Skin Health Skin Care & Cleansing Products Best Oils for Skin By Steph Coelho Steph Coelho Twitter Steph Coelho is a freelance health and wellness writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience working on health and wellness content. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 11, 2021 Medically reviewed by Leah Ansell, MD Medically reviewed by Leah Ansell, MD LinkedIn Leah Ansell, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor of dermatology at Columbia University. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Types of Oils How Oils Are Used for Skincare Composition Benefits Risks Moisturizing is an important part of every skincare regimen, even for those with oily and combination skin types. There’s evidence that many natural oils, like coconut oil, can provide moisture to parched skin and delay some signs of aging. Oils are a little different than lotions, and you might find that certain oils make your skin look and feel better. Jessica Olah / Verywell Types of Oils for Skin Here are some natural oils that can benefit the skin. Coconut Oil Research suggests that coconut oil has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healing properties. It can also help with damaged hair and skin barrier repair. Will Coconut Oil Clear Your Acne? Almond Oil There’s some research suggesting a link between topical application of almond oil and anti-aging effects. Almond oil may also help with skin barrier repair. Almond Oil Benefits for Skin and Hair Grapeseed Oil Studies suggest that grapeseed oil has anti-bacterial, antioxidant, and wound healing properties. It may have possible anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects as well. Grapeseed Oil for Skin Olive Oil According to animal and human studies, olive oil may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healing effects when applied topically. There’s also a possible link between topical application of olive oil and anti-aging effects. Does Olive Oil Heal Acne Scars? Sunflower Seed Oil There’s evidence that sunflower seed oil may help with skin barrier repair. Research also shows that it has anti-inflammatory effects and may help with wound healing. Argan Oil Argan oil is a popular skincare oil that can help with skin barrier repair. Studies suggest that it has anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects. Topical application has also been shown to have an anti-aging effect on skin by improving skin elasticity. Argan Oil: Uses, Benefits, & More Rosehip Seed Oil Rosehip seed oil may help with skin barrier repair. There’s also evidence that it can help fight signs of aging and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Jojoba Oil There’s promising research on jojoba oil that suggests it can aid in skin barrier repair. It also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound healing properties. Jojoba oil can also improve the absorption of topically applied medications. It may have anti-bacterial effects. Best Oils for Skin Marula Oil Research shows that marula oil has significant moisturizing benefits for the skin. It’s also non-irritating and may help the skin retain moisture. Tea Tree Oil Tea tree oil has been used to help manage acne, as an anti-fungal, and to reduce inflammation. Uses and Benefits of Tea Tree Oil Safflower Seed Oil Sometimes used in cooking, safflower seed oil has also been used directly on the skin to help manage signs of eczema. How Oils Are Used for Skincare Cosmetic and skincare companies frequently use natural oils as ingredients in their products. Natural oils are popular because many are gentler on the skin than synthetic ingredients. You’ll find natural oils in all types of products, including cleansers, moisturizers, face masks, soaps, face oils, serums, and more. Many natural oils, like coconut oil, can be directly applied to the skin. Although, you should be careful when using oils directly on your face—especially if you have oily or acne-prone skin. Note that natural oils are not the same as essential oils. Essential oils should be diluted with a carrier oil because they are very potent and can cause irritation. Do a patch test on your skin when using any product for the first time to check for potential allergic reactions. Best Way to Apply Oils Most research looks at the effects of topically applied oils. Topical application means that they're directly applied to the skin. That said, soaps and moisturizers are still an effective vehicle for natural oils, especially if you’re not comfortable slathering unrefined oil on your skin. Composition Why are natural oils so effective for the skin? It’s because they contain a host of ingredients with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, including: Vitamin A Vitamin C Vitamin E Vitamin D Polyphenols Flavonoids Botanical antioxidants Coenzyme Q10 Omega-3 fatty acids 5 Essential Vitamins for Skin Health Benefits Natural oils have a variety of research-backed benefits. Many natural oils: Moisturize (keep the skin from losing moisture)Soothe the skin (have an emollient effect)Have antioxidant effects (prevent damage from free radicals)Have anti-bacterial propertiesHave anti-inflammatory effects Barrier Repair Evidence shows that many natural oils have a barrier repair effect. Oils with more linoleic acid than oleic acid may do a better job at repairing the skin barrier. Oils with more oleic acid may irritate the skin. Reduces Scarring Some natural oils, like rosehip oil, help with wound healing and may also reduce the appearance of scars. Reduces UV Damage Sun damage can seriously impact the look of your skin. Natural oils won’t protect your skin from sun damage (you need sunscreen for that) but some may help reduce UV damage. One 2007 animal study found a link between topically applied almond oil and the prevention of structural damage due to UV radiation. More Research Needed There’s a lot of research on natural oils for skincare out there. A lot of it is promising. However, more research is needed to better understand the role of natural oils on aging and skin health. More research on the potential adverse effects, like irritation, is also required. Risks Natural oils are great because they often don’t pose the same risk for irritation as synthetic chemicals in cosmetics and other skincare products. However, that doesn’t mean that using natural oils doesn’t pose a risk. Because the skin on your face is more sensitive than on other parts of your body, you may experience irritation when using oils directly on your face as opposed to your arms and legs. Applying oils to your skin before going out in the sun can also increase your risk of sunburn. Allergy Concerns There’s always a possibility for allergic reactions. If you notice redness or irritation after topically applying a natural oil, stop using it right away. Get emergency help if you experience swelling or hives or have trouble breathing. Those symptoms are signs of a dangerous anaphylactic reaction. Immediate treatment with epinephrine is needed. There there is a risk of death, so call 911. A Word From Verywell There’s a lot of promising research about the potential benefits of natural oils for skin health. That said, a skincare regimen that works for someone else may not work for you. If your skin is easily irritated or if you have a skin condition like eczema, talk to your dermatologist before adding natural oils to your skincare regimen. 12 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Lin T-K, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;19(1). doi: 10.3390/ijms19010070 Agero ALC, Verallo-Rowell VM. A randomized double-blind controlled trial comparing extra virgin coconut oil with mineral oil as a moisturizer for mild to moderate xerosis. Dermatitis. 2004;15(3):109-116. doi: 10.2310/6620.2004.04006. Chaiyana W, Leelapornpisid P, Phongpradist R, Kiattisin K. Enhancement of antioxidant and skin moisturizing effects of olive oil by incorporation into microemulsions. Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology. 2016;6. doi: 10.1177/1847980416669488 Danby SG, AlEnezi T, Sultan A, et al. Effect of olive and sunflower seed oil on the adult skin barrier: implications for neonatal skin care. Pediatr Dermatol. 2013;30(1):42-50. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2012.01865.x Qiraouani Boucetta K, Charrouf Z, Aguenaou H, Derouiche A, Bensouda Y. The effect of dietary and/or cosmetic argan oil on postmenopausal skin elasticity. Clin Interv Aging. 2015;10:339-349. doi:10.2147/CIA.S71684 Pazyar N, Yaghoobi R, Ghassemi MR, Kazerouni A, Rafeie E, Jamshydian N. Jojoba in dermatology: A succinct review. G Ital Dermatol Venereol. 2013;148(6):687-691. Komane B, Vermaak I, Summers B, Viljoen A. Safety and efficacy of Sclerocarya birrea (A. Rich.) Hochst (Marula) oil: A clinical perspective. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;176:327-335. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2015.10.037 Schagen SK, Zampeli VA, Makrantonaki E, Zouboulis CC. Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012;4(3):298-307. doi:10.4161/derm.22876 Vaughn AR, Clark AK, Sivamani RK, Shi VY. Natural oils for skin-barrier repair: Ancient compounds now backed by modern science. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018;19(1):103-117. doi:10.1007/s40257-017-0301-1 Lei Z, Cao Z, Yang Z, Ao M, Jin W, Yu L. Rosehip oil promotes excisional wound healing by accelerating the phenotypic transition of macrophages. Planta Med. 2019;85(7):563-569. doi:10.1055/a-0725-8456 Sultana Y, Kohli K, Athar M, Khar RK, Aqil M. Effect of pre-treatment of almond oil on ultraviolet B-induced cutaneous photoaging in mice. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2007;6(1):14-19. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2165.2007.00293.x Moore EM, Wagner C, Komarnytsky S. The enigma of bioactivity and toxicity of botanical oils for skin care. Front Pharmacol. 2020;11. doi:10.3389/fphar.2020.00785 By Steph Coelho Steph Coelho is a freelance health and wellness writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience working on content related to health, wellness, mental health, chronic illness, fitness, sexual wellness, and health-related tech.She's written extensively about chronic conditions, telehealth, aging, CBD, and mental health. 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