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As far as nuts go, walnuts have a particularly bad effect when it comes to skin care. Primarily used as a body exfoliant (some products use tiny pieces of walnut shells to slough off dead skin, among other things), this ingredient is known for its harsh, abrasive texture. It has long been criticised by dermatologists. It even sparked a 2016 lawsuit over claims that the nut causes irritation and inflammation, and accelerates the ageing process.
But don’t write off the walnuts just yet. While walnut shells have little or no business in skincare, walnut oil is actually somewhat of a skin-loving hero. In fact, walnut oil has been used to treat wrinkles and hydrate the skin since around the 17th century. Even earlier, the medicinal properties of walnut oil were praised in many Greek and Roman texts.
What is walnut oil?
Walnut oil (officially known as juggling regia seed oil) is—surprise, surprise—an oil derived from the flesh of walnuts. Walnuts are widely recognised as one of the healthiest nuts, and some studies show that just drinking walnut oil can promote better skin health. The skin benefits of walnut oil are even greater when applied topically.
Walnut oil is first and foremost a skin conditioning agent, meaning it has a soothing and soothing effect on the skin. Studies show that it promotes better skin health, helps wounds heal faster and treats certain skin conditions like eczema. Best Smelling Shampoo
According to Hirsch, walnut oil is rich in antioxidants (thanks to its high vitamin E content) and omega-3 fatty acids (namely linoleic acid, which research shows effectively restores and softens skin). Walnuts also contain significant amounts of vitamin B5 (commonly known as panthenol in the skincare community), which provides anti-inflammatory, moisturising and restorative benefits. Zeichner adds that it also contains high levels of linoleic .
Cold-pressed walnut oil is more expensive, as it retains more nutrients. As a result, it seems to be used more for culinary purposes than skincare. And while you can use pure walnut oil on the skin, it’s usually found as an ingredient in pre-made oils or creams.
Benefits of Walnut Oil for Skin
High in both vitamins and minerals, walnut oil provides benefits for almost all skin types. Benefits of nutritious ingredients include:
Moisturises skin:
Zeichner notes that walnut oil is rich in emollients, making it an ideal moisturiser that softens skin and improves barrier function.
Prevents water loss:
Walnut oil is a gentle, lubricating agent that helps prevent water loss, thanks to its emollient properties.
Reduces the signs of ageing:
Like all antioxidants, protection against environmental stressors reduces the signs of ageing. Increased hydration and moisture also give yourself a more youthful glow.
Improves dryness and itching:
Zeichner points to several studies that show walnut oil helps with dry, irritated skin.
Boosts skin hydration:
Hirsch recommends walnut oil to anyone (and everyone) looking for hydration.
Repairs the skin barrier:
Thanks to a rich dose of emollients and omega fatty acids, walnut oil is incredibly effective at repairing the skin barrier, thereby improving moisture and elasticity.
Walnut oil is extracted by pressing whole walnuts:
Consuming walnut oil can improve heart health, lower blood sugar and have anti-cancer effects. However, most studies have focused on whole walnuts rather than walnut oil.
May improve skin health.
Nutrients in walnut oil can promote good skin health.
One tablespoon (13.6 grams) of walnut oil contains more than 8 grams, or 5 times the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI), of an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) ( 1 Trusted Source , 2 Trusted Source ). Is.
In your body, some ALA is converted to the longer forms of omega-3 fatty acids called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which make up the structural components of your skin ( 3Trusted Source ). I help.
That’s why omega-3s, including those in walnut oil, can stimulate skin growth, fight inflammatory skin conditions, and promote wound healing ( 3 Trusted Source ).
What’s more, walnut oil is high in the omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid (LA), which is the most predominant fatty acid in the outer layer of your skin ( 4Trusted Source ).
In short, consuming walnut oil increases your intake of essential fatty acids that are essential for skin health.
May reduce inflammation.
Adding walnut oil to your diet can fight chronic inflammation, which is linked to heart disease, some cancers, and other health problems ( 5 Trusted Source ).
A 6-week study in 23 adults with high cholesterol found that a diet high in ALA, one of the fatty acids found in walnut oil, reduced the body’s production of an inflammatory protein ( 6Trusted Source ).
Walnuts are also rich in polyphenols called ellagitannins, which your gut bacteria convert into other beneficial compounds ( 7Trusted Source ).
This may explain why test-tube studies have found that walnut oil can fight inflammation and increase cell antioxidant activity ( 7Trusted Source , 8Trusted Source ).
However, it is not clear to what extent the beneficial compounds in walnuts are preserved during the processing of walnut oil. Some studies suggest that walnut oil contributes no more than 5% of the antioxidant activity of whole walnuts (9).
Thus, more research is needed on the anti-inflammatory effects of walnut oil.