take a bath.
Tip: Almond oil is ideal for removing make-up and even effectively removes waterproof eye make-up.
When should you not use almond oil?
- You should not use almond oil on moist or open wounds.
- For very sensitive skin, it is also advisable to test the oil on a small area beforehand and wait for the reaction.
Almond oil for the hair
Benefits and Effect:
- Almond oil provides hair and scalp with moisture and prevents split ends and dandruff.
- With the oil you can also get an extra portion of shine: almond oil is characterized by fatty acids that act as a kind of protective layer around your hair, protecting it from damaging environmental influences.
- The oil also scores with vitamins and minerals: Vitamins A, B, D and E are present and magnesium, calcium and potassium complete the healthy range of nutrients that are good for the hair.
- Vitamin B7 and E are also beneficial for a healthy scalp.
Application: As a hair treatment, you can spread the oil in the hair and on the scalp and let it soak in for 15 to 20 minutes. Then wash it out with a mild shampoo. For the oil to bring relief to an irritated and flaky scalp, it is necessary to use it weekly. As a care measure, some oil can also be distributed in the tips after each wash, thus providing additional shine and care. If required, eyelashes and eyebrows can also be cared for with this oil: Spread the almond oil on these areas with a small brush.