Beauty brands in all corners of the globe are going nuts for almond oil - and so are we. As well as being lightweight and suitable for sensitive skin, almond oil smells totally delicious and has all kinds of beauty-boosting benefits. Here's what you need to know...
It can make you look younger
Almond oil is about to become your skin's new best friend. It's rich in vitamins A, B, and E and is intensively moisturising and gentle too, making it a great option for all skin types.
In particular it helps combat pesky undereye fatigue and dark circles. Simply dab a couple of drops of sweet almond oil under your eyes before going to bed, you'll soon notice a reduction in dark circles and fine lines.
Regular use of almond oil can help plump up your complexion too. It contains large amounts of monounsaturated fats, which promote healthy cell membranes in the skin, making it a great natural anti-aging ingredient. (Pass us a bottle already!)
It can keep your skin soft
If your skin is more scaly than sexy then you seriously need to invest in a body scrub with almond oil. L'Occitane makes an amazing almond soap that's gentle enough for everyday use but effective enough to really slough off dead skin cells.
Almond oil is also a great body moisturiser. If using the oil on its own isn't appealing to you, pick up a light cream with sweet almond oil. We love Laura Mercier's Almond Coconut Soufflé Body Creme. Warning - it smells good enough to eat.
It can make your hair stronger
If you're not already grabbing your bottle of almond oil then let us make another attempt to persuade you. As well as all those skin benefits it can also transform lackluster tresses.
For starters, almond oil stimulates hair growth and helps to reduce breakage so if you want longer, stronger hair, it's time to add this to your beauty shelf. What's more it can also help mend split ends. Winner!
For a little DIY, mix equal parts almond, olive, and castor oil. Heat the solution and apply this to your hair before getting out of the shower.
If you have fine or oily hair, try a product that contains a little bit of the nutty stuff. Wen by Chaz Dean Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner is sulfate-free and color-safe.
And that's not all. Almond oil can also be used as a stand-in for shine serum or leave-in conditioner. It's pretty much destined to be your new hair product of choice.
It helps keep your scalp flake free
A flaky scalp but can be a hard nut to crack but with a little help from our old pal almond you'll be saying goodbye to dandruff in no time at all.
To soothe and calm angry scalp just mash gooseberries and mix them with almond oil and apply to the afflicted area for 20 - 30 minutes. Then wash your hair as normal and you should see and feel the results.
Makes your lashes grow faster
Everyone wants longer, thicker, stronger lashes. Hence our global mascara addiction. But did you know that almond oil can also be used to encourage eyelash growth? Neither did we.
For thick and fabulous lashes simply dip a mascara wand in some almond oil and brush it onto your lashes. Used regularly and you should start to see an improvement in your flutter factor.
Can be used to remove makeup
Ah makeup. We love to put it on. We hate to take it off. Almond oil, however, can help us with our daily quest for clean skin before bed. As it's an oil it helps to dissolve makeup and open the pores.
It's not greasy at all and can even help to prevent break outs as it won't clog up your pores. Heaven - we're actually in love with the stuff.
It can perfect your pout
Your lips will love almond oil. Especially during winter! To battle dry, chapped lips, pick up Bliss Fabulips Sugar Lip Scrub. It exfoliates your pout gently with with almond shells while keeping your lips hydrated.
After you've repaired your pout, seal the deal with a lip treatment. Hourglass No. 28 Treatment Oil will moisturise, smooth, and improve the appearance of your lips - and the magic ingredient that helps it to do all that? You've guessed it already. Pucker up!
It can soften your cuticles
All manicurists know that when it comes to beautiful nails, it starts with cuticle condition. Keep yours in check with our fave miracle worker, almond oil. Not only will it help to hydrate dry cuticles it can nourish your nails too making them stronger and eventually longer and less likely to flake.
The Body Shop have an Almond Nail and Cuticle Pen which we swear by. Simply leave it on your cuticles for twenty minutes while watching Girls then rub the excess into your skin for healthy, happy, more beautiful hands.
Are you going nutty for this beauty hero? Tweet us @sofeminineUK
