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I used the glorified almond oil to moisturise my skin and got acne in return

Many regard almond oil as the ultimate home remedy that can nourish the skin. However, I learnt the hard way that it doesn't suit all skin types.
Not all traditional skincare remedies work for all skin types. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Sonakshi Kohli Published: 10 Jul 2020, 12:58 pm IST
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I remember watching Kareena Kapoor Khan’s interview on a particular day. I couldn’t help but admire her flawless, baby-soft skin. Suddenly I became even more alert when the interviewer asked her the secret to her glowing skin. My focus shifted from the visual appeal of her beautiful skin to simply the words she was uttering.

She smilingly attributed it to using a few drops of almond oil every day on her skin and I, like a star-struck fool decided to follow suit without a second thought. After all, how could my Punjabi genes react any differently to almond oil than that of Bebo’s, right?

Hence, with the high hope of waking up with naturally-flushed cheeks and pearl-like glow brimming inside of me, I bought myself a bottle of the purest almond oil, completely ignoring the very first sign of its backfire: The fact that it pretty much cost me a bomb. 

Then came, my new night-time CTA
Cleansing, toning, moisturising has always been my night-time skincare ritual for as long as I remember. However, the ‘M’ was replaced by ‘O’. Cleansing-toning-moisturising changed to cleansing-toning-oiling, thanks to Bebo’s star power, maybe?

I trusted almond for my skin but it looks like it’s a big mistake. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

I decided to go for two drops of almond oil after washing my face. I knew I’d be sorted, or so I thought. The research on the oil further strengthened my hopes and belief because almost every study, every personal account went on to rave about how the vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids present in almond oil help moisturise and nourish the skin, prevent signs of ageing such as wrinkles and fine lines, and reduce spots and scars as well. 

The result?
Well, the first pimple that popped after 2 days of using almond oil wasn’t enough of a reason to doubt Bebo’s skincare secret. However, three new pimples on the third day along with a dry, flaky patch under my eyes was enough for me to start doubting her credibility.

Surely, my skin didn’t react the way hers does to almond oil and I don’t blame her for it. But I was so hurt that I swore never to watch her movies again. 

However, the more reasonable part of me took over soon and got in touch with Dr. Priyanka Reddy, dermatologist, trichologist, and founder of DNA Skin Clinic, Bangaluru, to figure out what went wrong.

“Given the amazing benefits of almond oil, it is natural to want to use it to hydrate and moisturise the skin. However, it should be noted that almond oil is not suitable for the oily skin type or for people with sensitive and acne-prone skin,” she mentioned.

Almond oil can further block pores causing acne breakouts. If you have sensitive skin and feel that the condition is worsening after applying almond oil, then stop using it immediately,” she suggested.

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Once the acne mystery was solved, Reddy was quick to address the problem of the dry, flaky patch and cited a nut allergy as the reason. 

So, should you try it or not?
Well, it definitely didn’t work for me, but you can do a patch test if your inner Pooh cannot resist this recommendation. 

Almond oil is ideal for dry skin type. You can apply a few drops of it on to your face and rub it gently in circular motions. This can be done at night after a thorough face wash. The oil will lock in the moisture and keep the face hydrated. But you’ve got to make sure that you procure 100% pure and organic almond oil,” Reddy suggested.

She added:

Always take a small quantity and remember that too much oil can eventually lead to acne breakout.

However, if the oil doesn’t suit you just like it didn’t suit me, you can give vitamin E oil a try instead.

Sonakshi Kohli

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