Various natural oils have been used in skincare for centuries and even millennia, but many people are reluctant to use them, thinking that all oils are comedogenic, i.e. clog pores. But is that really so? Well, yes and no. Some oils are more comedogenic than others, and it is possible to choose the least comedogenic oils that won’t clog your pores. Let’s figure out how to do this.
The term “comedogenic” is derived from the word “comedo” (plural comedones), which means a clogged pore in the skin; comedones can be open (blackheads) or closed by skin (whiteheads). A comedogenic skincare product is a product that can cause the formation of comedones. But why and how exactly does their formation occur?
The sebaceous glands in your skin produce sebum (skin oil), a waxy substance that lubricates your skin and protects it from dehydration and mechanical damage. Another natural process involving the skin is skin renewal; your skin sheds dead cells every day, revealing the new, soft and glowing layer of the epidermis. If your skin is healthy and both processes go as normal, you shouldn’t have any comedones.
However, very few people actually have healthy skin at all times. If your skin produces too much sebum and dead cells don’t slough off on their own as fast as they should, your pores get clogged with oil and keratin debris, resulting in comedones. Using comedogenic skincare products may exacerbate the problem.
The thing is, the same ingredient may be comedogenic in some situations and non-comedogenic in others. For example, when it comes to vegetable oils, some of them are comedogenic for oily skin and completely safe for dry skin. Therefore, natural oils can clog your pores, but only if you choose the wrong oil for your skin type or use too much of it.
As a result, you need to consider your skin type when choosing the right oil for your skin. For example, if you have very oily skin, you should steer clear of castor oil, rose hip oil, elderberry seed oil, babassu oil, guava seed oil, sea buckthorn oil, and meadowfoam seed oil. However, these oils are suitable for dry, normal, and even moderately oily skin.
Macadamia oil, grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, almond oil, hazelnut oil, sesame oil, avocado oil, pumpkin seed oil, and jojoba oil are believed to have a relatively low comedogenic value; they are considered suitable for dry and normal skin. Other moderately comedogenic oils include olive oil, soybean oil, cotton seed oil, carrot seed oil, marula oil, and chia seed oil. You can also use them to take care of dry or normal skin, but it is important not to go overboard.
Coconut oil, cocoa butter, linseed oil, and palm kernel oil are considered highly comedogenic. You should apply them to your face only if you need to treat very dry, rough, flaky patches. Because of their comedogenic properties, these oils are better suited for body care; they have a powerful nourishing effect and help to reduce the visibility of stretch marks, scars, and orange peel skin.
Wheat germ oil is traditionally considered one of the most comedogenic oils. Undiluted wheat germ oil is suitable only for dry and ageing skin; for other skin types, it is best to mix it with other skincare ingredients. However, you can apply small amounts of wheat germ oil locally to treat red and flaky skin regardless of your skin type.
It is also worth mentioning that there are non-comedogenic natural oils that even help to cleanse pores. These oils don’t clog pores regardless of the skin type and can be safely used undiluted for various purposes. They include, for example, shea butter, hemp oil, argan oil, mango seed butter, sunflower oil, and safflower oil.
As you can see, it is hard to say whether a particular oil is comedogenic or not without any context. In addition, choosing the right oil for your skin type isn’t enough; you also need to use it correctly in order to prevent the formation of comedones. As a rule, it is recommended to apply natural oils to cleansed, toned and moisturised skin in the evening; the optimal dosage is 1 to 5 drops, depending on how oily your skin is. The oilier the skin, the less oil you need to apply.
If the oil has a moderate or high comedogenic value and is used for intensive skin nourishment, experts recommend to apply it once or twice a week for up to two months, then take a break to give your skin some rest.
In our online shop Organic Store, you can buy 100% natural carrier oils without any additives, which will help you to take excellent care of your skin and hair. We offer a great selection of oils, affordable prices, convenient payment methods, and international delivery to most parts of the world.
Natural Oils in Our Store
Mayur Natural Wheat Germ Oil, 50 ml |
Mayur Natural Sweet Almond Oil, 50 ml |
Flora Secret Macadamia Oil, 60 ml |
Triuga Shea Butter, 100 ml |
Triuga Sesame Oil, 75 ml |