Sweet Almond Oil

Almond trees have been cultivated since the Bronze Age and their nuts were one of the first seeds and seed oils to be used by man. Almonds are rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, D and E, and contain calcium, magnesium and potassium.

Almond oil comes in two types, sweet almond oil and bitter almond oil. Today I shall jot about sweet almond oil. Like olive oil is edible. The best sweet almond oil is the natural expeller pressed oil from raw almond kernels. The oil is then filtered and bleached by exposure to light. It has a shelf life of around a year.

Sweet almond oil is yellow in colour, with little smell and a sweet, slightly nutty flavour. It is high in fatty acids, mainly oleic acid with lesser amounts of palmitic, linoleic, linolenic and stearic acids.

The oil  is very easily absorbed by the skin and is a popular carrier oil used by masseurs and aromatherapists. Its high content of fatty acids, softens and smoothes the skin without clogging it. Sweet almond oil helps the skin to balance its loss and absorption of moisture and promotes cell renewal. Therefore it is regularly used for dry, cracked, sensitive, wrinkled or sun damaged skin. It also strengthens, thickens and nourishes the hair.

Other health and beauty uses for the oil include using the oil as a moisturizer, to remove eye make-up, to soften cuticles and ear wax, to get rid of dark circles under eyes, and to naturally prevent and treat acne. It is great in salad dressings and a useful ingredient in home-made soap making.

It is well worth adding sweet almond oil to your usual beauty routine.

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Sugar and Spice Scrub
From HM Beauty Recipes 

1 tbsp. granulated sugar
1 tbsp. dark brown sugar
1 tbsp. almond oil
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tbsp. ground oatmeal
1 tsp. cinnamon

Combine all ingredients. Scrub face with mixture 2-3 minutes then rinse.

Detox Bath

1/2 cup Epsom salts
1/4 cup organic sea salt
2 tsps. sweet almond oil
2 tsps. rosemary oil
4 drops violet leaf oil

Mix and add to warm, not very hot bath water.

Spray On Body Oil
From Green Sense  

1/4 cup vodka
1/4 cup scented water
3 tbsps. sweet almond oil

Pour all ingredients into a spray pump bottle and close. Shake the bottle until well mixed. Shake before each use. Note: to scent water - pour boiling water over dried or fresh herbs or zest, let cool, strain.

Almond Oil Makeup Remover

1/2 cup / 100 mls. sweet almond oil             
5 drops lavender essential oil           
3 drops lemon essential oil              

Mild cleansing, for all skin types and has a shelf life of 60 days. Put the sweet almond oil into abottle, add lavender essential oil and lemon essential oils. Mix well.  Moisten cotton pad with the make up remover, dab on eyelids and lips, leave on for 10 seconds and then wipe off.
Beauty Tip: Almond eye lip cleansing oil can also be used as massage oil as it has lavender which can helps to relieve stress and combat fatigue. Massage lightly into neck and shoulders in a circular pattern. Apply before retiring to bed for a good sleep.

Lavender Hand Cream
From Care2 Groups Submitted by Diane C.

4 tsps. sweet almond oil
4 tsps. coconut oil
3 tsps. white wax
6 tsps. glycerine
6 drops lavender essential oil

Put the almond oil, coconut oil and white wax in a double boiler or a bowl over a pan of hot water and gently dissolve. Stir the mixture to blend it together and when everything has melted add the glycerine drop by drop. Take it off the heat and stir until creamy. Add drops of lavender oil and mix well. Put into pots.

Sugar Foot Scrub
From How To Do Things 

1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup sweet almond oil
6 drops orange essential oil
1 drop ginger essential oil
1 tsp. powdered cayenne pepper

Use a plastic bowl to mix everything, stirring in the cayenne pepper last. Gently massage the foot scrub unto your feet concentrating on the rough parts like the heels and calluses.

Aloe Cleansing Gel
From Kitchen Crafts and More  Submitted by Betty   

2 ozs / 60 mls. aloe vera gel
1 tsp. sweet almond Oil
1 tsp. glycerin
1/2 tsp. grapefruit seed extract (I use Vit. E oil instead-same amount)
4 drops sandalwood essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil

Mix well and put in small jar. Gently clean face with Gel, then remove with damp washcloth or tissue.

Vanessa's Baby Oil  

From Make Your Own Cosmetics  Submitted by HBN President Donna Maria
This simple combination of ingredients, including calendula, a well known skin loving, healing herb, will help baby's skin remain smooth and supple. I began using this on my daughter just 8 days after she was born when I noticed dry skin around her wrists and ankles. Works like a charm ~ Donna

Yield: Approx. 1/2 ounce   Shelf Life: 6 months

1 tbsp. sweet almond oil
1/8 tsp. Vitamin E
2 tsps. infused calendula oil (I infused in extra virgin olive)
  

Mix all ingredients together in a dropper bottle and shake gently to combine. To use, apply to baby's skin after bath using only a tiny bit. For a 10 pound infant, 6 to 8 drops is sufficient for arms and legs as only a light layer is necessary for baby skin. Use more for toddlers and larger babies. If fresh oils are used to make this product, the shelf life will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 6 months. It will last longer if kept refrigerated during any extended periods of non-use. If the product begins to smell badly, the oils have become rancid and the product should be discarded.