Postpartum Wellness · Skin Rituals
Pregnancy: Oils, With Care
A calm, safety-first look at which natural oils suit pregnancy, and which to set aside for now.
Skin Rituals · Cooking
Almond Oil (Sweet)
Prunus dulcis
A light, gentle oil from sweet almonds, a classic skin and massage carrier.
Also known as badam oil.
Texture: light, smooth, lightly cushioningScent: faint, mild, lightly nutty
Origin
Mediterranean and California (Prunus dulcis).
Sweet almond oil is pressed from the kernels of sweet almonds (Prunus dulcis). It is light, mild, and absorbs reasonably well, which is why it is one of the most popular carrier oils for massage and facial blends.
An important safety distinction: SWEET almond oil is the edible/cosmetic oil; BITTER almond is a different, toxic material (it can yield cyanogenic compounds) and is not legally sold for ingestion. Always confirm 'sweet almond.'
Cosmetic-grade sweet almond oil (often expeller-pressed, hexane-free) is ideal for skin and hair; a separate food-grade product should be chosen if you intend to cook with it. Either way, it is a tree-nut oil and is unsuitable for people with tree-nut allergies.
Skin & Allergen Notes
Comedogenic 2/5ContainsTree nut
Almond is a tree nut.
Traditional Uses
The almond is woven through scripture: Aaron's rod that budded almonds, and the almond-blossom shapes of the menorah. Almond oil has long been used as a gentle emollient and base for ointments.
Modern Uses
Sweet almond oil is a classic massage and facial carrier oil, a hair and cuticle conditioner, and (food-grade versions) a mild finishing oil for baking and dressings.
Our Approved Almond Oil (Sweet)
NOW Foods
Best for skin rituals
A dependable, widely-available 100% sweet almond carrier oil that is expeller-pressed and hexane-free, at an accessible price. Light and gentle, it is a natural base for facial…
Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Blessing Approved earns from qualifying purchases. How we earn.
From the Journal
Skin Rituals · Postpartum Wellness
Stretch Marks: A Gentle Skin Ritual
Stretch marks are a normal part of how skin changes. Here is a calm, nourishing way to care for it.
Take a Moment with Almond Oil (Sweet)
A Moment
A Hands-and-Breath Moment
On a day that feels like too much at once, let your hands be where you begin. Add a single drop of lavender to a little gentle carrier oil, such as sweet almond, and warm it between your palms. Massage slowly, finger by finger, into the back of each hand and the soft place at the base of the thumb. Breathe the scent in, let the exhale run a little longer than the breath in, and let your shoulders come down from your ears. A small thing, returned to, becomes a steadying one.
A Moment
A Nourishing Belly Moment
For skin that is growing and changing, let this be a few minutes of plain kindness: not a treatment, just care. After a warm shower, while your skin is still damp, warm a rich butter or oil between your palms: shea, baobab, or sweet almond. Massage it slowly over your belly, hips, and wherever skin feels tight, in soft, unhurried circles; the slowness is as much the point as the oil. If you are pregnant or postpartum, a quick word with your midwife or doctor about any new oil is always worth it.