VEGETABLE OILS FOOD FOR THE SKIN November 28, 2023

Vegetable oils are elixirs that tone, hydrate, and add suppleness to the skin. Derived from plants and extracted from nuts and oilseeds, they are natural, and allies of true beauty. Recent studies indicate that customers trust brands that name easily recognisable, foodbased ingredients. But what makes vegetable oils the best friends for skin and hair care?

TOTAL MOISTURISATION

Vegetable oils possess potent moisturising properties that soothe and soften tissue. Oils like avocado, coconut, linseed, and argan kernels are rich and nourishing. Certain oils like sunflower, contain high levels of linoleic acid, which forms a barrier for the skin, locking in the moisture content. On the other hand, there are oils like olive that reduce the skin’s barrier capacity, making it possible for other products to penetrate and remedy the skin.

LADEN WITH ANTIOXIDANTS

Vegetable oils are a great source of antioxidants, which protect the skin from free radicals. But what are free radicals? They are unstable atoms produced among other things by pollution. Free radicals are harmful for the skin. Antioxidants protect the skin from such damage and delay the aging process. Oils like avocado are rich in vitamin E and other antioxidants like squalene and phytosterols. These compounds aren’t just great for hydrating skin, but are also known to possess anticancer properties.

ANTIBACTERIAL IN NATURE

Vegetable oils possess antibacterial and antifungal properties. These help in calming infection, soothing, and improving skin texture.

VERSATILE

Vegetable oils are versatile in nature, and gel well with numerous cosmetic formulations. They are core ingredients in various creams, lotions, serums, balms, and even hair care products. They also act as carrier oils for essentials.

A NATURAL AND SUSTAINABLE CHOICE

Natural and sustainable products are the need of the hour, and vegetable oils offer a favourable solution for all things synthetic. These oils are invariably obtained from renewable plant sources through environmentally conscious processes. These oils are highly revered by customers and industry alike for their numerous benefits, versatility, natural origin, and ability to enhance the efficacy of cosmetic formulations.

Vegetable oils are laden with wondrous skin and hair care properties. Thus, sitting on the kitchen shelf isn’t their only usage. Add a dash of these vegetable oils to daily skin and hair care products or use them directly as part of a skin care routine. Here’s a list of 10 that can leave one shining and glowing.

OLIVE OIL

A regular in the kitchen, olive oil is the perfect elixir for quick and effective moisturisation. Laden with benefits, olive oil works wonders to remedy dry and chapped skin. The oil nourishes, softens, and protects the skin. It also possesses anti-inflammatory qualities, which make it a valuable addition in oil blends to ease itchiness, skin damage, and irritation.

ARGAN OIL

An extremely popular product among the French, argan oil aids in skin regeneration and nourishes both skin and hair. Since the oil is rich in the fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid, it helps reduce inflammation in the body by producing prostaglandins.

JOJOBA OIL

A remedy for almost every ailment, jojoba oil is a popular ingredient in massage oils, face creams and hair packs. Being rich in omega-9, the oil retains moisture and has a protective nature. This makes it a perfect choice for hair and skin products. It also absorbs slowly into the skin and is compatible with most skin types, making it a popular massage oil. The chemical make-up of jojoba oil is comparable to our skin’s natural oil, sebum. Thus, it helps soften pores, removes impurities, and is an ideal addition in products for acne prone skin.

AVOCADO OIL

Eat it or apply it on the skin, avocado is equally beneficial in both cases. A mild oil with an earthy aroma, avocado is rich in vitamin D. Lip balms and body butters aimed at dark skin, ideally use a blend of avocado, organic shea butter or organic cocoa butter.

PUMPKIN SEED OIL

Rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and omegas, pumpkin seed oil is used in skin care products aimed at lifting and firming skin. It also encourages skin cell regeneration, relieving skin irritation and treating acne scars.

BORAGE OIL

Tired, aging skin craves a dose of borage oil. The oil contains exceptionally high levels of gamma-linolenic acid, which prevents dryness, reduces inflammation and wrinkling. Suitable for all skin types, borage oil is used in skin products for anti-aging, and anti-acne.

CASTOR OIL

A thick formulation, castor oil is not absorbed by the skin, instead it floats on the surface to draw out impurities. It is a cleansing oil which leaves the skin incredibly moisturised. Castor oil also strengthens hair follicles and stimulates hair growth. For this reason, it is commonly applied on hair roots, eyebrows, and eyelashes.

ROSEHIP SEED OIL

A unique oil, rosehip contains retinoic acid, commonly known as vitamin D. It thus makes rosehip seed oil a popular ingredient in anti-aging formulations. The oil is absorbed directly into the skin and doesn’t leave any residue. It is effective for all skin types, including the most sensitive skin.

ALMOND OIL

Almond oil takes it’s sweet time to absorb into the skin, which makes it just the perfect ingredient for massage oils. It is extremely mild in nature and is also used in baby products in combination with other mild oils like apricot kernel oil and peach kernel oil. Almond oil is a great remedy for itchy skin and works wonders when combined with chickweed or marshmallow root oil.

SUNFLOWER OIL

A light and non-greasy formulation, sunflower oil is abundantly rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids. It is a popular ingredient for products aimed at skin regeneration and moisturisation. When it comes to hair care, sunflower oil hydrates, softens strands, manages fizz, and repairs damage.

Vegetable oil applications are nourishing for the skin. They replenish, restore, and revitalise. They strengthen the natural protective barrier of the skin, and guard it for life.