How to Use Tamanu Oil for Acne
If you don’t have acne, pimples, I envy you and maybe a little jealous at the same time… If you’re like me, you have problematic skin and often breakouts, you can understand your determination to find an ingredient that can get rid of these unwanted guests.
You may also feel a little overwhelmed at the thought of using oils to treat acne. It feels counterintuitive to use essential oils on oily skin, but believe it or not, tamanu oil is good for the skin and can help treat acne. So without further ado, let’s find out how to use tamanu oil for acne.
Is tamanu oil good for oily, acne-prone skin?
Yes, it is! You’ll often find that skincare products designed to fight acne are often very harsh on the skin. The need for a “clean” feeling often leads acne sufferers to want to scrub their skin until it loses every last gram of natural oils (also known as sebum). This increases the skin’s oil production and creates a vicious cycle. This is where tamanu oil can step in and treat the skin in a gentle way. It’s packed with fatty acids and other nourishing ingredients that ensure you’re gently treating your skin and any acne breakouts without any drying side effects. In the next section, we’ll explain how to effectively apply tamanu oil to pimples and affected areas.
Can I apply tamanu oil to zits?
Yes, you can! Don’t let the rich, oily texture fool you, tamanu oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that make it highly effective for treating acne and other skin blemishes. These added benefits can enhance your skin’s healing abilities and ensure that any active blemishes are soothed and reduced.
There’s little scientific research on this ancient oil, but a 2015 study conducted in five different regions in the South Pacific found that extracts from tamanu oil contained high concentrations of Propionibacterium acnes, also known as P. acnes, which is known to target and kill all signs of acne-causing bacteria on the surface of the skin.
Be warned, though: you can have too much of a good thing, and the consistency of tamanu oil can easily clog your pores. The best way to alleviate this problem is to mix the essential oil with lavender or tea tree oil to avoid clogging the pores.
If that’s not enough for you, tamanu oil can also help treat acne scars due to its cell regeneration and antioxidant properties. You’ll notice a significant improvement in the pigmentation of your acne scars.
How often should you use tamanu oil?
As I mentioned earlier, tamanu oil has the potential to be mildly comedogenic. Therefore, I recommend combining formulas containing tamanu oil with other products that contain effective and active skin ingredients to combat blemishes.
Fortunately, tamanu oil works with a variety of powerful ingredients, such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and popular fruit acids like glycolic and lactic acid. Try applying 3-4 drops of tamanu oil directly to the affected areas once or twice a week after cleansing and exfoliating your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated while the various antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the size, redness, and severity of spots while preventing more from forming.
Can I use tamanu oil on my face?
By all means! Tamanu oil is beneficial for all skin types if used correctly. As with all skincare products, it is imperative to perform a 24-hour patch test on the skin to see how the skin reacts. If there are no signs of irritation, you can apply the oil to your skin.
For those prone to dryness and sensitivity, applying a generous amount of tamanu oil to the skin can prevent further dryness and irritation caused by exposure to environmental aggressors, especially during the winter months. As for oily and acne-prone skin, as I mentioned in the previous section, it can effectively fight active pimples and breakouts.
Does tamanu oil clog pores?
Yes and no. What I mean is that you can target breakouts and acne if you don’t overuse the oil. With the high antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of the formula, you can clear up your complexion and restore it to its healthiest state. Try applying tamanu oil directly to the affected areas of skin every other day, as its beneficial properties can fight breakouts without weighing down the skin and clogging pores.
If you continue to maintain an effective skin care routine, your complexion will remain clear and tamanu oil will not clog your pores, which will only lead to a buildup of bacteria, excess sebum and impurities, which, you guessed it, will lead to more acne and breakouts.
How long does tamanu oil last once opened?
This largely depends on the quality of tamanu oil you use. It is well known that harvesting this particular oil is a long and time-consuming process. This often results in many products hitting the market with inferior oil. If you use a dark green product, you will find that it can last for about 5 years if stored in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.
Tamanu oil is not necessarily a new discovery in the world of skin care, in fact the Polynesians have been using tamanu oil for thousands of years. It was introduced into daily life and was considered a gift from the gods, which probably explains why it was called “green gold”. If you want to learn more about the history of tamanu oil, read our blog post.
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