These palm oil benefits for skin will surprise you that you can naturally treat the skin woes and that too, without spending a lot of money!
Palm oil is one of the most versatile oils available globally, which is popular extensively for cooking and packaged foods. Additionally, palm oil has made its way into the cosmetics industry and is found in almost every beauty product. Some percent of the oil produced is used as a biofuel as well.
What is Palm Oil?
Palm oil is extracted from the fruits of the palm oil tree by squeezing the fruit pulp under high pressure. These palm oil trees are native to African countries but are now grown in South Asia, including Indonesia and Malaysia, for over a century. Indonesia and Malaysia now account for 80% of the oil produced worldwide, with Indonesia being its largest exporter. The oil is extracted from the seeds of the fruit and is known as palm kernel oil which has a different composition than palm oil.
It is one of the highest-yielding oil which has a lower cost of production than any other vegetable oil. About one-third of the global oil production from plants is through palm trees. Freshly extracted palm oil has a reddish-orange tint in it. Hence, it is also known as red palm oil. This is further processed and clarified to be used as vegetable oil. Clarification prevents it from interfering with the color of the food when used while cooking or to preserve packaged foods.
Why is Palm Oil Popular?
Palm oil is found in various products, including detergents, lipsticks, soaps, shampoos, toothpaste, deodorants, and packaged foods such as pizza, ice cream, doughnuts, spreads, baked goods, etc. There are several reasons behind this wide usage.
- This semi-solid oil with a higher melting point of 35 C keeps the spreads thick and easy to spread. It keeps ice creams from melting. This also prevents the oil from separating and settle at the top.
- Since palm oil is resistant to oxidation, it increases the shelf life of cosmetic products. Besides, it improves the texture of the lipsticks and makes it smoother and acts as a foaming agent for soaps, shampoos, and detergents.
- Besides, it remains stable at a higher temperature, which makes it an excellent cooking oil, especially for frying.
- It is one of the least expensive oil because of the higher yield.
Palm Oil Benefits for Skin
1. Skin Moisturizer
Red palm oil is an effective moisturizer and can treat dehydrated skin, thereby leaving the skin soft and supple. Its resistance towards oxidation helps it to penetrate the skin and provide deep nourishment.
2. Anti-Aging
Applying red palm oil improves the blood circulation on the face and helps inactive cell regeneration. This prevents early signs of wrinkles. It is rich in Vitamin E, which consists of antioxidants that help the skin fight free radicals that damage the skin causing wrinkles. Phytosterols and carotenoids found in palm oil improves skin elasticity and boost collagen production.
3. Prevents Acne
The cleansing properties of palm oil help remove oil and dirt from the face, which prevents acne breakouts. One of the significant constituents of palm oil, linoleic acids, helps in soothing acne and prevents future outbreaks. It has anti-inflammatory properties, which reduce redness and inflammation around acne.
4. Protection from Environmental Damage
It consists of tocotrienols which are a rare form of Vitamin E. These are especially effective in protecting the skin from sun damage and other environmental factors such as pollution. Protection from sun damage can reduce the development of fine lines. It can reduce the appearance of scars. Carotenoids in red palm oil, which gives it the red shade, are also useful in protecting from UV rays.
How to Use Palm Oil on Skin?
You can directly apply red palm oil to the face. Take a few drops of the oil and massage it all over the face. Spray a little water after that to lock in the moisture. Since this oil has a red color, 2-3 drops are enough for the face; else, it can leave a red hue.
Precautions
Palm oil is a major ingredient in cosmetics. If you use a moisturizer with a high concentration of palm oil, you can limit the direct application or skip it altogether.
Always do a patch test before applying this oil to the face, to see if you are allergic or whether it suits your skin type.
