9 of The Best Oils for Your Hair and Skin (According to the Research)
Share
Oil has a complicated reputation. For some people, it's the secret behind that effortlessly glossy hair and dewy skin. For others, it's the thing that made their scalp greasy and their pillowcase a biohazard.
The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle… and a lot more interesting than either camp gives it credit for.
Not all oils are built the same. Some penetrate the hair shaft. Some just coat it. Some repair your skin barrier, while others sit on top and do nothing. And some have actually been put through clinical trials, while others are backed by vibes and a very convincing Instagram aesthetic.
So the team here at Aliis Beauty did the research (or at the very least, read the research the hardcore scientists did!). Here are nine oils genuinely worth knowing about, including what they do, what the science actually shows, and where they show up in your routine.
1. Coconut Oil — The One That Earned Its Hype
Of all the oils on this list, coconut oil has the most rigorous science behind it. Not "we extracted it in a lab and it looks promising" science, but actual published, peer-reviewed, here's-the-data science.
The landmark detail: coconut oil is the only commonly used hair oil proven to penetrate the hair shaft. A study using mass spectrometry confirmed that coconut oil actually gets inside the hair cortex — mineral oil doesn't, and neither do most other plant oils.
This matters because it's what allows coconut oil to reduce protein loss from hair, which is the mechanism behind breakage. A separate clinical study found it reduced protein loss by around 39% in damaged hair when used as a pre-wash treatment. (Rele & Mohile, 2003)
For skin, a randomized, double-blind trial in pediatric eczema (117 patients, 8 weeks) found virgin coconut oil reduced the severity score by 68% versus 38% for mineral oil, a pretty decisive result. It also outperformed mineral oil on transepidermal water loss, the measure of how well your skin barrier is doing its job. (Evangelista et al., 2014)
The active driver here is lauric acid: a medium-chain fatty acid with a straight molecular chain and low molecular weight, which is what allows it to slip past the hair cuticle rather than just sitting on top of it. It also has documented antimicrobial properties, which is part of why it's useful for scalp health.
The takeaway: The penetration factor is what separates coconut oil from most others on this list.
You'll find it in Aliis Daily Shampoo, Daily Conditioner, Dry Shampoo, and Juveniis Hair & Skin Oil.
2. Buriti Oil — Your Scalp's Antioxidant Shield
Buriti comes from the Mauritia flexuosa palm, native to the Brazilian Amazon, and it has one genuinely remarkable distinction: it's the richest natural source of beta-carotene (provitamin A) of any known oil. We're talking concentrations roughly 20 times higher than carrot oil. That's not a typo.
Beta-carotene is the precursor to vitamin A, which your body uses for cell turnover, barrier repair, and — relevant here — protecting tissue from oxidative stress. A peer-reviewed study testing buriti-based emulsions found they exerted a meaningful photoprotective effect on keratinocytes and fibroblasts against both UVA and UVB radiation, which makes buriti one of the few plant oils with documented UV-defense properties. (Pupe et al., 2009)
Beyond the antioxidant story, buriti's fatty acid profile is roughly 72% oleic acid, which makes it deeply emollient, meaning it absorbs well and softens without greasiness. Tocopherols (vitamin E) round out the picture.
For hair, the carotenoids and antioxidants are thought to help protect against oxidative damage to the hair fiber, the kind caused by UV exposure, heat styling, and environmental pollution. Direct hair studies are still limited, but the mechanistic logic is sound.
The takeaway: Think of buriti as a natural retinol-adjacent oil. It’s not the same as a retinol, but sharing the vitamin A pathway and the antioxidant protective arc. It's the glow oil, and it's earned it.
You'll find it in Juveniis Hair & Skin Oil and Aliis Hair Masque & Butter.
3. Pequi Oil — The Underdog with a Clinical Trial
Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) is not a household name yet. It probably should be.
A 2025 clinical study tested a serum with 3% pequi oil on 20 women over 28 days, measuring everything instrumentally: transepidermal water loss, skin hydration, oiliness, pore clarity, skin texture. The results showed measurable reduction in water loss, improved hydration at both 2 hours and 28 days, and reduced sebum and oily spots. (Maia Campos et al., Cosmetics, 2025)
That dual effect — more moisture, less excess oil — is rare. Most hydrating ingredients tip the scales one way.
An earlier study on 30 volunteers testing pequi oil formulations also found measurable increases in stratum corneum water content and improved skin barrier function after a single application. (SciELO, Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences)
The fatty acid profile is dominated by oleic acid (~56%) and palmitic acid (~35%), with carotenoids, tocopherols, and squalene contributing the antioxidant depth.
For hair, the oleic and palmitic acids condition and smooth the cuticle, helping tame frizz — which is why you'll see it credited for frizz control in conditioning formulas.
The takeaway: For combination or oily-leaning skin, pequi's ability to hydrate without tipping into oiliness is genuinely unusual. The data is small-scale but real.
You'll find it in Aliis Daily Conditioner, Juveniis, and Hair Masque & Butter.
4. Moringa Oil — The Conditioner Your Hair Already Knows
Moringa (Moringa oleifera) seed oil has been used for centuries. It was the preferred hair and skin oil of ancient Egyptians, who used it under the name "ben oil." It turns out they were onto something.
What makes moringa stand out in a formulator's eye is its combination of oleic acid (around 70%+), behenic acid, and extreme oxidative stability. Behenic acid is a long-chain fatty acid that's commonly synthesized and added to commercial hair conditioners specifically because of how it behaves on the hair shaft: it coats and smooths without buildup. Moringa delivers it naturally.
A published study formulating a moringa oil cream found it improved skin hydration measurably versus the base cream alone, with antioxidant activity and no irritation. (Cosmetics, 2021) Separately, moringa extracts have been shown to protect keratinocytes against oxidative stress. (PubMed, 2018)
Its fatty acid profile has also been studied at different extraction temperatures, confirming the high oleic content that makes it stable and useful for both skin and hair applications. (PMC, 2024)
The other thing worth knowing: moringa oil has one of the longer shelf lives of any plant oil, which matters in a formulation context.
The takeaway: Moringa is what a formulator reaches for when they want the behavior of a conditioning agent but prefer a natural source. Behenic acid + oleic acid + shelf stability = a genuinely useful hair oil.
You'll find it in Aliis Daily Conditioner and Juveniis Hair & Skin Oil.
5. Baobab Oil — The Barrier Repair One
Baobab (Adansonia digitata) seed oil doesn't have a flashy single claim to fame. Its story is about balance.
The fatty acid profile is unusually well-rounded: roughly 36% linoleic acid, 25% oleic acid, and 29% palmitic acid. That spread matters because different fatty acids do different things at the skin barrier — oleic for softening and penetration, linoleic for barrier function (especially relevant for acne-prone or compromised skin, where linoleic deficiency is common), palmitic for structure. Most oils are dominated by one or two. Baobab's near-even distribution gives it a broader functional range.
A pilot human study ("Beauty in Baobab," published in the Brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy) tested baobab seed oil on 20 participants and found reduced transepidermal water loss and improved moisture retention with no significant irritation. (SciELO) Small study, but it's a real human trial with instrumental measurements, not just a chemistry argument.
For hair, baobab is an excellent emollient for dry or brittle strands.The oleic/linoleic combination helps restore suppleness and reduce mechanical breakage at the cuticle level.
The takeaway: Baobab is a reliable, well-rounded oil. No single headline benefit, but a fatty acid balance that covers a lot of ground without tipping into heaviness.
You'll find it in Aliis Daily Shampoo, Daily Conditioner, Dry Shampoo, Hair Masque & Butter, and Juveniis Hair & Skin Oil.
6. Bergamot Oil — Mood-Boosting, With One Important Caveat
Bergamot essential oil has legitimate credentials: documented anti-inflammatory activity, antimicrobial properties (particularly against Staphylococcus aureus), and a genuinely appealing aromatic profile that's earned a reputation as a mood-supporting ingredient. (PMC, 2020; PubMed, 2007)
For the scalp, the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial combination makes it potentially useful for conditions involving irritation or microbial imbalance. Think dandruff, sensitivity, general scalp unhappiness.
If you're checking an ingredient label for it, look for Citrus Bergamia Peel Oil — that's the INCI (the standardized ingredient name you'll see on packaging) for bergamot oil.
But here's the thing a good friend who reads the research would make sure you know: bergamot contains naturally occurring furocoumarins — specifically bergapten — which cause phototoxic skin reactions when exposed to UV light. This is well-documented in dermatology literature and is the cause of what's called "berloque dermatitis." (PubMed)
For any leave-on product (a skin oil, a hair oil left on between washes, anything that touches your skin in the sun), you want to confirm you're working with furocoumarin-free bergamot — also labeled FCF or bergapten-free. It's a simple formulation step, but an important one.
The takeaway: Bergamot is genuinely useful. Just make sure it's the right kind.
You'll find it in Juveniis Hair & Skin Oil.
7. Monoi de Tahiti — Heritage Ingredient, Honest Science
Monoi de Tahiti is a protected Appellation d'Origine product: Tiare flowers (Gardenia taitensis) macerated in refined coconut oil from Polynesia. It's been used in French Polynesia for skin and hair care for centuries, and it has a genuinely lovely sensory experience: light, floral, absorbs cleanly.
Here's what the science shows: because the base is coconut oil, Monoi inherits all of coconut oil's well-documented emollient and hair-protective properties. The Tiare flower contribution adds something real but more modest. A 2023 study confirmed that Gardenia taitensis extract contains iridoids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids with measurable antioxidant activity. (Antioxidants, 2023; PMID 37891949)
The nuance: those water-soluble antioxidant compounds (the flavonoids and phenolics) don't transfer efficiently into an oil maceration. What actually migrates into Monoi are the lipophilic compounds, primarily methyl salicylate (a soothing, salicylate-family compound) and linalool (calming, fragrant). So Monoi is most accurately understood as coconut oil plus a concentrated dose of soothing and fragrant flower lipids.
That's still a genuinely nice ingredient, it just doesn't need the mystical framing some brands give it.
The takeaway: Monoi's efficacy leans on its coconut oil base, with Tiare adding real but modest soothing and aromatic character. The heritage is real; the benefits are real; the science is more coconut than magic flower.
You'll find it in Juveniis Hair & Skin Oil.
8. Meadowfoam Seed Oil — The One Behind the Scenes
Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba) seed oil doesn't get the attention of some of the others on this list, which is understandable. It doesn't have a dramatic origin story or a single striking clinical claim. What it has is a fatty acid composition that makes formulators quietly very happy.
About 98% of meadowfoam's fatty acid profile is made up of ultra-long-chain fatty acids — eicosenoic acid (~60%), docosenoic acid (~16%), and docosadienoic acid (~18%) — which give it exceptional oxidative stability. It doesn't go rancid easily. That's relevant both in the bottle and on your skin or hair, where oxidized oils can actually cause irritation rather than help.
On the skin, meadowfoam forms a lightweight, breathable occlusive layer that holds moisture in without clogging pores or feeling greasy. It's non-comedogenic and absorbs cleanly. For hair, it contributes slip, shine, and an ability to seal the cuticle, and because it's so stable, it tends to extend the shelf life of other, less stable oils it's blended with.
Independent clinical studies specifically on meadowfoam are sparse. Most of the claims rest on its well-characterized fatty acid chemistry and stability data rather than large human trials. But the ingredient science is solid enough to justify its presence in formulations.
The takeaway: Meadowfoam is the stabilizer, the texture enhancer, the oil that quietly makes everything else in the formula work better. Not the star, but very much necessary.
You'll find it in Aliis Daily Shampoo, Daily Conditioner, Dry Shampoo and Hair Masque & Butter.
9. Rosemary Oil — The Hair Growth One
A quick aside before we get into this one: rosemary oil isn't currently in any Aliis formula. We're including it because it's one of the most-searched hair oils out there, and if you're researching it, you deserve a straight answer backed by real data rather than another recycled listicle.
If you've been anywhere near the hair care corner of the internet in the last few years, you've heard about rosemary oil for hair growth. And here's the unusual thing: the hype has a clinical trial behind it.
A randomized controlled study (N=100, 6 months) compared rosemary oil directly to 2% minoxidil for androgenetic alopecia and found no significant difference in hair count between the two groups at the end of the trial. Rosemary performed comparably — with the added note that scalp itching was more frequently reported in the minoxidil group. (Panahi et al., 2015) A separate study using rosemary leaf extract showed a hair-growth stimulating effect, attributed partly to a compound called 12-methoxycarnosic acid and improved scalp microcirculation. (PubMed, 2013)
For skin, rosemary has documented anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties — rosmarinic acid and carnosol are the primary actives — which also make it useful for scalp health more broadly.
The takeaway: Rosemary is the rare "trendy" ingredient that actually passed a head-to-head comparison with a pharmaceutical standard. That doesn't happen often. It belongs on this list.
The Bigger Picture – And Your New Favorite Product
Oils work best when they match what your hair and skin actually need, as well as when they're formulated in a way that gets those actives to the right place. Coconut penetrates. Baobab balances. Buriti protects. Moringa conditions. Rosemary stimulates. Meadowfoam stabilizes.
What they all share: they're working with your skin and scalp's biology rather than coating over it. Which is, ultimately, the point.
If you want to start somewhere, start with what's already in your routine. The Aliis Juveniis Hair & Skin Oil draws on a handful of these — bergamot, baobab, monoi, coconut, moringa, buriti — because the best approach to oil is usually more than one.
