oils

Summer sun left your skin dry and dull? Give yourself an at-home facial with these picks that are guaranteed to soften fine lines and make skin radiant and smooth.

How to choose and use the best oils for relieving minor stress, fighting fatigue, boosting mind-body balance, and more.

If your hands are dry and cracked from either the weather or repeated hand-washing, you can be left with inflamed, uncomfortable cuticles. Fight back with a nourishing cuticle oil: Using natural ingredients, these products add moisture to embattled cuticles, making them healthier and more flexible. In fact, nourishing your cuticles can have benefits that extend all the way through your nail, as the matrix absorbs that moisture. Here are our favorite cuticle oils for treating your skin right.

Black seeds, or nigella sativa, have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians. Black seed oil is known for both beauty and health benefits due to the compound thymoquinone and the variety of omega fatty acids found in these seeds. Black seed oil helps hydrate and soften your hair and skin and can help reduce acne in some people. It also has shown promise with health conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis. That said, consult your doctor before using, especially if you take medications or are pregnant. If you’re considering adding black seed oil to your health or beauty regimen, here are some popular brands.

Jojoba oil is considered something of a carrier oil powerhouse. It’s derived from jojoba seeds, usually by cold-pressing to extract the oil without compromising the oil’s benefits. Because it’s naturally gentle, jojoba doesn’t need dilution, even when applied to sensitive skin. It works as an emollient to soothe dry skin, to unclog hair follicles, and to treat acne, psoriasis, and sunburn. You can use the oil on your scalp and massage into hair to improve greasiness and reduce split ends. Because it’s a carrier oil that mimics the properties of the skin's own moisturizing oils, it’s used to dilute essential oils before application. When shopping for jojoba oil, make sure it’s cold-pressed and undiluted, consider the production methods (cruelty-free, organic, etc.), application, and shelf life. Here are our top picks.

Chef Celine Beitchman at the Natural Gourmet Institute shares healthy cooking oils. Plus, tips to select, taste, and store the right oil for your next dish.