Sweet almond oil for skin
Sweet almond oil is a fatty oil pressed from almond seeds and used in cosmetics to condition and soften skin. Like other plant oils, it mostly stays on the surface, where a film of oil can slow water loss. It is a tree nut product, so anyone allergic to almonds, or told to avoid tree nuts, should leave it out.
Quick answer
- What it is: a fatty oil pressed from almond seeds, listed on cosmetics as Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil.
- On skin: it conditions, leaves a soft feel and mostly stays on the surface.
- Bitter almond oil: a different product, a strong-smelling volatile oil from kernels that contain amygdalin.
- Who should avoid it: anyone allergic to almonds or told to avoid tree nuts.
- In the bath: follow the bottle and start small, in warm, not hot, water for 15 to 20 minutes. The bath will be slippery.
- In SLATE: every block contains it, at 3% by weight.
What is sweet almond oil?
Sweet almond oil is a fatty plant oil pressed from almond seeds. COSMILE Europe, a European database of cosmetic ingredients, lists almond oil, almond kernel oil and sweet almond oil as names for it, so almond oil for skin usually means this one. The Latin name on the ingredient list settles it.
Its main fatty acids are oleic acid, at 60 to 90%, and linoleic acid, at about 20%. Several certificates of analysis from the supplier of the oil in our blocks describe it as pale yellow with a faint odour.
What does sweet almond oil do for skin?
In cosmetic terms, sweet almond oil conditions skin and leaves it feeling soft. It does this at the surface.
- Conditions. COSMILE Europe gives skin conditioning as its function, meaning it keeps skin in good condition.
- Softens. The same entry says it gives a soft skin feeling. The safety reports for our blocks describe it as widely used as a cosmetic emollient, or softener.
- Stays on the surface. One published review of plant oils groups almond oil with those that mostly remain at the surface rather than passing deep into the top layer of skin.
- Slows water loss. The same review says a film of plant oil can help skin keep hold of its moisture. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel also lists occlusive and moisturising properties among the reasons plant oils are used in cosmetics. Both points are about plant oils as a group, not almond oil alone.
These are cosmetic effects on the surface of skin. Sweet almond oil is not a medicine, so check with your doctor before use if you have a skin condition.
How is sweet almond oil different from bitter almond oil?
They come from different kinds of almond and are different products. Wild almonds build up amygdalin, a bitter compound, and almond growing depended on selecting trees with sweet kernels.
- Sweet almond oil: a fatty oil pressed from sweet almond seeds, with only a faint odour. The European Food Safety Authority describes sweet almonds as containing no amygdalin.
- Bitter almond oil: a volatile oil with a strong almond aroma, used in flavour and fragrance. It is steam distilled from pressed kernels of bitter almond or apricot, then redistilled to remove hydrocyanic acid, also known as hydrogen cyanide.
Amygdalin can release cyanide when it breaks down, and Food Standards Scotland advises against eating raw bitter almond kernels. The bath advice in this guide applies to sweet almond oil only.
Who should avoid sweet almond oil?
Avoid sweet almond oil if you are allergic to almonds, or have been told to avoid tree nuts. Almonds are a tree nut.
- Cosmetics count. Allergy UK says products that touch the skin and contain a food allergen should generally be avoided by people allergic to that food. Its Anaphylaxis UK factsheet says it is safest to avoid tree nut oils in toiletries and cosmetics completely.
- Refined oil is not a guarantee. Refining removes most of the proteins that cause reactions, and cosmetic grade refined oils are usually highly processed. Allergy UK says this is not certain, so you might prefer to avoid them.
- Other tree nuts. It is possible to be allergic to more than one type of nut. If you are allergic to another tree nut, don't assume almond is fine. Ask your GP or allergy specialist.
- Read the Latin. Cosmetics list nut oils in Latin. Look for Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (sweet almond) and Prunus Amygdalus Amara (bitter almond).
A patch test is for checking how a new product sits on your skin, not for finding out whether you have a nut allergy. If your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly swell, or you have difficulty breathing, call 999.
How do you use sweet almond oil in the bath?
To use sweet almond oil in the bath, add a small amount to warm water, then take care getting out. We found no official amount, so follow the directions on your bottle and start small.
- Run the bath warm, not hot, close to body temperature, about 37°C.
- Add the oil once the bath has run. Oil is lighter than water, so plain oil floats on top.
- Soak for 15 to 20 minutes, or less if your skin tends to feel dry.
- Get out slowly. Oil makes a bath very slippery, so use a non-slip mat, and clean the bath and the mat afterwards.
- Pat dry.
To keep the oil on your skin rather than in the water, smooth a little on after the bath instead, while your skin is still slightly damp.
Don't bathe when drowsy or after drinking alcohol. If you feel light-headed or too warm, get out slowly: being too hot is one of the causes of fainting listed by the NHS.
Is sweet almond oil in SLATE blocks?
Yes. Every one of the 30 SLATE blocks contains sweet almond oil, at 3% by weight. That is about 0.66 g in each 22 g block. The label lists it as Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil. None of the safety reports for our blocks lists bitter almond oil.
There is no almond-free block, so SLATE blocks are not suitable for anyone allergic to almonds or told to avoid tree nuts.
The base also includes polysorbate 80 at 2%, an emulsifier that helps disperse oil in the water. The label still warns that a block may make surfaces slippery. Everything above describes the oil itself, not what a block does at this amount.
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Common questions
Is sweet almond oil good for your skin?
As a cosmetic, it conditions skin and leaves it feeling soft, mostly at the surface. Patch-test it first, and leave it out completely if you are allergic to almonds or have been told to avoid tree nuts.
Is almond oil the same as sweet almond oil?
Usually. Almond oil, almond kernel oil and sweet almond oil are names for the same pressed oil. Bitter almond oil is a different product, so check the Latin name: Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis is sweet.
Can you put sweet almond oil in the bath?
Yes, if you are not allergic to almonds or tree nuts. Follow the bottle, start small, and take care getting out, because oil makes a bath very slippery.
Can you use sweet almond oil with a nut allergy?
If you are allergic to almonds or have been told to avoid tree nuts, avoid it. If you are allergic to a different nut and unsure about almond, ask your GP or allergy specialist first.
What is the difference between sweet and bitter almond oil?
Sweet almond oil is a fatty oil pressed from sweet almond seeds, with a faint odour. Bitter almond oil is a volatile oil with a strong almond aroma, distilled from kernels that contain amygdalin and processed to remove hydrogen cyanide.
Does sweet almond oil smell of almonds?
Only faintly. Several of our supplier's certificates describe a faint odour. The strong almond aroma belongs to bitter almond oil.
Does every SLATE block contain sweet almond oil?
Yes. All 30 blocks contain it at 3% by weight, and there is no almond-free block.
Sources
- Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, COSMILE Europe
- Safety assessment of plant-derived fatty acid oils, Burnett and others, International Journal of Toxicology
- Mutation of a bHLH transcription factor allowed almond domestication, Sánchez-Pérez and others, Science
- Evaluation of the health risks related to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in foods other than raw apricot kernels, European Food Safety Authority
- Almond oil, bitter, FFPA, Food Chemicals Codex, USP
- Advice to local authorities on sale of apricot kernels and bitter almonds, Food Standards Scotland
- Tree nut allergy, Allergy UK
- Peanut allergy and tree nut allergy, Allergy UK incorporating Anaphylaxis UK
- Plant-based oils, Allergy UK incorporating Anaphylaxis UK
- Anaphylaxis, NHS
- Emollients, Great Ormond Street Hospital
- Fainting, NHS
SLATE products are cosmetics for external use only. If you have a skin condition, are pregnant, or have any concerns, check with your doctor before use. Patch-test any new product. Keep out of reach of children. Contains essential oils; see each block's ingredient list for allergens. Every block contains sweet almond oil (tree nut).
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