Natural oils have been used in skin care for centuries for beauty and rejuvenation. Today, they’re still being used for radiant and glowing skin – and we have the added advantage of knowing exactly what makes these oils so powerful and effective.
Choosing a natural oil for your skin type can be tricky when there are so many great oils to choose from. Here are five of my favorite natural oils for glowing skin and what to look for when you choose a skin oil.
What to Look for in Natural Skin Oils
Shopping for oil might seem straightforward, but it’s important to know what to look for. Many people steer clear of using natural oils for glowing skin because they choose the wrong oils in the wrong concentrations. You don’t want your skin to feel sticky or greasy. If that is your experience, you’re not using the right blend or the right oils on your skin.
While you’re shopping for the right oil, there are moisturizers with plant-based oils available and also bottles of 100% oils. Both are great, but be sure to look at the ingredient list. In particular, make sure that the moisturizer doesn’t have any parabens, fragrance, or other endocrine-disrupting and hormone-disrupting chemicals.
Another ingredient to watch out for is dimethicone, which is used in many natural skin care products to trap moisture. However, there are concerns about what this ingredient might be doing to the skin microbiome. All these microorganisms that live on and protect the skin can get out of balance because dimethicone traps in moisture and doesn’t allow the skin to breathe the way natural plant-based oils can.
A great place to look for other potentially harmful ingredients hidden in oils or moisturizers is in EWG’s Skin Deep® database.
Another characteristic to look for in natural oils is whether or not it is organic. One of the things to think about with organic oils is that when you are using an oil from a plant, you are using a lot of that oil. It is best to use organic oils so you only pull pure ingredients from the plant. For example, if pesticides are used on the plant, you don’t want any of that concentrated in the plant and ending up in the product. That’s why choosing organic is important.
My Favorite Natural Oils
1. Cranberry Seed Oil
Cranberry seed oil is extremely lightweight, doesn’t clog pores, and is easy to absorb. This makes it great for all skin types. All of the skin types from The Skin Quiz can benefit from this oil. It is rich in antioxidants and also vitamin E, which is hydrating and nourishing to the skin. Cranberry seed oil is also high in naturally occurring vitamin A and contains omega-six, omega-3, and omega-9 fatty acids. We need those fatty acids for the healthy barrier function of the skin, the lipid barrier, moisture retention, and general protection of the skin. Cranberry seed oil is truly one of my very favorites natural oils for glowing skin.
2. Pomegranate Seed Oil
Another favorite is pomegranate seed oil. If you haven’t found this one yet, now is the time. It’s packed with antioxidants and the rare omega-5 essential fatty acid. Pomegranate seed oil also has regenerative effects in repairing the skin, evening the appearance of skin tone, and smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It even contains vitamins C and K, which help brighten skin.
3. Raspberry Seed Oil
The third oil is raspberry seed oil. I absolutely love raspberry seed oil. It contains ellagic acid, which is an antioxidant that smooths and brightens skin. It also provides broad-spectrum protection from the damaging effects of UVA and UVB rays. It provides great protection to the skin; however, it does not take the place of using a properly formulated SPF sunblock. Another great characteristic of raspberry seed oil is that it contains phytosterols, which help the skin retain moisture and hydration. Raspberry seed oil is also non-comedogenic and contains antioxidant vitamins A and E.
4. Rosehip Fruit Oil
The fourth one – and this is an absolute favorite of mine for glowing skin – is rosehip fruit oil from the rose plant. It is not the rose itself, but the rosehip, or the round portion below the petals. Rosehip fruit oil is high in unsaturated essential fatty acids. It also contains omega-3, -6, and -9 fatty acids, and is high in vitamin A, beta carotene, and lycopene. These beautiful antioxidants are naturally occurring.
Rosehip fruit oil is known for helping regenerate damaged tissue. For example, it is helpful for skin that has been burned or has stretch marks. It also helps protect against signs of sun damage, scarring, and wrinkle formation. This is one of my favorites for helping regenerate and protect the skin.
5. Apricot Kernel Oil
Apricot kernel oil is one of the most nourishing natural oils for glowing skin. Apricot kernel oil is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as minerals and omega-6 and -9 fatty acids. It has a lightweight consistency and it absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy or sticky after-feel. Another perk is that it is suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive ones. It’s soothing, repairing, revitalizing, nourishing, and softening for the skin. So make sure that you have apricot kernel oil on hand!
Step 4: GLOW & ENHANCE Facial Boost
The natural oils mentioned above are what we use to create our best-selling natural oil for glowing skin: Step 4: GLOW & ENHANCE Facial Boost. We carefully selected each one of these in combination together because individually, they have potent effects because of the antioxidants, fatty acids, and the fact that they are organic. When used in combination, these five natural oils for glowing skin are magical when combined together. Some are a little bit thicker than others, but when you use the lighter oils in combination with the richer oils it creates our GLOW & ENHANCE oil, which has a silky smooth and lightweight consistency.
How to Apply Natural Oils
When you are applying oils to the face, make sure the oils are at room temperature. If your oils have been outside (if you just received a shipment and you live somewhere cold), you want to make sure that you warm the oils. If you want them a little warmer than room temperature, you can also warm them in your hands. With GLOW & ENHANCE Facial Boost, I often warm the oils up in my hands by rubbing them together. When you’re ready to apply the oils to your skin, press them into your face so that they absorb in the areas where you want them.
If you have an oily area, such as your T-zone, avoid using oils directly on that area. Pressing oils into the areas exactly where you need them is a great way to use plant-based oils. You can also mix plant-based oils with other products such as your moisturizer or serum. If you haven’t tried natural oils for skin yet, start with plant-based, organic oils and have fun with them.
How to Use Natural Oils Effectively
When you’re using natural oils, not all of them will work well together. Some are thicker, some are thinner, and you want the right combination of those when you blend them. You also want to think about your skin type. When it comes to individual oils, there are certain ones that you need to be careful with and use caution. For example, when you are looking at essential oil tea tree oil, you don’t want to just use it undiluted directly on the skin. You want to use it in combination with other oils. Essential oils in general should be used in combination rather than alone when it comes to direct skincare use.
Furthermore, the consistency of some oils is not always ideal for skin right out of the bottle or jar. Oils like coconut oil are very thick when at room temperature. Using coconut oil alone on the skin can be difficult for certain skin types because of how thick it is. For people that tend to have oily skin, like the Olivia skin type, I don’t recommend using straight coconut oil on your face, areas where you tend to be oilier, or where you tend to break out. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever use coconut oil. Coconut oil in the right form and the right balance is great for all skin types. It is very hydrating and nourishing. However, it can be tricky for people with oilier skin. If that’s you, try coconut oil in combination with other oils.
Using natural oils in your skin care routine is a wonderful way to achieve radiant, smooth, and hydrated skin. By understanding how oils work and how they can work for your skin type, you can incorporate them into your beauty routine.
The Spa Dr. ® Approach
At The Spa Dr.®, our approach is to help shine the light on skin care information and offer our guidance to nurture your skin care journey. We believe we provide information that will help support your self-care and healing, and we want you to feel safe and cared for within our community!
The Spa Dr.® offers natural skin care products that are safe and free from chemicals and toxins that can harm your skin and health. Our products are formulated to contain key nutrients in their pure and active form in order to provide optimal results. In addition, our products are pH balanced towards mild acidity to promote and protect a healthy skin microbiome.
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