Have you, like me, succumbed to the virtues of vegetable oils? Maybe you are still hesitating, for fear of having oily skin or pimples?
It is true that some oils are comedogenic (I’ll tell you about it below), it happened to me and that’s why I’m writing this article.
Vegetable oils have many benefits for your skin. They are healthy, effective and natural. So take a few minutes to read the following and you’ll find out…
A few words about vegetable oils and essentials oils: what is the difference
VEGETABLE OIL
A vegetable oil is nothing else than a fatty substance resulting from seeds or oleaginous fruits, like for example almonds, macadamia, olives or borage! The seed or fruit is pressed and/or chemically treated to obtain the oil, which is generally fluid and greasy. We also call by extension vegetable oil macerates (like Carrot) which are in fact fruits extracted by soaking in a neutral vegetable oil (Sunflower for example). 🙂
ESSENTIAL OIL
An essential oil is extracted from aromatic plants by steam distillation of different parts of plants (barks, leaves, flowers…) or by cold pressing fresh citrus peels. In other words, it is the distilled essence of the aromatic plant. 🙂
In this article we will only focus on vegetable oils and NOT on essential oils.
Why you can’t live without vegetable oils!
On your body, your hair, your face… In the evening, in the morning. Alone or combined with other oils… To remove your make-up, and even a few drops added to your cream… Vegetable oils do everything!
- They have excellent protective and moisturizing properties because they reduce water loss from your skin. The problem with skin is that water naturally evaporates (which causes skin aging), so oil prevents water from escaping;
- The oils interact well with your skin and penetrate deeply;
- They are wonderful sources of fatty acids (omega-3, 6 and 9) and vitamins:
- Vitamin A prevents skin dryness and promotes collagen synthesis,
- Vitamin E is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and moisturizer,
- Vitamin D, K…
Clearly, vegetable oils are ideal for keeping your skin healthy, hydrated and supple.
But each oil has its own characteristic.
I didn’t understand this, which is why my debut with vegetable oils was a failure.
Today, I would like to come back in detail on vegetable oils and their use, to share with you my mistakes, to avoid you to reproduce them.
And above all, to guide you in choosing a plant oil that corresponds to your skin type and that targets your expectations (anti-wrinkle, antioxidant, dry skin, dilated pores…).
There are so many of them that it is sometimes difficult to see clearly.
You will see, I have prepared a guide on the benefits of 7 oils selected for you.
Here’s what you risk if you don’t use the right oil
It all started with linseed oil.
I didn’t really think much of it when I chose this one, I had heard that it has great moisturizing properties, and I thought I would kill two birds with one stone: remove my makeup and moisturize my skin.
I was happy with my new beauty routine. But after a while, I started getting pimples!
I researched flaxseed oil further and discovered that it is actually comedogenic. This means that it can, for some people, clog pores and cause imperfections, such as pimples and microcysts.
There is a classification of oils to know if they are more or less comedogenic [1].
The index is between 0 and 5.
This allows you to choose your oil according to your skin type.
I might as well say that with my combination skin and blackhead problems, I had made the wrong choice by opting for linseed oil.
How to choose your oil or how to determine your expectations
After this unfortunate discovery, I didn’t want to put whatever on my face.
So I started by looking for a suitable oil for my combination skin (read this article to determine your skin type).
To remove my makeup, I ended up opting for almond oil, which suits me perfectly. Its slightly oily texture traps traces of makeup.
It also nourishes and moisturizes my skin.
Almond oil is rich in vitamin A and E, so it improves the elasticity of my skin and accelerates the repair of my cells.
I then spray floral water on my face – there are many varieties, choose one according to your skin type and its virtues.
I use geranium hydrosol very often, as it is known to deep cleanse the skin and soothe skin irritations.
My fascination with plant oils didn’t stop there!
As I researched, I learned more and more, and decided to replace my day and night cream, with a plant oil serum.
I listed what I was looking to treat:
| My imperfections | How to treat them | Which vegetable oil? |
| Dilated pores, thus blackheads on my T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) | Regulate my sebum production responsible for my blackheads | Jojoba oil |
| Specific dry areas (on the sides of my nose, under my eyes and on my forehead) | Moisturize my skin | Orange blossom oil |
| The appearance of expression lines | Restore elasticity to my skin and fight the first wrinkles | Rose hip oil |
| Dark circles | Activate the microcirculation to make my dark circles disappear | Calophyllum oil |
| A dull complexion | Give my complexion a glow | Apricot kernel oil |
This is how I treat my skin problems effectively with several oils.
I’ve been applying this serum morning and night for over a year now, and the results are there: my pores are even (I don’t have any more pimples), my skin has regained its elasticity, I no longer have any dry areas and my dark circles have diminished.
Of course, it is up to you to find the oils and quantities that correspond to what you want to treat (for this, use the guide that I have prepared below).
My serum recipe – how you should proceed
My serum allows me to take advantage of the active ingredients of each oil I use, so it is moisturizing, tightening, antioxidant and gives radiance to my complexion.
To do this, I pour into a 30 ml bottle:
- 10 ml of jojoba oil,
- 10 ml rose hip oil,
- 5 ml of orange blossom oil,
- 5 ml of apricot kernel oil.
In a glass container, I measure the desired amount of oil with a measuring bottle, then with a small funnel, I pour the mixture into a dark glass bottle with a dropper.
Learn how to use your vegetable oil properly
I told you, the benefits of vegetable oils are numerous for your skin, but you still need to know how to use them well. Here are my tips for using them.
Put three to four drops of your oil or serum in the palm of your hand. Warm them up, then massage them on your damp skin. This creates an emulsion (a mixture of oil and water).
Indeed, by depositing a fatty substance on your skin, you protect it. It does not lose – or very little – the water it already contains.
But this fatty substance is not enough, you must also bring water to your epidermis.
By using an emulsion, the water is better absorbed, so you moisturize your skin more effectively.
On the other hand, oil does not stimulate your sebum production, but prevents the water in your dermis (the deepest layer of your skin) from evaporating.
It therefore prevents your skin from becoming dehydrated.
My practical guide to choosing the right vegetable oil for you
Below, I have prepared a chart to help you find the oil that best suits your needs and your skin type.
| Oil | Skin type | Properties | Benefits |
Jojoba Oil
| All skin types, but recommended if you have oily skin | The oil that is closest to your skin The composition of jojoba oil is similar to that of your sebum. It protects your skin and retains moisture. |
|
Rose Hip Oil
| All skin types, but ideal if you have dry, problem or mature skin | Natural anti-wrinkle, loaded with active tensors Rosehip oil is very rich in omega 3 and 6, essential fatty acids. They contribute to the regeneration of your skin. It is therefore perfect if your skin is wrinkled and damaged. |
|
Carrot Seed Oil
| Ideal if you have dry or mature skin | Protective and restorative Carrot seed oil is rich in natural retinol (vitamin A), as well as vitamins B, PP, C, H and K, it helps to keep your skin moisturized. It neutralizes free radicals, responsible for skin aging. |
|
Borage Oil
| For mature and dehydrated skin | Softening and anti-aging Borage oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins A, D, E and K. This gives it highly sought-after anti-ageing properties. |
|
Apricot Kernel Oil
| Suitable for all skin types | Moisturizing and anti-aging, gives a luminous complexion Apricot kernel oil is very rich in vitamin A and Omega 6, ideal for your facial skin. Its use is perfect as a night cream. |
|
Argan Oil
| Perfect if you have dry and sensitive skin, but suitable for all skin types | Moisturizes and protects, perfect anti-aging Very rich in unsaturated fatty acids, argan oil also contains a good dose of vitamin E. |
|
Hazelnut Oil
| If you have fragile, acne-prone and skin with redness | Nourishing and moisturizing, problem skin Hazelnut oil is rich in omega 9, vitamins E and A. |
|
Be careful with the conservation of your oil
One last thing, vegetable oils oxidize more quickly than creams.
This is why you should keep them in a dark bottle, in a cool place and away from light.
Make sure you close the cap properly.
If the smell is acrid, unpleasant, it is an indication that the oil is oxidized, therefore potentially bad for your skin, because comedogenic.
I hope these tips and guide will help you choose your plant oil well, and get the most out of it. Feel free to share below the oil or combinations you use according to your skin type.
Sources:
[1] The Complete List of Comedogenic Oils: https://www.holistichealthherbalist.com/complete-list-of-comedogenic-oils/
