Sunflower oil for facial skin: masks, benefits and harm

Dermatologists and cosmetologists advise using sunflower oil on the face, as it effectively smoothes out facial wrinkles and helps get rid of acne. Sunflower oil is considered a natural product obtained from sunflower seeds.

Today there are two varieties of this product:

The refined product is subject to additional processing;
Unrefined is produced without additional purification and is characterized by a distinctive aroma and dark shade.

In the field of cosmetology, in recent years, a product made from sunflower seeds has reached the first stage. Modern creams, lotions and masks are made based on this product. The article presents topics from the cosmetic field: composition, benefits and harms, use for caring for the dermis of the face and body, recipes for making masks.

Benefits and contraindications of sunflower seed oil for skin

It is precisely because sunflower oil is made from a natural product that it has many more beneficial properties than contraindications.

Beneficial properties of sunflower oil

Dermatologists and cosmetologists recommend resorting to masks and compresses, which include a sunflower product, for those people who have problems with the dermis of the face (for example, wrinkles and acne).

Favorable qualities that the sunflower seed product provides to the dermis:

The epidermis is restored;
Blood supply and circulation improves;
Protection of the facial dermis;
Getting rid of wrinkles;
Narrowing of enlarged pores;
Relief restoration;
Healing of cracks;
Hydration;
Improved skin color.

The product made from sunflower seeds consists of elements that give rise to beneficial properties:

Vitamins A, B, E;
Fatty acid;
Mineral elements;
Caratanoids;
Phospholipids;
Vegetable fats

Contraindications to the use of sunflower seed oil

Sunflower oil is considered the only product that does not harm the skin. Thus, cosmetics based on sunflower oil can be used for any dermis without fear for your health.

The only contraindication may be individual intolerance - allergies. To recognize an allergic reaction, it is necessary to conduct a test, which will be described below.

Recommendations for the use of sunflower oil

Before using cosmetics to improve your skin, you must adhere to at least 3-5 recommendations from the following list:

You should buy a product that is cold-pressed and does not contain additives.
It is recommended to warm the sunflower seed product slightly (water bath) before mixing it with other ingredients.
Before using sunflower oil-based cosmetics, it is necessary to check your skin for an allergic reaction. To do this, apply a few drops of the product to your wrist. If after 25-30 minutes the characteristic features of an allergy (burning and redness) do not appear, then you can use sunflower oil for cosmetic purposes.
Before the procedure, the skin of the face must be washed using herbal baths. It is advisable to scrub oily skin.
Masks are applied with light movements and patting. Refined sunflower oil without additives can be applied to the wings of the nose, as well as around the eyes and lips.
The product should be absorbed within 15-60 minutes. Absorption time depends on the type of dermis. If the mask is overexposed, redness or peeling may occur.
It is recommended to wash with purified water at room temperature.

Introduction

Lipids play an important role in ensuring the full function of the skin, therefore, traditionally, animal and plant oils, as well as mineral oil, were used for skin care, including for newborns. Various oils are also used in the production of most skin care products, but the issue of the advantages and disadvantages of oils of different origins is still actively debated. Skin care practices for newborns and infants vary and are largely dependent on cultural traditions and the subjective experiences of parents and healthcare professionals. In 2016, European skin care guidelines based on evidence-based clinical research were published. According to modern recommendations, skin care practices should ensure the preservation of the skin, the physiological adaptation of the skin barrier of newborns to environmental conditions, and protect against skin contact with potentially toxic substances [1].

Use of sunflower oil for face and body skin care

There are three main ways to use vegetable oil to care for the dermis of the face.

Pure, without additives, sunflower seed product can be used to rejuvenate the dermis around the eyes - smooth out wrinkles, get rid of bruises and bags under the eyes.

Below are the main ways to use sunflower oil on the face.

Cream

A cream made from vegetable oil is an excellent replacement for night cream. Its properties extend to both the dermis of the face and the entire body.

Buttercream can be prepared at home. The following is a recipe for an anti-aging cream.

Required ingredients:

½ medium onion;
5 dandelions;
100 ml sunflower oil.

Onion and dandelion are finely chopped. These cream components are seasoned with a sunflower seed product and mixed. The resulting mixture must be heated over low heat for ½ hour. Then it freezes for about 12 hours. After the mass has cooled, it must be strained. The cream is ready.

The cream is applied to the desired area of skin in a circular motion, like a massage. You can pat this area of the dermis. A third of an hour after application, the cream is removed with a napkin.

Compresses

It has been said more than once that a product made from sunflower seeds is an effective remedy for facial wrinkles. The main way to use processed sunflower seeds is in compresses.

Step-by-step instructions on how to make an oil compress:

First you need to heat the oil over low heat.
Next, soak the gauze napkins in warm sunflower oil.
Apply the resulting compress to the problem area.
The maximum time for using this compress is ½ hour.
After the gauze is removed, the skin is wiped with a dry cloth.

Oil compresses can be applied to all areas of the face. To do this, you need to prepare a mask from cotton or gauze fabric. Holes are cut into the fabric for the eyes, nostrils and lips.

Cosmetologists recommend contrast washing after the procedure. This type of washing promotes blood circulation in the dermis of the face, and therefore helps the beneficial substances to be absorbed faster and better.

Masks

Masks are the most popular method that has a beneficial effect on the dermis of the face and neck. The main qualities of using cosmetic masks:

Deep penetration of substances with beneficial properties into the pores of the dermis;
Smoothing wrinkles;
Soothing the skin;
Improving the tone of the dermis.

What types are produced?

It is generally accepted that the bulk of useful substances are found in unrefined oil. It is produced by two methods:

cold; hot.

In the first case, sunflower seeds are cold pressed and the resulting substance is filtered. This oil contains the highest concentration of useful substances, but its shelf life is not too long, since preservatives are not used for this.

External characteristics:

rich dark shade; there may be sediment; bright aroma.

In the second case, the product is obtained by hot pressing. The seeds are heated, pressed and filtered.

Its characteristics:

light yellow tint; the presence of suspension at the bottom is allowed; characteristic smell.

Refined oil is obtained through a more complex process. The seeds are filled with a solvent of organic origin and the extracted oil is separated. As a result of mechanical cleaning, sunflower oil becomes almost transparent. It has almost no taste or smell.

Recipes for making masks based on sunflower seed oil

You can add freshness to the dermis of the face by making masks based on vegetable oil. In addition to the main ingredient, you can use any products that are sold in a grocery store or pharmacy to create them. One procedure helps maintain the freshness of the facial dermis for a long time.

The following article presents several recipes for homemade masks based on sunflower oil.

Oil mask with quail egg

An oil mask with quail egg is recommended for those who have tired skin with fine wrinkles.

Components that make up this mask:

Sunflower seed oil – 1 tbsp. l.;
Quail egg – 1 pc.;
Fermented milk product (yogurt, kefir, fermented baked milk, etc.) – 2 tbsp. l.;
Starch.

First, beat the quail egg. Next, it is mixed with a fermented milk product. Add oil to the resulting mixture. The mask should thicken. To do this, add starch until the mixture has the consistency of cream.

This mask is applied for a maximum of 20 minutes.

Oil mask with kelp

According to the recommendations of cosmetologists, it is advisable to use this mask for women aged 40 years or more, because the procedure promotes rejuvenation, elasticity and smoothness of the skin.

Ingredients from which the mask is prepared:

Laminaria – 1 tbsp. l.;
Aloe extract – 1 ampoule;
Sunflower oil – 1 tsp;
Green tea or chamomile decoction – ½ cup.

If kelp is purchased in tablets, then before preparing the mask it must be crushed to a powder state. It is also sold in pharmacies in the form of a ready-made powder.

Laminaria should be poured with cooled green tea or chamomile decoction. The liquid is added little by little until a porridge of semi-liquid consistency is formed. Next, the mixture is infused for ½ hour. Aloe extract and vegetable oil are poured into the infused mass.

The mask should remain on the face for no more than ½ hour.

Oil mask with aspirin and white charcoal

The main effect of an oil mask with aspirin and white charcoal is cleansing pores and rejuvenating the dermis of the face.

To prepare the mask you will need:

Acetylsalicylic acid – 5 tablets;
White coal – 5 tablets;
Cucumber – 1 pc.;
Sunflower oil – 1 tsp.

Acid and charcoal tablets must be ground to powder. Fresh cucumber is grated on a fine grater. One tablespoon of the mass obtained from cucumber is mixed with the powder. Everything is filled with sunflower oil.

Cosmetologists recommend keeping the mask on for no more than 20 minutes.

Oil mask with oatmeal and strawberries

The main beneficial properties of this mask are the effect of refreshed skin with a healthy color.

To prepare an oil mask with the addition of oatmeal and strawberries, you need to use:

Strawberries – 5-10 pcs.;
Sunflower oil – 1 tbsp. l.;
Oat flour.

Strawberries need to be pureed. To do this, mash it with a fork. Next, mix the berries with butter. Add flour and mix everything.

The mask is applied in a thick layer for 20 minutes.

Oil mask with banana and ginger

The composition of the oil mask with banana and ginger helps get rid of wrinkles and fight age-related pigmentation.

Required ingredients:

Banana – ½ piece;
Unrefined sunflower oil – 1 tsp;
Dry ground ginger – 1 pinch.

First you need to make porridge from a banana. After this, add oil to the fruit and mix. Sprinkle the resulting mixture with ginger and mix again.

The mask is applied to the dermis of the face for no more than 20 minutes.

Oil mask with cosmetic clay

Cosmetologists recommend using an oil mask with cosmetic clay for people with enlarged pores and age-related skin problems.

Cosmetic clay (green or pink) – 1 tbsp. l.;
Cold boiled water – ½ cup;
Unrefined vegetable oil – 1 tsp;
Rosemary essential oil – 5 drops.

Clay is mixed with water. The result is a mass of thick consistency. Sunflower oil and rosemary are added to the mixture. Mix the ingredients of the future mask.

The mask stays on the face for a maximum of ¼ hour.

A little about skin aging

We begin to think about fighting the first signs of aging only when the “first news” appears - the skin loses its elasticity and begins to sag in the jaw area; The first wrinkles appear around the eyes, around the lips and on the forehead. The first evidence of this may be the neck, the skin of which we forget to care for properly - wrinkles and folds also appear, the skin becomes less elastic.

Why does skin start to age? The fact is that under the influence of negative factors on the body, constant stress, poor diet and sleep, metabolism begins to slow down. Aging is also facilitated by external factors - poor climate and weather conditions (dry air, constant winds, dust).
Smoking and alcohol abuse have a negative impact on the condition of the skin (while a small glass of dry red wine or a glass of cider, on the contrary, helps slow down the aging process due to its antioxidant content).
Long sunbathing without protective creams, as well as solariums, contribute to rapid aging of the skin and can cause tumor formation.
As a result of these negative external and internal factors, processes in cells, including the epidermis, proceed more slowly and even with disturbances. Collagen fibers, on which the elasticity of the skin depends, become thinner, and less moisture accumulates in the cells. From the combination of these phenomena, we begin to notice less elasticity of the skin and wrinkles in the mirror.

The best scientists on the planet are working on the problem of aging. We don’t yet know how to stop this process, but we are aware of ways to preserve youth for as long as possible, and also what should be limited so as not to detect the first wrinkles in the period “25+”.

To prevent the aging process from proceeding rapidly, doctors recommend:

Eat right: eat more white meat dishes, high-fiber vegetables, nuts, and red fish. Monitor the correct balance of BZHU. Consume foods high in antioxidants or polyunsaturated fatty acids - salmon, grape seed oil, flaxseed oil, etc.
Monitors drinking regime. Water is a natural antioxidant that supports metabolism in skin cells and stops the aging process. The norm for drinking water per day is 8 medium glasses, or about 1.8 liters. Tea, coffee, juices, compotes do not count!
Physical exercise. Strength training or yoga - everyone chooses for themselves, but the fact remains: active people live longer and age at a later age.
Proper sleep. Beauty-sleep, which 51-year-old model Cindy Crawford adheres to, is sleeping from 10 or 11 pm. It is until 1 am that the body stimulates the production of the beneficial substance melatonin, which also slows down aging.
Walking in the fresh air and breathing exercises also help prevent early aging. It is recommended to go to the sea or to the mountains every year, where there is clean, oxygen-rich air. A humid climate helps slow down the aging process of the skin.

Another important thing worth mentioning is sexual satisfaction. After orgasm, the body intensively stimulates the production of serotonin, the hormone of happiness and pleasure, which is a natural anti-aging remedy.