What is it? Almonds are tree nuts, along with cashews and walnuts. When used in beauty products, almonds are blended, ground or chopped into a very fine consistency.
What about almond oil? According to Notebook magazine, pure essential oils come from plant leaves, bark or fruit — in this case, from the almond. Specifically, these oils have very small molecules, so they’re easily absorbed into skin’s pores.
You'll find it in: Typically, you’ll see ground or chopped almonds in scrubs used for exfoliating. In addition, you can find almond oil in products that moisturize and hydrate, like body oils, lotions and creams.
You can also buy almond oil from health food stores: Choose oil that’s organic or minimally-processed for maximum benefits, says Dr. Maoshing Ni, anti-aging specialist for Yahoo Health. Keep your almond oil in the fridge, and use it within three months so it won’t spoil. Add the almond oil to create your own beauty concoctions by trying these great ideas:
- For a facial scrub, LoveToKnow suggests combining two tablespoons of oatmeal, two tablespoons of granulated and brown sugar, half a cup almond oil and one teaspoon of nutmeg. Rub on wet face, rinse off and dry.
- Have dry, rough hands? Try this rich hand cream recipe from Stephanie Huszar at WebMD. You'll need one cup grated beeswax, half a cup jojoba oil, two tablespoons of aloe vera gel, two tablespoons vitamin E oil, half a cup of sweet almond oil and nine drops of peppermint and orange essential oils for fragrance.
Our product picks: Choose from a variety of effective skincare products with almonds or almond oil.
What to expect: By using almonds and almond oil for your skin, you can look forward to the following benefits.
- Exfoliation. As LoveToKnow explains, your outer skin layer is composed of dead dry cells, which make skin look dull and feel rough. Even worse, dead skin cells clog pores, causing acne breakouts. Exfoliation sloughs off these dead layers and even erases sun damage, spots and minimizes wrinkles. After exfoliating, smoother and better-toned skin will surface. According to BelleMag, ground-up almond bits are a great choice for exfoliants; they flake away dead cells. You can even grind your own almonds in a blender or coffee grinder, and then add them to your favorite cleanser for an energized exfoliation. However, don't exfoliate more than twice a week, because it can cause irritation.
- Moisturization. Almond oil is a terrific moisturizer, according to Yahoo Food: it penetrates skin without causing greasiness and holds in moisture. Thanks to almond oil's linoleic acid, skin's moisture will increase and skin will become softer, according to BelleMag. For rough ragged cuticles, almond oil is a fabulous moisturizing fix — just massage it in.
- Antioxidants. Almonds actually contain vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant with anti-aging benefits.
Who should avoid it: LoveToKnow warns against exfoliating with almond scrubs on skin that has cuts, scrapes and openings or if you have a sunburn. Also, if you're allergic to nuts, don't use almond or almond oil products. According to Newsweek, over 11 million Americans have food allergies, and nut allergies are especially common. If you develop an allergy, you might experience swelling, itchiness, red skin or serious signs like chest pain and breathing problems, which require a trip to the emergency room. For skin rash or itchiness, try hydrocortisone cream and oral antihistamines, advises dermatologist Amy Wechsler.
See also:
Sulfur
Skincare from the Vine: Grape Seed Extract
10 Simple Secrets to Healthy Hair
Skin Care Products: Apply the Right Amount
3 Things You Should Know about Sun Damage