The physical changes that your body undergoes during pregnancy—swelling, stretching, and shining (AKA, “pregnancy glow”)—can all be controlled and/or comforted by indulging your skin in plant-based oils. Especially during the fall and winter seasons, when cold weather strikes and these issues are exacerbated, these natural elixirs can also prevent and soothe cracked, wind burned and chapped skin.
Plant-based oils are not only non-toxic and therefore, pregnancy-safe, they are also rich in natural antioxidants and vitamins, making them a powerful, all-natural alternative to chemical-laden drugstore moisturizers and skin treatments. Botanical plant materials are non-greasy and non-comedogenic, making them safe for all skin types, as well as easily absorbed into the dermal layers of the skin. They defend the skin’s lipid barrier from environmental pollution, and act as a humectant to keep the skin moist. You can use botanical oils singularly or combine them with other botanical oils--and even makeup--to maximize skin care health.
Argan and coconut oils, while both tremendously beneficial to skin, are only two of the many plant-based oils that can pack a punch with only a tiny drop. Here are six lesser-known oils that can cleanse, moisturize and reduce skin imperfections:
- Borage Seed Oil: Produced from the Borage blossom, Borage oil contains essential fatty acids, including the highest naturally found concentration of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA)—an omega-6 fatty acid—that, when processed by the body, is transformed into a hormone like substance that inhibits inflammation. Used to reduce redness and minimize the appearance of stretch marks, this oil can be found in Nine Naturals Vanilla + Geranium Regenerative Belly Butter.
- Tamanu Seed Oil: Tamanu oil, sourced from Southeast Asia, helps heal wounds and promote the generation of new tissue—a process known as cicatrization. This oil contains three type of lipids—neutral lipids, glycolipids, and phospholipids—in addition to calophyllic acid and calophyllife, as well as four fatty acids. All of tamanu oil’s components render it a superior non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, which is why it is a featured ingredient in Nine Naturals' Natural Belly Oil.
- Mango Butter Seed Oil: Cold-pressed mango butter seed oil—a great source of essential fatty acids, including linoleic and oleic acids—contains tannins that give the oil anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Commonly used as a base ingredient in body care products, mango butter seed oil can soothe dry, chapped skin, as well as help combat eczema and dermatitis. Find it in both Nine Naturals Simply Natural Lip Balm and Repairing Body Balm.
- Evening Primrose Oil: An essential ingredient in Nine Naturals Vanilla + Geranium Regenerative Belly Butter, evening primrose oil contains Vitamin E, GLA—one of the body’s essential fatty acids—and phenylalanine—a compound that can aid in pain relief.
- Avocado Oil: Extracted from the flesh of the avocado fruit, the super emollient avocado oil is rich in vitamins A, D, and E, lecithin, and potassium. The deeply penetrating oil, which is an ingredient in Nine Naturals Citrus + Geranium Soothing Body Wash, has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and cellular regenerative properties, making it ideal for relieving dry skin and nourishing aging skin.
- Jojoba Seed Oil: Native to the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, this fatty-acid rich liquid wax, which is an ingredient in Nine Naturals’ Natural Belly Oil, is most similar in molecular structure to sebum—the oil that your skin’s sebaceous glands produce—therefore, with continued use it will balance out your own oil production.
Experiment with a variety of plant-based oils to discover which one (or two, or three) is best for addressing your specific skin and body care needs.
