Let’s talk about another wonderful, natural oil that is fantastic for beauty: sweet almond oil. It is very important to make a distinction between two different types of almond oil: sweet and bitter. Sweet almonds are what we are most familiar with in our everyday cooking and eating habits. Bitter almonds, by contrast, are dangerous and not used for cooking due to a small amount of hydrogen cyanide they contain. It’s no wonder that today, we would like to focus on sweet almonds (a tasty, nutritious snack by themselves), and their oil!
Nutritionally speaking, sweet almond oil, which is used to make almond butter, almond milk and a variety of other useful cooking products, contains calcium, magnesium, and no cholesterol. Almonds are technically considered a drupe (also known as a stone fruit), and not a nut. Their oil has emollient, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant (Vitamin E) properties among others, and is used as both an immune booster and for muscle relaxation.
In the realm of beauty, almond oil is used as a moisturizer that softens skin, and can even be utilized as a lip balm. Mixing a bit of honey with some drops of almond oil creates a luscious cream that can hydrate chapped lips.
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For a relaxing full body massage, almond oil is a popular choice because it is light and non greasy. If gently massaged on the face, it can reduce wrinkles, dark circles, and bags by the eyes. It opens pores, and is therefore a key ingredient in many facial scrubs. Here is a great example a DIY almond oil facial scrub to cleanse away dead cells:
You will need 1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Mix the two ingredients together thoroughly. Then, using circular motions, apply all over your face, being careful to avoid your eyes. After, rinse with warm water. Note: Dipping a cotton ball in sweet almond oil is also an effective makeup remover tool!
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Almond oil can also be used to create an energizing facial mask:
You will need 1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1 avocado, cut in half. Blend the avocado flesh and mix well with the other two ingredients. Apply the mask on your face and leave it on for at least 20 minutes. Then, rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Finally, almond oil is also useful for hair care. To repair damaged hair and split ends, massage the oil all over your hair and scalp, and let it rest for at least 30 minutes. Then shampoo and rinse normally. This method also rids your scalp of dead cells, which helps to fight dandruff.
We hope these few beauty tips will help you appreciate the versatility and benefits of sweet almond oil.
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