I can’t tell you how often people are surprised when I tell them I use a carrier oil to remove my makeup, moisturise my skin and take care of my hair. I have had great results with oils and really can’t recommend them enough. I have tried loads of different ones but here are some of my favorite oils. These post is going to focus on the oils I keep rebuying and a few ideas about how I use them.
First of all let’s look at how to choose a carrier oil. There are so many sold in the market currently so it’s always best to get ones that are 100% pure (it amazes me how many times I have found Argan Oil written on a bottle and then when I check the ingredient list the product is full of silicone and perfume). Also, try and make sure to get a cold pressed oil as they are pressed at low temperatures which means they retain their natural properties far better. If you can choose one with an organic label it’s even better so you avoid putting pesticides and chemicals onto your skin. I buy loads of my oils from the AromaZone website, as you can see in the picture.
Coconut oil – I know the entire internet has covered this oil in every detail already but I couldn’t not mention it. If you asked me which oil I would keep if I had to choose only one then there is no contest! This oil is the Queen of the Queens!! It truly is great for both skin and hair but there are so many ways to use it that perhaps I should do a post focused solely on coconut oil and it’s uses (let me know if you are interested). So, here are some of the different ways that I use it currently. For all my D.I.Y. hair treatments Coconut oil is always the base as its is a highly penetrative oil which deeply nourish and moisturises the scalp as well as the hair. It’s absolutely excellent for dry and brittle hair. Then when I use it on my body, mostly when I have no time to wax my legs, I shave them using Coconut oil. It leaves my skin so soft and does such a good job!
Grapeseed Oil – This oil has astringent properties which help to tighten and tone the skin. Its an excellent oil for oily skin and to treat acne, even though sometimes that may seem counter productive using an oil to get rid of oiliness. I like to use it as a moisturizer at night before going to bed as it is very light and absorbed easily. I also like to mix it with a bit of fine bicarbonate of soda to gently scrub my face which removes dead skin cells. It leaves the skin soft, moist and with a satin like finish.
Tomato Seed Oil – I use this oil every single day as it really helps me to get radiant skin with a healthy glow. This is thanks to the fact that it is rich in antioxidant; carotenoid and Vitamin E. I mix 2-3 drops with my night serum and apply it to my face and if you suffer from a grey complexion then this is the one for you! It suits all skin types and can be used on the body too, an absolute must have!
Jojoba Oil – I use this oil as my first cleanse when I am removing my makeup. I rub it onto my skin and then wash it off with a damp muslin. It does a great job and even manages to remove mascara easily. It’s very affordable so there is no need to spend a lot on expensive makeup removers as this does as good a job as any and is far better for your skin! I also like to add a spoonful of Jojoba oil to my hair mask as it adds shine to hair. Alternatively I often apply 2 -3 drops onto my hair when it is dry which works as a brilliant leave-in conditioner.
Castor oil – If you want to grow your hair, eyelashes or eyebrows then this is the oil for you! I recommend mixing it with another oil as Castor oil has a thick consistency so it’s best to use in a blend. This will make the mask easier to distribute throughout your hair where I would advise mixing it with coconut oil and massaging it into your scalp once a week. For eyebrow and eyelashes mix it with almond oil and pour the oils into a mascara tube and apply daily. If you do this regularly then you will definitely see an improvement!
Broccoli oil – This oil is about 50% Erucic Acid which is an an Omega 9 fatty acid. This acid helps to give a glossy shine to hair the same way silicone does. I apply a small amount of it onto my damp hair. It is also great for helping to control frizz from humidity. It doesn’t smell the best but I promise the smell doesn’t linger for more than a few minutes.
I have tried to keep this list short for now and only focus on my very favourite oils but there are so many others that I like and use all the time like mustard oil or avocado oil. I will have to do more rundowns of oils that I use in future posts. I often mix a few of them together to make skin or hair serums as they work wonders when used in synergy! I will of course document and share all my recipes on future blog posts (I wish I had recorded all the recipes I have made previously as some were amazing and then I end up forgetting the specific recipe). I would love to know if you use carrier in your beauty routine and which are your favorite ones?
