Sweet Almond Oil for Skin: Benefits, Uses and How to Apply It

Sweet almond oil is one of the oldest skin care ingredients there is. In Pakistan and across South Asia it is better known as badam oil or badam rogan, and many of us grew up with a bottle of it somewhere in the house: rubbed into a child's dry cheeks in winter, massaged into hands after washing up, or warmed for a Sunday head massage. It has stayed popular for a simple reason. It feels good, it suits most skin, and it is easy to use.

This guide covers what sweet almond oil is, what it can realistically do for your skin, the best ways to apply it on your face and body, and the mistakes that make people think oils are greasy.

What is sweet almond oil?

Sweet almond oil is pressed from the kernels of the sweet almond tree (Prunus amygdalus dulcis), the same almonds we eat. It is a pale gold, lightweight oil with almost no scent. It is not the same as bitter almond oil, which comes from a different variety and is not a substitute for it. We explain the difference in Badam Rogan vs Sweet Almond Oil.

Almond oil is naturally rich in fatty acids, mainly oleic acid with a good share of linoleic acid. On the skin it works as an emollient: it fills in the tiny gaps between the flattened cells on the surface, which is why skin feels smoother and softer almost immediately. It also forms a light, breathable layer that slows down the loss of water from the skin.

What almond oil can do for your skin

• Softens dry, rough patches. Elbows, knees, hands and shins feel noticeably smoother.
• Helps skin feel comfortable. A thin layer helps reduce that tight feeling after washing, especially with hard water.
• Locks in moisture. Pressed onto damp skin, it helps hold in the water that's already there.
• Makes massage easy. It has a lovely slip, so hands glide without dragging the skin.
• Keeps things simple. A single-ingredient oil can replace several products: body lotion, cuticle cream and hair serum.

What it won't do is perform miracles. Be wary of anyone promising that almond oil will erase wrinkles, scars, stretch marks or pigmentation, or 'whiten' skin. Those claims aren't supported, and they set you up for disappointment. Almond oil is a wonderful softener, and that's more than enough reason to use it.

How to use almond oil on your body

1. Bathe or shower as usual in warm, not hot, water.
2. Pat your skin with a towel so it's still slightly damp.
3. Warm three or four drops between your palms.
4. Press the oil onto your arms, legs and torso, then massage in with long strokes.
5. Give it a minute or two to settle before dressing.

Damp skin is the secret. The oil spreads further, absorbs faster and leaves a soft finish rather than a slick one. For more detail, read our guide to using body oil after a shower.

How to use almond oil on your face

Almond oil can be used on the face, but use less than you think: two or three drops are plenty. There are three easy ways to do it:

• As a last step at night. Press the drops gently over cheeks, forehead and jaw after your moisturiser.
• Mixed into moisturiser. Add one drop to your usual cream in your palm for extra comfort without an extra step.
• On its own. After cleansing, splash your face with water and press the oil onto damp skin.

If you prefer a lighter, faster-settling oil for your face, apricot kernel oil is a close cousin with a finer texture. We compare the two in Apricot Oil vs Almond Oil.

Other everyday uses

• Hands and cuticles: a drop after washing keeps cuticles soft. See our cuticle oil guide.
• Massage: its slip makes it a classic massage oil. Try our almond oil body massage.
• Makeup removal: massage onto dry skin to melt away makeup, as in the oil cleansing method.
• Hair: a drop on dry ends adds shine. See almond oil for hair.
• Under-eyes: one drop tapped along the orbital bone at night. See almond oil under the eyes.

Common mistakes

• Using too much. The number one reason people find oil greasy. Start with fewer drops.
• Applying to bone-dry skin. Oil spreads poorly and sits on top. Apply to damp skin instead.
• Storing it in a hot bathroom. Heat and light make oil go rancid faster. See how to store natural oils.
• Expecting overnight transformations. Consistency over weeks matters more than any single application.

Who should avoid almond oil?

Almond oil comes from a tree nut. If you have a nut allergy, speak to your doctor before using it, and avoid it if in doubt. If you have very oily or breakout-prone skin, start with a small amount a few times a week and see how your skin responds over two or three weeks. If you have eczema or another skin condition, check with your doctor first.

Our almond oil

Our Almond Oil is a single-ingredient sweet almond oil, checked batch by batch and bottled in amber glass to help protect it from light. Nothing added, nothing taken away: just the everyday softener, ready for your skin and hair.