The benefits of vegetable oil on skin

The benefits of vegetable oil on skin are substantial and the reason why consumers are responding to product claims that include avocado, sunflower and olive oil. This focus on vegetable oil in skin scare joins forces with increasingly popular natural and organic trends in the beauty and personal care market. According to a recent survey conducted by GlobalData, products containing easily recognizable, food-based ingredients are thought to be more trustworthy by consumers all over the world. Beauty and personal care brands are having to quickly adjust to these new preferences, which is partly the reason behind the recent surge in organic and natural certifications in cosmetics.

Considering substantial trends towards organic beauty products, the positive associations with natural ingredients is hardly surprising. Further to this, respondents also perceived that these products were safer and more effective than synthetic formulations. These assumptions aren’t unfounded.

Is vegetable oil good for your skin? The 3 main benefits

1. Emollient properties

The use of vegetable oil on skin has potent moisturizing properties that soothe and soften this tissue. For instance, Provital developed the Vitaoils range because of the rich, nourishing qualities of oils produced by avocados, coconuts, sunflowers, linseeds and argan kernels. In the case of vegetable oil for skin that contains high levels of linoleic acid, such as sunflower oil, the formula locks in moisture by forming a barrier on the skin. This also helps prevent harmful pollutants from penetrating the skin. However, some oils, such as olive oil, have the opposite effect; instead, they reduce the skin’s barrier capacity, which as a part of a beauty regime can increase the efficacy of other moisturizing products.

2. Antioxidant benefits

Employing this oil on skin provides a great source of antioxidants, which protect the skin from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms produced by pollution, cigarette smoke, and processed foods, which damage the skin in order to stabilize. Antioxidants help the skin counteract the effects of free radicals, promoting greater skin health and delaying the aging process. According to an academic published by Clinics in Dermatology in 2009, vegetable oils like avocado and oil are rich in vitamin E and other antioxidant compounds including squalene and phytosterols. Not only are these compounds hydrating, but it has also been suggested that phytosterols have anticancer properties. 

3. Antibacterial qualities

Vegetable oil for skin also has antibacterial and antifungal qualities, helping calm infections, soothe and even improve skin texture. For instance, researchers in the Philippines studied the effects of the application of coconut and olive oil on adults with atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, that tested positive for the bacterial complication Staphylococcus aureus. After the end of a four-week period, 50% of patients using olive oil and an incredible 95% of those using coconut oil tested negative for the bacteria. Although the study was small, previous research has also demonstrated the antibacterial effect of vegetable oil on skin.

Vegetable oil on skin: Hydrating, nourishing and cleansing

From combatting hyper seborrhea with natural products, to the use of vegetable oil on skin, consumers have more positive associations with natural, familiar ingredients in beauty products. This is reflected in purchase behavior: according to The Benchmarking Company’s 2018 PinkReport, “The New Age of Naturals” 68% of those surveyed said they purchase natural and organic products. However, these tendencies aren’t merely assumptions; many natural oils and extracts have a myriad of benefits for the skin. Using vegetable oil on skin like those naturally occurring in avocados, olives, coconuts, and sunflowers grants access to a powerful source of vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants that moisturize, nourish and protect the skin.