One of the most common approaches to ensuring healthy skin care is by the use of vegetable oils. Maybe one of the greatest motivators for excellent skin care is that your skin is the first point of visual contact that people make with you. It is thus not a wonder that, just like many other people, taking good care of your skin is a vital ingredient in determining your overall physical and emotional well-being. Good as it might sound, many people appreciate that effective skin care is not a walk in the park.
There are many factors that contribute to healthy skin. In case you have done some background research, you know that some of these factors are biological, others are basically lifestyle-related while others are a blend of the two categories of factors. So, with this in mind, let us focus on the use of vegetable oils. We start by highlighting the benefits of vegetable oils followed by a list of some the leading vegetable oils that one can use for skin care. We then take a brief tour through the various skin types and how they affect the choice of vegetable oil.
Finally, we wind up with some important precaution in the use of vegetable oils.
Why go for vegetable oils for skin care?
Granted, to some people the idea of having something they’d rather have on a salad on their face and skin might initially sound outrageous. However, once you delve into the benefits of this approach to skin care, you will find the idea of applying chemicals on your skin even more outrageous.
Remember that vegetable oils are 100% natural. Packed with natural nutrients and vitamins, they speak a language that your skin and body can easily identify with. Other than providing vital nourishment to the skin, vegetable oils for skin care also have other important characteristics that make them the best choice for healthy skin.
Consider the following properties you will find in different vegetable oils.
1. Antioxidant
Many botanical vegetable oils are rich in antioxidant properties which protect your skin from free radical damage.
2. Anti-inflammatory
Similarly, many vegetable oils also contain compounds that will help sooth an inflamed skin.
3. Hydration
Natural oil provides the best remedy for a parched or dehydrated skin.
4. Sun Protection
Unknown to a significant number of people is the fact that there are some natural vegetable oils for skin care that offer excellent natural protection against the adverse effects of the sun.
Granted, these are not the only benefits of vegetable oils to your skin. However, they strongly build a case for the use of these remedies for healthy and attractive skin. Having said this, the next burning we need to address is the list of vegetable oils that you can use for your skin.
List of common but highly beneficial vegetable oils
This list is by no means exhaustive but covers the most popular and proven vegetable oils. Research in this field is ongoing and we can certainly expect new natural products to continue adding to this list.
This list is by no means exhaustive but covers the most popular and proven vegetable oils. Research in this field is ongoing and we can certainly expect new natural products to continue adding to this list.
Consider the following:
- Avocado oil
- Aloe vera extract
- Argan oil
- Macadamia oil
- Apricot kernel oil
- Kukui nut oil
- Sea Buckthorn oil
- Tamanu oil
- Neem oil
- Hemp seed oil
- Coconut oil
- Shea butter
- Camelia oil
- Jojoba oil
- Grapeseed
- Canola
- Apricot kernel
- Sweet Almond
- Olive oil
- Sunflower
- Oat
- Evening Primrose
- Marula oil
- Passion fruit oil
- Rice bran oil
- Schisandra Fruit CO2 Extract
- Sesame seed oil
Skin types and how they affect choice of vegetable oil
By now, as a person with keen interest in the best care for your skin, you might already be aware that people have different types of skins. Knowing your skin type is vital if you have to use the appropriate skin care regimens including vegetable oils. Not every vegetable oil suits your skin. Basically, human skins fall under six or so general categories. Let’s highlight these skin types briefly at least to assist you clarify your skin type.
1. Normal skin
This is skin that is neither too dry nor too oily. It is noticeably soft to the touch and its complexion is rather even and it produces sufficient quantities of the elements needed for good hydration and protection from bacteria. Ideally, this skin type mainly requires proper cleaning and sufficient hydration.
Your choice of vegetable oil for this skin should bear this in mind. Apricot Kernel, Jojoba and sunflower oil are some of the vegetable oils that go well with normal skin.
2. Oily skin
As the name implies, this skin is characterized by a significantly high amount of lipids or natural oils on the skin surface. This skin type is often thick, shiny and has enlarged pores. It might sound contradictory, but the fact is that there are vegetable oils that serve oily skin quite well. These oils do not exaggerate the degree of oiliness of your skin; rather they help mitigate the harmful effects of the oils produced by your skin cells.
Some of the oils that can be used for this skin type include Grapeseed, Jojoba and Neem.
3. Sensitive skin
In common usage, this refers to skin that easily breaks out in rashes, gets itchy and blotchy in response to the weather or some products used on the skin. Sensitive skin requires vegetable oils that will protect it from the harmful effects of the elements, especially the damaging rays of the sun.
Apricot Kernel, Grapeseed, coconut oil and jojoba oil are some of the oils that are useful for this skin type.
4. Dry skin
If you experience discomfort on your skin characterized by scaling, itching and cracking, you might be having dry skin. Using soap on this skin type can be quite irritating. Dry skin is one type that needs oil on a regular basis.
Some of the oils that are fit for this skin are Avocado, Jojoba, Olive, Rosehip Seed, Sea Buckthorn and Tamanu.
5. Scarred and damaged skin
Strictly speaking this is not a skin type but rather a descriptive reference to skin that is so damaged that it requires special attention. In case you have scars on your skin or your skin qualifies for this kind of special attention, there are vegetable oils that can help your skin in the recovery process. These oils include Jojoba, Rosehip seed, Sea Buckthorn and Tamanu.
Caution in the use of vegetable oils
As you might have already noticed from the foregoing, there are vegetable oils that are good for skin types across the boards. This however, does not mean all vegetable oils are equally fine for all skin types. Some of these oils are comedogenic. Simply said, these are oils that have the potential to cause blackheads by blocking the pores of your skin. See the list of comedogenic oils.
Every person who has oily skin type should stay clear of comedogenic vegetable oils. If you fall into this category of people, you must be extra keen to establish the comedogenic rating of the oil before you use it. It is strongly recommended that you only go for vegetable oils for skin care that have a comedogenic rating of 0 (Zero).
With these vital insights on vegetable oils for skin care, you can confidently make informed decisions. Irrespective of your skin type, be sure there will always be the right natural vegetable oil for you.
