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Aside from being amazingly delicious, almonds also contain many key nutrients that can help improve your skin, hair, and nail health. They contain protein, copper, riboflavin, phosphorus, fiber, and a hefty amount of vitamin E.
Almonds are also a rich source of trace minerals magnesium and manganese. They have an astoundingly high level of antioxidant content including vitamin E and many protective plant compounds.
All this nutritional goodness is condensed in the oil extracted from these nuts, which explains the widespread use of almond oil in the beauty industry. But you can also use this nut and its oil at home to look after your skin, hair, and nails.
Beauty Benefits of Almonds
Here are some of the most sought-after beauty benefits of almonds:
1. Helps strengthen nails
Almond oil is replete with antioxidants, including vitamin E, that help nourish, protect, and repair your nails to prevent them from turning thin and brittle.
The oil also provides hydration to your cuticles to keep them soft and intact.
How to use:
- At bedtime, massage a little almond oil all over your hands and nails for a few minutes.
- Put on a pair of gloves to keep the oil on your hands overnight.
- Wash your hands with warm water the next morning.
2. Reduces the occurrence of dandruff
Directly applying almond oil provides hydration to dry scalp and reduces flakiness.
You can also consume almonds daily to increase your intake of healthy nutrients including vitamins A, D, B1, B2, and B6, as well as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. These nutrients prevent the formation of dandruff in the first place.
How to use:
- Combine a little almond oil with neem oil and a ½ tablespoon of amla powder.
- Apply this mixture to your scalp and leave it on for 45 minutes.
- Wash your hair with a mild shampoo.
3. Reduces wrinkles and age spots
The vitamin E in almonds is an essential nutrient required by the body to build new skin cells to repair, renew, and add volume to your skin. This makes your skin supple but firm, making your face look youthful. The tighter the skin, the less likely it is to sag, crease, or wrinkle prematurely.
New skin cells replace dead skin cells on the surface to help reduce the visibility of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. In fact, daily consumption of almonds can effectively prevent the progression of normal skin aging, particularly beneficial for postmenopausal females. (1)
How to use:
- Grind 4–5 almonds to form a smooth powder.
- Mix 2 tablespoons of the almond powder in a tablespoon of thick yogurt to form a paste.
- Apply this mask to your face and let it sit for a while.
- You can then lightly scrub it for a few minutes using circular motions of your fingers.
- Wash your face with water.
4. Reduces puffiness and under-eye dark circles
The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of almond oil help reduce the puffiness on our face, including the bags under your tired eyes. This, in turn, makes your dark circles less visible. (2)
The oil is also rich in vitamin E, retinol, and vitamin K, which help repair or renew the skin under your eyes to gradually fade your dark circles.
The skin around the eyes is extremely thin and delicate, but almond oil is safe for application since it is mild enough not to cause any irritation or damage.
How to use:
- In 1 cup of boiling water, put in 2 green tea bags, and let them steep for 5 minutes.
- Once the liquid cools down, take out the tea bags from the cup and keep them in a separate container.
- Refrigerate the container with the tea bags for about 20–25 minutes.
- Squeeze the liquid from the bags into a bowl.
- Mix in 4–5 drops of almond oil and apply the solution to your eyes.
- Let it sit for 15 minutes before you wash it off with cold water.
5. Promotes healthy hair growth
Almonds have a significant amount of hair-friendly nutrients including biotin, manganese, copper, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids.
Thus, these nuts have an incredible remedial effect on several hair issues such as hair loss, premature graying of the hair, frizzy or rough hair, hair thinning, and itchy scalp.
How to use:
- Soak 4–5 almonds in water overnight and eat them routinely every morning.
- Warm 1 teaspoon of almond oil and massage it onto your scalp. Let the oil penetrate deeply into your hair roots overnight. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo the next morning.
6. Maintains healthy skin
Almonds have a high concentration of vitamin E, which helps to fight against the skin damage caused by free radicals and the oxidative effects of pollution. (3) This is why almonds are considered as powerful ingredient to keep your skin healthy from the inside out.
Consuming almonds daily can reduce the intensity of UV damage on your skin and significantly improve your skin’s natural appearance.
How to use:
- Make a DIY almond shea butter cream by gradually heating ½ a cup of shea butter and about 4–5 teaspoon of almond oil in a double boiler until the shea butter melts into the oil.
- Remove the container from the heat and let the mixture cool down for 25–30 minutes. Then, pour the mixture into a clean storage jar until it is halfway full.
- Use this mixture to massage your skin religiously every night before you go to sleep. Wake up to smooth, moisturized, and healthy skin.
7. Lightens dark lips
Your lips are one of your defining features, which can get dry, dull, and pigmented if not taken care of properly. Almond oil has all the essential nutrients to nourish dry chapped lips and keep them soft, moisturized, and attractive.
Unprotected sun exposure is one of the leading causes of lip darkening, besides smoking. The antioxidants found in almond oil, such as vitamin E, help protect the tender skin of your lips from the damaging UV rays of the sun.
Plus, it is rich in vitamins B2 and B6, which help repair and lighten the lips to restore their true color. Almond oil is also an emollient, locking in the moisture and thus keeping your lips hydrated, soft, and smooth.
How to use:
- Prepare a lip scrub by mixing ½ a teaspoon of almond oil with 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon of honey. The sugar scrubs off the dead skin cells, while the almond oil penetrates deeply to lighten the dark tone of your lips. Honey adds moisture to the remedy.
- Rub the mixture onto your lips for a few minutes before washing it off with water.
8. Lightens dark elbows and knees
Almond oil can deeply penetrate the dry rough skin on your elbows and knees for maximum hydrating effect. The oil will also heal the cracked skin in this area.
Plus, the vitamin E in almond oil stimulates skin renewal to gradually fade the hyperpigmentation.
How to use:
- Mix 4 tablespoons of almond oil with 3–4 drops of concentrated vitamin C serum.
- Apply this mixture evenly to your elbows and knees every night before you sleep. Keep the remedy on your skin overnight for maximum effect.
9. Helps thicken eyebrows
Almond oil is richly endowed with vitamin E and protein, which nourish your hair follicles to produce faster and thicker hair growth. This effect applies to your eyebrows as well. Dense hair growth makes your eyebrows look full and dark, thus giving them more definition.
How to use:
- Mix 2–3 drops of castor oil with an equal amount of warm almond oil.
- Use your fingertips to apply the mixture uniformly to your brows. You can massage the brows for a while to improve the circulation and increase the oil penetration in the area.
- Keep the remedy on your brows overnight for maximum effect.
- Wash it off with warm water in the morning.
10. Increases lymphatic drainage
Proper lymph flow is essential for good health. Conversely, buildup of lymphatic fluid leads to inflammation, which causes pain and swelling.
The topical stimulation provided by a deep oil massage helps warm up the underlying muscles and facilitates the movement of accumulated fluid through the lymphatic system for easy drainage.
This clearing of the lymphatic passages is important to maintain proper circulation in your lymphatic system. (4) This in turn helps calm your body and relieve inflammation.
How to use:
- Take 2 tablespoons of almond oil in the palms of your hand.
- Rub your palms together to gently warm up the oil, and then massage it all over your body in deep kneading motions and circular strokes.
- Do this for a few minutes every night before retiring to your bed.
Side Effects of Almonds
Every remedy has its own set of precautions that you should carefully observe before incorporating it into your life. Almond oil is a nut-based oil, so you should check for a few possible side effects before routinely using the oil.
- If you are allergic to nuts, using almond oil can cause allergic reactions, rashes, and even severe respiratory swelling.
- If you are using low-grade almond oil or not storing the oil carefully after every use, there is a chance that it can go rancid. Once it is rancid, all the good effects of almond oil are completely destroyed, and the oil can further release toxins and free radicals. It can also cause severe side effects on your skin and hair.
Final Word
Almonds can do wonders for your hair, nails, and skin when used properly and regularly. But topical remedies alone can only go so far in nourishing and repairing your body. So, while sticking to your beauty regimen is a must, you must also eat healthy to nourish and repair your body from within.
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