The Beauty Wisdom of Warm Sesame Oil

I'm just preparing my next online class, more about that another time. I'm mentioning the use of warm sesame oil and I thought I'd get side-tracked and write a quick post on how I love this oil and how it is a real friend to the Crone Zone.

In a world of fast fixes, complex skincare routines, and ever-changing beauty trends, some of the most effective beauty wisdom is also the simplest.

Warm sesame oil, used for thousands of years in Tibetan and Ayurvedic traditions, is one such treasure.

This is not about chasing youth or erasing time.

It is about nourishing the skin so it can age with softness, strength, and glow.

Sesame oil was never viewed as a cosmetic rather it was considered a skin food — deeply nourishing, protective, and calming to both the skin and the nervous system.

When gently warmed, sesame oil penetrates more deeply, delivering its benefits beyond the surface layers of the skin.

This makes it especially valuable for mature, dry, sensitive, or environmentally stressed skin.

Unlike many modern moisturisers that sit on the surface,

sesame oil absorbs deeply into the skin’s layers.

Benefits:

• Relieves chronic dryness

• Softens rough or crepey skin

• Leaves skin supple rather than greasy

This is particularly helpful as natural skin oils decline with age and hormonal change. It's when those strange 'dry patches' can suddenly appear.

Sesame oil naturally contains:

• Vitamin E

• Sesamol and sesamin (powerful antioxidants)

• Essential fatty acids

which ....

• Helps maintain skin elasticity

• Supports firmness over time

• Softens fine lines caused by dryness

Rather than “anti-ageing,” sesame oil supports skin resilience and vitality.

When applied with gentle massage, warm sesame oil improves micro-circulation, which:

• Revives dull or tired-looking skin

• Encourages a healthy, even tone

• Creates a subtle, natural radiance

This glow comes from improved circulation and nourishment, not surface shine.

Healthy skin depends on a strong lipid barrier — something many cleansers and exfoliants strip away.

The warm oil ...

• Helps prevent moisture loss

• Increases skin resilience

• Reduces sensitivity and reactivity

With regular use, many women notice their skin becomes less fragile and more balanced.

It's not just for the face, I notice the skin on my forearms thinning. The puppy's claws break the surface far too easily! So I'm paying special attention to that area in the hope it will make the skin more resilient.

In traditional medicine, the skin is closely linked to the nervous system.

Warm sesame oil has a grounding, calming effect., which in turn can

• Soothe tight, stressed skin

• Help calm dryness-related itching or irritation

• Support skin affected by emotional or environmental stress

Calm skin is beautiful skin.

The ritual of applying warm oil to both the face and the body, matters as much as the oil itself.

Slow, mindful massage - and you know I'm going to ask you to 'talk' to the skin cells!

"Every cell in my body, including my skin, is replenishing with health, vitality, strength and resilience. My skin itself is looking good, it is good!"

Sesame oil has long been used to protect the skin from harsh environments. When I take the dogs out walking in the wind and rain, I plaster this oil all over my face! I'm convinced it helps reduce weather damage. It certainly .....

• Helps shield skin from wind and cold

• Ideal for winter, travel, and exposed skin

• Especially nourishing for hands, feet, neck, and décolletage

A Simple Warm Sesame Oil Beauty Ritual

This ritual is best enjoyed in the evening, when the body is ready to rest and repair.

What You’ll Need

• Organic, cold-pressed sesame oil

• A small bowl for the oil (I use a small metal bowl, it was the puppy feeding bowl when weaning)

• A slightly larger bowl with hot water in.

  
  

How to Use

1. Place a small amount of sesame oil in the smaller bowl and place that in the larger bowl that contains the hot water, this is going to gently warm the oil. It should feel pleasantly warm, never hot.

2. Apply to slightly damp skin.

3. Massage slowly using upward, circular movements.

4. Allow the oil to absorb for 10–15 minutes.

5. Rinse lightly with warm water or leave on overnight if your skin is very dry.

For the face, use sparingly, you really don't need much, and apply with gentle pressure.

I also do this on my body ten minutes BEFORE I get in the shower. When I step out, my skin is noticeably softer!