Fight Acne and Nourish Skin Naturally
Acne-prone skin can be frustrating, even embarrassing, and it can put a damper on your self-esteem. Natural oils, however, can be highly effective at treating oily, acne-prone skin and any resultant scars. Fats? Oils? On my blemished skin? No way!
Contrary to what you might believe, natural oils are not bad for acne-prone or oily skin. Rather, they are typically botanical-based oils made from pressing the healthy, fatty components of a plant, such as the seeds or nuts.
Carrier oils like Sea Buckthorn, Broccoli Seed, Jamaican Black Castor and more can help balance sebum production, soothe inflammation and reduce flare-ups. Here are the top 11 natural oils you might want to test out if you have oily, acne-prone skin.
You know those plump, red seeds inside the pomegranate fruit? Turns out they have more uses than just providing you with something to chew on and spit out.
Pomegranate seeds make Pomegranate Seed Oil, and this oil is ideally suited to acne-prone skin because it has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also has linoleic acid balancing sebum levels, and punicic acid, which has high antioxidant, skin-protecting properties.
2. Argan Oil
Made from the argan tree's non-roasted kernels, Argan Oil is a powerful product high in essential fatty acids and vitamin E, which can be ideal for scars and problem skin. Since the slow-growing argan tree is endemic to southwest Morocco, care must be taken to gather the oil in a sustainable fashion; Moroccan women have formed many cooperatives to do just that.
Cold-pressed, unrefined, beauty-grade (not to be confused with cosmetic-grade) Argan Oil helps nourish and moisturize the skin without encouraging excess sebum production. It also has a noncomedogenic rating of 0, and therefore won't clog pores, which is excellent news for those who break out easily. Check out this Blueberry Argan Face Mask for some fun ideas.
Cold-pressed Carrot Seed Oil is made from the seeds of elegant flowering wild carrot, which some of you might know as Queen Anne's lace. Anyone with acne scars should pay attention to UV protection, to avoid scars harden and darken while you're outside.
This Carrot Seed Oil is superb for protecting the skin, and it can be applied as a base layer under sunscreen. It moisturizes while balancing sebum production, which is always helpful for oily or acne-prone skin. Plus, it helps with skin cell rejuvenation and reducing the appearance of wrinkles (Shh! We won't tell if you won't!), encouraging smoother skin with a more youthful glow.
Does sea buckthorn come from the sea? Nope, but its healing properties are certainly making waves. The seeds from this coastal-mountainous shrub are pressed to release their bountiful supply of sebum-balancing linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid.
Apart from helping with acne, Sea Buckthorn Oil is suitable if you suffer from other skin conditions like rosacea; the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties soothe blemishes and unsightly redness.
5. Tomato Seed Oil
Is anyone else guilty of scooping out these seeds and throwing them away? You might want to reconsider in light of the fact that oil from these seeds help your problem skin.
That's right, Tomato Seed Oil is rich in vitamin E, linoleic acid and antioxidants like lycopene and lutein. The oil also has plenty of minerals that restore softer, healthier skin.
6. Emu Oil
Emu Oil is the sole animal-based oil on this list. Good practices are at work here because emus are not killed for their oil. Rather, it is a by-product of the Australian Emu meat industry and would be wasted if it didn't have such great skin-healing properties.
Emu Oil has oleic acid for strong, skin-soothing, anti-inflammatory properties, while its linoleic acid component helps add moisture and keeps pores unclogged. The oil is also great for sun damage, for those of you who love the sun just a tad too much.
7. Broccoli Seed Oil
Eat your broccoli! Now you can add another perk to this cruciferous vegetable: its ability in helping achieve better skin. Linolenic, linoleic and arachidonic acid all help add moisture and essential fatty acids to your skin.
Broccoli Seed Oil also has plenty of vitamin A and C, and it can soothe inflammation from acne and balance your skin's sebum production.
8. Tamanu Oil
Tamanu is made from laurelwood tree nuts, which grow in tropical climates around the world. This oil, like many of the others on this list is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and UV-blocking. Acne sufferers have much to gain from Tamanu Oil.
Like its close counterpart, castor oil, Jamaican Black Castor Oil is made from pressing the castor plant's beans to capture their beneficial oils. The difference is in the processing: Jamaican black castor beans are first roasted and then pressed, which produces ash and can enhance the healing properties.
The oil helps soothe inflammation, diminish signs of aging and moisturize like nobody's business. Thanks to the ricinoleic acid, Jamaican Black Castor Oil is also beneficial for eliminating facial bacteria, balancing hormones and softening irritated skin.
10. Kiwi Seed Oil
Kiwis are bland on the outside, but inside they're gorgeous. Now just imagine what they can do for your skin. With high concentrations of alpha-linolenic acid, vitamin E and plenty of antioxidants, Kiwi Seed Oil is primed to help your skin achieve a balanced moisture content and supple appearance.
Nothing says summer like freshly picked raspberries. The seeds of this gorgeous fruit contain vitamin E, essential fatty acids and a high SPF effectiveness of 25-50, when used as a base layer under sunscreen. How's that for berry power!
Red Raspberry Seed Oil also helps calm skin inflammation and banish blemishes, all the more reason to give it a try.
How to Use Carrier Oils
Carrier oils don't need to be diluted, which makes them handy when you're dashing out the door or chasing after an adventurous youngster. You can apply natural oils after a shower or bath, or as an overnight moisturizer. They also work when added to your other beauty products or as an intensive treatment for acne scars, eczema or rosacea.
Some oils, like Pomegranate Seed Oil even work well for oil cleansing. Massage 2-4 drops onto your face and then rinse off or wipe off with a warm wet cloth.
Start your journey toward healthier skin. Confidence in your own skin is achievable with the help of natural, organic oils.
Natural Oils Recap
- Pomegranate Seed Oil soothes irritation and prevents breakouts with antimicrobial properties. Use Pomegranate Seed Oil to oil cleanse or as a moisturizer.
- With a comedogenic rating of 0, Argan Oil won't clog your pores at all. Perfect for sensitive skin, use as a light moisturizer.
- Add UV protection to your skin by applying a few drops of Carrot Seed Oil to your skin after cleansing your skin and before applying sunscreen.
- Antibacterial properties in Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil make this oil great for breakouts. Apply a drop of oil onto acne-affected area or use as an overall face moisturizer.
- Emu Oil protects your skin, soothes it, encourages healing, and won't clog pores. Use as a night-time moisturizer.
- Tomato Seed Oil is known to soothe and soften skin. Use nightly as a moisturizer for best benefits.
- Thick and nourishing, Tamanu Oil soothes and prevents breakouts. Spot-treat acne or use as a moisturizer.
- Jamaican Black Castor Oil helps to balance hormones within the skin and soothe breakouts, prevents bacterial breakouts and softens skin. Use directly on blemishes that are forming.
- Antioxidants and Vitamin E in Kiwi Seed Oil help to smooth and exfoliate your skin. Use as a daily moisturizer.
- Calming inflammation and high in UV blocking, Red Raspberry Seed Oil can be used in the morning under a bas layer of sunscreen to help soothe breakouts and prevent scar tissue.
ABOUT LEVEN ROSE
Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado Leven Rose offers an expanding natural product line that includes the #1 Beard Oil on Amazon, a Boar Bristle Beard Brush, Wooden Bamboo Beard Comb, the #1 Jojoba Oil on Amazon, Argan Oil, Cold-Pressed Rosehip Oil, Natural Pomegranate Oil, Moroccan Rose Water, Watercress Oil, and more.
