Our Favorite Natural Oils for Skin Care
Need help deciphering the best oils from fleeting skincare trends? Look no further than our natural oil guide.
With thousands of products available and ever-changing skin care advice, we know it can be hard to decide which serums, acids, moisturizers, and oils are worth it. Then, throw in the fact that everyone’s skin needs are unique, and it’s pretty darn impossible.
Lique sticks with all-organic, natural oils in our products, because we know nature always knows best. Here’s our guide for the best natural skincare oils for your face, body, and, of course, lips.
Coconut Oil
What is Coconut Oil?
One of the most popular oils, coconut oil comes from the nut (or fruit) of the coconut palm. It’s a highly saturated oil, which typically gets processed in two different ways. Cold-pressed coconut oil simply means pressed without heat, while other methods using heat may remove valuable properties.
Coconut Oil Benefits:
With vitamins E and K, along with medium-chain fatty acids, coconut oil is known for its supreme moisture benefits, especially for the skin. Its emollient properties work wonders on delicate lip skin, by offering heavy-duty hydration along with a barrier for dry, chapped lips.
It also contains antimicrobial properties which are great for acne, cellulitis, and even athlete’s foot. Coconut oil has also been found to reduce inflammation by neutralizing free radicals in the body. Many studies have even shown results for psoriasis, eczema, and even pain relief!
Coconut Oil Uses:
Coconut oil’s obvious moisturizing properties make it great for all-over skin use. While for some people, coconut oil may work on the face, other more oily-prone skin types may find it clogs pores or feels too greasy.
If using on your face or body, remember to look for unrefined, cold-pressed versions. At Lique, many of our lip balms are infused with all-natural, pure coconut oil.
Jojoba Oil
What is Jojoba Oil?
Did you know Jojoba is a shrub that grows in dry regions of the Southwestern United States and in Mexico? The oil-like wax gets extracted from the plant’s seeds. Jojoba oil has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years.
Jojoba Oil Benefits:
This plant-based oil is remarkably similar to our skin’s own sebum and is often considered a natural glow serum for skin. Filled with antioxidants, like Vitamins A, E, and D, it’s able to penetrate deeper into the skin to cleanse and balance the overproduction of sebum or oil.
It’s considered highly safe for most skin-types, rarely causing allergic reactions, even on sensitive skin.
Jojoba Oil Uses:
As an extremely versatile natural oil, Jojoba oil can be used on pretty much any skin type, from oily-prone skin to eczema to dry, flaky scalps. Some people use it as a carrier oil, others may add a few drops to their shampoo or conditioner.
When used on the lips, especially as a potent lip-mask, Jojoba oil will lock in moisture and naturally fight UV and pollution aggressors.
Peppermint Oil
What is Peppermint Oil?
Peppermint oil has been around for centuries and is made from the leaves of the peppermint plant. It contains 40 different compounds and the refreshing quality comes from menthol. You will often find pure peppermint as an essential oil.
Peppermint Oil Benefits:
As a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, it’s shown to kill germs and heal the skin. It may even be good for acne. Its cooling effects soothe irritation from wind-chapped or sunburnt lips.
Peppermint also stimulates circulation, temporarily plumping up the lips.
Peppermint Oil Uses:
Peppermint oil is highly concentrated, therefore when using on the skin, make sure to dilute a few drops with a carrier oil before applying. At Lique, our lip plumpers are a great way to make the most of this natural oil!
Avocado Oil
What is Avocado Oil?
Pressed from the fruit of an avocado tree, this oil is comparable to olive oil. It’s antioxidant-rich, with Vitamins, A, D and E, along with other moisturizing nutrients like lecithin and potassium.
Avocado Oil Benefits:
Rather than sitting on top of the skin, avocado oil absorbs quickly, offering instant hydration. It’s also known to promote collagen production and accelerate the healing process.
Avocado Oil Uses:
For general skin softening, you can use avocado oil in facial masks, add a few drops to a bath, or use it as a general moisturizer. You can also find avocado oil in our ultra-softening lip scrubs.
Shea Butter
What is Shea Butter?
Essentially a solid oil, Shea butter is extracted from the shea kernels of the African shea tree. It contains Vitamins A and E for moisture, as well as several fatty acids. It also boasts antioxidants like tocopherols and catechins, which are natural antioxidants.
Shea Butter Benefits:
With known anti-aging and moisturizing properties, shea butter can help repair the proteins in our skin and even offer some UV protection. Anti-inflammatory qualities make it great for psoriasis or eczema, and peoples in West Africa have used shea butter for centuries to treat wounds and other ailments.
Shea Butter Uses:
A non-greasy moisturizer, shea butter can pretty much be used anywhere as a hand or body moisturizer, itchy-skin treatment, on stretch marks, or as a lip softener. Many of Lique’s lip balms and glosses include shea butter as a prime source of hydration.