22 Benefits of Sweet Almond Oil For Health, Skin, and Hair

Almond oil comes from the nutrient-rich seeds of the almond fruit and has been a staple in health and beauty routines for centuries. It’s a highly concentrated source of vitamins, antioxidants, and healthy fats. This oil is used for cooking, skincare, hair care, and even some medicinal applications.

Sweet almond oil is prized for its mild, nourishing properties, while bitter almond oil offers some health benefits only if appropriately processed. This article unveils how almond oil can improve your health, skin, and hair.

What is Almond Oil?

Almonds are often referred to as “nuts,” but botanically, they are seeds found within the fruit of the almond tree (Prunus dulcis). Rich in healthy fats, almonds contain oil that offers numerous health and beauty benefits, making it a popular ingredient in various wellness products.

Almond oil is typically extracted from sweet almonds, which are commonly consumed as snacks or used in cooking. Sweet almond oil is known for its nutritional value and is widely used for its moisturizing and nourishing properties in skincare and haircare products.

On the other hand, bitter almonds, which contain compounds that can be toxic if consumed in large quantities, are primarily used for medicinal purposes after they are carefully processed to remove these harmful substances. Bitter almond oil has historically been used in traditional medicine but must be processed correctly to ensure safety.

Health Benefits of Sweet Almond Oil

1. Prevents Heart Disease

Almond oil is loaded with beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids, contributing to your heart health. These acids boost heart functions and reduce cholesterol levels (R), reducing the risks of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases at bay.

Sweet almond oil is also rich in essential nutrients like folic acid, potassium, and some proteins, improving your overall cardiac health.

2. Lowers Cholesterol

Around 70% of almond oil is instilled with beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids, which increase HDL levels and help transport cholesterol (R) to the liver for further processing.

Healthy HDL levels help lower excess cholesterol and protect the entire cardiovascular system properly.

3. Treats Arthritis

Arthritis, or joint pain and inflammation, can be caused by a number of factors. Almond oil possesses analgesic (R) and anti-inflammatory (R) properties, which relieve muscle and joint pain and reduce excess swelling.

Warm some almond oil on the stove or in a microwave, making sure it’s just warm and not too hot. Apply it on the affected area of the joints and stiff muscles and massage it into the skin. Repeat this 2-3 times daily for quick results.

4. Helps Manage Sugar Levels

The combination of monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (R) in almond oil regulates blood glucose levels in the body. Studies have also shown that replacing carbs with fatty acids (R) can benefit a diabetic patient.

Almond oil helps improve insulin sensitivity (R), and can be a nutritional addition to a diabetic diet. It helps attain satiety quickly, making you feel full for longer, thus helping you consume less and keeping sugar levels in check.

5. Treats Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is characterized by painful defecation and constipation. Almond oil, with its laxative properties, softens the stools and ensures easy excretion.

Add a few drops of almond oil to a glass of water and drink it twice a day. This will help cleanse your entire system while boosting your digestion (R) and keeping the signs of IBS at bay.

6. Promotes Nail Growth

Almond oil is loaded with beneficial vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin E, A, and a few B vitamins. It is also loaded with beneficial antioxidant properties. These, all together, help restore the moisture around the nails and protect them from peeling, cracking, and breakage (R), helping with healthy nail growth.

Apply some almond oil with a Q-tip or your fingertips. Let that seep into the skin around the nails. Do this every day or on alternate days to keep your nails strong and healthy.

7. Boosts the Immune System

Almond oil has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, which contribute to improving your overall immunity.

The antioxidant property helps eliminate excess free radicals (R) in the body, which could harm healthy cells. The antimicrobial properties prevent bacterial growth, thereby preventing any potential threat causing infection in the body.

8. Boosts Memory

Vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and antioxidant properties (R) in almond oil help boost your memory, cognitive abilities, and alertness.

Consume almond oil as a part of your diet, either as a salad dressing or in other recipes. It enhances the levels of acetylcholine (R) in the brain, thus improving memory even further.

9. Restores Liver Function

Research (R) has shown that sweet almond oil can protect liver function and prevent liver damage, especially in metabolic conditions such as favism, by improving liver antioxidants, reducing oxidative stress, and preserving liver cell structure.

10. Benefits Pregnant Women

Folic acid is one of the most important vitamins a pregnant mother needs. Almond oil is rich in folic acid (R), making it ideal for pregnant women.

It is also loaded with beneficial antioxidants and useful compounds like Vitamin E and other minerals, making it a fantastic choice for someone pregnant. It is also helpful for topical application to remove stretch marks.

For consumption and dosage-related information, consult your gynecologist. Avoid this if you are allergic to nuts.

11. Strengthens Rectal and Colon Health

Experts say that even the slightest malfunction can create problems in our intestines, which can cause discomfort and pain. Almond oil can certainly help relieve these problems. 

Ingesting almond oil can relieve pain in patients suffering from colon disorders and constipation. Regular consumption of almond oil also helps prevent colon cancer (R).

Almond oil injections contain phenol, which helps treat rectal prolapse in children; hence, it is the first line of treatment. This method is also found to help cure anal itching, the conditions other drugs cannot heal.

12. Softens Ear Wax

A study conducted by a group of researchers on various rodents found that almond oil softens ear wax. Other chemical ear softeners have been found harmful to the ear. However, you can use almond oil in your ear even if there are lesions and microbial infections in your ear.

Using a dropper, pour a few drops of almond oil into your left ear. Remember to lie on your right side for 2-3 minutes. Now, switch sides and do the same for the other side.

13. Prevents Dental Plaque Formation

Almond oil dentifrice reduces plaque formation on your teeth without causing any damage to the healthy teeth cells and enamel.

You can brush your teeth with almond oil after brushing with regular toothpaste every morning. You can also massage your teeth with the almond oil. After that, remove the oil by rinsing and spitting.

Benefits of Almond Oil for Skin

14. Cures Keratosis Pilaris

Keratosis Pilaris is a skin condition primarily characterized by rough skin and bump-like structures on the surface of the skin.

The application of almond oil is beneficial for treating this condition (R), primarily because of the hefty Vitamin E content in the oil. The vitamins and fatty acids in the oil help restore the lost moisture of the skin and cure the acne-like appearance on the skin.

15. Removes Skin Tan

Almond oil acts as a natural sunscreen, protecting your skin from the harmful rays of the sun and preventing discoloration on the skin. It is loaded with SPF-5 (R), which not only helps prevent your tan but also helps reverse the effects of the tan that you have procured. 

In addition, the oil’s amazing Vitamin E content helps rejuvenate and make the skin healthier.

Before going out, apply a thin layer of almond oil to your body and massage it into the skin, letting it seep into the skin completely.

16. Reduces Dark Circles and Puffy Eyes

Dark circles under the eyes are common, and puffy and baggy eyes indicate sleeplessness or a stressful life. Try almond oil if you have been consistently suffering from dark bags under your eyes.

Almond oil, rich in vitamin E, helps reduce puffiness and dark circles around the eyes by rejuvenating the skin around them (R). It restores moisture under the eyes (R) and enhances blood circulation, which helps reduce dark circles. Regular application helps wipe out dark circles completely and fight the signs of fine lines and wrinkles.

Apply some almond oil around your eyes and gently massage it into the skin with your fingertips in a circular motion. Leave it on overnight and repeat it for a few days, and the results will astound you.

17. Reduces Wrinkles

Nobody likes to even think about puffy eyes, saggy skin, and prominent wrinkles, now, do they? While the signs of aging are inevitable and will happen sooner or later, you cannot stop it entirely. However, you can delay its onset with almond oil.

Vitamin E and monounsaturated fatty acids in almond oil effectively reduce the signs of aging.

Use almond oil as a natural skin moisturizer daily, which should yield results as years pass.

18. Cures Psoriasis and Eczema

Both psoriasis and eczema are skin diseases characterized by dryness, scaling, and inflammation. They are mainly caused by dryness and several other underlying causes.

Almond oil helps remove dead and dry skin cells and restore lost moisture. It acts as an emollient and soothes the itchiness and irritation that most people feel.

Apply almond oil to the affected area and massage it carefully, creating any kind of abrasions. Let the oil seep into the skin and leave it on. Do this multiple times a day to witness noticeable results.

Benefits of Sweet Almond Oil for Hair

19. Promotes Hair Growth

Almond oil not only helps restore the lost moisture in the roots but also strengthens hair strands and roots. It is also rich in magnesium, which plays an amazing role in helping reduce the rate of hair loss and prevent split ends and breakage, contributing to healthy hair growth.

For best results, massage your scalp with almond oil and use warm towel therapy to instill moisture. This will effectively restore moisture and help enhance hair growth.

20. Reduces Dandruff

Two of the most common contributing factors to dandruff are excess oil secretion on the scalp and excess formation of dead skin cells. Applying almond oil improves both of these conditions, keeping dandruff at bay.

The emollient property (R) of almond oil helps remove scaly and dead skin and soothe it. It also helps boost the growth of healthy skin cells, thus making the scalp healthier.

21. Prevents Split Ends

Split ends are caused when the moisture is stripped off the hair. Pollution, stress, and a busy lifestyle prevent you from caring for your hair, resulting in split ends.

Massaging the hair with almond oil helps restore moisture, strengthens the roots, and prevents split ends. Mix almond oil with other oils and massage it onto the scalp twice or thrice a week for amazing results.

22. Promotes Eyebrow and Eyelash Growth

The rich concentration of vitamin E in almond oil is fantastic for boosting the natural growth of eyebrows and eyelashes. The oil’s nourishing properties help facilitate the growth and strengthening of eyelashes.

For effective results, apply a mixture of almond and castor oil to your eyebrows and eyelashes using a clean mascara wand and leave it on overnight. Do this every night for beneficial results.

How to Make Sweet Almond Oil?

Making almond oil at home is very easy and affordable. However, the process is time-consuming. Here are easy step-by-step instructions on how to make almond oil at home:

• Put a few handfuls of almonds (with the skin on) in a blender
• Start blending at a slow speed for a few minutes, then stop
• Scrape the sides of the blender and add some olive oil
• Blend on high speed and make sure that everything is blended to a smooth, fine paste
• Store it in a jar and let it sit in a cool, dry place for 2 weeks
• The almond oil will separate from the paste
• Strain this oil using a sieve or a muslin cloth 
• Store the oil and use it as needed

You can also try Baja Precious Sweet Almond Oil, which is 100% pure and food-grade. It can be used for cooking, cosmetics, and massage. It is flavorless, making it excellent for high-heat cooking and as a base for salad dressings. 

It is also good for skincare because it hydrates and nourishes the skin without leaving any oily residue. 

Its high nutrient content promotes healthy skin and hair, making it a versatile addition to your kitchen and beauty routine.

Conclusion

Almond oil is undoubtedly a versatile and powerful ingredient, offering a wide range of benefits for health and beauty. It supports heart health, helps manage blood sugar levels, and provides nourishing care for skin, hair, and nails. Whether incorporated into your diet or skincare routine or used to address specific health concerns, almond oil proves to be a natural and effective solution.

With its numerous uses and impressive nutritional profile, almond oil is a valuable addition to any wellness or self-care regimen, enhancing overall well-being and promoting a healthier lifestyle.

• Aug 2018
  Written by Somapika D
• Dec 2024
  Edited by Lakshmi Gayatri