Certain plant oils are very useful for repairing and maintaining a healthy skin barrier. But not all plant oils are equally helpful. Before coating our skin, it’s important to choose oils that are non-comedogenic and oils that help restore the skin barrier.
Fortunately, a good deal of research has been done to help us determine how to choose good oils for the skin.
Some plant oils can be “comedogenic”, meaning they more easily clog pores. Plant oils that are more likely to clog pores can safely be used on areas of the skin such as the lips or the heels of the feet. They can also be useful for very dry skin for those who are not prone to breakouts.
For those with oily or acne-prone skin, it is better to avoid products that show comedogenic ingredients toward the beginning of the list of ingredients. The following is a partial list of readily available plant oils that can be used for the skin. You’ll notice that it is not true that non-comedogenic oils are always light and thin. For example, Castor Oil, Mango Butter, Pomegranate Seed Oil, and Tamanu Oil are all quite thick but are still helpful for acne-prone skin.
Abyssinian Seed Oil
Amla Oil
Apple Seed Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Argan Oil
Black Cumin Seed Oil
Broccoli Seed Oil
Cacay Oil
Camellia Seed Oil
Caprylic Capric Triglycerides (MCT)
Castor Oil
Grapeseed Oil
Guava Seed Oil
Hazelnut Oil
Hemp Seed Oil
Jojoba Oil
Kiwi Seed Oil
Mango Butter
Meadowfoam Seed Oil
Passion Fruit (Maracuja) Seed Oil
Peanut Oil
Pomegranate Seed Oil
Prickly Pear Seed Oil
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Rice Bran Oil
Rosehip Seed Oil
Sea Buckthorn Oil
Safflower Oil
Squalane
Sunflower Seed Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Tamanu Oil
Avocado Oil
Cocoa Butter
Coconut Butter
Coconut Oil
Flax Seed (Linseed) Oil
Macadamia Nut Oil
Moringa Oil
Palm Oil
Sesame Seed Oil
Soybean Oil
Wheat Germ Oil
Plant oils also vary by the type and amount of triglycerides and free fatty acids they contain. For instance, plant oils that are high in linoleic acid have been shown to help improve skin barrier function while plant oils that are high in oleic acid are more likely to cause barrier disruption.1
This does not mean that you can’t use high oleic acid oils on skin, because high oleic acid oils may provide other benefits such as antioxidants. It’s just a good idea to mix them with plant oils that are higher in linoleic acid.
Apple Seed Oil
Black Cumin Seed Oil
Cacay Oil
Grapeseed Oil
Hemp Seed Oil
Passion Fruit (Maracuja) Oil
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Prickly Pear Seed Oil
Rosehip Seed Oil
Safflower Oil
Soybean Oil
Sunflower Oil
Wheat Germ Oil
Acai Berry Seed Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Camellia Seed Oil
Macadamia Oil
Moringa Oil
Olive Oil
Papaya Seed Oil
This is not the only consideration, however. For instance, Jojoba and Meadowfoam oils are very similar to natural sebum in the skin. The linoleic acid content in these oils is low, but they contain other long-chain fatty acids (Eicosenoic Acid and Erucic Acid) that make them very effective at promoting skin barrier repair. That’s why you’ll find these oils in so many of our products.
If I were only going to choose one oil for my skin, I would choose either Jojoba or Meadowfoam. They are great for all skin types.
When choosing plant oils for the skin, it’s important to consider how quickly you want the oil to absorb into the skin. If you are putting an oil on your lips, you would probably choose an oil that is heavy and slow to absorb. If you plan to use the oil for massage, you will choose a medium-weight oil that doesn’t absorb too quickly. If you are trying to moisturize your skin before applying makeup, you may be looking for a fast-absorbing oil.
Abyssinian Seed Oil
Acai Berry Seed Oil
Apple Seed Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Broccoli Seed Oil
Cacay Oil
Camellia Seed Oil
Caprylic Capric Triglycerides (MCT)
Grapeseed Oil
Guava Seed Oil
Hazelnut Oil
Kiwi Seed Oil
Macadamia Nut Oil
Mango Butter
Meadowfoam Seed Oil
Passion Fruit (Maracuja) Seed Oil
Pomegranate Seed Oil
Prickly Pear Seed Oil
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Rice Bran Oil
Rosehip Seed Oil
Sea Buckthorn Oil
Safflower Oil
Squalane
Amla Oil
Argan Oil
Black Cumin Seed Oil
Cocoa Butter
Coconut Oil
Hemp Seed Oil
Jojoba Oil
Olive Oil
Papaya Seed Oil
Peanut Oil
Sunflower Seed Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Tamanu Oil
Avocado Oil
Borage Oil
Castor Oil
Coconut Butter
Flax Seed (Linseed) Oi
Moringa Oil
Palm Oil
Sesame Seed Oil
Soybean Oil
Wheat Germ Oil
The oils in Corum products have been carefully chosen to include the best plant oils for skin. Our products are formulated to support the skin barrier while not causing breakouts. That makes our products beneficial for all skin types, even acne-prone or oily skin. Check the ingredients list of each of our products to see how each ingredient benefits the skin.
