Counter-intuitive
as it sounds, oils can be your saviour when you suffer from breakouts or acne. Like traditional anti-acne products, many oils contain anti-infammatory,
anti-bacterial and soothing compounds.
But
unlike some popular spot-fighters, oils are also packed with vitamins, amino
acids and anti-oxidants to heal, protect and hydrate sore, put-upon skin. And
no, they won't clog your pores and make you go even oilier. On the contrary,
says Sian Jones, co-founder of Balance Me:
"Many
people try and combat congested skin by using harsh, stripping products that
remove all oils from the skin. This causes the skin to over-compensate for the
reduction of oils by producing even more, which in turn worsens the
congestion."
But don't run off and douse your face
in olive oil; some oils are better for spot-prone skin than others.
We asked top skincare and
aromatherapy experts to pick their faves.
Jojoba oil
"Jojoba
Oil is extremely light, and the nearest in molecular structure to our own
natural sebum," says cosmetic doctor and GP Rabia Malik." Nikki
Lewin, head trainer at AromaWorks, adds "it is the perfect carrier oil for
oily skins, as it tricks the skin into stopping the overproduction of its own
oils. Active essential oils cannot penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin
so should always be contained in a carrier oil like jojoba."
Aloe vera essential oil
Healing
and calming, aloe vera oil reduces redness and inflammation and cools the
skin," says What Skin Needs skincare expert Sonja Dymalovski. "It's
packed with Vitamin C, E, B, allantoin, minerals, proteins, amino acids and
beta-carotene, so it to actively repairs skin."
Geranium essential oil
"Geranium
helps regulate sebum production so is great for oily, congested skin
types," says Sian. "It also tightens skin and promotes blood
circulation, helping to heal acne scars – and it smells gorgeous," says
Sonja.
Tea tree, eucalyptus and lavender essential oil
All
have powerful anti-bacterial properties that will soothe and treat pimples. Dr
Rabia recommends a drop of organic lavender in a base of jojoba oil to calm
breakouts, while Sonja points out that tea tree "penetrates the blockage
between your skin and glands, clearing clogged pores."
Ylang ylang essential oil
"This
helps skin retain moisture while fighting acne," says Sonja. It balances
sebum production and calms blemishes, but also softens fine lines and improves
skin elasticity. Perfect for those with combination skin or adult acne."
Myrrh Essential Oil
If
you're battling breakouts as well as signs of ageing, try this," says
Sonja. "Myrrh is intensely anti-inflammatory and healing and is used to
treat blemishes as well as wrinkles and lack of firmness, along with sunburn
and even eczema."
Patchouli essential oil
'It's
anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and astringent," says Nikki. So it will help
tighten open pores, zap acne-causing bacteria, and calm inflamed, angry spots.
Roman chamomile essential oil
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