Beyond Coconut: 7 Other Natural Oils for Radiant, Smooth Skin

 For millennia, people have utilized natural oils for skin and hair care, including olive, coconut, and shea butter oils. They have been praised for their numerous moisturizing, antimicrobial, and protecting properties by generations of people.

Even with the expansion of the contemporary wellness and cosmetic industries,[1] these surprisingly straightforward ingredients are frequently disregarded. However, in the last ten years, they have become more popular as consumers look for inexpensive, efficient, and additive-free products.

RELATED: Is Coconut Oil Beneficial to Your Health?

Can You Use Other Oils including Coconut Oil on Your Skin and Hair Without Risk?

Natural oil application has been used for ages to care for skin and hair. For example, ancient Egyptian civilizations experimented with using them, while Greek athletes applied olive oil to their skin, maybe to enhance their skin's radiance during competitions.[2]

 
According to Rajani Katta, MD, voluntary clinical faculty member at the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Houston and board-certified dermatologist, we have "centuries of experience" to show that allergic reactions to natural oils, such as coconut, olive, and sunflower seed oil, are rare.

According to her, "I believe that the quest for moisturizers that A) don't trigger allergic reactions, B) don't have as many chemicals that trigger allergic reactions, and C) are cost-effective is one of the reasons that natural oils have really come back into prominence."

Related: Five Miracles of Coconut Oil for Skin and Hair

Having said that, Dr. Katta suggests ensuring that your regimen is appropriate for your skin type, particularly for your face. For example, she suggests that if you have acne-prone skin, moisturize your body exclusively with natural oils and see a dermatologist before applying any new oils to your face. Your skin type—oily, mixed, sensitive, or dry—can have a significant impact on the effects of skin care products.[3]

 
How soon you plan to be in the sun after using natural oils should also be taken into account before using them. "I would definitely be very careful if you are using them on the face," Katta says. "Using radiation on facial skin has an intensified effect because they are oils."

Applying natural oils in different ways at different times of the day is one technique to prevent sun damage. Think about putting a little amount on your skin first thing in the morning; Katta says it should soak in approximately 15 minutes. Apply as much oil as you like during the night while you aren't in the sun. According to Katta, if your skin isn't absorbing the product, you've applied too much.

RELATED: 5 Natural Remedies for Dry Skin

How to Moisturize Your Face and Body with Natural Oils

"You really have to distinguish between the face and the body when applying natural oils," Katta advises. "Since oils have the potential to block pores and exacerbate acne, I generally don't advocate these kinds of oils for acne. But coconut oil would make a fantastic body moisturizer for the same person who suffers from facial acne.

A small amount of trial and error may be necessary to determine how much oil meets your needs. Although the ideal amount of oil to use as a moisturizer has not been studied, your skin will tell you when it has had enough. It isn't fully absorbed if it feels extremely oily.

Do Cooking and Unrefined Oils Differ From One Another?

A lot of individuals keep sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, or olive oil in their kitchen cabinets. Can you apply the same oils you use in your cooking to your face, though?

Katta says, not always. For instance, coconut oil can be used for both cooking and beauty (although it contains a lot of saturated fat, so use caution while cooking with it). However, the type of coconut oil you use for each function may vary.

"You may be removing some of the chemicals that may actually have beneficial properties in order to refine coconut oil, but the type of coconut oil that you typically cook with is refined and has a higher smoke point [than unrefined coconut oil], so it's a little bit better for cooking at higher temperatures,” she says. In contrast to more refined goods, Katta suggests using extra-virgin, cold-pressed, organic, unrefined oils for hair and skin care.

How to Apply Essential Oils for Cosmetic Goals

Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that have their original flavor and aroma after being extracted mechanically or through distillation.

 

According to Katta, oils like olive and coconut oil are less likely to cause adverse reactions than oils like tea tree, argan, and lemon oil. The reputation of tea tree oil as a fantastic antibacterial and antifungal component has grown over time. Although it does have certain qualities, Katta advises using it quite sparingly.

READ MORE: Can Essential Oils Treat Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema?

She cautions that tea tree oil's effects on skin might occasionally be harmful. "I have seen people experience allergic reactions when they apply it to eczema cracks on their skin, for example, so I would never use it on open skin."

Although Katta advises against using essential oils on skin that is extremely sensitive, she thinks that most individuals should be able to use them safely as long as they follow the recommended usage guidelines. For instance, an essential oil can be diluted before application or cooking by using a carrier oil as a neutral base.

She explains, "You have to dilute them quite a bit." "For the majority of people, using a few drops in a carrier like coconut oil would probably be fine," the woman advises.

Katta warns that certain oils can be more prone than others to have unfavorable side effects. "I've seen a lot of reactions to things like clove, cinnamon, lavender, and lemon oils if you have eczema or sensitive skin. When it comes to essential oils that can cause allergic responses, those are some of my main worries.

How to Use Natural Oils for Skin Care: Where to Begin

Getting a referral from your doctor is crucial before using any oils on your skin. However, to get you going, these are a few of the most well-liked types of natural oils:

1.Coconut Oil

The health benefits of coconut oil, which include those from vitamins E and K as well as its antifungal and antibacterial qualities, are well known. It is also easily absorbed into the skin. The lone significant outlier? Coconut oil is also likely to contribute to breakouts, along with cocoa butter. "Coconut oil is a great option for almost everyone overall, but I wouldn't use it on my face if I had oily skin or was prone to acne," adds Katta.

In one study, the researchers discovered that when used as a carrier, coconut oil moisturized skin more effectively than olive oil. For your face or skin care, always go for cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil.

READ MORE: Does Coconut Oil Benefit the Heart?

2. Coconut Oil

According to Katta, extra-virgin olive oil is the best option, but it doesn't usually cause allergic reactions. Olive oil has been shown in several studies to have potential as a moisturizer since it includes vitamins A, D, E, and K.

According to Katta, its thick consistency makes it an excellent option for an all-over application. For a cleaning that won't dry up your skin, you might even want to try an olive oil cleanser or bar of soap.

Olive oil, however, might not be the ideal skin oil for those who are prone to acne.[8] Because they don't clog pores, other non-comedogenic oils including jojoba, safflower, and sunflower oil are preferable options for those with acne. 

3. Sunflower Seed Oil

4. Shea Butter

Shea butter, which is made from the nuts of the African shea tree, is similar to tallow and is typically found in a solid state. However, it melts at body temperature and is occasionally used as a moisturizer and hair product, according to Katta, who also notes that she hasn't noticed any allergic reactions from her patients. To make it smoother to apply, unrefined organic shea butter can also be mixed with coconut or olive oil.

5. Jojoba Oil

Jojoba is a native of Mexico and the American Southwest, where Native American tribes have employed the oils collected from the plant's seeds for medical purposes. Additionally, I don't observe many allergic reactions to jojoba. I just don't have a lot of experience with it because I haven't seen it become as popular as some other natural oils, adds Katta.

Among its many skin benefits, researchers have discovered that jojoba oil may offer anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties.

6. Almond Oil

Almond oil, which is derived from pressed raw almonds, is rich in potassium, zinc, proteins, and vitamin E. Compared to shea butter and olive oil, which many find enticing to use on the face, it has a lighter feel. However, Katta advises against using sweet almond oil if you have sensitive skin because it may cause allergic reactions.

7.Grapeseed oil

Compared to other natural oils, grapeseed oil is lightweight and contains vital fatty acids and vitamin E. Moreover, it has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant qualities.

Compared to the other oils, Katta's experience indicates that grapeseed oil is less frequently used for skin care, but she is positive about its potential application. She states, "I have not observed any allergic reactions to grapeseed oil." It's kind of intriguing that it contains a variety of phytochemicals with antioxidant effects as well.

7. Rose Hip Seed Oil

Rose hip seed oil, which is made from the seeds of wild rose bushes, has become quite popular and is increasingly used in skincare products for the face that claim to be hydrating and anti-aging.

According to a study review, rose hip seed oil has demonstrated encouraging results when used to treat inflammatory skin conditions like eczema. Its essential fatty acids and antioxidants, which include provitamin A, offer "relatively high protection against inflammation" and oxidative skin damage.