by Tara Mackey | Beauty, Blogroll, Green Beauty, Product Reviews, Skincare
Face oil. Seems kinda counter-intuitive right? Believe it or not, face oils have been around for centuries. They contain essential fatty acids, which are crucial in keeping skin young, supple and smooth.
Personally, the right natural oils (which come from nuts, trees, flowers or plants) have not only balanced and hydrated my skin, they’ve completely evened it out and rid me of nasty breakouts, hormonal acne and cysts! Yes, oil!
What’s the difference between an oil and your conventional lotion or cream? Lotions and creams are a mixture of oil and water, and often conventional serums also have an additive that waters it down. However, restorative oils and concentrates are extremely beneficial to your skin, as long as you use the correct oil for your skin type.
So, who made the list of best natural oils?
Genetix Detox Repair Serum
I call the detox repair oil my liquid gold – it’s amazing as an oil cleanser, a moisturizer, a scar treatment, calms skin and evens your tone and overall complexion. A staple in my beauty cabinet! The Detox Repair Serum is specifically formulated with the highest level of french green clay and activated charcoal. Effectively fights blemishes, reduces acne, and helps keep skin free of new breakouts. Healing, organic vitamins are designed to reduce the appearance of enlarged pores while zinc oxide, a natural mineral, provides oil control by absorbing excess sebum. The result is clearer skin that lasts. I use this oil on my skin at night to combat any breakouts, dry skin and acne scars. Essential oil and scent free, which I LOVE! (Use code STAYWEIRD for 25% off this week!)
Which skin type is it good for?
✔ Oily/Acne-Prone/Combination
✔ Normal
✔ Dry
Glow Brightening Serum
Acne not your battle? If your skin is more on the dry/mature, dull or sensitive side, try this skin-smoothing, radiance-boosting retinol youth serum with organic vitamins A, D + C, melatonin and hyaluronic acid for post-facial results and all day hydration. It’s free of essential oils and perfume, so it’s perfect for sensitive skin! is formulated with high potency, organic rosehip, melatonin and hyaluronic acid that immediately tackles dull, pore-clogging dead skin cells, revealing smoother, fresher, younger-looking skin.
Fine lines appear visually plumped, the appearance of stubborn hyperpigmentation and the visible signs of aging are reduced for a healthier-looking complexion. Perfect for all skin types and all ages, this treatment is enhanced with turmeric and chamomile for maximum brightening and instant radiance. I have so much love for this oil — It’s beautiful! It also doubles as a gorgeous highlighter (Use code STAYWEIRD for 25% off this week!)
Which skin type is it good for?
✔ Normal
✔ Oily/Acne-Prone
✔ Combination
✔ Dry
✔ Sensitive
Cellular Recovery Serum
This magnificent face serum is a top favorite among this incredibly luxurious line. This serum is packed with powerful anti-oxidants, omegas, vitamins, and free radical fighters. Nutrient-dense organic rosehip, magnesium and CoQ10 can penetrate the tough outer layer of your sebum and once there, initiate your skin’s repair process, revealing a vibrant, smoother skin texture.
Main ingredient melatonin has been proven to clinically reduce and reverse the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. With daily application this super serum moisturizes, improves clarity + contributes to a more beautiful, balanced and youthful complexion. All the beautiful oils and herbs in this Cellular Repair Serum promote cell structure and healthy regeneration as well as repair the current damage.
This serum is also essential oil and scent free, which I LOVE (the rest of the oils in this article are scented)! Use code STAYWEIRD for 25% off this week!
Which skin type is it good for?
✔ Normal
✔ Oily/Acne-Prone/Combination
✔ Sensitive
✔ Dry
✔ Mature
(Grab the whole collection and take 25% off with code STAYWEIRD!)
Josh Rosebrook’s Deep Hydrating Serum
It’s also no secret that I adore Josh Rosebrook. He’s one of my dearest friends and my incredible stylist. And his products are LA A-list favorites! A conconction of incredible oils for every skin type (coconut, jojoba, grape seed, apricot, sunflower, hemp and seabuckthorn) as well as exotic herbal infusions of skullcap, marshmallow, neem leaf, green tea, st. john’s wort, and more, this incredible and scrumptious-smelling oil is my go-to day oil. One application leaves skin golden and glowing all day long! This not only rejuvenates skin – it re-awakens it! The phytonutrients help promote collagen and balance skin. Not only is Josh a delight in person, his whole line is amazing! Wake up with a bright, clear, beautiful face!
Kypris Beauty Elixir II – Healing Bouquet
You know by now that I love me some essential herbs in my beauty products, so when this Jasmine, Rose, Patchouli blend met it’s CoQ10 vitamins E and C, I was hooked. I adore Kypris’s elixir not only for her incredible, lush aromatherapy benefits and her delicious lingering scent, I’m super impressed by her GMO-free, kosher standard. This sexy and expertly crafted formula encourages skin to be at it’s most plump, hydrated and happy; a beautiful oil standard that also contains baobab oil, which I adore because it’s perfect for my acne-prone pores. Even though it contains coconut oil, it is virgin, which my face can absolutely tolerate. Loving this more and more the longer I try it!
African Botanicals Neroli Infused Marula Oil
This oil is so good it got a huge mention in my first book! Marula oil is my standard for golden-looking skin, and this formula from African Botanicals does not disappoint. I prefer Marula oil to a lot of other oils out there because my skin just drinks it up. It covers all my bases: it’s hydrating, skin clearing, and evens my skin tone, as well as brings out just the right freckles in the sun. The smell is addicting but subtle because it is Neroli-based, which also makes it extremely anti-oxidizing. Totally pure, no preservatives, and no nonsense. Marula oil is wonderful for all skin types, and great for under the eyes, dark circles or to combat redness. This oil does not leave my bedside – I apply it every night without question, waking up to supple, sexy, sun-kissed skin, even during winter months when my skin tends to get dull and dry.
Vintner’s Daughter
This serum is a luxurious multi-correctional infusion of 22 of the world’s most active organic and wildcrafted botanicals. At the heart of this powerful treatment is an energy dense phyto radiance infusion. Combined with highly targeted essential oils, the formulation combines anti-inflammatory phytonutrients, skin firming phytoceramides, nourishing fatty-acids and powerful anti-oxidants to help fight signs of aging; stimulate cellular turnover; maintain skin elasticity; strengthen capillaries; inhibit melanin production; prevent wrinkles; deliver oxygen to cells and protect against free-radical damage.
Odacite Marula Neroli Concentrate
I was gifted this gorgeous concentrate from The Detox Market and I couldn’t have been happier! Odacite makes beautiful serum’s that are incredible for you! I love everything from them I have ever tried – including this over-the-top hard working but super afforable gluten free concentrate. It also contains rose oil, lemon-myrtle and vitamin E for the added skin benefits. I apply this before and after long hikes or surf sessions and if my skin is especially dehydrated. It’s amazing for travel because of it’s convenient size, and the scent lingers and is totally addicting! A little goes a long, long way. I use just a few drops to cover my whole face and neck.
Tamanu Oil
Tamanu has the unique ability to promote the growth of new tissue. It’s been used for centuries on everything from troubled skin to sores, shingles, fibrosis, burns, eczema – you name it! Oil of tamanu contains three basic classes of lipids: neutral lipids, glycolipids, and phospholipids. The oil also contains a unique fatty acid called calophyllic acid, and a novel antibiotic lactone and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent called calophyllolide. These and other components of tamanu oil, including anti-inflammatory coumarins, account for some of the oil’s beneficial activity. This amazing oil has been incredible for my skin on acne, acne scars, psoriasis, and wrinkles. It accelerates wound healing, skin growth and overall it just plain makes skin look super plump and younger. It prevents up to 85% of cell damage as well, so applying Tamanu oil before I go out in the sun is a must for me!
What are some of your favorite face oils? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, DIY, Green Beauty, Hair, My Organic Life
I’m first generation mixed.
What this really means is that I have no one in my immediate family to look up to about what to do with this crazy mess of curls I call “My Hair”. Really, most days I’m like What is going on up there?! This mix of curl, kink and straight locks can be a Powerhouse to deal with even on “good hair” days. Every day environmental issues, hard water, temperature change, humidity, as well as other people using curlers, straighteners and product on it for work every day, has resulted in hair that can get dry, damaged and is prone to split ends and breakage. My remedy?
Hot Oil Treatments!
The Benefits of Hot Oil Treatment include:
- Achieving An All Natural Remedy.
- Moisture Balance.
- Treatment for dry scalp.
- Shine, body, and volume.
- Softens and nourishes hair.
- Prevents Frizz & Breakage.
- Works for any ethnicity, even straight hair.
- Especially nourishing for kinky, curly, mixed, colored or extremely damaged hair.
Oils For Thought:
Making Hot Oil:
Solar Infusing herbs is one of my favorite things to do, but it can take 2-6 weeks to infuse completely depending on how much Sun your oil is getting. It’s the most natural and cost/energy effective way to infuse your oil with the healing properties of herbs.
If you want to make an oil treatment immediately, you can
Heat Your Oil:
Take 5 tbsp. of oil and place it in a small ceramic bowl or mug. Place the small bowl or mug in the water on the stove.
Prepare Your Treatment:
- Add an extra 1 tbsp. (15 ml) of olive oil, coconut, macadamia, castor or avocado if your scalp is dry, or you have dandruff.
- Add an extra 1 tbsp. (15 ml) of jojoba oil for fungal scalp problems.
- Allow the oil to sit for a few minutes until it is warm but not hot. You do not want to burn yourself with the hot oil. Remove the oil cup with an oven mitt.
- Wait for oil to cool so that it is touchable. Massage, brush, and comb oil through the scalp using fingertips and a clean brush.
- Wrap your hair in a towel or shower cap and relax for as long as you desire. Leave in overnight for a super powerful treatment!
- Rinse with warm water and comb through with a brush. Style normally!
Have You Done A Hot Oil Treatment?
Photo Credit: groovylab
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by Tara Mackey | Beauty, Blogroll, Green Beauty, My Organic Life, Product Reviews
Cleopatra used them to enhance her beauty in harsh desert conditions. Make up artists have been sneaking it backstage since the dawn of commercial beauty. Models have been hoarding it, paying a small fortune for it. Finally, one of the best-kept secrets to healthy, glowing skin is making its way to a drugstore, and a huge online shopping experience, near you. And yet, somehow – like the rise of coconut oil, kombucha, and manuka honey – it happened overnight! I’m talking face oils; concentrated concoctions formulated with essential oils smoothed all over your face. And it’s not as crazy as you think to lather your face with the same thing dermatologist’s have been helping you get rid of for years!
The Facts About Face Oil
- The conventional wisdom that oil clogs pores, causes zits, whiteheads, blackheads and general yuckiness is rather outdated. So why the sudden obsession with using oils? Simply put, face oils are complexion perfection in a bottle. Many botanical oils, including argan, passion fruit, and African marula oils, are potent antioxidants. I already touched on my love for Jojoba Oil a little bit (see also: a lot) here.
Why Facial Oils?
- Facial oils are made up of a variety of different botanical oils, or based around a single plant-based extract (like argan, lavender or chamomile) and provide skin with powerful antioxidants and nourishing vitamins inherent in nature, and the amazing benefits of the aromatherapeutic healing properties of facial oils are a kinder, gentler alternative to traditional moisturizers.
- Not to discount them, but traditional moisturizers – the ones we find in our local drugstore – are mostly waxes and water, with a few essential oils thrown in. Waxes form an occlusive layer on the skin, which helps to hold moisture in.
There are two downsides to waxes:
- wax build up may lead to clogged pores, and the wax barrier may prevent the oil component of the cream, the part that actually benefits skin, from penetrating the surface. This is likely the reason why creams typically deliver a higher level of diminishing results over time.
- They will work at first because they help to initially hold in moisture, but as time goes on the wax barricade may prevent oils from delivering nutrients like essential fatty acids to the skin.
The Basics: Face Oil VS Moisturizer
Compared to water, wax and synthetic fragrance-based products, natural oils deliver all of the benefits with none of the downside. The stratum corneum, the top layer of skin that’s composed of dead skin cells, is held together by naturally occurring lipids (oils), and serves as your environmental protection barrier against the elements. Lipid barrier damage occurs on a daily basis, so maintaining an effective barrier requires continuous input of lipids to the skin.
Want clearer, smoother skin? Facial oil might be your best bet. They deliver these lipids straight to the skin, right where it’s needed!
So, you on board with me on this one?
Good, good!
Let’s get started!
1. Vered Botanicals: Anti-Aging Treatment Face Oil ($118)
Oh, Vered. Between beautiful, inspiring, kind Vered herself and this exquisite line of Organic, ethically sourced, therapeutic-grade essential oils and organic herbs, I am in love. Sometimes I mix this with a few drops of witch hazel and my skin is in heaven! Vered’s products are kinda pricey but for a very good reason: this is the best facial oil you’ll ever use. It seriously has a little bit of everything, and for once you’d actually pay much more to buy the raw ingredients than you do to buy the product, which means you’re really getting your monies worth! It’s a lovely scented, aromatherpeautic, beautiful oil and I feel like a goddess using it! Plus: Vered’s elegant, aesthetically pleasing, clean cut packing is to die for!
Natural Ingredients: Organic and ethnically sourced, therapy grade essential rose hips, carrot seed, borage, aragan, primrose, jasmine, rose essential oil, rosewood, vanilla, camellia, pumpkin seed, licorice, marshmallow root, calendula, plantain, lemon peel, fennel, roses.
2. Nyakio Hydrating Face Oil with Kola Nut ($49)
This came in my KidStock Goody Bag, and ever since I’ve been on the hunt for regular size versions of Nyakio! Inspired by her grandparents’ beauty secrets, Nyakio infused this lightweight oil with caffeine-rich African kola nut and African oils to reveal more youthful-looking skin. I love applying this because after I use it my hands are absolutely silky smooth! That’s how you know you’ve got a good oil! 🙂 As tiny as this sample is, I’ve only needed mere drops of the stuff and it absorbs amazingly well! It livens up my skin a lot, like I just drank a ton of water. And sometimes I just smell it for fun. 😉
Natural Ingredients: Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed oil, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Ximenia Americana Seed Oil, Trichilia Emetica Seed Butter, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Peel Oil, Castoryl Maleate, Cola Acuminata (Kola Nut) Seed Extract, Ormenis Multicaulis (Chamomile) Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Seed Extract, Sodium Palmitoyl Proline, Phenoxyethanol, Nymphaea Abla Flower Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ceramide 2.
3. Aquarian Bath’s Lavender High Altitude Essential Oil ($20)
Unlike the other oils, this is NOT to be used undiluted on your skin. It’s NOT to be used on your face directly, but I included it because I use it for things that go by my face all the time (pillows, blankets, toners). But for aromatherapy, this oil is my best kept secret because I use it for absolutely ev.er.y.thing. I put a few calming drops on my pillow every single night for amazing, restful sleep. Consequently, I brought it with me on my birthday camping trip to sprinkle on my pillow to help me fall asleep, I take it with me when I’m traveling to ease anxiety and help get better rest, I rub it on my wrists for a quick pick me up, I include it in DIY toners for a great smell and amazing skin benefits, I’ve generously added a few drops in my baths. I can’t say ENOUGH about this oil! One or two drops in ANYthing and you are guaranteed on your way to happy town! The Aromatherapy Force is strong with this one! Absolutely can’t recommend a better product of concentrated Lavender!
Natural Ingredients: Lavender Essential Oil
4. Vered Therapeutic Balancing Face Oil ($68)
Still sighing with complete love and admiration… 🙂 This Balancing face oil contains anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and was created especially for problematic, inflamed, damaged or oily skin. For those with blemish or acne-prone skin: this is a life saver! The condition of my skin has vastly improved since I’ve been using this oil, and the aroma of it is beautiful! It calms me down to use Vered’s products. It really heals and promotes normal oil secretion and balances out my skin in times of trouble. When used in combination with a toner, or mixed with some witch hazel, I find it really, truly does the job of eliminating inflammation and healing former breakout scars.
Natural Ingredients: They’re really lovely but rather long, and can be found Here 🙂
5. Raw Olive Rosehip Carrot Facial Serum ($18)
If you’re worried about scars, premature aging, or just hydrating your skin, this is the serum for you! You only need a few drops of this rosehip and carrotseed-based oil. These two essential oils protect, while promoting cell growth and nourishing skin. It also smells fantastic and it’s wonderful to add to other products if you’re making DIY cleansers or oils!
Rosehip seed oil is extremely high in essential fatty acids and is a great agent in the fight against dry, weathered, and dehydrated skin.
Natural Ingredients: Materials: organic rosehip oil, organic jojoba oil, organic olive oil, natural vitamin e, essential oils of neroli, carrot seed, rose, lavender essential oil
6. Osea Undaria Algae Oil ($38)
How exciting is this? Undaria Algae blocks the enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid in the skin, and hyaluronic acid is essential for good skin! It works by acting as a cushion and lubricant in the joints and other tissues. In addition, it affects how the body responds to injury by assisting clotting. Therefore, Undaris Algae leads to healthy, happy, glowing skin!
I want to live in this oil. Pristine, wild sourced Algae based AND 100% natural? Am I in oil heaven? I love the ladies at Osea, and their commitment to all natural products! Potent omega fatty acids minimize redness and inflammation. Vitamins A, C, and E along with hydrating sea minerals, acai and passion fruit, help repair environmentally damaged, sensitive skin and restore a healthy, natural glow.
Natural Ingredients: *Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, *Undaria Pinnatifida Extract, *Euterpe Oleracea (Acai) Pulp Oil, *Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, *Orbignea Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil, *Oriza Sativa (Rice Bran) Oil, *Passiflora Edulis (Passion Fruit) Seed Oil, *Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, *Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, *Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, *Cupressus Sempervirens (Cypress) Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
Thank you very much. I wish you the happiest, healthiest skin!!
Feel free to share your experience with facial oils with me!
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