Sunflower Oil: the Natural Skin Care Oil
Yes, from birth, because it is used in hospitals on the skin of premature babies to protect it from infections to which young children are susceptible when in hospital, particular those born pre-term. How"s that for an indication of how safe it is to use and how gentle it is on your skin? Yet it is extremely powerful at keeping away bacteria and maintaining youthful skin, and contains a rich mixture of vitamins and other natural substances that have a healthy effect on your skin and its pores.There is a lot more to sunflower oil than just that however. It is what is referred to as non-comedogenic, meaning that, unlike many other oily substances, it will not cause spots or pimples to form when you rub it into your skin. It is very good for acne sufferers, especially if the traditional acne remedies have failed. It is very high in antioxidants, particularly the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E, which prevent free radicals from damaging your skin and creating wrinkles and the appearance of premature aging.
Nobody likes having tough leathery skin that looks decades older than they really are, but that"s what can happen to people who live in hot climates because of the action of ultra-violet light in strong sunlight on their skin. UV generates small oxygenated molecules known as free radicals that destroy your skin cell membranes. That makes your skin old looking and wrinkled, and even causes these ugly brown liver spots. Sunflower oil destroys these free radicals as soon as they are formed and offers a high degree of protection against sunlight and the other causes of free radical generation such as air pollution, tobacco smoke and pesticides.
Sunflower oil also contains fatty acids that kill off damaging bacteria on your skin, and the Vitamin D it contains supports your immune system to help prevent inflammatory conditions such as acne. In addition to their antioxidant properties, Vitamins C and E promote the growth of healthy new skin, and can rapidly repair and damage any blemishes from which your skin is prone to suffer, particularly during the cold winter months, again helping to keep it looking youthful and fresh.
You can find sunflower oil in the ingredients list of many expensive skin care products, including body washes, lotions and soaps, and although the natural oil itself is just as good as any of these expensive commercial products, it is better to use it in a purified form or along with other natural oils in mixtures designed to complement each other and make the best use of the skin care properties of each.