There wouldn’t be many people who have never heard of badam oil and its use in maintaining skin and hair health. This is one of the go-to oils for skincare junkies and influencers on social media who comes up with at-home remedies to improve skin health and grow hair. They mix it with everything they can get their hands on, including honey, aloe vera, eggs, milk, and honey. While some of these combinations work, others remain just experiments with no results. But one thing most of us are not aware of is what kind of badam oil are we using.
Is there more than one kind? If that’s the question that popped up in your mind now, I bet this would be an interesting piece for you. Badam oil, apparently, is of two different kinds, one of which is the sweet badam oil. Although the name suggests sweet badam oil to be sweet, it’s more of a nutty smell. Also, the smell is light, pleasant, and not overpowering.
So, what’s the second kind of badam oil? How is it any different from the sweet one? What does sweet badam oil offer? Let’s find out!
An Overview of Sweet Badam Oil
Extracted from almond nuts, Badam oil, also known as almond oil is a common ingredient in several skin and hair care products. Refined badam oil is also used in cooking while unrefined badam oil is used as a salad dressing or finishing oil in soups. Badam oil is of two different types: sweet almond oil and bitter almond oil. They are both made from two distinct varieties of almonds and vary greatly in their functions as well.
Out of these two, bitter almond oil is not meant for consumption. Rather, it’s used in practices like massage therapy and aromatherapy, and in products like soaps, due to its strong smell and medicinal properties. On the other hand, sweet almond is the popular one that is widely used in cosmetics and skincare and is completely safe for human consumption. Since sweet almonds do not contain toxins unlike the bitter variety, they can be eaten directly.
Anybody can make almond oil at home with a food processor or blender. However, the commercial production of almond oil is a bit different and the commonly used method for oil extraction from almonds is known as cold pressing. Once produced, it will either be sold as unrefined almond oil or as refined almond oil after separating the residue.
Nutrients in Sweet Badam Oil
Sweet almonds are rich in all kinds of nutrients including Vitamin A, E, Magnesium, potassium, proteins, zinc, and fatty acids, and contain powerful antioxidants. However, after cold pressing, it loses some of these nutrients, making the oil not as nutritious as the nuts. Now, this is the case with unrefined almond oil. When the unrefined oil goes through further processing at high temperatures and with chemicals, it fails to protect the nutrient content, losing almost all of it during the process.
What is the Benefit of Sweet Badam Oil?
Sweet badam oil can be integrated into our daily routine in different ways since it exhibits a whole range of benefits; health and others.
Improved skin texture & health
Sweet badam oil is a good moisturizer and can be applied directly on the skin to keep it hydrated. Since the oil contains Vitamin E, it effectively protects the skin from UV rays and consequent sun damage. It will help reduce the appearance of stretch marks if applied directly to the affected area and used with consistency. Moreover, it’s a lightweight oil that can be used as a makeup remover without clogging pores. Being non-comedogenic unlike other oils, badam oil is suitable for direct application on oily skin and is a common ingredient in oil-based products made for sensitive skin.
Almond oil in hair care
Badam oil doesn’t just moisturize the skin, but the hair and scalp too. It contains fatty acids that improve the appearance of your strands, making them look healthier and shinier. Badam oil effectively contains frizz, reduces split ends and dandruff, and strengthens hair follicles to promote hair growth. It can either be applied on the scalp and tresses before taking a shower mixed in with an essential oil, or, a few drops, post-shower, on the entire length of your hair to tame frizz.
Cooking with almond oil
Besides making your skin and hair look pretty, badam oil is extremely useful in making your dishes taste good. As mentioned before, it can be used in cooking as well as condiments, depending on whether the oil is refined or not. The reason why badam oil is a recommended ingredient in cooking isn’t just because it makes the dish delicious but because it is rich in antioxidants and several other nutrients and has medicinal properties that help regulate cholesterol levels while improving cardiovascular health and reducing the risk of cancer.
Weight management
If consumed in the right way, badam oil can help manage your weight naturally. Badam oil contains monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated, which have been discovered to be beneficial in losing weight and dealing with obesity. These fats also decrease blood sugar levels and sugar spikes after a meal, reducing the risk of diabetes.
How to Use Sweet Badam Oil?
The usage of badam oil depends on where and how you use it. If it’s for the skin or the hair, direct application is safe and effective. Although it’s fine to use badam oil all on its own, to add to the benefits, you can mix the oil with other skin or hair care ingredients like aloe vera gel before application. Since badam oil is a good carrier oil, it can be mixed with any essential oil of your choice if you want to target any particular issues like dandruff or hair fall and apply to the scalp. Badam oil can also be used for massages and as both oils, in either case, direct application is recommended.
As for consumption, as you have assumed already, can be used as a seasoning, in cooked dishes, or drink directly by adding a few drops to a glass of milk. Regarding its commercial use, badam oil is a common ingredient in soaps, moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, and other self-care products.
Is it Safe to Use Sweet Badam Oil?
Badam oil is safe for both topical application and systemic use. It can be used daily, and you have nothing to worry about unless you are using too much, and more importantly, are allergic to nuts. In the latter case, you shouldn’t use the oil at all, neither directly nor indirectly. If you are allergic to nuts, you shouldn’t use any oil or other products made from nuts for that matter.
Although badam oil is beneficial in reducing sun damage, it is not recommended to wear it on your skin during the day since Vitamin E increases sun sensitivity. Now, about its consumption, if taken in excess, badam oil could cause weight gain and result in increased cholesterol levels.
Sweet Badam Oil Storage Tips
Sweet badam oil, under optimum conditions, will last for around two years. It needs to be kept in a cool, dry, and dark place away from direct sunlight to stop the oil from going bad. However, it is important to avoid extreme temperatures, hot or cold, to increase the shelf life. Also, the container needs to be made of glass and airtight to avoid oxidation and interaction with moisture content in the atmosphere. Keeping it in plastic bottles affects the shelf life of badam oil since plastic breaks down over time.
Conclusion
Was the article as informative as you had expected? To sum up, sweet almond oil is a rich source of an array of nutrients including minerals like zinc, magnesium, and potassium, vitamins like Vitamin A and E, fatty acids, and antioxidants. It is widely used in cosmetics, skincare, and hair care due to its moisturizing and soothing properties. The oil helps hydrate skin, hair, and scalp, treats scalp conditions, protects skin from sun damage, tames frizzy hair, reduces split ends, dandruff, and stretch marks, and is non-comedogenic. The oil has properties that protect the heart and reduce the risk of cancer. Badam oil is also effective in managing weight with its mono and polyunsaturated fat content.
The oil needs to be stored in suitable conditions to maintain and prolong its shelf life. It is safe for direct topical application and ingest with or without other ingredients. Except for those with nut allergies, sweet badam oil is a safe and effective option to add to their routine and improve their health. Let’s hope further research subjecting the oil will bring some new information into the light that would understand the full extent of its potential.
FAQs
No, you don’t need to. However, storing at a temperature not too hot would help increase the shelf life of badam oil, hence recommended refrigeration.
Yes, you can. Sweet badam oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it doesn’t clog pores. This makes direct application safe without the risk of developing breakouts or acne.
Badam oil does not have skin-whitening properties. However, the sun-protection properties of the oil are effective in removing tan and achieving an even-toned skin.
Badam oil can either be sweet or bitter. Both are made from different kinds of almonds and compared to the bitter version, sweet badam oil is the more popular, beneficial, and safer one.
Badam oil is safe for almost everybody. The only category of people who cannot and shouldn’t use the oil is, those with nut allergies.
Sweet badam oil. Bitter badam oil is only used on rare occasions like aromatherapy and soap making. It is not recommended for direct use due to its toxin content.
References
Ahrens S, Venkatachalam M, Mıstry AM, Lapsley K, Sahte SK. Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) protein quality. Plant Foods Hum Nutri. 2005;60:123–128. doi: 10.1007/s11130-005-6840-2. [PubMed]
Richardson DP, Astrup A, Cocaul A, Ellis RP. The nutritional and health benefits of almonds: a healthy food choice. Food Sci Technol Bull: Func Foods. 2009;6:41–50. [Google Scholar]
