I replaced my night cream with apricot oil and here’s what happened to my dry skin

There was once a time when even thinking about using any kind of oil on my face would make me break out! Back then I was an oily-skinned girl with cystic acne, open pores, and whiteheads as the main villains in my life.

Today—a decade later—my skin feels drier than the Sahara dessert. (Let’s take a moment to thank pollution and ageing for that.) As a result, oils have become a staple in my skincare routine now.

My morning skincare routine includes a nice oil massage with some moringa oil that I have already raved about before.

And I usually use extra-virgin coconut oil to cleanse my skin at night, which is promptly followed with a dose of a soap-free cleanser.  When it comes to moisturising though, thick and creamy formulations were my go-to—especially at night. Until, I discovered apricot oil.

Apricot oil promptly replaced my night cream. Here’s why

Here’s the thing about my skin: despite the advent of dryness, my skin is still as prone to acne as it was when I was a teenager. At the same time, lines and wrinkles have already started making their home on my face.

When winter began this year and skin started getting drier than usual, I found myself in a strange predicament: I was looking for an effective product that would: a) deeply moisturise my skin; b) help me fight lines and wrinkles; c) not be harsh for my sensitive skin; and d) not make me break out. That’s a tall order for any formulation!

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As I was scrolling through the depths of the internet, trying to find something that could help me out, I stumbled upon a long list of benefits of apricot oil and quickly ordered a bottle for myself.

You see, apricot oil is is light, gets absorbed in the skin quickly, offers long-lasting hydration to dry skin, and helps smoothen the skin’s texture.

Vitamins A and E in apricot oil is what makes it a worthy choice

Almost every formulation for ageing skin has vitamins A and E in them. While vitamin E is what gives you glowing and smooth skin, vitamin A offers deep nourishment. Apricot oil is also rich in a lot of other antioxidants, all of which together ensure that your skin can fight off free radicals. Not to mention, when your skin is hydrated from within it looks plumps and you keep lines and wrinkles at bay.

Says Dr Rashmi Sharma, consultant, Dermatology at Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj:

“Sadly, not many people know this but it’s one of the best oils that you can apply on your face.”

“This oil helps in nourishing the skin. Thus, it reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of ageing. If you are looking for a good anti-ageing product, you can definitely think of adding apricot kernel oil to your skincare regimen,” she adds.

This is what happened to my skin when I used apricot oil instead of my night cream for two weeks

Right off the bat, my skin felt super soft. The traces of dryness that I would wake up with every morning were gone. Plus my skin felt plump and looked hydrated.

That said, the instant glow I was hoping for took its own sweet time to set in. It was only about two weeks later that my skin started looking radiant. As far as my lines and wrinkles are concerned, well they do look less prominent—but that’s got more to do with the fact that my skin isn’t dry and stretchy anymore.

So should you try apricot oil for your skin?

Well, if your skin is dry and sensitive and you’re always on the lookout for natural formulations to help you out—then go for it. Apricot oil is a versatile pick, not only because it’s nourishing, but also because you can easily layer it.

You can use it underneath your make-up, use it in the day as well at night, and massage your face and body with it before taking a bath.

I used Pahadi Local’s apricot kernel oil or Gutti ka tel, which retails for Rs 1,850 for 200 ml. Though you can use any apricot kernel oil, which is pure and unadulterated. All in all, apricot oil is a natural remedy for your dry skin.