Wrinkles and fine lines: which vegetable oils to use?

Which vegetable oils can be used to combat skin laxity, wrinkles, and fine lines?

Over time, skin loses firmness and wrinkles become more pronounced due to oxidative stress and a slowdown in cell renewal. Certain plant oils rich in lipids and antioxidants can help support the skin during this process. Which plant oils should you prioritize to combat skin laxity and fine lines? Here are our recommendations.

Published on June 30, 2021, updated on February 9, 2026, by Stéphanie, PhD, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences — 12 min of reading

Using a plant-based oil to care for mature skin: is it a good idea?

A mature skin is the result of several structural and functional modifications.

Indeed, over time, the synthesis of collagen and elastin slows down, the extracellular matrix gradually becomes disorganized and cell turnover becomes less efficient. At the same time, lipid production decreases, which weakens the skin barrier, increases insensible water loss, and makes the skin drier, thinner, and less supple. In this context, using a vegetable oil can be relevant. Often rich in fatty acids similar to those naturally present in the hydrolipidic film, a vegetable oil can help restore the cohesion of the skin barrier, improve comfort, and limit dehydration. Some also contain antioxidants capable of neutralizing part of the oxidative stress involved in skin aging.

When carefully selected, vegetable oils provide valuable support to meet the needs of mature skin.

An in-depth look at plant oils that target skin aging.

Before reviewing the most interesting plant oils, it is useful to recall how to integrate them into a skincare routine. In practice, a plant oil is applied most often as the final step, preferably in the evening due to its greasy texture. It can be used instead of a moisturizing cream or afterward to lock in hydration and reinforce the skin barrier, particularly when the skin is dry to very dry. A few drops are sufficient for the entire face. The following plant oils are most praised for countering the development of wrinkles and fine lines:

Prickly pear seed oil.

Often associated with maintaining skin firmness, the prickly pear seed oil stands out for its high antioxidant content, particularly vitamin E and phytosterols. These compounds help neutralize free radicals generated by UV exposure, pollution, or intrinsic aging, a phenomenon involved in the degradation of collagen and elastin within the dermis. By limiting lipid and cell membrane oxidation, this vegetable oil could thus help to preserve skin structure and slow sagging.

Experimental data from a murine model of induced oxidative stress also show that applying prickly pear oil helps maintain the activity of key antioxidant enzymes—such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase—unlike in controls. Coupled with its nourishing properties, this action helps to strengthen the skin’s resilience and suppleness.

Hibiscus vegetable oil.

The hibiscus oil is primarily valued for its notable composition, especially its richness in vitamin E, a well-known antioxidant that protects the skin’s lipids from oxidation. It also displays a favorable lipid profile, with a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids that contribute to maintaining skin suppleness and comfort. By reinforcing the hydrolipidic film, hibiscus oil helps limit dehydration, a factor that visually accentuates wrinkles and fine lines. However, to date, little scientific data can confirm a direct effect of this plant oil on the deeper mechanisms of skin aging. Its main benefit therefore lies in its nourishing and protective action.

Vegetable rosehip oil.

The rosehip oil is often cited among plant oils of interest for skin marked by wrinkles and fine lines, largely due to its richness in vitamin E. Experimental studies also suggest that oily rose extracts can limit UVB-induced damage by reducing inflammation and collagen fragmentation, notably via a modulation of antioxidant enzymes and mediators involved in oxidative stress. Without being able to claim a direct “anti-wrinkle” effect, rosehip oil thus serves as a protective and preventive treatment, helping to preserve the skin against environmental aggressors.

Hemp vegetable oil.

The hemp oil offers an interesting profile for skin prone to laxity thanks to a combination of antioxidant and structural actions. It contains vitamin E, linoleic acid, and phytosterols, which limit oxidative stress and inhibit elastase, an enzyme involved in elastin degradation. Experimental studies suggest that this oil could help to preserve skin elasticity and suppleness, while improving hydration and structure, notably via support of endogenous antioxidant systems and improved dermal fiber integrity. Without promising a visible correction of wrinkles, hemp oil thus stands as a useful care product to support the skin in preventing skin aging.

Jojoba vegetable oil.

Often associated with oily skin because its waxy structure mimics human sebum, the jojoba oil can also find a place in mature skin care routines. It primarily delivers a nourishing and protective action, helping to limit dehydration and strengthen the skin barrier. Its moderate antioxidant composition may also help neutralize the free radicals. Thus, while jojoba oil can be applied to combat wrinkles, it is not the most pertinent vegetable oil for that purpose.

Coconut vegetable oil.

The coconut oil is sometimes noted for its potential effects on skin aging, primarily due to its ability to improve hydration and reduce oxidative stress. Experimental studies in rats show that regular topical application can increase the thickness of the epidermis and dermis, enhance collagen markers (such as hydroxyproline), and decrease lipid oxidation products, with effects comparable to those of vitamin E. These results suggest a protective role against structural degradation of the skin associated with aging. However, these data are derived from murine models: in humans, the coconut oil remains primarily a highly nourishing oil, useful for preventing skin dryness, but to be used with caution on blemish-prone skin due to its potentially comedogenic properties

Prune vegetable oil.

The prune oil is sometimes highlighted for its potential effects on the suppleness and elasticity of the skin, in connection with its richness in unsaturated fatty acids—particularly oleic acid—and in vitamin E. These compounds give it antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity capable of limiting oxidative stress–related damage. Some studies also suggest that prune oil–based formulations may offer photoprotective benefits, helping to absorb part of UV radiation and preserve skin integrity. In practice, this plant oil is mainly valued for its sensory feel and nourishing power, which contribute to the comfort of mature skin without claiming a direct effect on wrinkles.

Vegetable castor oil.

The castor oil is sometimes cited for its potential benefits on signs of aging, primarily because of its vitamin E content. Recently, a clinical study in 22 volunteers reported an improvement in the appearance of crow’s feet wrinkles (+33% wrinkle score) after the regular application of a cream containing 10% castor oil, with no adverse effects observed. These results suggest a possible tightening effect, although they still require confirmation in larger clinical trials before any definitive conclusions can be drawn about a genuine benefit for skin laxity.

Argan vegetable oil.

The argan oil is one of the most extensively studied plant oils for its effects on skin aging. Clinical evidence has shown that it can improve skin elasticity, particularly in postmenopausal women, both through topical application and oral consumption, suggesting an impact on the dermis’s biomechanical properties. Mechanistically, its richness in unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, and phenolic compounds provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity capable of limiting UV-induced prostaglandin E2 production and collagen degradation. By helping to preserve dermal structure and skin hydration, argan oil emerges as a relevant option for supporting mature skin.

Another option : At Typology, for both prevention of and response to skin aging, we offer a firming botanical blend. This oil-based night serum is 100% naturally derived and formulated with seven botanical extracts to tone the skin and optimize cellular regeneration. Applied daily, it targets the appearance of pigment spots and the formation of wrinkles and fine lines.

Which vegetable oils can be used to combat skin laxity, wrinkles, and fine lines?

Using a plant-based oil to care for mature skin: is it a good idea?

P63 — Firming Night Serum
Botanical Blend with Nopal Cells — from $50.90