We all love coconut oil.
I did the same thing that most people did—bought a giant tub of coconut oil, read about the magnificent number of benefits and uses, and then went nuts.
I used it in all of my recipes, tried oil pulling and used it as skin moisturizer every night before bed. But now, a year or so later, I strongly dislike the smell of coconut oil. I no longer enjoy the taste, and my sheets are still somewhat oil-stained.
I still cook with flavor free coconut oil, but I needed a better option as a staple in my medicine cabinet.
Enter sweet almond oil.
This stuff is amazing. It’s unscented and ultra moisturizing. Somehow, it seems to be less oily than coconut oil, if that makes any sense. I find that it absorbs into skin better than coconut oil, leaving less of a mess behind.
I add a few drops of it to my body lotion and face moisturizer every night, but there are tons of other uses for it. (More on that later.)
So What Is Sweet Almond Oil?
Sweet almond oil is made from pressed sweet almonds (the kind we eat). It has a nutty flavor and can be used as a substitute for olive oil. Don’t confuse sweet almond oil with bitter almond oil, though.
Sweet almond oil is a fixed oil (also known as a carrier oil)—one you would combine with essential oils for scent and aromatherapy uses.
Bitter almond oil (made from bitter almonds) is an essential oil—known for its scent and flavor.
Sweet almond oil is full of fatty acids, vitamins E and K, and heart-healthy phytosterols.
What Can I Use Sweet Almond Oil For?
There are so many uses for this beneficial oil, but here are a few favorite uses for sweet almond oil:
1Moisturizing boost: add a few drops to your body lotion or face moisturizer
2Intense moisturizer: for patches of very dry skin, massage a few drops of oil into the area
3Massage oil: add essential oils like peppermint or lavender for an invigorating massage
4Hair amplifier: massage a few drops into hair to help with split ends and flyaways
5Body scrub: mix almond oil and sea salt together for a great all-natural scrub
6Homemade creams, soaps & balms: many at-home recipes call for sweet almond oil
7Under-eye treatment: a few drops massaged in the area helps to soften and tone your face
8Nail revamp: rub a few drops into cuticles and nails to moisturize and soften
9Cut prevention: before shaving, rub in a few drops to prevent cuts
If you've never used sweet almond oil, I think you should give it a try. It has quickly become one of my favorite beauty oils.
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