What Are The Best Oils For Your Skin Type?
by Tash 89 Comments
Skin types can be crazy at times! I’ve recently been battling some REALLY dry skin. And I’m not talking about the usual tight dry skin, but crunchy, flaky, alligator skin with a nice sheen of oil to top it all off…and it’s been such a nuisance to deal with!
One of the most difficult times to care for your skin is when you work and go to school full time like I do. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time for yourself and your skin suffers for it as a result, especially if you’re prone to getting acne, parched dry skin, or stress induced oily skin.
So how did I manage to control the dryness and oiliness with such a busy schedule? The answer is easier than you might think.
Healing Oils for Balanced Skin – What Are The Best Oils For Your Skin Type?
It might sound counterintuitive to consider using an oil to deal with oily or dry skin, but let me just say that oils will soon be your new best friend, especially during the winter. Just remember – like dissolves like. All you have to do is determine which natural oil is right for your skin type. But don’t worry, that’s why I’m here!
Healing oils have been used for beauty for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks may be best known for their use of freshly pressed olive oil to cleanse (by applying the oil to the skin and then scraping the pores) and moisturize, leaving their complexions clear, supple, and glowing.
The benefits of using oil on your skin instead of moisturizers :
• Applying oil to your skin can actually trick it into thinking
that it doesn’t need to produce more oil.
• Reduces clogged
pores by dissolving “plugs”, blackheads, and whiteheads
•
Reduces the formation of fine lines and wrinkles
• No harsh
chemicals
• Doesn’t strip your skin of natural oils
•
Moisturizes and soothes irritated skin
• Clears acne
Your Skin Type and Healing Oils
So let’s go over really quick how oils are supposed to work and how to know if it’s the right oil for your skin type.
When applied to the skin, the oil should absorb completely. If it just sits on top of your skin, looks patchy, doesn’t sink in very well, or makes your face look even shinier than before, then it’s not the right oil for you.
If your skin feels “right” and looks supple, dewy, rested, not overly shiny, and the oil absorbs well, then you’re on the right track!
Oily Skin–
Oily skin is characterized by the overproduction of sebum, creating a greasy feel and shine to the skin. People with oily skin usually have acne prone and sensitive complexions.
The best oils to use for this skin type are oils that are light and contain a high amount of linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid found in many light nourishing oils that can be used for oily skin types. Linoleic acid has been proven, when applied topically, to reduce clogged pores by over 25% in just a few weeks when used daily. My personal favorite non comedogenic oil is hemp seed oil.
Oils that contain the highest amounts of linoleic acid are:
• Safflower
Oil
–
74.62%
• Evening
primrose oil
–
73%
• Grape
Seed Oil
–
69.6%
• Sunflower
Oil
–
65.7%
• Hemp
oil
–
60%
• Wheat
Germ Oil
–
60%
• Apricot
Kernel Oil
–
50.3%
• Sesame
Oil
–
50%
• Rosehip
Seed Oil
–
45.5%
• Tamanu
Oil
–
38%
Be sure to keep these oils in the fridge to prevent them from going rancid.
Dry Skin–
Dry skin is characterized by tight, irritated, itchy, flaky skin. People with dry skin types are u
sually prone to acne due to “sticky” skin cells clogging pores.
The best oils to use for dry skin are oils that contain high amounts of oleic acid, a monosaturated fatty acid found in heavier, more slow drying oils. These oils are well suited for thirsty skin and are absorbed more readily than oily skin types.
Oleic acid is known to reduce inflammation when used topically and internally, so make sure to get good quality fats in your diet. Oily, dry, or acne prone skin needs to be treated from the inside as well as the outside!
Oils that contain the highest amounts of oleic acids are:
• Olive
Oil
–
55-85% depending on quality (cold pressed is best)
• Macadamia
nut oil
–
85%
• Avocado
Oil
–
75%
• Canola
Oil
–
57%
• Neem
oil
–
54%
• Hazelnut
oil
–
66%
• Almond
Oil
–
68%
• Argan
oil
–
42.8
Extremely Dry Skin–
Sometimes even these oils won’t work out for everyone. This is where coconut oil and plant butters comes into play.
There’s been a lot of hype about whether or not coconut oil will actually make acne worse, but I do know that it will moisturize even the most dry of the dry skin types. I’ve used it for weeks straight without any breakouts, but alas, everyone is different.
Shea
butter
,
mango
butter
,
cocoa
butter
,
and kokum
butter
will give you super smooth skin due to their high amounts of palmitic
acid, but watch out for possible clogged pores! I’ve used pure shea
without any problems. It’s all about experimentation. Here’s some
other nifty tips for dry skin here.
Combination skin–
So what about those of us with combination skin?
Not to worry! You can actually get great results without having to buy 2 different oils. I put the percent ratios up there so that you can choose an oil that suits you best. Those of you with both dry and oily skin should choose oils that have a percent ratio closer to 50% such as almond oil, argan oil, apricot kernel oil, sesame oil, or rosehip oil. These oils are more balanced for combination skin types without being too far on either side of the spectrum.
I’m enjoying rosehip
oil
the most lately and have had great results with it! All I need a 3-5
drops applied to damp skin and I’m good to go. No extra oiliness
and no dryness either.
All Skin Types–
Another oil I want to mention is, of course, jojoba oil. Even though jojoba oil contains fairly low amounts of oleic and linoleic acids, it is amazing for the skin because it most closely resembles our natural skin oils.
Jojoba oil reduces inflammation, breaks up plugs in clogged pores (over a few weeks), and reduces the production of sebum. This oil is great for all skin types and especially beneficial for acne prone skin.
I recommend picking one oil and trying it out for at least 2 weeks. Play around with amounts to see what works best for you. A few drops may work for some people of a certain oil, but you may need more or less than that, so listen closely to what your skin is telling you. Pretty soon, you’ll have more balanced and comfortable feeling skin!
Also note that you can mix oils to meet your needs (jojoba oil works very well for this) and even add a few drops of your favorite essential oils for added benefits like:
• Tea Tree
Oil
–
for acne prone and dry skin
• Lemon
Oil
–
to brighten skin tone
• Rose
Oil
–
for oily skin
• Chamomile
Oil
–
for combination skin
Where to Buy Essential Oils for 24% off.
You can even infuse herbs into your skin care oils to add healing properties such as:
• Calendula
flowers– for dry irritated skin
• Arnica
flowers– for healing acne eruptions and bruising
•
Comfrey–
Really helps reduce inflammation and heals wounds (perhaps caused by
picking)
• Aloe
Juice– Good for healing and softening scars
The possibilities are endless! Have fun with it!
For more acne related articles look below:
The
Complete List of Comedogenic Oils
The
7 Step Routine You Need to Get Clear Skin
6
Skincare Tips That Cleared My Acne Naturally
Essential
Oils for Scars and a Scar Healing Serum Recipe
Homemade
Blemish Gel
Is
Vitamin D Deficiency Causing Your Acne?
5
Easy Remedies for Cystic Acne
Simple Oatmeal Face Mask for Oily Skin »
Filed Under: Acne, Beauty, Healthy Skin Tips Tagged With: healing oils for acne, healing oils for dry skin, how to use oils topically
Reader Interactions
This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure and disclaimer.
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Comments
Tash,
I Love-Love- Love your site and all your wonderful info!!! Thank you for working so hard to keep us informed.
I make may own deodorant and sell it at the street fairs and webstie. I currently use argon oil as part of my recipe but am looking to spend less money on my product as the price of argon oil is extremely high compared, to let’s say “safflower oil”. In saving money I don’t want to cheat my customers out of the skin care properties that i have in my current recipe. Can you give me advice as to what other oil may have the same benefits as argon oil and cost less (and not disturb the function of the deo”)? fyi….i use approx 1 teaspoon per 3 ounce jar
current recipe has these ingredients:
coconut oil
beeswax
shea butter
argon oil
arrowroot
diatomateous earth
baking soda
Thank you!
Reply
Hi Debi!
Boy that’s a tough one! Argan oil has quite a few benefits that not a lot of other oils have. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that rosehip oil might be a pretty good match if you’re looking for similar properties but you could also use sweet almond oil and get the same absorption and feel but it won’t have the same antibacterial properties. Actually, rosehip isn’t much of an antibacteria either but you will get more beautifying effects. You might need to add an essential oil if you use something other than argan oil. I hope this makes sense! Let me know if you have more questions, and best of luck on your formulation! So glad you love the blog ?
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Tash, what the best oil to reduce wrinkles around eyes? Dry/ normal skin. Thanks so much.
Reply
Hi Olena!
This is a great question! It really depends on the hydration of your skin. Dehydrated skin is different than having dry skin and both are treated differently ? Dehydrated skin will crinkle up and look a bit stretched while dry skin will be itchy and flaky. if you have dehydrated skin, I find that repairing the outer most barrier works wonders for wrinkles. I typically use a few drops of hyaluronic acid with some rosehip seed oil. For dry skin, you can use a heavier oil like coconut to reestablish moisture. You can also use a tiny dab a shea butter warmed by your fingers to make application easier but this is more of a night treatment ?
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I have very sensitive/ dehydrated skin (I have some flakiness on t Zone) my skin doesn’t feel or look dry but I always feel a tightness. After recently having a reaction to an all natural product with essential oils in it I found that sweet almond oil absorbs nicely into my skin and I was thinking about mixing it with some rose hip seed oil (that’s how I came across your post) i saw in your comment that you add Hyaluronic acid and I was wondering which brand you use. And any tips for dehydrated skin?
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I use this hyaluronic acid ? and it’s helped a lot! For dehydrated skin, you have to repair the outer most barrier of the skin. to do this, you actaully have to stop using exfoliants and be very gentle with your skin. You must also stay hydrated. Over a few weeks, your skin should repair itself and hold moisture better. ?
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Hey there,
I’m new to your site but so far I love it. This post especially has helped me a bunch. While I was searching for a bit more information, I came across a couple other posts elsewhere that seem a lot like they were lifted from this post. Your contact page seems to not be working, so I figured I’d post here.
Reply
Thank you Shai!
I removed the links so they don’t get any traffic juice from me, but thank you for letting me know. The good thing is Google knows who wrote the article first. So happy you like my content ?
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Hi Tash!
It’s almost been a year for me that I found the oil cleansing method. I love it but I think I’m still going through some trial and error. My skin is super oily and acne prone. To the point where 2 hours after washing my face oil production starts again and my face looks like an oil slick. I wash my face with manuka honey every morning and use the OCM at nighy before bed. I use a mix of jojoba, rose hip, and tamanu oil. About half of my 8oz amber glass is jojoba, and the other half is equal parts rose hip and tamanu with between 6-8 drops of tea tree for added benefits. My oil production has gotten better but these darn white heads around my nose and mouth won’t go away. I even use sugar daily in my OCM for a good scrubbing. Any suggestions? Could it be the wrong oils maybe? Thank you so much!
Reply
Hi Brie!
Do you use hot water at all on your skin? if you do, it could be one reason why your outer most layer of skin is still acting up. The more research I do, the more I realize that the condition of that layer really matters. What I have learned so far is this: scrubbing too often can further damage the outer most layer as well as using hot water on the skin. Does your skin feel dehydrated at all? This is different than feeling dry.
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Very beneficial
Reply
Thank you! ?
Reply
Hi its a great article helped me alot
I started cleansing my face through oils 3 to 4 days ago and i am using combination of castor and sweet almond oil(in equal portions) as i got oily skin more like combination.it not only dried out my skin but also i got worse tiny breakouts.is it part of the process or am i using the right combination of oils
Reply
Hi Zainab!
I would try lessening the amount of castor oil you are using because for some people it can be quite drying. If the issue continues, take out castor oil all together. Adding a bit of sugar to your oil once a week and using it as a gentle scrub will help keep pores clear too ?
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This is really useful thank you! I am putting together a few skincare products and am having the worst time finding detailed information about each of the oils and butters. the most i find anywhere is just a short list of its uses but no reference to where they got that information. Do you have any idea where i can get legitimate profiles of each oil or butter as it applies to skin care? or where did you learn whats in this post even (the only books or legitimate references online detail the plant’s medicinal properties not cosmetic) Thank you!!!
ellen
Reply
Hi Ellen!
Have you heard of the EWG Group? They analyze TONS of skincare which you may be interested in. You can find them here. I learned about the properties of all of these oils from a TON of sources ranging from books and other blogs which I used to cross reference each other as well. I wrote a loooong post on the properties of as many oils as I could find which you can read here. If I listed the sources it would go on for days as I used probably about 10 different blogs for each oil I could find in order to scrounge up good info ?
Let me know if you have more questions! <3
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Hey Tash,
I love your post! I am currently looking for an oil that will help with skin elasticity because my husband and I are trying to get pregnant. Are there any oils or oil combinations you recommend? My skin tends to get dry easily because i live in Alaska. Coconut oil seems to just sit on my skin instead of soaking in and I end up feeling itchy and greasy. Thank you for your time:)
Reply
Hi Sarah!
Have you tried applying the oil before getting out of the shower? I find that applying heavy oils and moisturizers while the skin is till damp to work very well! As for stretch mark prevention, you may need something thicker like a shea butter so that the moisture lasts as long as possible. You may need to reapply later in the day to make sure your skin stays moisturized all day long. One of my friends has ZERO stretch marks and she said it was because she was constantly applying moisturizer. You would never know she had a baby. She also says not to scratch when your skin gets itchy throughout your pregnancy because that will thin the skin where the stretch marks are trying to form. Hydration is key as well ? It might be that you may need to suffer oily skin for a bit, but it would be worth not getting stretch marks I would imagine! I would recommend melting together in a double boiler 1/4 cup of shea butter, 1/4 cup of coconut oil, and 3 TB of almond oil (or any other carrier oil) to make a belly salve. Once melted, you can add a few drops of skin renewing essential oils like frankincense (Boswellia serrata) or lavender then pore it into a container for use ? Hope this helps! <3
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Hi there, I have combination skin and have read about marula oil recently. It wasnt mentioned in here but some sites said it is suitable for combination skin, I would love to hear your opinion before actually buying it? Im thinking of buying the pure marula oil (cold pressed) and use directly on skin as facial oil. Thank you very much
Reply
Hi Nhung Tran!
I have heard many great things about using marula oil. If you would like to read more about different oils, please check out my new blog post “The Complete List of Comedogenic Oils”. Do you have a Whole Foods Market nearby? They will often have a tester you can try out and see how you like it. The brand they carry is called Acure ? It’s hard to say if this oil will be best for your skin type because we are all SO different. The only way you will know is if you give it a go! <3
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Thanks for the interesting article! I have a particular problem that just does not seem to be resolved. I am 63 and think my skin is pretty okay for my age, BUT I have lots of loose skin not directly under my eyes but a little further down- this is a bug bear for me as I am a healthy eater, exercise regularly, don’t drink or smoke. I cleanse with coconut oil and am presently using no seven serum and moisturiser, and although my skin looks smoother, this hanging skin persists. I have tried some advocada oil and rosehip oil, but am still not satisfied. I need something to actually blow up the skin under my eyes without taking drastic measures. Do you have a recommendation?
Many thanks.
Florence
Reply
Hi Florence!
How much water do you drink per day? I find that keeping your electrolytes balanced is key for plump supple skin. You may also want to look into a good omega supplement to help the skin regenerate. I use cod liver oil for this and it works great!
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Hi tash ,
Thanks for your article , it’s been a great intro into finding the best solution for ones skin! Ive read through it a while back and started using oils but i need you help !
I have a combination skin type and im also very sensitive .I dont suffer from full blown acne but i get loads of tiny red spots over my face and a lot of black and white heads. I do also work in a kitchen as im a chef so i guess i am exposed to a lot more grease and smoke filled confined spaces. I have only just started using jojoba oil on my face and neck.I just apply a few drops after i wash my face with just warm water twice a day (morning & evening ) but i was thinking of trying a different oil for the morning – maybe argan oil or avocado or something you suggest would be better ?
As for the jojoba …after rinsing my skin it feels smooth,soft and not inflamed but nothing has changed regarding spots, if anything i think i have more small red spots and white heads then before i started using the oil, hence why i’m wondering if its maybe a reaction as i have very sensitive skin ? or as its only been 3 days that ive been using th jojoba oil that its in the process of sucking out all the bad stuff thats in there already ?
I would appreciate any tips you might have as i’m not sure if the jojoba oil is doing me good or bad or if i should use something else.
Thanks loads !
Reply
Hi Charlie!
Jojoba oil is an oil that generally makes your skin worse before it gets better because it pulls out impurities from your skin. Many people have this detox period when using it. Since you have only used this oil for 3 days I betting that this is the reaction you’re experiencing ? You can of course switch the oil to something like hemp seed oil but just know that jojoba oil usually causes you skin to start detoxing which is a good thing!
I suggest exfoliating the skin gently a few times a week as well to help your skin let go of all the build-up. Best of luck and let me know if you need more help!
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Hi Tash ,
My skin is definitely feeling and doing much better ?
Re : exfoliating , what do you reckon is the best way seeing as i have very sensitive skin and work in catering ? I used to exfoliate in the past but my face would always react , turn red and inflamed, My skins reacts to simple things like getting my eyebrows plucked or any chemically harsh hand soaps , laundry detergent , body soaps and so on .
Thank’s for all you’re help !
Reply
Hello!
My skin reacts in the same way! I usually exfoliate at night before bed so that my skin has a chance to calm down while sleeping. I also use my favorite oils ans serums after exfoliating to help my skin repair itself. Normally, I switch between this scrub or homemade sugar scrub. I use them both very gently towards the end of my shower because that is when your skin will exfoliate best. You can also use an exfoliating cloth like this one with great results as well ? The key is to be GENTLE and then slather on your favorite skincare moisturizers!
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So…do you scrape like the Greeks and if yes/no, what do you use to get the oil off?
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Hi David!
You can scrape if you like. I tend to leave the oils on my face ?
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Thanks so much for this article…such helpful information!
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You are very welcome Pat! So glad you liked it ?
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hi, thanks for the great article! I’ve been using rosehip oil for 4months now and it’s great. but do you know about Maracuja Oil?
I have combination skin but I also have lot of dark spot and acne scar. So lately I’ve been looking for oil that can brightens my skin (contains lots of vit C) and I heard that Maracuja Oil can do the job. do you think I should stay with rosehip oil, or try maracuja oil?
Reply
Hi Ceyla!
Maracuja oil comes from passion fruit seeds as well as passion flowers. It is a very emolient oil (more so than argan) and it well suited for those with dry skin types. Using it daily yields a glowing complexion and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. It is high in anti-oxidants as well which helps reduce the signs of aging. I think that maracuja oil is a good choice for combination skin types as well. Since it seems to have a high vitamin C content, it may be worth trying for hyperpigmentation too! Just remember to protect your skin while in the sun!
Overall, I think maracuja oil may work better then rosehip seed oil for scars and dark marks on the skin.
Hope this helps! <3
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Tash, thanks for the information. I am a Swazi lady at the of 60 and I have a severe damaged skin around my eyes, its a black clumsy patch. I burnt by hydroquinone creams at a young age of 17 years. I had tried all commercial creams and its not working for. when I read about you, I got excited that you will be the answer to this problem. It is embarrass each time I see it and it has affected my self esteem.
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Hi Thulie!
What are you looking for in particular? Oils have many different qualities that are best for certain things like hyperpigmentation, aging, skin damage, dryness, etc. ? Please let me know!
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Thank you so much Tash for your response. I think I need to buy the maracuja oil as I’ve just read about it. I hope it is going to work for me, though even know where to buy this oil. Kindly give me a clue where to find this oil.
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Thank you so much Tash for your response. I think I need to buy the maracuja oil as I’ve just read about it. I hope it is going to work for me, though even know where to buy this oil. Kindly give me a clue where to find this oil.
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Hello Tash,
Your articles have been incredibly helpful to me:
I bought some rose water on Saturday – Immediate difference in my skin! I also used it with my witch hazel gel, and when I did that, one of my acne scars faded in a couple of hours – Brilliant!
I just wanted to ask you a quick question:
Rosehip seed oil – Would you recommend using organic only, or is refined acceptable? – I would really appreciate your help on this. ?
Thank you,
Jocasta xx
Reply
Hi Jocasta!
I’m really happy that the rose water is working for you! It’s absolutely amazing! As for the rosehip seed oil you can use any brand you feel is good quality. As long as it is 100% rosehip seed oil you will be good to go ?
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Hi! What oil would you use under eyes? Combo skin. Looking at almond or jojoba. Thanks!
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Hi Tina!
Are you using the oil as an eye serum? If so, sweet almond oil is more moisturizing. If you’re using the oil further below the eyes you may want to use jojoba if you have acne-prone skin. Hope this helps! ?
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I found this article very interesting. I recently went to a naturopath and was advised to use honey to cleanse, lemon and water to tone and coconut oil to moisturise. I have oily, sensitive and acne prone skin so I’m curious your thoughts on this?? After reading I think I coconut oil isn’t ideal though. I started doing this two days ago and it seems good, but still early. My previous facial routine was drying my skin terribly and causing acne so I needed to switch. What would you recommend for me? I feel every oil I read about has very mixed reviews. Thanks!!
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Hi Courtney!
Coconut oil works for some people but not everyone. For those of us who have acne prone skin, I would really recommend hemp seed oil or jojoba oil for best results. Best of luck! ?
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thanks!! I am finding this with coconut oil. Every time this time of year my daughter suffers from peri oral dermatitis. We use coconut oil as lotion. Her derm suggested stopping. Further research led e to a few articles that also are created by coconuts??? If true this would explain the skin irritation. going to try a new oil.
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Hi there! I’m new to your site and so far loving all of your helpful information. I have similar skin type to you, oily and acne prone. I’m new to this oil thing and taking things slowly, not cutting everything out cold turkey but giving things a try and starting off slowly. I tried oil cleansing with grapes oil, jojoba oil and tea tree oil following up with a jojoba oil as a moisturizer once, and was really fond of it. I’ve been researching more and decided to stop incorporating grapeseed oil because so many people have said it breaks them out and i’m worried about that. So i’ve stayed with my store bough cleanser and moisturizer and i tone with a mix of half witch hazel and half rosewater. Since trying to incorporate oils, I’ve decided to replace my store bought moisturizer with Jojoba oil at night only. So far I really like the results but do find it to be very greasy to the point where I have to blot it off. After researching, it does have a comedogenic rating of 2, which is fine because it seems to work for me, but I was wondering what your thoughts are in mixing it with hemp seed oil, like 50% jojoba, and 50% hemp seed oil so that I still get the benefits of the jojoba but also receive more linoliec acid to balance out my sebum from hemp seed oil. This way the hemp, being that it is dryer, can make the jojoba less oily as well. Again, i’m new to all of this and just after doing research thought that might be a good mix for me. And maybe even throwing in a drop or two of tea tree oil, so 50% jojoba, 50% hemp seed and a drop of tea tree. Seems like a logical thing to do but I haven’t seen anyone post about combing all these oils so was hoping to receive your advice! Thanks!
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Hi Jaz!
This sounds like a great idea to try ? Jojoba oil will help clear blackheads over time and hemp seed oil has a rating of zero and moisturizes well without being too greasy. Let me know how it goes!
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I have a very oily face so I get frequent breakouts. Also, I have a lot of acne scars. I’m considering using safflower oil or sandalwood oil but I don’t think either will help with the scars. Please what combination of oils would you suggest to help with these issues? By the way, this website is so informative!
Reply
Hi Jessie!
I also have a very oily face. I find that using hemp seed oil is the best for my skin so you may want to try that. Keep in mind that you must add a few drops of essential oil to keep it from going rancid. Usually I will just add one drop of tea tree essential oil to 1/4- 1/2 tsp of hemp seed oil as my moisturizer. For scars though, you may want to try using tamanu oil as it’s the BEST oil for scars. You can definitely add sandalwood EO to enhance its effectiveness. You don’t need much tamanu oil at all and it often comes in a pump bottle or with a dropper. In either case, you would add the essential oil you like to the bottle itself (just a few drops).
I have found tamanu oil to be the most effective for my scars and it doesn’t break me out. Everyone’s skin is different, so I hope this works out for you!
Best of luck!
<3 Tash
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Looking into the changing my routine as what I’m doing now is not working AT ALL. I’m really not sure what kind of skin I have. If I don’t wash my face all day, it’s very oily. However, it’s also been very dry. I practly drink lotion. That could just be the harsh chemicals I’ve been usingm. Any help would be amazing!
Please and Thank you.
Laurin A. Kohler
Reply
Hi Laurin!
I have really oily skin too! For me, hemp seed oil works the best because it never breaks me out and it seems to keep my skin supple. Of course, everyone’s skin is different so the best I can suggest would be to make sure your are gentle with your skin. Harsh chemicals can really take a toll on it. Also look at your diet. If you eat pretty unhealthy most of the time, try adding more fruits and vegetables. Eating clean really helps my skin stay healthy.
For dryness you may want to try exfoliating a few times per week followed by a deep moisture treatment. So what I do is use sugar and honey mixed together to make a simple scrub and after rinsing I use more hemp oil than usual. The oil usually soaks in pretty nicely and I don’t feel dry afterwards.
Oily skin typically doesn’t need heavier oils, but if your skin is feeling really dry you could also try almond oil to help bring it back to balance.
I hope this helps!
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Good info! I’m 51 and my skin is on the dry/sensitive side (acne’s never been an issue) so the idea of oils has always appealed to me. Took a lot of trial and error over the years but avocado oil has worked the best. Tried Baobob, Tamanu, Jojoba, Maracuja (burned my skin), castor oil (too drying), coconut (extremely drying for me), olive, apricot kernel, marula (not bad), rosehip (pretty good), macadamia, evening primrose, borage, sea buckthorn (eh), and on and on. Also tried OCM but it did not work for me as it left me more dry. I use a pure, natural, gentle soap (yep, made with avocado oil as the primary ingredient) followed by my AO and I’m good to go! Love that it is a multi-use product … I also use it as a body moisturizer, hair conditioner, eye makeup remover, cuticle oil, among other things. Finding the right AO was a bit of a challenge but glad I stuck w/it. Love my AO!
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I need help! I am beginning to start the OCM. I need advice in what oils to use. I have super sensitive skin so I bought sunflower seed oil and safflower oil. I am looking to also get rose hip seed oil. But I believe you need an astringent and a conditioning oil?
Would it be fine to use rose hip and sunflower seed oil?
Any feedback would be helpful. Thank you,
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Hi Jennifer!
Can you give me more information on what skin type do you have?
Thanks!
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any thoughts about marula oil and which category it is? im trying to decide marula oil vs macademia oil for hydration =)
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Hi Laura!
Marula oil is best suited for dry aging skin that feels undernourished and looks dull. Hope this helps! ?
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i suffer from hirsutism. i have to pluck my upper lip & chin every morning & it shows! it’s inflamed, have red bumps & irritated. i take special care to clean & be gentle but no matter, it’s almost raw when i’m done. i’m 44 & have typical combo skin. i have a pretty good idea of what to use but was wondering if you would recommend anything specific.
& there are so many types of aloe out there. specifically what type do you recommend & where to purchase it.
& i cannot say enough about your page! extremely informative & beneficial! thank you, i just love it!
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Hi Shelly!
I have always found fresh aloe to be the gentlest form to use but if you don’t have a fresh plant handy, you may want to try herbal answers aloe gel. It contains some herbs that are very soothing and regenerative for the skin and I have found it on amazon and at whole foods market. As for oils, anything with calendula would be great! It is known to bring down swelling, redness, and irritation so I think it would really help you out in your situation. Herb Pharm makes a nice calendula oil and you can find it at whole foods or on amazon =) a little goes a LONG way!
I hope this helps, and thank SO MUCH for visiting my little corner of the interwebz!
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Tash, THANK YOU SO MUCH! i cannot believe how much the calendula calms my skin down! i’m still waiting on the aloe, but we all know how healing that is, so i’m sure it will help. & an 8″ plant is as much as the gel, so i ordered both!
you’re a lifesaver!
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Yay! I’m happy to hear it! =)
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Hi,
I have oily, sensitive skin and pretty bad acne. Should I be using the best oils for oily skin to cleanse or as a moisturizer? Bc in your “6 skincare tips that cleared my acne naturally” it says to cleanse with coconut oil, so I just wanted to clarify and see what you thought was best. Thanks!
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Hi there!
I would go with the oils best suited for your skin type for the best results =) Coconut oil is tolerated by many, but not everyone so it’s a good idea to use an oil specifically for oily, dry, or combination skin =)
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Sorry, I guess my question wasn’t very clear. I get that it’s best to use the oil that’s best for my skin type but for cleansing or moisturizing or both? I’m just confused as to whether coconut oil would be best for me to cleanse with to remove me makeup and then say, safflower oil for my oily skin type to moisturize with? Or would safflower oil be best to both cleanse and moisturize with? I just wasn’t sure if coconut oil had better cleansing properties than other oils that may have better moisturizing properties or is it all the same? Does that make more sense?
Thanks so much for getting back to me.
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Coconut oil is sometimes okay for me to cleanse with, but having oily skin I usually use sesame or a grapeseed/primrose mix, and If I do use coconut to cleanse with I have to make sure it’s just to remove makeup before I get in the shower or something because the reason you shouldn’t moisturize with coconut (Just on your face, elsewhere is fine) is that coconut oil is amazing at not only pulling heavy metals and toxins out of your dermis (think why people use it for oil pulling) but it also happens to be a more hospitable environment for the bacteria and mites in in your pores than your own sebum. So you don’t really want to pull that stuff out and into the coconut oil base just to let it saturate on your skin and settle back into your pores. I would probably recomend for cleansing, sesame, primrose, jojoba, grapeseed, borage. And never coconut for moisturizing your face, but perhaps pomegranate, hemp, argan, apricot, rosehip, or even one of the oils you cleanse with to moisturize with. If you’re interested in a really well crafted oil for moisture and repairing properties, I would definitely suggest you check out http://brookeelizabethorganics.com/ I ran into this lady at a farmers market and she and her oils are nothing short of amazing. Hope that helps :]
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Kaila, thank you for sharing and helping educate about oils. For the month of April Brooke Elizabeth Organics offering free shipping Use the discount code at checkout freeshippingover50. Cheers!
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Great info! I’m curious if you would have a recommendation for me. I’m 47 and my skin is mostly a combination to normal skin type, yet I’ve been having redness issues (forehead, cheeks and nose) the last year. It makes me think of rosacea without the acne or thickened skin. Washing my face with a washcloth is enough to causes the redness to appear, let alone if I use certain skin care products. Any help would be appreciated. TIA
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So, this article is really interesting, but wanted to share my weird skin dilemmas. I have pretty dry skin, but it isn’t tight and is very sensitive (see allergic and easily gets acne with too heavy of oils/lotions on it). I once used jojoba oil as my friend recommended it and it gave me a yellow hue around my mouth (where the wrinkles/creases are)! So, just be warned that perhaps if you have skin like mine and are really pale (like me) you may find a yellowish tinge, haha
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I have super dry skin, and I’ve found that heavier oils like coconut oil actually make it worse, because they won’t absorb into my skin. Grapeseed and jojoba oils are the only ones light enough to absorb into my skin and actually moisturize.
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I also love using jojoba oil for my skin. Works great =)
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If you are blemish prone avoid oils high in oleic acid (at least on the face, decollete and upper back. Sunflower is a favorite because it is the least comedogenic and irritating of all the oils. JoJoba is a waxy ester not an oil. If prone to eczema avoid olive oil. The high the oleic acid content them opt to damage the lipid barrier.
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Oh, this is helpful! Thank you =)
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I really like your blog… and thought that I would stop by and say so!
Thanks for all you do Tash!
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Aw, this was an incredibly nice post. Finding
the time and actual effort to create a great article…
but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and never seem to get
nearly anything done because of blogs like yours ?
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Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have really
enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing
to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
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Great article! I have pinned it for future reference. Thanks for sharing!
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Glad you liked it!
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Jojoba oil really did the trick for me. I especially like adding essential oils like tea tree and lavender to give it an extra boost. Works great!
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Aha! I knew castor oil was the culprit to my overly dry skin! I’ve been doing the OCM for over a month and noticed that my skin was just getting more scaly. I’m going to try my method without castor oil and see if that makes a difference. Thank you so much for advising against it for us sensitive people.
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Hi Tash, I’ve been following your advice and I have to say, wow! The castor oil was such a problem for me, I’m really happy that I came across this post because I would have kept using it. My skin has definitely improved since I stopped…so thank you!
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I’ve been having great success adding a drop or 2 of clove essential oil to my OCM treatment. It smells strong, but I swear it’s improved my acne better than anything else I’ve tried. Just thought I’d share.
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Hi,
Would avocado oil work for dry skin?
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Great tips! Thanks for debunking the castor oil, I can;t wait to start brewing up some concoctions.
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I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest
but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
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Thank you so much for this article! I’ve been using the oil cleansing method for about 2 months now, and after going through the adjustment period, my acne has decreased a bit. However, I’ve been suffering from extremely dry skin that made my middle-aged (I’m 40!) wrinkles more pronounced – not exactly the desired effect! I have been cleaning with a mixture of mostly olive oil with just a little bit of castor oil (before I realized I probably shouldn’t use any!) – probably a 95% to 5% ratio at the max. And then I was using coconut oil as a moisturizer, but I’m getting mixed information about whether it is drying or not. I’m going to add some avocado oil into my mixture and see how that works – it’s nice to have some additional information I can experiment with! I think I’ll also add a touch of tea tree oil to further keep the cystic acne at bay.
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Hi there Clevelandkat!
Yeah, I found any amount of castor oil too be too drying for me. I have sensitive skin, so the only oils I seem to have consistent luck with are: rosehip oil, argan oil, tamanu oil, jojoba oil, and coconut oil. If you use a good quality extra virgin olive oil, it can be very moisturizing too. If you add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, you can kick it up a notch to make it more medicinal (like rose, lavender, tea tree for acne…etc!). Avocado oil will certainly work for dry skin as well.
I’m glad to hear that you like the articel!
Much love!
-Tash
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Thanks for the great information! I have been trying to oil cleansing method but have problems with dry skin still (even after adjusting oil percentages) so I added jojoba oil, but now my skin is worse with itchy spots. I know I should stop using jojoba oil, but do you have any tips on how to find the right oil for me? Or cream? I want to keep chemicals off my face, but cetaphil cream seems to be the only thing that keeps my face hydrated. I have what I would call combination, sensitive skin with blackheads and occasional pimples. Anything helps, thanks!
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Hey there Molly,
Sometimes jojoba oil can make your skin a bit dry at first as your skin adjusts to it. I know that when I started using jojoba oil, my face actually broke out even more! But after a couple weeks, my skin became very balanced. You may want to try a more moisturizing oil like rose hip seed oil. I’ve had really good results using it when my skin was feeling a bit itchy and dry. Aura Cacia makes a nice one!
You may also want to try adding some rose water to your regimen. Spray it liberally on your face after you’ve cleansed it, and then apply the oil. If the oil doesn’t help, you may want to try the Apricot Cream by Earth Essentials.
Just keep in mind that the oil cleansing method can take a little time to see results while your skin is adjusting =) What oil are you using exactly to wash your face?
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I will have to try rose water and rose hip for sure! I am bad about sticking with something long enough, if you could guess how long did it take your skin to acclimate to the oil? I use a mix of 25% castor oil and 75% olive oil. I’ve heard castor oil can be really harsh but I don’t know what other oil to use in place of that.
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Yeah, castor oil is one the more “hard core” oils. The reason is because it literally suffocates acne causing bacteria and can also sort of keep your skin from breathing too. I actually only use castor oil for treating nerve and tendon inflammation because it turned out to be too harsh for my skin as an acne treatment. I would try to take the castor oil out of your regimen and just try the olive oil by itself to cleanse and the rose hip/ rosewater to moisturize.
Sticking to one regimen can be tough, but can really pay off in the end =) Just do your best!
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Thanks. I always was afraid to try oils bc it does in fact sound counterintuitive, esp on the face where my oil rests. I have oily/combination/acenic skin pretty much always, so I will try the ones listed and I hope I don’t break out! Thanks for the holistic tips:)
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Many believe that oils will make their skin worse, but it’s quite the contrary! My favorite (as mentioned in the article) has been rose hip oil mixed with a few sprays of rose water, it’s pure heaven! Good luck with your oil choices, and feel free to ask questions if you have any! =)