A popular component of home cosmetic procedures is all kinds of oils. There are 2 large groups of such products: essential and basic. The first are concentrated extracts from bark, leaves, flowers, roots and other parts of plants. Esters cannot be applied to the skin in their pure form, otherwise there is a risk of getting burned. Most often they are diluted with base (transport) ones, which are extracted from seeds, pits and nuts of various crops. Apricot oil falls into this category. It is safe both in combination with other ingredients and on its own. Find out the benefits of apricot oil extract and how to use it internally and externally to beautify your face.
How does apricot oil work against wrinkles and age-related changes depending on skin type?
The oil is light and does not leave a greasy residue, so it works great on skin prone to oiliness and enlarged pores. It regulates the functioning of the sebaceous glands.
Dry skin receives life-giving moisture from apricot oil. It smoothes out flaking and relieves tightness.
For acne, the product is indicated due to its good antibacterial and regenerating abilities. The product heals inflammation and prevents the appearance of new acne.
Aging skin, when using apricot oil, returns elasticity and tone. Small wrinkles are smoothed out. The oil stimulates collagen production and increases tissue elasticity.
How to supplement the oil for a more effective effect
The product goes well with many ingredients. Apricot oil can help in the fight against wrinkles:
- other base oils;
- essential oils;
- clay;
- pharmacy liquid vitamins in ampoules:
- herbal infusions;
- green tea, coffee;
- juices, purees of vegetables, fruits;
- fresh leaves of some plants.
Composition and beneficial properties
Apricot is beautiful both outside and inside. Its healthy juicy pulp is eaten fresh, dried and dried, and the stone extract is used in folk medicine and home care. This would be impossible without the storehouse of vitamins, minerals, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the oil. Their benefits for facial skin:
- Vitamin A eliminates itching, eliminates dryness and flaking;
- B vitamins help fight inflammation, prevent the appearance of pimples, blackheads, and tighten minimal cracks;
- ascorbic acid activates the protective functions of the dermis, including protecting the skin from ultraviolet radiation;
- Vitamin E has an antioxidant effect, promotes the production of collagen and elastin, restores skin elasticity and slightly smoothes out shallow wrinkles;
- phytosterols trigger regeneration processes in the dermis;
- potassium and magnesium take care of moisturizing the skin, activate blood circulation, thereby improving cell nutrition;
- fatty acids (palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, etc.) are antioxidants, stimulate tissue nutrition, are responsible for the protective functions of the skin, regenerate and rejuvenate the epidermis.
Safety precautions or what to avoid
It is difficult to do any harm when using home recipes, but there are several recommendations that should not be forgotten:
- The finished composition cannot be left for storage. Use the mask immediately and throw away any excess.
- When including essential oils in the composition, the mass should not be kept for longer than the specified time. This may cause burns.
- Avoid getting the mask into your eyes. If this happens, rinse the mucous membrane with plenty of water.
- If the mask is made of clay, it is recommended to wash it off as soon as the top layer begins to dry out. Otherwise, the clay will begin to draw moisture from the skin.
- If you are prone to allergies, do not use components that cause them. Test for an allergic reaction.
Really working ways to remove dark circles.
The method for correcting dark circles depends on the cause of their occurrence. Believe it or not, but none of the home remedies can remove dark circles even after 1 month of constant use.
It is important to correctly and accurately determine the causes of occurrence in order to effectively eliminate this deficiency.
Getting rid of pigmented dark circles.
Pigment can be removed from the skin in two ways : using IPL photorejuvenation or using special lightening chemical peels.
Number of required procedures:
- IPL photorejuvenation: 1-2 procedures (cost 5000 rub.),
- Chemical peelings - from 2 to 6 procedures (cost - from 3000 rubles).
In difficult cases, a combination of these two methods is used. Before such aggressive procedures, it is advisable to conduct a course of biorevitalization or plasma therapy: the skin should be prepared, otherwise, after getting rid of the pigment, we will return the skin to turgor and a healthy appearance.
CO2 laser peelings and polishing on thin skin of the lower eyelids do not provide results in getting rid of pigmentation. Harsh chemical peels should also not be used on thin eyelid skin.
You can often hear that mesotherapy helps with dark circles : this is true, however, in the case of thin and flabby eyelid skin. Mesotherapy is often ineffective against pigmentation. If pigmentation is weak, you can try a course of meso-procedures (4-8 pcs.) with special preparations.
Getting rid of anatomical dark circles
If the dark circle of the lower eyelid in the lower part is outlined by a tear trough, then this is a direct indication for filler injections . In this case, the principles of correction coincide with the procedure for correcting the nasolacrimal groove.
Allergy test. Is it necessary?
Apricot kernel oil is hypoallergenic. In extremely rare cases it can cause a reaction. It can even be used in skin care for babies.
But we are only talking about a quality product. If the composition on the bottle contains foreign ingredients, or you are in doubt, it is better to conduct an allergy test. To do this, apply a drop of oil to the bend of your elbow and wait a day. If redness, itching, swelling and other unpleasant symptoms do not appear, then the product is suitable for use.
Contraindications
Apricot oil is a natural product and has only one contraindication - individual intolerance. To make sure there is no allergy, do a simple sensitivity test: lubricate the crook of your elbow with the product. If after a day there is no irritation, feel free to use the oil. Regarding internal use (for example, instillation), you should consult a doctor before practicing such treatment yourself. The doctor will help identify contraindications in your case and tell you about precautions for using the product.
Recipes for masks with apricot oil against wrinkles
Apricot oil against wrinkles will help restore skin elasticity, tissue turgor, and get rid of age-related changes and other problems. Below are some recipes based on it.
Mask with vitamins
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp. l. apricot kernel oils;
- 5 ml vitamin A;
- 5 ml vitamin E.
Liquid oils in ampoules can be purchased at the pharmacy. Mix all liquids. Apply to face using rubbing movements. Leave overnight.
The mask is effective for aging skin. Restores elasticity and beautiful complexion. It is recommended to use a course lasting a month, 3 times a week.
For oily skin types
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons apricot oil;
- 1 tbsp. l. black clay;
- 1 tbsp. l. kefir
Dissolve the clay in a mixture of kefir and oil. Apply the mask to the steamed skin until it dries. Clean your face thoroughly and wash with cool water.
Clay absorbs excess sebum. Kefir tightens pores. Apricot kernel oil regulates the functioning of the sebaceous glands.
For dry skin
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp. apricot oil;
- 1 tbsp. l. flax seeds;
- 1 tsp. olive oil.
Soak flax seeds in cold water overnight. Drain the liquid. Grind in a coffee grinder. Add slightly warmed oils. Apply for 15 minutes.
Oils: olive, apricot and flaxseed, penetrate deeply into the cells, moisturize even the driest skin, smooth it, make it soft and pleasant to the touch.
For acne
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon apricot oil;
- 2 aloe leaves;
- 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil.
Grind aloe to a paste and combine with oils. Apply the mask for 15 minutes.
Aloe perfectly draws out purulent plugs and relieves inflammation. Eucalyptus essential oil has an antibacterial effect.
For wrinkles
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon avocado pulp;
- a teaspoon of apricot oil;
- yolk.
Mix all ingredients in a blender. Apply thickly for 20 minutes.
Avocado oils deeply nourish cells. The yolk restores tone. Apricot oil gives elasticity to tissues and helps fill wrinkles.
Mask with honey
Ingredients:
- a teaspoon of apricot oil;
- a tablespoon of honey;
- a tablespoon of milk.
Heat milk and butter, add honey, stir thoroughly. Apply to cleansed face for 20 minutes.
Honey is rich in vitamins, gives a healthy color to the skin, and makes it elastic. Milk softens and nourishes.
Popular recipes with apricot oil for wrinkles around the eyes
Many people are familiar with crow's feet around the eyes. They appear earlier than other wrinkles, often before the age of thirty. Recipes using apricot oil for wrinkles will help you cope with them and prevent the appearance of new ones.
Cream and apricot
Ingredients:
- a teaspoon of apricot oil;
- 10 g heavy cream;
- 1 apricot.
Combine ingredients in a blender. Apply the mixture to the area around the eyes. The mask lasts 15 minutes.
With lemon juice
Ingredients:
- 10 drops of apricot oil;
- 2 banana slices;
- 4 drops of lemon juice.
Mash the banana and mix with other ingredients. Avoid contact with eyes. Cleanse skin after 15 minutes.
With honey
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. apricot oil;
- 1 tsp. honey;
- 1 drop of lavender essential oil.
If the honey is not liquid enough, it needs to be melted in a water bath. Add oil. Apply with great care, because If it gets into your eyes, the essential oil will burn strongly. Wash off after 10 minutes.
With cream
In order not to prepare complex compositions, you can use your usual cream. To do this, add a small amount of apricot kernel oil to it and apply thickly under the eyes. Wash off after a while, or leave overnight.
With pumpkin
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons apricot kernel oil;
- baked pumpkin.
Turn the pumpkin into puree. The recipe requires one tablespoon. Toss with oil. Apply the still warm paste under the eyes. After 15 minutes, remove with a sponge.
With egg yolk
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. apricot oils;
- 1 yolk;
- 1 tsp. sour cream.
Beat the yolk until white. Add sour cream and butter. Apply thickly to the area around the eyes. Cleanse skin after 15 minutes.
With almond bran
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp. apricot kernel oils;
- 1 tablespoon almond bran.
If it is difficult to find bran, almond flour or finely ground nut kernels will do. Mix the ingredients. Apply to the problem area. Wash off after 10 minutes.
How to Use Apricot Oil for Wrinkles, Dark Circles and Puffiness in the Under Eye Area
The area under the eyes is prone to dark circles and puffiness. Recipes using apricot oil will help remove these symptoms.
Mask
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. apricot kernel oils;
- 3 cucumber slices;
- a few parsley leaves.
Grind all ingredients in a blender. Apply the paste under the eyes. Rinse off with cool water after 10–15 minutes.
Cucumber tones and refreshes the skin. Parsley removes excess liquid. Apricot oil moisturizes the delicate area of the face.
Compress
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp. apricot kernel oils;
- a glass of strong green tea.
Prepare two containers. Mix half the ingredients in them. Place one container in the refrigerator for half an hour. Warm the other one to a comfortable temperature before use. Soak cotton pads in each of the bowls. Apply to the area under the eyes one minute at a time.
Green tea in combination with apricot oil removes bruises, and the temperature contrast eliminates puffiness and swelling of the eyelids.
Let us briefly list the main reasons for the appearance of dark circles.
Wrong reason #1
Disruption of the functioning of internal organs - liver, kidneys, etc. Internal organs have nothing to do with the real manifestation of dark circles under the eyes!
True reason #1
The skin under the eyes is very delicate. There is a layer of fat under the skin that thins and “goes away” with age. The blood vessels and orbicularis oculi muscle begin to “shine through” the thin skin. If you have had thin lower eyelid fat since childhood (anatomical feature), then dark circles may appear from a young age.
True reason #2
With age, the skin accumulates pigment (due to disruption of melanocytes in the periorbital area).
True reason #3
Anatomical structure of the orbital region with deep-set eyes.
In a separate article you will find a complete description of the causes of dark circles under the eyes.
Additional reasons
Bone resorption (thinning and change in the shape of the skull with age) - provokes retraction of the orbital region, the bone pulls the orbital ligament, which in turn pulls the skin. Thus, the formation of a nasolacrimal trough quite often accompanies the formation of dark circles.
The most popular combination of causes of lower eyelid imperfections is age-related thinning of the fat layer, loss of skin turgor (decreased skin thickness) and acquired pigmentation.
How to properly store apricot oil
To preserve its properties, apricot kernel oil requires proper storage.
The first thing you should pay attention to is the expiration date. After expiration, the product should be thrown away, even if it appears unspoiled.
The bottle in which the liquid is stored must be made of dark glass. The cap should be screwed on tightly after use to prevent oxidation.
Store the oil away from sunlight. The sealed bottle can be kept in a dark cabinet at room temperature. Once opened, apricot oil should be stored in the refrigerator.
The product is mixed with other components from the recipe before use, at a time. There is no need to produce the composition in large quantities in reserve.
Cosmetologists' opinion
In addition to home use, apricot kernel oil is widely used in cosmetology.
It is used to produce creams, shampoos, balms, lotions, etc., which go on store shelves.
In beauty salons, specialists add it to masks, peelings, and compositions. Used during massage procedures.
Cosmetologists use this product because... it is highly likely to suit any client and will not cause allergies. Additionally, it is an inexpensive alternative to many other oils.
Apricot oil is often used by massage therapists when working with the delicate skin of babies. It is one of the few that does not cause irritation and has no contraindications for small clients.
History and description
Apricot oil is sometimes called “liquid gold”, wanting to emphasize the value of this substance for the human body. Its healing properties were known as early as 3000 BC. e. The proof is provided by ancient Chinese manuscripts, which say: the remedy was used to combat tumors, ulcers, and hemorrhoids. It was also used to treat the nose and ears.
In the 14th–16th centuries, the oily liquid was added to the bath, and balms and ointments were made from it. The aromatic substance was also used to make perfume. In England in the 16th century, “golden” fruits were called medicinal due to their properties and price. They were served only at the royal table.
Interesting to know. There is a version that the oil was produced by primitive people. And it came to Europe from Armenia, through China and Central Asia. After all, from Latin the name of apricot is translated as “Armenian plum”.
This base oil is extracted from apricot kernels by pressing. Cold pressing produces a product that is especially valuable in its properties and at the same time the most expensive. In this way, it is possible to squeeze out less than half of the oily liquid contained in the seeds. There is also a method of hot pressing, when more valuable liquid is obtained from a similar amount of raw materials. This oil is cheaper and contains fewer beneficial components.
Extracted by any method, the oily substance from apricot kernels has a light yellow tint, a viscous consistency, a light nutty aroma and the same sweetish taste. Sold in two versions:
- Cosmetic . It is packaged in small bottles and marked accordingly. Used in pure form and in various compositions for skin, hair, nails. Serves as a base for diluting esters. The product for maintaining beauty and youth cannot be taken orally.
- Culinary . As a rule, it is sold in large containers (from 250 ml). Unlike cosmetic products, it is additionally deodorized and refined. Suitable also for outdoor use.
Oil for culinary purposes should only be cold pressed.
Reviews from women
- “I am the owner of age-related dehydrated skin, with a tendency to inflammation. Through trial and error, I found the perfect mask based on clay and apricot oil. Clay removes inflammation, and apricot oil moisturizes my skin well. I make a mask about three times a week, for a long time. The face looks much better."
- “Apricot oil is my universal remedy. I apply it to dry ends of my hair, moisturize the cuticle, and add it to homemade masks. I am 27 years old and recently began to notice a fine network of wrinkles in the outer corners of my eyes. I started applying apricot oil for wrinkles to this area as well. The skin has smoothed out, no new wrinkles have appeared yet.”
- “In winter, the face becomes very chapped and peels. I have found an excellent product for restoring my skin. Once a week I apply apricot oil thickly, including the area under the eyes. It is not greasy, but perfectly moisturizes. The next morning the face is like a baby’s, very tender. By the way, there are no oil traces left on the pillow at all.”
Indications for use
High-quality apricot kernel oil is suitable for any skin, including sensitive, delicate, and children's skin. The range of its influence is wide:
- rejuvenates and tones the fading epidermis;
- improves skin color;
- evens out the relief of the dermis, slightly smoothes out fine wrinkles;
- relieves inflammation;
- nourishes, softens and moisturizes the epidermis.
Thanks to its properties, apricot extract can become an indispensable product for people with dehydrated, rough, flaky, dry, aging and flabby skin. If your skin is prone to rashes and allergic reactions to cosmetics, or is sensitive, you should also stock up on a bottle of this miracle product.
The oil has a delicate effect on dry, cracked, chapped lips, as well as the area around the eyes, preventing premature aging and fading. Oily extract of apricot kernels is beneficial for children, including the youngest. A natural product - an alternative to children's cosmetic oils, it moisturizes and softens the delicate skin, helps exfoliate crusts on the head.
By the way. Due to its regenerating properties, the oily liquid is often used during pregnancy. This is how expectant mothers strive to prevent the appearance of stretch marks. The oil is also suitable for dry and damaged hair, protecting it from the effects of negative factors. And taking the drug internally helps in the treatment and prevention of many ailments.
