What's Almond Oil Good For and When Should You Not Use It?

Almond oil is a rich, fatty liquid extracted from almonds. You should not use almond oil if you are allergic to nuts and do not use unprocessed bitter almond oil because it may contain toxins.

From avocado oil to vegetable oil, you can find oils made from dozens of sources on the shelves of your local grocery and health food stores. Almond oil is one affordable, nutritious, and widely available plant oil. Many people use this liquid for beauty, cooking, and medicinal purposes. 

Almond oil has many uses, but there are also some situations you shouldn’t use this liquid. Learn about almond oil and its uses, health benefits, and risks. 

As the name suggests, almond oil is a rich, fatty liquid extracted from almonds. Many people believe almonds are tree nuts, but they’re seeds found in the fruit that grows on the almond tree (Prunus dulcis). This drought-resistant, deciduous plant comes from hot regions in South-Central Asia, like Iran and Nepal.

Almonds are the most commonly eaten tree seed worldwide, thanks to their sweet taste and many uses. The United States is the leading producer of almonds. Spain, Morocco, Iran, and other countries also grow significant volumes of the seeds.  

Manufacturers use almonds and glyceryl oleate to create almond oil. Production of this liquid is a big business. In 2016, the almond oil market was worth $1.118 million. By 2023, experts predict that this value will more than double, reaching up to $2.680 million. 

It’s no surprise that almond oil is surging in popularity. Almond oil has a faint smell and a pleasant nutty taste. It has several properties that make it useful for cosmetic and food purposes, including being: 

• Able to solubilize fatty liquids like essential oils, which means that the fats dissolve more easily in water 
• Easy to spread
• Non-comedogenic, which means that it won’t clog skin pores and cause acne 
• Non-irritating 
• Nontoxic when made from sweet almonds  
• Water insoluble

You can buy  almond oil at cosmetics and herbal stores, online retailers, and pharmacies. The oil is also a common ingredient in many cosmetics, like sunscreen. 

There are two main kinds of almond oil from two different almond species. 

Sweet almond oil

Sweet almonds come from Prunus amygdalus dulcis, a plant with white flowers. Manufacturers extract sweet almond oil from the dried kernel of sweet almonds. 

Sweet almonds are nontoxic. People often use oil produced from these seeds for cooking and cosmetic purposes. 

Bitter almond oil 

Bitter almonds grow on Prunus amygdalus amara, a plant that produces pink flowers. Food producers use this oil to create flavoring extracts for foods and liquors after removing toxins. 

Almond oil manufacturers use several methods to create almond oil. All processes start with removing the innermost seeds from the pericarp and epicarp, the outermost layers of the almond. Next, the manufacturer dries the almonds using hot air, sun exposure, and other techniques.  

After drying, manufacturers extract oil from the almonds using various techniques and tools. Examples of common extraction methods include: 

• Aqueous extraction method. This environmentally-friendly technique uses water to extract oil from the almonds. However, this method produces a low oil yield. It generates harmful wastewater. 
• Hydraulic or screw press. This traditional extraction method uses a hydraulic or screw press to squeeze the moisture out of the seeds. Manufacturers typically use a hydraulic press to produce a small amount of almond oil. Commercial operations use the screw press due to its higher oil yield and shorter production time. Almond oil with a hydraulic or screw press retains the seed’s delicious, nutty smell and taste.
• Solvent extraction. Commercial almond oil producers frequently use solvents like chloroform, hexane, and methanol to separate almond oil from the seeds. This method is cheap but produces toxic oil that must be refined before human consumption. Almond oil made with solvents also has an unappealing odor and taste. 

Almond oil is a healthy food that provides numerous nutritional benefits. One teaspoon (4.5 g) of almond oil contains: 

• Energy: 39.8 kcal
• Total lipid: 4.5 g
• Vitamin E: 1.76 mg

This oil is a good source of vitamin E, an essential vitamin that helps many organs work normally and fights cell-damaging processes like aging. 

Almond oil also contains essential fatty acids: 

• Total monounsaturated: 3.15 g
• Total polyunsaturated: 0.783 g 
• Total saturated: 0.369 g

Eating foods with unsaturated fat has many benefits, including: 

• Fighting cancer cells 
• Growing and maintaining healthy cells
• Improving cardiovascular health by lowering LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels

Almond oil is a versatile liquid with many uses. You can use this oil to prepare food and improve skin health. 

Cooking Uses

Unrefined almond oil delivers a high dose of unsaturated fats, but the liquid loses its nutritional value quickly at high temperatures. To preserve nutrients, you can use this oil to flavor foods after cooking. For example, you can add almond oil as a dressing for a prepared meal. 

You can also use almond oil for baking desserts like cakes and cookies. 

Cosmetic Uses

Almond oil has many properties that make it a helpful addition to cosmetic products and skin care routines. For example, almond oil can: 

• Fight UV damage
• Prevent and reduce the appearance of striae gravidarum, or stretch marks that often appear during pregnancy 
• Reduce itching caused by striae
• Smooth complexion 
• Soften skin due to its emollient characteristics 

A study also found that applying almond oil to your skin can significantly reduce wrinkles. 

Almond oil offers many benefits, but you should not use this substance under two circumstances: 

• Allergies. If you have a tree nut allergy, eating almond oil or applying it to your skin can cause life-threatening symptoms, including choking and trouble breathing. 
• Unprocessed bitter almond oil. Bitter almonds contain amygdalin, which can transform into poisonous cyanide during oil extraction. Avoid consuming unprocessed bitter almond oil that may still have toxins. 

Overall, almond oil is a healthy, multi-use oil with many uses. Adding this oil to your beauty and cooking routine can boost your health and give you a good dose of essential fatty acids.