Apricot oil works well as a lightweight facial oil that you can apply directly to skin, use as a cleanser, or mix into your existing products. It absorbs quickly without feeling greasy, making it practical for both morning and evening routines. The key is knowing how much to use, when to apply it, and which methods work best for your skin type.
What Makes Apricot Oil Good for Skin
Apricot kernel oil is roughly 71% oleic acid and 22% linoleic acid. Oleic acid penetrates skin easily and carries moisture deep into the outer layers, while linoleic acid helps strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. This combination is why apricot oil feels silky rather than heavy, and why it absorbs faster than thicker oils like castor or coconut.
The oil also contains gamma-tocopherol (a form of vitamin E) at about 475 mg per kilogram, along with plant sterols and carotenoids that act as antioxidants. These compounds help protect skin cells from environmental damage and may slow visible signs of aging over time. The carotenoids give the oil its pale golden color and contribute a subtle brightening effect with consistent use.
How to Apply It as a Moisturizer
The simplest way to use apricot oil on your face is as a finishing moisturizer. Warm 2 to 3 drops between your fingertips and press gently into your skin. That small amount is enough to cover your entire face and neck. Patting or pressing works better than rubbing, since it helps the oil absorb evenly without displacing any products underneath.
In the morning, apply it after your serum or moisturizer but before sunscreen. The oil won’t interfere with SPF if you give it a minute to sink in. At night, use it as your last step so it can seal in everything you’ve applied beforehand. You can use it once or twice daily depending on how your skin responds. If your skin tends toward oily, start with evenings only and see how it feels after a week.
For extra dry patches, like flaky areas around the nose or on the cheeks, you can dab a single additional drop directly onto those spots. Apricot oil layers well under makeup once it’s fully absorbed, which usually takes one to two minutes.
Using It as a Facial Cleanser
Apricot oil dissolves makeup, sunscreen, and excess sebum effectively, which makes it a solid choice for the first step of a double cleanse. Apply about a quarter-sized amount to dry skin and massage in circular motions for 30 to 60 seconds. Focus on areas where makeup or sunscreen tends to build up: around the eyes, along the jawline, and across the forehead.
Dampen your hands with warm water and continue massaging. The water will emulsify the oil, turning it slightly milky, which helps it rinse away without leaving a heavy residue. Follow up with a gentle water-based cleanser (a gel or foam formula) to remove any remaining traces. This two-step approach leaves skin clean without stripping it. Glow Recipe includes apricot oil in their cleansing balm specifically because it breaks down impurities while keeping skin soft.
Around the Eyes
The skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate than the rest of your face, so apricot oil’s lightweight texture is a good match. A single drop tapped gently around the orbital bone (the bony ridge circling your eye socket) can help hydrate fine lines and reduce the crepey look that comes with dryness. Its vitamin E and phytosterol content may also help prevent premature wrinkling in this area.
One important caveat: apricot oil won’t reduce dark circles. Dark circles are caused by blood pooling under thin skin, pigmentation, or hollowing from volume loss, none of which a topical oil can address. What it can do is plump up the skin slightly through hydration, which softens the appearance of fine lines and under-eye bags.
Will It Clog Your Pores?
Apricot kernel oil scores a 2 on the comedogenic scale, which runs from 0 (won’t clog pores) to 5 (highly likely to clog pores). A rating of 2 means it’s moderately comedogenic. For most people with normal, dry, or combination skin, this is low enough to use without breakouts. If you have acne-prone skin or are particularly sensitive to oils, test it on a small area of your jawline for a few days before applying it to your full face.
Compared to coconut oil (which scores a 4), apricot oil is significantly less likely to cause problems. Its high oleic acid content does mean it’s richer than oils like grapeseed or hemp seed, which are higher in linoleic acid and score 0 to 1. If you’ve had good experiences with jojoba or sweet almond oil, apricot oil will feel similar on your skin.
Mixing It With Other Products
You can blend apricot oil into products you already use. Adding 2 to 3 drops into your regular moisturizer gives it a richer, more emollient texture, which is useful during winter or in dry climates. Mix it in your palm right before applying rather than adding it to the bottle, since introducing oil into a water-based product can destabilize the formula over time.
Apricot oil also works as a carrier for essential oils if you use them in your skincare routine. A tablespoon of apricot oil dilutes essential oils to a safe concentration for facial application. It blends well with ingredients like rosehip oil (for added vitamin A) or a drop of tea tree oil (for blemish-prone areas).
For a simple at-home face mask, mix a teaspoon of apricot oil with a teaspoon of honey and apply for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. The oil delivers moisture while honey acts as a gentle humectant, drawing water into the skin.
Choosing and Storing Apricot Oil
Look for cold-pressed, unrefined apricot kernel oil. Cold pressing preserves the vitamin E, phytosterols, and fatty acids that heat extraction destroys. The oil should be pale yellow to golden with a faint nutty smell. If it smells sharp, sour, or like old cooking oil, it’s gone rancid.
Stored properly, apricot oil lasts 1 to 2 years. Keep it in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight and heat. A bathroom cabinet works fine as long as your bathroom doesn’t get excessively hot. Dark glass bottles protect the oil better than clear ones. If you buy a larger bottle, consider decanting what you need for the month into a smaller container so the main supply stays sealed and fresh.
Once the oil starts to smell off or changes color significantly, replace it. Rancid oils can generate free radicals on the skin, doing the opposite of what you’re aiming for.