We all want nourished, healthy-looking skin. But for some, finding the right skincare ingredients is a difficult task when your skin is sensitive, acne-prone and seemingly non-cooperative. Luckily, some carrier oils have the ability to heal and nourish skin without irritating or worsening your skin.

Showing your skin some extra TLC may be easier than you think. Read on to discover the best carrier oils for sensitive and acne prone skin and how they can boost your routine.

How Can Carrier Oils Benefit Your Skin?

There’s a reason carrier oils have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. Also known as beauty oils or facial oils, studies show that carrier oils contain a plethora of skincare benefits.

Anti-Inflammatory

Skin inflammation can be caused by a variety of factors such as UV exposure, pollution, diet and more. As our body’s barrier, the skin may become inflamed when exposed to these stimuli, as well when it becomes injured or damaged. Chronic skin inflammation can also lead to issues such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. 

Luckily, polyunsaturated fatty acids found in carrier oils have been shown to be anti-inflammatory when applied topically. Linoleic acid is one such essential fatty acid found in abundance in oils such as Walnut, Pumpkin Seed, Kukui Nut and many more. One study revealed that a deficiency in linoleic acid was linked to scaly skin disorder and a decline in skin moisture. 

How do you know if you have skin inflammation? You may have skin inflammation if you experience redness, itching, blemishes, irritation or sensitivity.

Healing

Many carrier oils have been found to be wound healing. When a product is wound healing, it means that it assists with one or more of the following physiological processes after the skin is wounded:

• Hemostasis: Clotting around the wound to prevent further bleeding. 
• Inflammation: An immune response that assists cleaning and repairing the area of injury.
• Proliferation: The wound is rebuilt using new skin tissue. 
• Tissue Remodeling: The wound closes as collagen fibers link. 

Carrier oils that are wound healing often have the ability to heal skin quickly while also repairing damage from scarring and blemishes. 

Two fatty acids that are often touted as being wound healing are oleic acid and lauric acid. Three oils containing a significant amount of these components include Oat, Moringa and Shea Nut. 

Mature Skin

There are two ways to categorize skin aging– chronological and environmental. Chronological skin aging refers to physiological processes that occur as we age. Namely a decrease in cellular replacement and impaired skin cell remodeling. Environmental skin aging refers to stimuli causing oxidative damage to the skin.

These stimuli include:

• UV rays
• Pollution
• Smoke
• Changes in temperature

Signs of skin aging include:

• Wrinkling
• Roughness
• Loss of elasticity
• Thinning
• Increased dryness

Antioxidant enzymes in the skin have the ability to reduce oxidative damage caused by environmental stimuli unless overwhelmed, especially in the case of UV exposure. Topical antioxidants such as nourishing carrier oils may be able to boost the skin’s antioxidant levels, therefore preventing skin aging.    

Certain carrier oils may also improve the skin’s barrier, further preventing skin aging. Oils that have been found to reduce the appearance of aging include Sunflower oil, Grapeseed oil, Coconut oil, Sesame oil, Jojoba oil, Rosehip Seed oil, Olive oil and Sweet Almond oil. 

Moisturizing

If you’ve ever applied carrier oil to your skin, you know how soft and silky your skin can feel afterwards. That’s because many carrier oils act as an occlusive, meaning they lock in your skin’s natural moisture and other skin care ingredients, thus preventing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). 

A lack of moisture can also indicate poor skin barrier function, thus making your skin more susceptible to issues such as aging, inflammation, damage and more. 

Top moisturizing carrier oils include Apricot Kernel oil, Castor oil, Avocado oil, Kukui Nut oil and Oat oil. 

Which Carrier Oils Are Best For Acne And Sensitive Skin?

Let’s start by addressing a myth–using oils on your face does not cause acne. In fact, many people with acne-prone skin also suffer from dry skin. For these reasons, more dermatologists and skin experts today are recommending the use of facial oil because of their many benefits. 

Still, for those with sensitive, acne-prone skin, it may be difficult to narrow down which product will react well with your skin. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our favorite gentle, yet highly effective carrier oils to suit your unique skin type. 

1. Argan Oil: Highly acclaimed Argan oil can often be found in the aisles of your favorite beauty store, and that’s because of its many nourishing, yet gentle benefits. Beneficial to both skin and hair, Argan oil is rich in vitamin E making it moisturizing, rejuvenating to damaged skin and protective to the skin’s barrier. Argan oil is light, silky, non comedogenic and easily absorbs into the skin making it ideal for oily skin. 

2. Baobab Oil: Deeply nourishing and wound healing, Baobab oil is often picked by aromatherapists for more serious skin issues such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, scars, wounds and more. Its gentle nature allows Baobab to nourish skin while also being compatible with skin that is sensitive. With an abundance of vitamin C, omega-3 and antioxidants, Baobab is a superior choice for chronic acne and acne scars. 

3. Hemp Seed Oil: High in several vitamins as well as antioxidants, Hemp Seed is praised for its ability to reduce the appearance of acne and eczema. Hemp Seed also penetrates the skin efficiently and mimics the skin’s natural sebum, allowing it to work and heal skin faster. Its anti-inflammatory benefits and rich emollient qualities also lend Hemp Seed to promote clearer, glowing skin. 

4. Kukui Nut Oil: Rich in linoleic and oleic acid, Kukui Nut oil is both anti-inflammatory and wound healing. Kukui Nut helps to restore skin back to homeostasis when acne and blemishes strike. Along with healing acne, Kukui Nut helps to heal sunburns, stretch marks and cellulite. Its fast-absorbing and light nature makes Kukui Nut a good choice for those with oily and combination skin. 

5. Oat Oil: Just as oat baths are known to alleviate itchy, irritated skin, Oat oil can be used in the same way thanks to its abundance of soothing ceramides, antioxidants and vitamin E. Oat oil further helps to firm skin, reducing the appearance of large pores, fine lines and wrinkles. Its gentle nature makes Oat a top contender as an oil for sensitive skin as it works to heal redness and damage caused by acne. 

6. Rosehip Oil: A championship-caliber oil, renowned for its ability to effectively beautify skin, Rosehip oil is a powerhouse for your skin. Packed with therapeutic qualities, Rosehip oil might be best known for its ability to reduce the appearance of skin aging and stretch marks, but it also happens to be a wonder oil for acne and sensitive skin. Soothing and softening, Rosehip covers a multitude of skin condition making it an EG go-to. 

Creating A Winning Skincare Routine

When it comes to sensitive, acne-prone skin, it’s important to learn what jives with your skin and what doesn’t. This is difficult to do when using skincare products with a plethora of ingredients. So unless your dermatologist or a doctor prescribes you a topical product with a laundry list of ingredients, remember that less is more and stick to simple products. Because not only will you be able to determine more easily which ingredients upset or improve your skin, you’re also less likely to have upset skin. 

With that said, here are a few steps you might try to incorporate in your skincare regimen to create a winning routine:    

1. Cleanse: Cleansing helps to remove dirt, debris, excess oils, makeup and more, but it’s important to not overdo it. Try opting for a gentle cleanser such as micellar water and one that doesn’t include an exfoliant, as this can irritate sensitive skin. 

2. Sunscreen: To prevent photoaging, skin cancer and to protect your skin to the fullest, applying a sunscreen is vital. By protecting your skin with a sunscreen, you can effectively avoid further irritating sensitive skin and worsening your acne. 

3. Acne Treatment: Ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are often recommended by dermatologists to treat acne. If you’re looking for a natural alternative, give our DIY Essential Oil Acne-Clearing Roll-On a try. 

4. Moisturize: Apply a light lotion and carrier oil as the last step in your routine to effectively moisturize, prevent TEWL and lock in the previous skincare ingredients. 

Need more assistance picking out the carrier oil that’s right for your routine? We would love to help you–let us know in the comments below!