Top 5 Plant-Based Oils For Sensitive Skin in Winter

Winter can be especially unforgiving for sensitive skin. Sometimes you can wake up with tight, itchy skin, while the next day the skin is flushed, scaling, and/or burning from products that were fine on the skin in the summer. Cold wind, low humidity, indoor heating, and hot showers strip the skin's natural moisture barrier, making the skin more susceptible to flare-ups. 

This is when plant-based oils come into the frame as the heroes of the winter season. Unlike heavy creams packed with fragrances or harsh actives, plant-based oils nourish the skin more naturally. According to our expert, Dr Ruben Bhasin Passi, Consultant Dermatologist, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, "The winter season demands extra care for the sensitive skin type, and plant-based oils are the best natural way to feed the skin without harsh chemicals.” Read ahead to know everything she shared with us.

Top Plant-Based Oils for Sensitive Skin in Winter

Here are the top five expert-approved plant-based oils for sensitive skin during winter:

1. Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is often described as the friendliest oil to the skin. It is because of its molecular similarity to our skin's natural oils that it is extremely amiable to the skin, regardless of whether it is sensitised or allergenic in nature. During the winter seasons, the jojoba oil maintains the skin’s humidity balance by keeping the dry spots moist without giving them an oily feel, thus not clogging the pores. Additionally, it also strengthens the skin’s defenses against irritation from the cold.

Also Read: Why Jojoba Oil Is Perfect For Acne-Prone Skin

2. Almond Oil

Sweet almond oil, with its gentle and moisturising properties, is very rich in Vitamin E, which has highly antioxidant properties that soothe irritation and protect the skin from environmental injury. Sweet almond oil can be very helpful in caring for sensitive skin that may experience itchiness or inflammation during winter.

3. Rosehip Oil

“Rosehip oil is watery but very potent. It gets absorbed quickly, which is great for individuals with a problem with heavy textures but still want intensive nourishment during winter,” Dr Passi noted. Rosehip oil is famous for its repairing abilities on the skin. It may be used to calm redness, dryness, or overall skin discolouration. It also contains natural fatty acids that give it the power to regenerate new skin cells. 

4. Argan Oil

Nicknamed the liquid gold, argan oil is filled with antioxidants and essential fatty acids. In winter, it moisturises the skin thoroughly while at the same time reducing inflammation. It is extra suitable for sensitive skin, due to its cooling properties in extreme weather conditions like high winds and heaters in winter. Also, it can make the skin soft and non-sensitive.

Also Read: Are Waterless Skincare Products A Better Option For Your Skin? Dermat Tells

5. Calendula Oil

Calendula oil is also great for sensitive, irritated, and overly red skin because it has great anti-inflammatory and soothing qualities. Using calendula oil is also great because it can effectively help sensitive skin that stings, burns, or gets irritated due to cold weather.

How to Use Oils During Winters

Dr Passi emphasised to always apply plant-based oils to slightly damp skin. “The goal is to retain the moisture so that there is no leakage of water from the skin. Only a very few drops of these light oils need to be applied by lightly pressing them onto the skin, rather than rubbing them onto it,” she added.

Bottomline

Plant oils are gentle and nourishing to sensitive skin, which makes them very helpful during winter to restore, calm, and protect skin with no adverse chemicals at all.