Skin types can be crazy to figure out 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 “me time” and my skin tends to suffer for it as a result, especially when I’m prone to getting acne, dehydrated 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 I assure you that oils will be your new best friend, especially during the winter. Just remember – like dissolves like which means that carrier oil will cleanse and dissolve sebum. All you have to do is determine which natural oil is right for your skin type. While that may seem a bit daunting, you don’t need to worry, that’s why I’m here!
Healing oils have been used for beautiful nourished skin 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 their skin, 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 and balances the acid mantle
Your Skin Type and The Best 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! Also, keep in mind that if your skin is dehydrated (meaning that the pores look long and stretched) then you need to be patient. Dehydrated skin will not fully allow an oil to sink in until the acid mantle has been restored.
To do this, you may need to use a bit of hyaluronic acid to help water stay trapped in your skin cells. if you take this route, make sure to spritz your skin with rose water a few times throughout the day. This will ensure that the hyaluronic acid is pulling the rose water into your skin and not moisture OUT of your skin.
Oily Skin Type
Oily skin is characterized by the overproduction of sebum which creates a greasy feel and a shiny look to the skin. People with oily skin usually have acne prone and sensitive complexions.
The best carrier oils to use for oily skin are oils that are light and contain a high amount of linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid found in many light nourishing oils that do not clog the pores.
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. You can read about why here.
Oils that contain the highest amounts of linoleic acid include:
• Safflower Oil
• Evening primrose oil
• Grape Seed Oil
• Sunflower Oil
• Hemp oil
• Wheat Germ Oil
• Apricot Kernel Oil
• Sesame Oil
• Rosehip Seed Oil
• Tamanu Oil
Be sure to keep these oils in the fridge or in a cool dark place when not in use to prevent them from going rancid (only jojoba oil will last the longest out of the fridge). You will know an oil had gone off by smelling it when you first open it compared to when smelling it when it’s become oxidized. You will definitely be able to tell the difference!
Dry Skin Type
Dry skin is characterized by tight, irritated, itchy, flaky skin. People with dry skin types are usually prone to acne due to “sticky” skin cells clogging pores.
The best oils to use for dry skin are oils that contain higher 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. As a side note, if you’re using oils high in oleic acid and you find yourself breaking out, then your skin may not be considered “dry” but dehydrated. These are very different things. if this is the case, use oils high in linoleic acid instead as listed above for 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. All skin types need to be treated from inside out and the outside in.
Oils that contain the highest amounts of oleic acids are:
• Olive Oil
• Macadamia nut oil
• Avocado Oil
• Canola Oil
• Neem oil
• Hazelnut oil
• Almond Oil
• Argan oil
Extremely Dry Skin Type
Sometimes even oils for regular dry skin won’t work out for everyone. This is where coconut oil and plant butters come into play.
There’s been a lot of hype about whether or not coconut oil will actually make acne worse, but what I do know that it really depends. Coconut oil will moisturize even the driest skin types. If coconut oil breaks you out, it isn’t the right oil for your skin.
Shea butter
If you’re interested in the ultimate guide for comedogenic rating, then be sure to read The Complete List of Comedogenic Oils post!
Combination Skin Type
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 in the oil lists above 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 (I have really been loving the rosehip seed oil by The Ordinary!). These oils are more balanced for combination skin types without being too far on either side of the spectrum.
I enjoying rosehip oil
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 skin’s natural sebum.
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. Be aware though, jojoba oil is a purging oil and will dig out impurities for some people with a vengeance. if this is the case for you, you need to be patient for a few weeks. Use very gentle exfoliants or rhassoul clay to help pull those toxins from the skin twice a week.
I recommend picking one carrier oil and trying it out for at least 2 weeks. Play around with amounts and ratios to see what oil works best for your skin type. 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 you can even add a few drops of your favorite essential oils for added benefits like:
• Tea Tree Oil
• Lemon Oil
• Rose Oil
• Chamomile Oil
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!
What have been the best oils for your skin type? Please share in the comments!
You may also enjoy reading:
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
Essential Oils for Hormonal Acne
Hi, I’ve just come across your website and I LOVE it! I was just wondering if I could ask your advice. I have always had quite red skin on my face, recently it’s got a lot worse. It’s bumpy but not necessarily spotty, a bit hot and quite patchy and a bit dry is certain areas, I suspect it may he the beginnings of either eczema/psoriasis/seborrheic dermatitis. Ive it for a while on my elbows when stressed, I was just wondering what would be be the best combination of oils for me to use for face, body and scalp? Thankyou xx
Hi Sam!
All skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, etc. are usually caused by an imbalance within the body. How is your diet? Stress levels? Etc.? As for oils and the like, tea tree, lavender, and frankincense are especially healing for the skin. I would use 2 drops of each in 1 oz of carrier oil that works well for your skin.
I am so happy I found your site! I fully believe in using oils and I use only pure natural products on my face and body.
In the past I used Coconut Oil to remove my makeup but it made my eyes red and I wasn’t thrilled with the results so I want to find the best oil to remove my makeup, I will follow with a cleanser as well.
I am curious for the best oil or oil blend for normal skin? I do have sun/again spots as well as some blackheads but my skin does not feel oily or dry. Would jojoba be the best option for me?
Is it better to just use one oil for example jojoba instead of a blend of perhaps castor and jojoba? What about an essential oils? Would lemon be best for my skin?
I do also use rosewater as a toner. I would appreciate any advice!
Hi Jacalyn!
jojoba oil, meadowsweet oil, or squalane would be good for your skin 🙂 Lemon is good for lightening hyperpigmentation and should only be used at night. you can add 1 drop of lemon essential oil per 1 tsp of carrier oil.
This post was so helpful! Im just wondering, is apricot kernal oil an astringent or conditioner?
Hi Ella!
Apricot kernel is more conditioning. Astringent oils include castor, grapeseed, hazelnut, and borage. 🙂
Please write about oil recipe for pregnancy treatment and which oil and essential oit that not safe for pregnancy and breast feeding. Thank you…
Hi Dyah!
I actually have a second blog that focuses on essential oils. I have a post you can check out here and here that talks about which essential oils are safe for babies, young children, and pregnancy.
Hi,
I just came across your article. I had heard about using tamanu oil for eczema and that it helps with acne also. My son has had pretty bad eczema on his fingers and toes for the past 2 years and I’m afraid of him using the steroid ointments that the doctor prescribes cuz of the way it thins the skin so much. My daughter had had cystic acne for 4 years. During that time we tried coconut oil (with disastrous results, it got worse!) and eventually the dermatologist prescribed acutane. The acutane was wonderful while she was taking it but she stopped taking it 1 year ago and it’s starting to flare up again. I thought tamanu oil would help both of my kids with their skin but after reading your article I’m wondering if I got ahead of myself in ordering them each their own bottle of tamanu oil. Help????
Hi Tracy!
It should be fine! Tamanu, if nothing else, is an excellent healer when it comes to scars – even acne scars! The scent isn’t my favorite, but you can use it at night.
which of these oils do you think is best for body eczema- jojoba or safflower? Also, which is less greasy?
Safflower is probably more moisturizing but jojoba oil is less greasy.
Hello! I’ve been using a castor and olive oil blend for oil cleansing, and i love it…but reading about the benefits of jojoba, I’m interested in trying that! Do you think a jojoba/castor oil blend would work, or would you do jojoba and olive oil? My skin tends to be a bit more on the dry side, but also gets red and flaky skin around my nose.
Hi Larissa!
You can definitely try the jojoba and castor oil combo. Just keep in mind that it won’t be as moisturizing since jojoba is a lighter oil than olive oil. You may actually need to use more jojoba oil in your blend to balance out the drying effects of the castor oil.
Hello! In a sunscreen would capric/caprylic triglycerides or hi-oleic sunflower seed oil be better if I am worried about those ingredients being comedogenic? I am trying to choose between 3 sunscreens…
Option 1: *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), *Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E).
Option 2: *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, *Cera Alba (Beeswax), Tocopherol (Sunflower Vitamin E), *Anthemis Nobilis (Roman Chamomile) Flower Oil, *Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Extract, *Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn) Fruit Extract
Option 3: Purified Water (Aqua), Capric/Caprylic Triglyceride, Propanediol, Glycerin, Methylcellulose, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Organic Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract* (1%), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C, Stay-C® 50), Decyl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.
Hi Sutton!
Option 1 is probably around a 1-2. Option 2 is probably around a 2. Option 3 is probably a 3! I hope this help 🙂
I was wondering if I can mix Rose hip oil and add 2 drop of tea tree oil for acne scare and uneven skin?
Hi Lily!
You can definitely do this! I would mix the two drops of tea tree in 1 TB of rosehip oil.
Hello, I was wondering if you could recommend an oil for super sensitive and dry skin. I also have kerrotosis pillarois as well so often times my skin and hair follicles get clogged
Hi Wren!
Hmmmm… I’m wondering if frankincense would work for you? You could dilute it in a carrier oil you skin likes – perhaps just 1 drop in 1 TB of oil or moisturizer and see if that dilution feels good for your skin.
This is, hands down, the most informative blog I have read in years~
Super glad to hear it Laura! Thank you 🙂
Hi, Tash!
I have oily skin with a lot of whiteheads (under the skin, close comedons) and blackheads. I drink a lot of water, I always change the pillowcase , I wash my face in the morning and night, I used many products, but my whiteheads are still here… I want to include in my routine an oil to clean my face. What is the best for me?
I read the article with the rating of comedogenic oils, but I want to be sure.
Hi Ana!
What do you use for skincare right now? As for the best oil, I really like hemp seed oil since it has the lowest chance to clog pores 🙂
Tash —
So glad I came across your site. I’m trying to make my own face oils and body butters. Having difficulty with the oils. I have vitiligo (no pigment)… especially in my face. Very creamy pale. My skin is dry or dehydrated. Not a drop of oil in my fact/body. LOL. I’ve tried the following oils and they feel amazing at night, but too oily in the morning before I put on my makeup (eye makeup only and powder…. no foundations). I’ve tried individually: Jojoba, olive, grapeseed, soybean, and sesame. They are amazing at night, but again, too oily in the morning. Also, I’ve never had any acne. What do you suggest? Also, I NEED some sort of face sunscreen for day wear. Any suggestions? THANK YOU.
Hi Teewee!
Have you thought of perhaps trying olive oil squalane? It’s a drier oil that feels less oily on the skin. You really don’t need much, maybe just a single drop after you have misted your face with a floral water/hydrosol. Most people find it to be light yet moisturizing. You may want to look into it 🙂
Why do you no longer recommend Neem oil? I have sensitive oily skin, and am currently trying to heal my skin after over-using glycolic acid. It’s one of the only things that seems to heal my acne ( especially after I’ve picked at it). Just curious as to why you don’t recommend and if I should stop using it.
Hi Rachel!
I do still recommend neem, but I think most people do not want to apply it to their entire face due to the smell. I still think it’s an excellent oil to use! If it works for your skin, keep using it 🙂
Nice article I’d just like to point out several oils have more than one type. E.g. Safflower oil comes in two varieties: high-oleic and high-linoleic. I believe generally the high-oleic version is more common.
You are correct, Rachel 🙂 It is always difficult to find the high-linoleic version, and of course, it’s the best one to use for many people.
Hi!
I have combination skin with acne. Are there other suitable oils other than almond oil, argan oil, apricot kernel oil, sesame oil, or rosehip oil?
YES! Please refer to my comedogenic ratings article HERE to explore MANY more options 🙂
Hi Tash love your article and your one of the best bloggers.
how do you make your hair long and thick because i been having difficulties to make my hair long can you please, give me some tips and advice .
many thanks Priya
Hi Priya!
Lately, I have been using a massage method on the scalp where you lean your head forward to increase blood flow and massage the scalp thoroughly for 4 minutes. You repeat this every day for 7 days. Do it once a month and I guarantee you will see growth (doing it more than this will cancel out the results as your body will get too used to it)! I have seen almost one inch of growth in just one month after using this technique which is twice as fast as my normal growth rate 😀 As for thickness, I haven’t found much that will improve the thickness of the hair, but when I do, I’ll be sure to share my results!
Do you know anything about borage seed oil?
Hi London!
Yes! Check it out HERE. 🙂
Can someone tell me the differents between Aloe Vera and Safflower oil. My skin is very sensetive but not a oily type of skin and I need parfume free products. What is best for me?
Can u recommend a organic grapeseed oil please
Hi Zoe!
Yes! Try this one –> https://amzn.to/2M5KdNh
Hello, such a good article, thankyou! Anyway, before I know this article, I already have tamanu and rosehip oil. In this article, tamanu oil is use only on acne spot, not on all over the face. My question is, if I want to use both tamanu(for acne scars) and rosehip(for moisturize), which one should I put first? Is it tamanu or rosehip first? Thanks;)
Hi Sasha!
You can definitely use tamanu as an all over face treatment 🙂 It’s really really good for the skin! Perhaps start with applying the tamanu oil first and let that soak in slightly before applying the rosehip oil. Best of luck!
hi ! thank you for this great content!!!
I personally enjoy the calendula and the argan oil! love the smell!!!
Such a great article! I really enjoyed reading it. I have small keloids and was wondering what would be a good oil or combination of oils to heal my keloids? Really would love your advice, as i have tried many things over the years but nothings worked well enough. I have 3 on my upper arms, and one just above my bellybutton, if that’s any extra information I can give to help find the correct oil(s) to use. Thank you so much for your time Tash! Be Well!
Hi Juliana!
Have you tried tamanu oil? It’s one of the best for healing all types of scars 🙂
Hello,
Just wondering which oils you would recommend for back acne? I find my back is dry after showering, so want to replenish moisture without blocking pores. Have tried jojoba with some success.
Also, how to you recommend balancing the skin’s PH? How can one find out whether their skin is too alkaline or acidic?
Hi there!
What conditioner do you use? I found that my back acne cleared up just by switching my conditioner! otherwise, as far as oils go, tea tree essential oil is great for all kinds of acne issues. Just add 1-2 drops to 1/2 a teaspoon of jojoba oil. As for testing your skin’s PH, I’m not sure. However, I do know that if you use PH balanced skincare your skin will stay where it needs to be so avoid overly acidic or overly alkaline skincare. Most companies should have the PH of there products listed somewhere on the packaging or on their website. You can also email their customer service if you can’t find this information. I often use rosewater after cleansing my skin and it works great for keeping PH levels balanced 🙂
GREAT information and super results!
Thanks and blessings
Thanks Liberty! Happy you found it helpful 🙂
Hi,
You may want to re-check your sources for the composition of Apricot Kernel Oil 🙂 From what I’ve come across so far, it should not be in the high linoleic acid list!
Will do Maham!
May I ask where you got this info? Thanks! 🙂
Hi,
Could you please share a oil recipe for extremly dry skin type for my 8yr old son.
Hi Rani!
You can try some sweet almond oil 🙂
Hi,
Can you please share a moisturizer recipe for dry skin type which can be used for kids also.
Thanks,
Rani
Hi, I’m so pleased to have found your site the information is amazing. I have been using Rosehip seed oil on my 3 year old daughter’s chixken pox marks, they are only about 2 weeks old and I am trying to do whatever I can to prevent bad scaring and reduce redness. After reading your information I am thinking Vitamin E and/or Lavender oil would be a better combination. I would really appreciate any advice on this inc quantities if I am mixing oils. Thank you xx
Hi Frances!
I would mix 1 drop of lavender oil in 1 tsp of carrier oil. You wouldn’t need too much vitamin E since it’s so concentrated so even a few drops in something like almond oil, coconut oil, or olive oil would work great!
I use sunflower oil and I have combination skin im loving it so far my pores are tightened my skin is glowing, smooth and soft it is so much healthier than ever i alternate rosehip oil with sunflower oil I sleep with these oils on my face the I super love rosehip as it lightens dark spots, acne marks even scars and my skin just feels young. Sunflower brightens up my skin also and moisturizes it but rosehip is better in lightening but sunflower is the balanced one it takes care of all my skin problems. Never had breakouts. I would like to say though that I dont recommend olive or coconut oil for dry skin as these oils are comedogenic Ive used these before and I had breakouts I even blamed my make up for my acne so I stopped using my make up but my I still experience breakouts and then I found out it’s the coconut oil that’s causing it as it is comedogenic so NO NO for coconut and olive oil though I’d love to use them ob my hair and body. And one more thing sunflower oil is also good for the body and also on hair I super love how sunflower oil takes care of my overall skin. I just mix it with my lotion for my body it can lighten knees and elbows even scars and stretch marks and also rub some oil on my hair amazing.
Thank you for sharing your experience Amethyst!
Hi Tash,
I’ve been battling an annoying chin break-out (from about the corners of my mouth down) for a couple years now, and haven’t found a way to kick it yet. Growing up, and as a teenager, I’d never had skin problems, and it wasn’t until my early twenties that I started getting acne. I have dry, sensitive skin, and my breakouts are hard dry milia-type pimples (not cystic) with dry scaly patches. What oil would you recommend? I have a feeling I was over-working my skin with bad cleansers and products that were too strong for my skin…
Hi KO!
I totally understand your struggle! Recently I’ve had a few stubborn pimples creeping up and I have been using a roll-on that contains jojoba oil, rosemary essential oil, thyme essential oil, cinnamon essential oil, and palmarosa essential oil (about 5 drops of each except for cinnamon and thyme, I only use 1 drop of cinnamon and 3 drops of thyme in 10ml of jojoba oil) and have been applying it morning and night. If you can’t pick up those essential oils, try to get thyme essential oil if you can. It works better than benzoyl peroxide! It really helps with inflammation and redness! Also, you may want to look into a supplement called Astaxanthin. It’s a strong antioxidant that has worked well for those with stubborn chin acne. I hope this helps! 🙂
Hi Tash,
I am making face oil for all skin type – would you recommend a combination of jojoba, hemp and argan? and how about combination of EO: geranium, helichrysum? would these concoction makes a great face oil for all skin type?
Thank you!
Dell
Hi Dell!
That blend sounds marvelous and very healing! Let us know how it works out 🙂
Hi Tash, thank you for this article! After reading this I decided to try out Jojoba oil on my combination skin. This is the first time I ever try out oil on my face, and so far I hadn’t hit the purge period yet and the Jojoba oil did wonders on my inflamed face in my first week of using it. The problem I am having though is that for my first week it was great using the oil, but as I am using it in the second weak I notice that my cheeks were becoming super dry. Before I used Jojoba oil my cheeks were fine, but now I notice that it is flaking up and look dehydrated. Do you have any tips for me to solve this issue? : (
Hi Julie!
Are you by chance using the oil cleansing method? And if so, do you use a cloth and hot water (or any hot water) at all? It seems like a lot of people’s skin can get dry this way. Can you give me more insight on your skincare routine? 🙂
Hi Tash, no I do not use the oil cleansing method. I use Good morning Ph cleanser and afterward I would use tissues to wipe some water off my face. Then I would gather 4 drop of jojoba oil to put on my face. This is my routine for both morning and night time. I don’t believe I am using too much of hot water.
Hello again Julie!
Hmmmm… I was just looking at the ingredients list for the cleanser you use. Did you notice anything change in your skin when you started using it?
Hi,
I started using the Oil Cleansing Method about 4 months back. Until then I used a regular face wash and moisturizer and never had any trouble with my skin. It was working perfectly fine. I hardly ever had acne/pimples even as a teenager. Then I came across OCM and wanted to go chemical free. It was winter here when I started (India), and really dry. I started using Almond Oil. Applied a decent amount of oil, cleansed with cotton, and then applied a few drops of almond oil again. Worked beautifully. I have combination skin with some areas tending to be a little oily or a little dry at times. Then I started using wash cloth in hot water for cleansing and noticed that skin was drying out, and went back to cleaning with cotton. But started having troubles with dry patches. In the meanwhile seasons changed. It’s hot and humid here and I started breaking out with almond oil while still having dry patches. So moved to a combination of safflower oil and evening primrose oil which didn’t help much. So started using safflower oil alone which is ok. I cleanse with safflower oil, then use rose water and safflower oil to moisturise. But the skin is not clear and smooth as it used to be. It has a lot of small pimple-like distribution. I also have a breakout every 2-3 days – just as one is subsiding another one pops up. There are also dry patches right at the place of the breakout. Can you suggest what can be done? Which oil can I try? Thank you so much for your time.
Hi Sowmya!
I’m sorry to hear about your skin troubles! It sounds like the hot water in combination with the cloth may have started damaging your outer most dermal layer. This means that your skin is actually dehydrated. In order to help repair it, I would not use hot water or use any type of exfoliating on the skin (including using a cloth). The reason you are breaking out is because of this dehydration and dryness. Make sure to drink enough fluids throughout the day while also giving your skin a bit of a break. Keep things as simple as possible. Are you still using the safflower oil?
Hi Tash,
Your site is such a treasure! I am very grateful for your comprehensive lists and explanations on oil cleansing and have learnt so much about Oleic vs Linoelic (& Linolenic) acid. It also helped explain why OCM didn’t work out the first time round because the general recipe making the rounds (Olive and castor oil) is oriented towards dry skin.
I am south Asian and I have oily/combination skin. I have some rolling and box scars around my cheeks and temples from sporadic cystic acne and a bout of Chicken pox two years ago. While I have dealt with hyper pigmentation with a topical Retino-A cream, I am considering purchasing Tamanu and Rosehip essential oil to help with the deeper scarring after reading your recommendations. I am also intrigued by Maracuja oil, but I know I shouldn’t go overboard with purchasing and confusing my skin by bombarding it with too many oils. I have read a few stories about Hemp Seed oil not working out for some folks so I’m wary of that as a carrier oil, while I have tried Tarte’s Maracuja oil for 3 days and suffered no breakout (maybe it wasn’t long enough?)
To treat atrophic scars, hyperpigmentation and moisturize my skin while I’m at it – what combination would you recommend? And would you recommend I stop Retino-A while using oils? I also have a tendency to form kelloids and was wondering if you have any recommendations to treat existing kelloids using oils.
Hi Ishita!
Thank you for you lovely comment! 🙂
You don’t have to stop the cream necessarily, just make sure you use a sun protectant if you go out in the sun. If you don’t, your skin could burn and scars will become more noticeable. Has the Maracuja oil been working well still? It is a lovely oil if your skin likes it! It can take a while for your skin to show signs of acne for a few weeks in some cases so it’s good to give things a try for at least a month if you don’t see any adverse reactions.
Tamanu is a wonderful oil for ALL types of scars! I use it as more of a spot treatment only and that’s worked really well for me. Reship seed oil is also a very healing oil and most people’s skin can tolerate it well. But you’re right, try to keep things simple and see how your skin reacts 🙂
My skin is very oily.My face seems shiny always and it feels greesy. Am tired of it? Sometimes I use multani mitti and it does work a little. Should I use hemp seeds oil ?? Please do suggest me
Hi Sumana!
I would suggest giving hemp seed oil a try! It has a comedogenic rating of zero and has worked amazingly well for my oily skin. I hope it works out for you 🙂
I’ve been reading your website for a couple of weeks now. My face is very sensitive. I’m 51 and have always had what I would call adult acne, not bad but, bad enough. Usually my problems seem to be around the jaw and chin area, lots of clogged pores for a few months now. I’ve always treated my face as combination. I’ve always stayed clear of oil in anything including my foundation makeup. I started a week ago using 100% argan oil after i wash my face. My face now seems to be breaking out and is oily a couple of hours after putting my makeup on. . I know itt seems silly sense I’ve read through your information quite a few times. Nothing that I do for my face seems to work. I’ve spent lots of money on expensive items that never worked,always broke me out so I though I would try the oils. I do feel dehydrated as well with large pores.
Hi Kim!
Could you tell me more about your diet, water intake, sleep, and lifestyle? What types of products do you use on your skin?
Hi Tish! I’ll be honest, I don’t eat very healthy. I do use sugar in my coffee, one cup per day. I also do like to pick at my sweets. Other than when it comes to my meals. I usually only eat one meal a day, red meat, chicken, potatoes. I know not very healthy. Suggestion would be greatly appreciated. As far as products, I use murad, currently trying Lancôme for cleansing, and a product from acure as a scrub. I’ve never been able to use a moisturizer because of breakouts so that’s what’s brought me to your website in hopes of trying to go with something more natural. I don’t excersise, or drink very much water. My go to for a beverage is vitamin water. Sleep 8 hrs a night, with the help of a sleep aid. I have beeen diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and take natures thyroid which is all natural. I had a complete hysterectomy 16 years ago and take biodentical progesterone and estrogen. Thank you so much for your hopefully helping me figure out how to get on a healthy regimen. I’m useing life flow Aragon oil and the Now rose seed hip oil. If needed I use benzoyl peroxide 2.5 to help dry up any breakouts that are actual pimples. My dr also gave me Clindamycin phosphate 1% and Trentinion 0.05% cream which I have steered away from using because of causing purging in my face to be extremely dry. I know I’ll be one of your more difficult situations ;(
Hello again!
Getting in nutrient rich foods into your diet on a more regular basis is definite first step in my opinion. Reason being, your body needs a regular source of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats in order for it to properly process hormones (natural or bioidentical). Eating a healthy diet will also balance any blood sugar fluctuations which are known to cause the body to release more stress hormone into your system and cause more breakouts. Staying comfortably hydrated is also important to help the body process and excrete wastes and other toxins so it would be good to drink a bit more water everyday as well. Getting regular movement everyday is key as well, but I’m sure you already know these things! You just need to set small goals and focus on achieving them 🙂 Acne is largely caused by internal factors so focusing just on the outside won’t get you far. Try your best to incorporate a more healthy lifestyle, lower your sugar intake or at least switch to coconut sugar/nectar which is low glycemic. You may want to look into a simple women’s multivitamin. A good one to go with that isn’t terribly expensive is Rainbow Light 🙂
I know it can be hard when so many things are out of whack, but I think starting out with diet and daily movement is the first thing to do! How has the argan oil and rosehip seed oil been working for you?
Hi Tish,
Thank you so much for all your input. I’ll definitely be working on a better diet. I had been using the argan oil for a few weeks and it actually broke me out. I started getting pimples here and there, mostly the lower part of my face. I hadn’t mixed the rose hip oil with the Argan oil for fear that it may cause a breakout/problem… I thought it would be better to introduce one thing at a time, I did use the rose hip around my eyes and really liked it. I’m now using jojoba oil every other night for fear it would break me out as you have mentioned in your posts. I’ve been using it for a week so far and all had been ok. I also bought frankincense to try. I went today and bought some hemp oil and a bentonite clay mask to try. Do you have any suggestions as to how I should introduce these products to my face? (Frankencence, rose hip oil, bentonite clay) I would like to beabke to mix the oils! I’m so sceptical about all of these products due to the fear of having a bad breakout. 🙁
Thank you so much for all your amazing information as it so interesting, but yet a little confusing for myself. So much to take in! I do love reading all of the questions and comments that you receive as they are very helpful too.
I did stop using the argan oil.
Hi Kim!
I can totally understand how overwhelming it can be to figure all this stuff out for your skin. It’s frustrating for me not being able to know exactly what’s best for everyone’s skin type. I can only make the best educated guess I can. The problem is, everyone’s skin is SO incredibly different, not only based on oiliness, dryness, or combination skin types but also so many other factors I’m just beginning to understand.
Anyways! I’m glad you sorted out the argan oil. It can work well for some and not so well for others. Keep it for your hair, it will nourish it 🙂
Rosehip oil is one oil I really like too! It takes an excellent serum if your skin tolerates it. The hemp oil has a comedogenic rating of zero, so unless your skin is severely dehydrated and has sticky skin cells, it should not be an issue. You must also keep in mind that the skin can go through a “purging” stage. This most often happens with jojoba oil but can also occur with other oils that have a low comedogenic rating. It’s almost as if the skin is saying “Finally! I can breath and get all this gunk out!” and then it just has a party for about 6 weeks. it sounds like your skin is doing fine with it so far though, so that’s good news! If you want to incorporate the hemp oil, you can either a little on your fingertips with the jojoba oil to see how it goes before mixing anything in a bottle. You’ll save more product that way.
As for the frankincense, you can add that to any carrier oil you use on your face. I would start with just a drop to see how you like it. Just know that the max dilution for frankincense essential oil is 2% (or 12 drops per 1oz of carrier oil) just so you’re aware 🙂
The bentonite clay can be used at any time. I typically use it at least once a week after I’ve cleansed my pores really well. It’s STRONG so don’t be alarmed when you can feel your own heartbeat in your face. It’s excellent for pulling out impurities though so I don’t mind.
Hope this helps! 🙂
Again, thank you so much for all your help and such great information:)
You’re welcome! Best of luck 😀
I read that acne prone skin should choose oils LOW in oleic acid but what you’ve suggested for dry yet acne prone skin is to use oils HIGH in oleic acid. How does that work then? I’ve personally broke out from Avocado Oil.
Hi Elle!
What skin type do you have besides acne prone? is it dry, dehydrated, oily, combination? these conditions change which oils work best for your skin including the oleic/linoleic acid content 🙂
Hi Tash,
I used to have normal/combination skin. After the last breakout I had, my skin turned from dehydrated to now normal/dry.
Sorry Tash
I completely forgot to mention in my previous post:
1) I only ever cleanse and wash face with warm water. Never hot water; as too irritating and drying.
Then always have a final rinse of face and body in the shower with a quick blast of very cold water.
Warm water opens the pores and removes grime, and the cold water closes the pores.
🙂 Takes a few weeks to get over the shock of the icy blast (especially in winter) but really worth the effort. Helps to firm the skin.
2) I also do DRY skin brushing once a week. Even on face. I have two different brushes for this. I have a Bernard Jensen Complexion Soft Brush for the face. And a harder bristle for the body.
3) When I started the oil method, as mentioned I also had eczema on my face . At that time I also used Calendula Cream and it worked a treat for very sore sensitive dry skin. I used a brand called Jurlique Calendula Cream. I combined the cream and the oils.
I was just reminded of this, as I have been doing a detox all week and my face broke out into a sore, itchy, painful detox rash. Nothing was calming it. So I went into a Jurlique store and used their tester two days running (yes cheeky of me!) and the rash cleared up within 48 hours.
4) Forgot to mention that other pure oils, such as 100% macadamia oil and 100% carrot seed oil are also fantastic for my skin. But don’t use them very often as quite expensive.
5) I had scars on my face from falling off a bike when I was ten. Used pure rosehip oil twice a day for six months, and the 30 year old scars completely vanished.
6) Also drink 1 – 2 litres of filtered water a day.
Promise not to post again 🙂
Wow! This is all great information! Thank you so much for sharing Mary, love your comments, SO informative!! 🙂 I just learned that a chromium deficiency has been a huge culprit for me as low levels really mess with blood sugar. Having crazy fluctuations cause the body to pump out insulin and cortisol which in turn disrupt a number of things in the body like hormones, digestion, and the clarity of our skin! Your tips are wonderful, thank you for giving others such amazing insight! 🙂
Thank you for posting all this information… I wonder if you know what to do about psoriasis-like conditions. I have very dry skin on my groin and I wonder if dabbing oil would help (obviously I could just do it and learn by trial and error but you seem to have loads of information and I figure I could ask).
Thank you!
Hi Ola!
You could actually try something like shea butter! It is very protective and moisturizing even for sensitive skin. Otherwise try good ol’ coconut oil 🙂
Hi Tash
Thank you so much for this informative article.I stumbled on your page when i was
looking for benefits of apricot oil for the skin.Initially it just came in mind that i
should use jojoba oil as a moisturizer but couldn’t find it so reached for apricot oil. I
have normal skin( neither oily or dry)initially i haven’t had problems with my skin
but in June 2016 thats when i started experiencing problems with my skin e.g pimples,
white and black heads. I have tried commercial products with no help.So recently i
switched to all natural products but my skin has not yet improved .I even stopped
taking biotin supplements in the quest to alleviate the problem.Kindly advise. My
regiment is follows:
Cleasing : Liquidfied black soap and added 1tsp of coconut oil, 1 tsp glycerine ,10 drops of tea tree oil
Toner:Raw apple cider( with a ratio of 2ozapple cider vinegar and 2oz water)
moisturize:spray aloe Vera juice then apply unrefined Shea butter mixed with olive oil ,honey, glycerine, coconut oil , castor oil, a few drops of tea tree and peppermint oil.
exfoliation:Done 2 times a week: Bentonite clay mixed with apple cider vinegar and Moringa powder.
Hi Dorcas!
Are you taking any other supplements? Also, the coconut oil may be the culprit here! It seems that a lot of people can’t use coconut oil without breaking out. Only a select few can use it without complaint. When I tried using it, my skin looked pretty great for a few days but then broke out pretty badly. You may want to swap it out with a less comedogenic oil like jojoba, hemp, or rosehip 🙂
I will share my successful methods. But in hindsight, sorry it has turned out a bit long winded. Hope I don’t bore anyone!
I have combination skin. I think! Not really thought about it to be honest.
I started using oils exclusively on my face ten years ago. And have not used any other method in all that time since.
I only use cold pressed 100% pure oils (certified organic or wildcrafted a bonus) which come in small bottles usually around 30mls to 100mls in size. Although this sounds small, I only use a few drops, so a bottle normally lasts me 6 – 12 weeks.
I started this method because I got a patch of eczema appear on my face, and I found my normal cleansing, toning and moisturizer products too irritating and harsh.
I just wanted to get back to basics. Single oil is about the purest thing you can get. I found this method cleared the eczema up and left my skin feeling really nice. So I just continued it over the years.
I am now 47 years old, and often get complimented on how soft, wrinkle-free, clear, radiant and healthy looking my skin is. Pretty telling, since I never got compliments prior to using the oil method.
I do not wear any makeup whatsoever. So any compliments I get are literally related to my skin and not some cosmetic procedure or cover.
I have experimented with different oils over the years, and my preference is using cold pressed 100% pure Jojoba Oil to cleanse.
I do not normally use blends although have experimented in the past. Just prefer using the one oil.
This is my daily evening routine:
I literally only use a few drops on dry skin. I put one drop on my forehead, one on my chin, and one on each cheek, and one on my neck. And from there using my fingertips, I can spread it and massage it into my whole face and neck area.
I then run the tap until the water is warm, and dampen a cottonwool cleansing pad (also called make-up removal pads) and then squeeze it out; so I am just left with a warm and damp pad. Using the pad, I remove the oil. And all the dirt and grime from the day comes off onto the pad. Then using another few drops of the same oil, I moisturize my face. Then go to bed.
In the morning, I cleanse my face using above method. But instead of using the pad, I jump in my morning shower.
Using a wet cotton face wash cloth, I then remove the oil under the warm water. After the shower, I dry my face (by patting with towel) and use oil for the moisturizer too. Again only need to massage a few drops.
In winter for moisturizers, I use Rosehip Oil or Jojoba Oil.
In summer, I use either Jojoba Oil or Marula Oil or Tamanu Oil or Camellia Oil.
I like to swap the moisturizing oil every three months, as this stops your skin getting use to just the one oil.
I also use pure oil as a body moisturizer which I keep in the fridge (unlike the face oil which I keep in the bathroom cupboard). My body is not as sensitive as my face, so I can use all sorts of oil on it. I also swap them around every three months.
Particular favourites are: Avocado Oil, Wheatgerm Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil and Chia Seed Oil. I buy these in 100mls to 250mls dark coloured bottles.
Yet to try Hazelnut Oil as it is very hard to source, but that is next on my list.
In my experiments to find nice oil, I also found the WORST oils for my skin which caused my pores to block and my skin to dry out, and they are: Olive Oil, Coconut Oil and Castor Oil.
Diet has a massive impact on my skin too. About eight years ago I gave up all sugary junk food and drinks. Instead I started to consume raw leafy greens in vegetable juices and smoothies, and found these had a huge impact towards my radiant skin.
Sorry for waffling so much 🙂
WOW! Thank you so much for this Mary! 😀
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!
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 😀
Tash, what the best oil to reduce wrinkles around eyes? Dry/ normal skin. Thanks so much.
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 🙂
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?
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. 🙂
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.
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 😀
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!
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.
Very beneficial
Thank you! 🙂
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
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 🙂
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
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
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:)
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
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
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
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
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!
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 !
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!
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 !
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!
So…do you scrape like the Greeks and if yes/no, what do you use to get the oil off?
Hi David!
You can scrape if you like. I tend to leave the oils on my face 🙂
Thanks so much for this article…such helpful information!
You are very welcome Pat! So glad you liked it 🙂
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?
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
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.
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!
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.
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.
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
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 🙂
Hi! What oil would you use under eyes? Combo skin. Looking at almond or jojoba. Thanks!
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! 🙂
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!!
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! 🙂
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.
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!
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!
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!
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
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
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!
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!
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,
Hi Jennifer!
Can you give me more information on what skin type do you have?
Thanks!
any thoughts about marula oil and which category it is? im trying to decide marula oil vs macademia oil for hydration =)
Hi Laura!
Marula oil is best suited for dry aging skin that feels undernourished and looks dull. Hope this helps! 🙂
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!
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!
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!
Yay! I’m happy to hear it! =)
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!
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 =)
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.
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 :]
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!
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
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
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.
I also love using jojoba oil for my skin. Works great =)
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.
Oh, this is helpful! Thank you =)
I really like your blog… and thought that I would stop by and say so!
Thanks for all you do Tash!
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 😉
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!
Great article! I have pinned it for future reference. Thanks for sharing!
Glad you liked it!
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!
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.
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!
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.
Hi,
Would avocado oil work for dry skin?
Great tips! Thanks for debunking the castor oil, I can;t wait to start brewing up some concoctions.
I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest
but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
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.
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
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!
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?
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.
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!
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:)
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! =)