Hey, Beauties! First of all let me clear that out – no matter what skin type you have, you can benefit from using natural oils on your face. This is not a privilege only for those who have dry or normal skin. Although there is a common believe that oily and combination skins do not need more “oils” on them, the truth is exactly the opposite.

However, with all this preaching from dermatologists and cosmeticians claiming that oils will clog your pores and won’t let your skin to breath, most of the women are certain that they are committing a crime by using natural oils on their oily skins. To be honest I was one of those women and when it is true that some of the oils can actually clog your pores, the right oil for you can do magic for your skin.

Not sure about your skin type?

If you are not sure what skin type you have, here is an easy experiment that you can perform in order to find out.

Step 1.

Wash your face with 10 splashes of water. You need to use only water because your choice of cleanser might affect your results.

Step 2.

Dry your face with a towel. Do not use anything else, even toner.

Results

·      If your skin becomes oily all over, after 3 hours or less – you have very oily skin

·      If your skin becomes oily all over, after 6 hours – you have oily skin

·      If your skin becomes oily all over, after 8 hours – you have normal skin

·      If it becomes oily after 8 or more hours – you have normal to dry skin

·      If it does not become oily at all – you have a dry skin

If different parts of your face become oily at different times, then use the same criterion described above for those particular parts. Hence, it is possible to have very oily forehead but dry cheeks and so on.

After you already define your skin type, you can now continue with selecting the right oil for your skin depending on its needs. Below you can find a short list with some of the best oils for every skin type, along with short description of their properties.

Dry skin

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is very emollient, but it has less anti aging – compounds compared to the other two oils. However, it contains large amounts of saturated fats, which are an important part of the sells. Coconut oil moisturizes and softens the skin to protect against the appearance of dryness and flaking. It has natural anti – fungal and antibacterial properties, which will keep inflammation at bay. Coconut oil accelerates the healing of damaged tissues and it has SPF 7.

Avocado oil

This oil contains anti-inflammatory compounds called sterolins, which help heal sun damage and age spots. If you are relatively young but see signs of skin damage, this might be a good choice for you to minimize premature aging. Furthermore it contains vitamins A, B, D, E, minerals and skin nourishing essential fatty acids.  It is a good moisturizer and is beneficial for dry, mature or normal skin. Its anti inflammatory properties relieve the sensitive and irritated skin and are beneficial for eczema prone and psoriasis prone skin. Avocado oil improves the skin’s elasticity and cellular regeneration.

Rosehip oil

This oil contains vitamin C and A which are great antioxidants for the skin. Vitamin A encourages the skin to produce more collagen deep in the dermis resulting in smoother skin. It also gently exfoliates the skin resulting in a more radiant complexion. Vitamin C can also minimize dark spots. It also contains skin nourishing essential fatty acids.

Oily skin | Combination skin

Hemp seed oil

Hemp seed oil has a comedogenic rate of 0, which means it is safe to use on acne prone skin and will not clog your pores. In fact, it will actually help to balance out your skin excess sebum. Hemp seed oil contains a perfect ratio of Essential Fatty Acids and therefore provides your skin with the much needed linoleic acid if it is lacking. Furthermore it contains vitamin A, C and E and has SPF of 5 – 10.

Grape seed oil

This is the lightest of all the carrier oils. It has an astringent effect, i.e. it can make the skin drier. This is because grape seed oil penetrates deeply into the skin and influences the oil glands to produce less sebum. It acts like a serum rather than as oil. Grape seed oil has anti-inflammatory properties as well as antioxidants, which are best used for treating acne. Since grape seed oil consists mainly of linoleic acid, it can also be used for boosting the health of your skin and preventing the occurrences of acne. Moreover, grape seed oil helps close up the pores of your skin, which in turn prevents clogging and oiliness, which are common causes of acne.

Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil is actually a liquid plant wax and not a vegetable oil. Its chemical composition is similar to that of the skin’s own sebum. The jojoba oil contains vitamin E, proteins; minerals skin nourishing fatty acids and protective antioxidants. The oil is especially suitable for acne treatment, including back acne due to its antibacterial properties and also because it is non-comedogenic which means that it will not clog the skin pores and contributes to the development of new acne lesions.

Normal skin

Sweet almond oil   

Sweet almond oil consists of approximately 65 percent oleic acid, 27 percent linoleic acid and 8 percent saturated fat. This oil makes our skin healthier, since it is rich in Vitamins A, B, and E.  These vitamins are known to be helpful for keeping our skin in good condition – which is why most skin care products contain these vitamins. Almond oil also maintains the level of moisture in our skin by quickly penetrating our skin without clogging the pores. The dull appearance of our skin is caused by several impurities such as pollution and dirt. Sweet almond oil protects our skin from all these impurities. Moreover, this oil also gets rid of any dead skin cells, which in turn makes our skin glow brighter.

Apricot kernel oil

Apricot kernel oil contains naturally high levels of vitamin F, which moisturizes and stimulates the skin. It nourishes, hydrates, refreshes and softens the skin, accelerates cell metabolism and contributes to the formation of skin collagen, as it slows skin’s aging. It is deeply absorbed by the skin and gives velvety softness and smoothness.

Disclosure: 

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase something through these links I will earn a commission.
Please note that I link these companies and their products, because of their quality and not because of the commission. Furthermore, there would be NO extra charge on your behalf! 

References

1. Kerr, Frances, How To Heal From Acne Naturally: For Adult Women, 2013
2. Dr. Kinai, Miriam, Carrier Oils Guide, 2012
3. Lindsay P, Carrier Oils for Beginners, 2014
4. Lindsay P, Essential Oils & Aromatherapy for Beginners, 2014