Natural skin care is all the rage and vegetable oils are the absolute superstars. But there are many of them. Which Oil is Good for Dry Skin? Does oil help with impure skin? Or which oil do I use for mature skin? This article gives you an overview. Find out what special abilities the individual oils have and how they benefit your skin.
Nice that you are here! If you've read this article, you've obviously given some thought to how and why natural oils are good for skin care. But if you want to care for your body and face with oil, you are faced with the question: Which oil is good for what? And because there are so many, let's get right into the topic - skin care with oil for Advanced, so to speak. 😉
To avoid disappointment: You will not find any recipes or mixing instructions here. This article is intended to give you an overview of the special features of the most popular oils that you encounter in care products or that can be bought separately. This allows you to make an informed decision and tailor your care even better to your needs.
Roughly speaking, cosmetic oils are divided into base oils and active ingredient oils. Base oils are something for purists and can (usually) also be used on their own. As the name suggests, however, they often form the basis of a care product. They often have a stabilizing or preserving effect on the entire formulation. Of course, that's not their only function. Depending on the mix and the type of fatty acids, vitamins, etc. they consist of, they unfold their very own super power.
Base oils are opposed to active ingredient oils. They provide excellent and often highly specialized services in skin regeneration and cell activation. However, they are very sensitive to light and/or evaporate quickly. They always have their heads in the clouds and are only kept on the ground by their base colleagues.
For the sake of completeness, we also mention the essential oils, which are obtained from aromatic plants such as lavender, bergamot, peppermint, orange blossom and more. They are the nose flatterers among the essences and very intense. A high level of concentration meets a high risk of escaping, as scent lamps clearly show: even a tiny amount can have a huge effect.
You will often find the individual components of essential oils on the INCI list because they are among the allergens. For example, the essential oil of neroli from the leaves of the bitter orange tree, which gives several FIVE products their delicate fragrance, contains geraniol, limonene, linalool and farnesol. But we are now saying goodbye to the essential oils and their components because we want to focus on the caring effect. So, bye, thanks for participating!
You will encounter «spread factor» or «spread» here again and again. We hear that less often in everyday life now. It tells you whether the oil spreads quickly or slowly on the skin and cares accordingly for a short time or for a long time. The fast ones tend to feel extra comfortable because they don't make you feel like you're sticking.But their effect is rather short-lived
☝️ By the way, applying oil to damp skin helps against the sticky feeling. It's a must anyway.
For each oil you will find here under the German name the designation that is usually given on the list of ingredients (INCI), its "core competence" and areas of application, a short description and a list of the most important properties.
In principle, the base oils are suitable for all skin types. However, some of them have special superpowers for dry, sensitive or mature skin, which are highlighted here again. If you are one of the lucky ones who has "normal" skin, you have free choice. Alright, now...
Rich in oleic acid, it feels good right away, is generally well tolerated and enchants with a delicate scent of marzipan when cold-pressed. As if that wasn't already a great package, apricot kernel oil also ensures a smooth, even complexion. It soothes irritated areas and balances the moisture balance. Sensitive and dry skin in particular benefit from so much care, but the mild oil is also suitable for delicate baby skin.
The Moroccan gold impresses with its balanced composition of fatty acids, thanks to which it gently cares for even rough, dry and demanding skin. The mix contains smoothing oleic acid, regulating linoleic acid and protective palmitic acid, which is often lacking in mature skin. Especially great for sensitive skin that reacts quickly to irritation: it soothes and relieves itching. Solo or mixed, it improves skin barrier.
Avocado oil has a wonderful moisturizing effect, especially on stressed areas of the skin such as the hands. In this case, the oil is extracted from the pulp, not from the seeds. So the next time you get some of it on your fingers while cooking: rub it in instead of just rinsing it off. Due to its strong smoothing effect, it is also used as a face and hair mask to make it silky soft.
Actually not a real oil, but a melt-in-the-mouth wax. This has one major advantage: it has a very long shelf life and also preserves other oils. The skin also benefits from this, because it is even less stressed by free radicals. It also contains a vitamin complex with tocopherol to combat them. It also regulates the pH value and strengthens the protective acid layer of the skin. Because it regulates sebum production and is extremely difficult for bacteria to digest, it also counteracts pimples and skin impurities.
Almond oil inspires with a unique combination of silky skin feel and deep care. Its mild unsaturated fatty acids help the skin to regulate its moisture content. At the same time, their slim, agile molecular structure allows them to penetrate deep into the lower layers of the skin, where they strengthen the connective tissue.
The marathon runner in our list: Because this vegetable butter spreads slowly, the many phytosterols in it provide your skin with particularly long-lasting care. The consistency is a bit reminiscent of acacia honey and only melts at around 30°C, which is practical on the skin. Shea butter protects the skin from moisture loss and strengthens the natural protective barrier against free radicals. The areas of application are correspondingly diverse. They range from softly melting day creams and ointments to rich lip care.
Coconut oil is extremely popular in body care because it smells so exotic, at least when it's cold-pressed and organic, and absorbs immediately. However, this also has disadvantages: it does not provide long-lasting care and removes make-up less thoroughly than slower oils. However, coconut oil is great as a care with immediate effect for the body and hair. Fast distribution is a plus point here.
This skin-native fabric not only feels ultra-light, but also makes the skin soft and smooth.Squalane can stand alone, but is more commonly found in formulations that make it supple thanks to its very high spreading factor. It is therefore popular in natural cosmetics as a natural alternative to silicone in skin and hair care.
The small, orange-colored fruits are real nutrient bombs. Their oil also impresses with a balanced content of vitamins, fatty acids and carotenoids, which not only give it its color but are also powerful antioxidants. Dry and mature skin in particular benefits from the cell-protecting and regenerating effect. The oil helps her to repair the skin barrier and better prevent moisture loss. In addition, it inhibits inflammation. However, you should not use it on its own because it stains heavily and its effect is too strong undiluted.
Black cumin oil has a balancing effect on sebum production and balances oily skin. Due to the high proportion of essential oils, it has an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and slightly antibacterial effect. Its high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids softens cornifications, such as those found in skin blemishes.
Of course, this list can be expanded endlessly. And there are actually constantly new discoveries in the cosmetics world. Therefore this contribution is a work in progress. Of course we want to offer you the best possible overview and will expand the list over time. So it's worth checking back from time to time. And if you want to know more about it, take a look at the Ingredients section. We'll look at some oils and other ingredients in more detail.
High Five,
your Anna
Tip: Don't forget to always apply the oil to damp skin or use it over the FIVE face serum for a super moisture boost.
Nourishing oil for dry and mature skin
30 ml (CHF 155.67 / 100 ml)
Including VAT, plus shipping
«No cream should have more ingredients than you can count on one hand.»
Anna Pfeiffer
