Natural oils, such as coconut oil, shea butter oil, and olive oil, have been used for skin and hair care for centuries. Generation after generation has touted them for their various moisturizing, protective and antibacterial qualities. With the growth of the modern cosmetic and wellness industries, these deceptively simple substances have often been overlooked, but have made a bit of a resurgence in the public eye over the past decade, as people scramble to find affordable and free of additives. and effective products.
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But what oils should you use and how? What is the difference between them?
Read on to learn more about how natural oils can help you have healthy, radiant skin.
7 natural oils for soft and radiant skin
Is it safe to use coconut oil and other oils on your skin and hair?
The use of natural oils for skin and hair care has been around for years: a paper published in the Journal of Experimental Botany suggested that ancient Egyptian civilizations, for example, dabbled in their use, while other research has suggested that ancient Greek athletes anointed themselves with olive oil. on their skin, perhaps to make their skin appear brighter during competitions.
Rajani Katta, MD, assistant clinical professor of medicine and board-certified dermatologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Bellaire, Texas, says we have “centuries of experience” to show that it is rare for natural oils, including coconut oil, olive oil and sunflower seed oil, to cause allergic reactions. “I think one of the reasons natural oils have really come back to prominence is because there has been a search for moisturizers that A) don’t cause allergic reactions, B) don’t have as many chemicals that trigger allergic reactions. , and C) they are profitable,” he says.
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That said, Dr. Katta recommends making sure your regimen is right for your skin, especially your face. For example, she says, if your skin is acne-prone, consider using natural oils to moisturize just your body and talk to your dermatologist before putting new oils on your face. Skin type, whether dry, oily, combination or sensitive, can play a big role in how skin care products can affect the skin, according to an article published in May-June 2016 in the Indian Journal of Dermatology.
Another factor to consider before using natural oils is how soon you plan to be in the sun after applying them. “If you use them on your face, I would definitely be very careful,” explains Katta. “Because they are oils, the effect of using radiation on facial skin is intensified.”
One way to avoid sun damage when using natural oils is to apply them differently at different times of the day. In the morning, she considers applying a thin layer to the skin (it should be absorbed in about 15 minutes, Katta says). At night, when you are not exposed to the sun, feel free to apply oil liberally. You’ll know you’ve applied too much if your skin doesn’t absorb it, Katta notes.
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How to apply natural oils to the face and body
“When applying natural oils, you really have to make a distinction between the face and the body,” says Katta. “I don’t usually recommend these types of oils for acne, simply because the oils could clog pores and make acne worse. But for that same woman who has acne on her face, coconut oil would be a great moisturizer for her body.”
Finding out how much oil suits your needs may require a bit of trial and error. While there is no research on how much oil should be used as a moisturizer, your skin will tell you when it is enough. If it feels too greasy, it means it hasn’t been fully absorbed.
Organic Oils vs. Essential Oils: Is There a Difference?
Many people have olive oil, coconut oil or sunflower seed oil in their kitchen cabinet. But can the same oils you cook with be applied to your face? Katta confirms that organic and unrefined products are her best option. “The type of coconut oil you cook with has a higher smoke point [than unrefined organic coconut oil], so it’s a little better for cooking, but to refine it, you may need to remove some of it.” of chemicals that may actually have beneficial properties,” he says. For that reason, Katta recommends extra virgin, cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil for hair and skin care, in l
