Everything You'd Ever Wanted to Know About Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet almond oil is one of the most versatile oils you can lay your hands on. Unlike coconut or olive oil, we do not generally use sweet almond oil in cooking. Bitter almond oil, on the other hand, is heavily used in perfumery and food flavoring. But we’ll get to the differences between these two types of almond oil later – so keep reading! In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about sweet almond oil. We'll explore its uses in skin and hair care and also review some products that contain sweet almond oil. But first, let's quickly understand what sweet almond oil is and where it comes from.
Table of Contents:
- What Is Sweet Almond Oil?
- Uses of Almond Oil
- Sweet Almond Oil for Face
- Almond Oil for Oil Cleansing
- Reduces Swelling and Puffiness
- Treats Scars and Spots
- Sweet Almond Oil for Body
- Hydration and Nourishment
- Sun Damage
- Almond Oil for Massage
- Stretch Marks
- Sweet Almond Oil for Hair
- Strengthens Hair Follicles
- Makes Hair Soft and Shiny
What Is Sweet Almond Oil?
Sweet almond oil is made of almond kernels extracted with the cold-press technique. Sweet almond oil and bitter almond come from the same plant, but the plants bearing bitter almonds have some differences.
While sweet almond is common in diets across the world, eating bitter almond is very uncommon. It contains toxins that can be harmful if not refined correctly. Sweet almonds, on the other hand, are perfectly safe for consumption. Extracting almond oil from sweet almonds is a long and difficult process. No wonder many sellers routinely adulterate almond oil with cheaper oils, like palm or soybean. But identifying almond oil is rather easy. It has a distinct nutty aroma and lightweight, non-sticky texture. California is the world's largest almond producer accounting for more than half of the global almond production. Almond grows best in a warm Mediterranean climate.It is interesting to note that wild almonds can still be seen in the forests of the Middle East. Almond originally comes from Iran but had already traveled across the world thousands of years ago. California's almond plantations are relatively recent, but they have taken over other production hubs of the world. Almond is used in the traditional Indian medical system called Ayurveda and is linked with brain health. Lab tests have also confirmed that almond is a rich source of Omega 9 and Omega 6 fatty acids, which are necessary for brain development.
Uses of Almond Oil
The uses of almond oil are diverse. While some use sweet almond oil to get rid of dark circles, others prefer it for deep tissue massage. It has a comedogenic rating of 2, which means it is very unlikely to clog pores. That's why many people use almond oil for the oil cleansing method.
You can apply almond oil to almost every part of the body, be it your feet or hair. Along with coconut, avocado, and olive, sweet almond oil is among the best-known oils. It's a vital ingredient in many hair and skin care products. Sweet almond oil is also a great carrier oil for other essential oils.
Now let's look at the specific benefits of almond oil for hair, face, and body.
Sweet Almond Oil for Face
When it comes to hair and body, we may already be familiar with the uses of almond oil. However, many people do not know that almond oil can be used on the face too. Let's find out how to do it and what benefits it offers.
- Almond Oil for Oil Cleansing
Oil cleansing is a common face cleansing method that uses oil instead of soap. The idea behind oil cleansing lies in the principle that only oil can break oil. Oil cleansing involves massing your face with a non-comedogenic oil and then wiping it clean with a warm towel. You may also use a soap-based cleanser later.
Almond oil works so well for oil cleansing because it is light and does not clog pores. You can easily wipe it off with a warm towel, and more importantly, it nourishes your face with Vitamin E and essential fatty acids. If you have never tried oil cleansing, you can start with sweet almond oil.
- Reduces Swelling and Puffiness
A night of partying can easily make your face puffy, and so can bad sleep, mood disorders, and so on. One of the simplest ways to get rid of puffiness is with sweet almond oil. If you have puffy eyes, for example, you can take a few drops of sweet almond oil and rub it gently. If you do it the night before, your under-eye puffiness will be gone by the morning.
- Treats Scars and Spots
Scars can occur on the face due to many reasons, but one of the most common is acne. If you pick or squeeze pimples, they can leave a lasting scar. In many cases, the scars stay back even if you have completely healed from acne.
The application of sweet almond oil can naturally heal scars and reduce the appearance of spots. The chemical treatment options for scars are often too harsh for your skin. Consider using pure and natural sweet almond oil instead.
- Moisturize and Hydrate Your Skin
All oils are hydrating in nature, but some of them end up clogging your pores. You would not want to use heavy oil on your face. Sweet almond oil is one of the oils you can use without fear.
It works as a great moisturizer as it is or could be combined with other ingredients. Rich in fatty acids and Vitamin E, sweet almond oil keeps your skin soft and supple. It can even help with acne in some cases, but we do not recommend using almond oil for severe acne.
Sweet Almond Oil for Body
While we pay a lot of attention to the face and hair, we often forget about the rest of the body. But it is indeed foolish not to care about more than 90% of your body. Sweet almond oil acts as a great body oil and has multiple benefits. Let's find out what they are.
- Hydration and Nourishment
Hydrating the body is as important as hydrating the face. Unfortunately, not many brands focus on body care. But if you want to be healthy and beautiful from the inside out, taking care of your body is essential.
Wow Skin Science has two amazing products for body moisturization that are infused with sweet almond oil. You can choose from the Body Butter Mango or the Body Butter Citrus. Both these products are formulated on a base of shea butter with aloe vera, sweet almond oil, vitamin C, and other active ingredients.
You can choose either depending on your preference. Use this body butter after a shower to experience the change in your skin. In no time, your skin will be smoother and will look healthier. You can use this body butter no matter what your skin type is.
- Sun Damage
Since almond oil is rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it is a great restorative agent. That means it helps your skin recover faster. If you have had bad sun damage or sunburn, use almond oil for quick and lasting relief.
Alternatively, you can use almond oil before heading out to the sun, though that may not be an option if the weather is humid. The primary component that makes almond oil capable of reversing sun damage is Vitamin E, and the same has been proven in scientific studies.
- Almond Oil for Massage
As we already mentioned, almond oil is a great carrier oil for essential oils. That, in turn, makes it perfect for deep tissue massages. You can add the essential oil of your choice to sweet almond oil and use it for massages. The smoothness of almond oil will make the massage more pleasurable, and at the same time, it will nourish and hydrate your skin.
Using sweet almond oil by itself is also a great option. The natural nutty aroma of sweet almond oil is very pleasant and gives a great massage experience.
- Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are a natural phenomenon that almost every person in the world has experienced. But some people struggle more than others. If your stretch marks are making you uncomfortable, sweet almond oil can come in handy.
All you need to do is massage it regularly over your marks. With time, your stretch marks will diminish and vanish. Since sweet almond oil is rich in Vitamin E, it promotes skin growth and regeneration. That makes it effective for marks, scars, and spots of different kinds.
Sweet Almond Oil for Hair
Many hair products use sweet almond oil, but not all of them are up to the mark. If you want the most out of your hair products, we have some suggestions for you. But first, let's find out what sweet almond oil does to your hair.
- Strengthens Hair Follicles
If your hair follicles are weak, you are at a higher risk of suffering from premature hair loss. It can even lead to baldness if the hair follicles close permanently. Using sweet almond oil can strengthen your hair follicles and help you combat hair fall.
In case you do not know how to use sweet almond oil in your hair care routine, here's a suggestion. Start with this Green Tea And Tea Tree Shampoo that incorporates tea tree oil and green tea in a sweet almond oil base. This shampoo is ideal for fighting dryness and keeping dandruff in control. If you are not sure about how to incorporate sweet almond oil into your hair care routine, start with swapping your regular shampoo.
Another shampoo that you can use is this Activated Charcoal & Keratin Shampoo. This shampoo has a blend of sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, and aloe vera extract to soothe your scalp and replenish moisture. It's a great shampoo for everyday use, especially if you have oily hair.
Our final shampoo suggestion is this Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo. Red onion and black seed are among the most potent ingredients for hair growth. This shampoo comes with black seed oil and sweet almond oil. Both these ingredients have proven benefits in hair growth.
- Make Hair Soft and Shiny
Sweet almond oil is a very practical ingredient to use in your daily hair care routine. Regular use gives your hair a lasting shine and softness. The best way to get these benefits is by oiling your scalp. This Onion Black Seed Hair Oil With Almond, Castor, Jojoba, Olive & Coconut Oils brings together the most beneficial hair oils in one bottle.
If you want to use only one hair oil for the rest of your life, this one makes the cut. It takes care of every common hair and scalp issue like dryness, hair fall, dandruff, hair thinning, and so on.
We hope this guide has introduced the wonders of sweet almond oil to you. For premium hair and skin care products with sweet almond oil, head over to Wow Skin Science.