The
use of oils in skin care
Olive
oil
Olive
oil is healthful for consumption because of its high content of
monosaturated fat (mainly oleic acid) and polyphenols. Dietary prowesses
of this miracle oil have been touted for a long time, and rightfully
so.
In addition
to the internal health benefits of olive oil, topical application
is quite popular with fans of natural health remedies and skin care
products.
Besides
food, olive oil has been used for medicines, as a fuel in oil lamps,
to make soap, as bodily decoration and as a sexual lubricant. The
importance and antiquity of olive oil can be seen in the fact that
the word "oil" actually derives from the same root as
"olive".
Olive
oil is the main ingredient in several beauty products such as Marseille
soap (insert links), and other products from Mediterranean countries.
Some
other suggestions:
- use pure olive oil as a cleansing cream if you have dry skin
- use olive oil on your feet with clean white cotton soft to soften
skin
- rub on your elbows, to soften the rough skin there
- use olive oil as a bath oil (add some lavender essence for scent).
Argan
oil
Argan
oil is produced from the fruits of the Argan tree, native of the
calcareous semi-desert of southwestern Morocco. It is the sole species
in the genus Argania. The Argan tree now grows only in SW Morocco
.It is believed to date back 25,000,000 years and to have once covered
N. Africa. Now endangered and under protection of UNESCO, the Argan
grows wild in semi-desert soil, its deep root system helping to
protect against soil erosion and the northern advance of the Sahara
Argan
Oil is still traditionally extracted from the nut of a tree that
can only grow in the wild in the tiny Argan forest, a UN world heritage
site. This rare oil has been used by the Berbers for many years
to ensure healthy and beautiful skin. Apart from the benefits to
the skin, the oil helps in the development of the brain as well
as helps in preventing heart disease.
Body
Care Properties
For
the beautiful ones of the desert, the oil of Argan is their secret
of beauty, marvelous elixir of youth, able to regenerate their skin.
Its chemical composition and vitamins make it an unrivaled ingredient
for moisturizing and for rejuvenating cosmetic use. It provides
comfort and well-being, suppleness and softness. It naturally contains
Vitamin E which eliminates free radicals and neutralizes destructive
oxidation, linoleic acid (an essential omega-6 fatty acid), tocopherol
(also inhibits free radicals), and carotenoid pigments (a naturally
occurring but necessary pigment found in plants and animals). It
is also rich in unsaturated fatty acids which have many beneficial
properties for the skin’s cellular membranes.
Almond
oil
Sweet
almond oil is obtained from the dried kernel of the almond plant
This oil has traditionally been used by massage therapists, as a
skin lubricant. It is also an effective emollient.
Pure
almond oil is the most popular carrier oil used for facial and body
massage, and its excellent emollient properties help the skin to
balance water loss and absorption of moisture.
It is
a great moisturizer, and it is also suitable for all skin types,
helping relieve irritation, inflammation and itching. Because the
oil does not penetrate the skin overly quickly, it is a good massage
medium to use to help spread the oil and essential oil mixture,
while still allowing you time to do a good massage before the skin
absorbs it.
Not
only does almond oil help protect the surface of the skin, but it
has great value, acting as an emollient, skin soother and softener,
while conditioning the skin and promoting a clear young looking
complexion. It also helps to relieve muscular aches and pains.
Almond
oil is suitable for all skin types, but is especially good for dry
or irritated skin.
Shea
butter
Shea
butter is a natural fat extracted from the fruit of the Shea tree
by crushing and boiling Shea butter has become widely used in cosmetics
as a moisturizer and emollient.
Although
Shea utter is known especially for its cosmetic properties as a
moisturizer and emollient, it is in fact also edible and sometimes
replaces cocoa butter in foods. It is also known as an anti-inflammatory
agent. Some conditions that can benefit from using shea butter include:
fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne, severely dry skin, blemishes,
dark spots and skin discoloration, chapping, stretch marks, wrinkles
and in some cases it can relieve the irritating effects of psoriasis.
It is very well tolerated by the skin for it does not normally trigger
any allergic reaction and can even be used on very sensitive skin
areas such as mucous tissues and around the eyes.
Due to the presence of a sizeable quantity of unsaponifiable fats,
its content in vitamins and other active elements, shea butter adds
other more precise activities to these general properties. The butter
is a natural UV protector although it should not be used as the
only protection against the sun, especially for sun sensitive skins.
The butter does absorb easily into the skin and does not leave a
greasy film.
It displays
a protecting role against UV rays because of its content in cinnamic
acid and can thus be incorporated in solar products. The natural
latex contained in shea butter would moreover prevent certain sun
allergies. Shea butter also helps cell regeneration and capillary
circulation. This favours the healing of small wounds, skin cracks
and crevices, and skin ulcers. In the cosmetic field, this property
is an asset against skin aging. It has restructuring effects on
the epidermis, also on dry and fragile hair. Dry skin, dermatitis,
dermatoses, eczema, sun burn, and burns are all helped by natural
shea butter. It has an anti-elastase characteristic which makes
it a good active ingredient against stretch marks.
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