Almond Oil in Summer: Do You Need It?

Summer asks a lot of your skin: air conditioning in the morning, sun and sweat by lunch, a pool or the sea after that. A plain plant oil can be a nice part of that rhythm for some people and unnecessary for others, so it helps to sort out which camp you are in. We would rather help you decide than hand you a glow routine that fits everyone and no one.

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First, what kind of skin do you have in July?

The American Academy of Dermatology's moisturizer advice is a good guide. For oily skin, one dermatologist suggests skipping moisturizer or choosing a lighter gel, and for combination skin, another suggests moisturizing the dry spots and skipping the oily ones, typically the forehead, nose and chin. That applies to almond oil, which is a plain, richer oil rather than a gel. Our sorting is simple:

A shaded balcony table with a straw sun hat, sunglasses, a bottle of after-sun lotion with a plain white cap and a small

Shiny by lunchtime or prone to breakouts in the heat: a face oil may not be your friend. The body is another story, and a few drops on dry elbows or shins can be lovely.
Skin that feels tight despite the weather (air-conditioned offices, chlorine, salt water, frequent hand washing): a thin layer of oil on the dry areas is a pleasant thing to try.
Dryness that persists, cracks or stings: a board-certified dermatologist is the right person to ask.

This is judgment based on the AAD's advice, not a measurement of your skin, and it is worth remembering that "natural" is not a guarantee against reactions. The same AAD page makes that point.

What the research on almond oil as a moisturizer looks like

The closest study is a 2018 randomized pilot. Thirty-two people who finished applied almond oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil or white petrolatum twice daily for two weeks. All four raised skin hydration by week two, with no significant differences between them, and almond oil was the favorite, at 38% of participants. It is a small study, and the report does not say which almond oil was used, so we treat it as encouraging rather than conclusive. What it does tell us is that a plain oil can hold its own as a daily moisturizer for dry skin, which is exactly the situation we have in mind for summer.

Summer blend makings on a sunny bathroom counter: a clear glass bottle of pale golden sweet almond oil tightly closed with a

How we would use it

Because oil has no water in it, the AAD's habit of moisturizing while skin is still damp is a smart one to borrow. After a shower or a swim, pat dry, leaving a trace of moisture, and smooth on a few drops where you feel dry. Hands, heels, shins and shoulders are good candidates. Our oil absorbs quickly with a non-greasy finish, which is part of why we like it for hot weather, but a light touch is the rule: two or three drops is a lot more than it looks like.

Try it on one small area for a week before you roll it out. A few drops on the backs of your hands after washing, or on your shins after a shower, is an easy test. Notice how your skin feels an hour later. If it feels comfortable and not slick, you have found your amount; if it feels coated, use fewer drops next time. Summer is a busy season, so a routine that takes thirty seconds is one you will keep.

Almond oil is not sun protection, and we do not offer it as such. The AAD's dry-skin guidance is to use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher along with shade and protective clothing, and our post on almond oil and sunscreen explains the numbers. Think of oil as a skin comfort product that goes on separately from your sun routine.

Heat is harder on the bottle than on you

A hot car, a beach bag and a sunny windowsill are the enemies of any plant oil. We keep ours in amber glass for a reason, and our advice is to store it in a cool, dark cupboard and take only a little with you, not the large bottle. Our oil carries its pressing date, bottling date and lot number, and about a year from pressing is what we count on when it is stored properly. More in our storage guide.

A cool shaded summer bathroom with a clear glass bottle of pale golden sweet almond oil tightly closed with a black screw

Little summer habits that pair well

Rinse first. After a swim, give your skin a quick freshwater rinse before you oil, so you are not sealing chlorine or salt under a film.
Carry a little, not a lot. If you want some on a trip, decant a small amount into a clean, dry travel container and keep it out of the sun.
Keep the cap tight. Sand, sunscreen and sticky fingers do not belong in the bottle.

Check first, then enjoy

Almond is a tree nut, and our oil is cold-pressed and unrefined, so trace almond protein is present: if you have a tree nut allergy, please skip it. For everyone else, we suggest the AAD's patch test, a quarter-sized amount on the inner arm or elbow crease, twice a day for 7 to 10 days, before it goes anywhere near your face. Our patch-test guide has the full method, and our body care post has ideas for where to use it.

Summer skin mostly wants to be comfortable. Listen to it, and keep things simple.

Some summers a drop of oil on dry elbows is all you want, and some summers you will not touch it. Both are perfectly good answers.