Plant oils aren't all created equal for barrier repair—the ratio of linoleic to oleic acid matters most. Oils with higher linoleic acid are better at fixing your skin barrier, while oils heavy in oleic acid can actually irritate skin. Cold-pressed oils preserve the good stuff better than heat-processed or chemically-treated versions.

This was a literature review published in a clinical dermatology journal that examined existing research on six common plant oils (including argan, sunflower seed, and coconut oil) and their effects on skin-barrier function.

Funding not disclosed in abstract