2014: The Year of Oils

I have always been quite fond of beauty oils, but they have never really formed a big part of my beauty regimen. Last year changed that. 2014 saw amazing skin and hair oil launches and I also had the opportunity to try products that have been around for a while. I have fallen in love with so many oils that it is quite difficult to choose a clear favourite in each category so I decided to give you a round up of products that I highly recommend you give a try.

Essential-Oils

 

FACE

In the past I have been weary of facial oils as I was always worried that they would cause more oiliness and congestion, but I quickly learnt that it is not the case. Facial oils work wonders for my skin especially during the winter months as my skin can become very dull and even flaky. Change of season is particularly harsh on my skin and oils have proved to be lifesavers. Winners include Lipidol Overnight Face Oil, L’Oreal’s Age Perfect Extraordinary Oil and Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse (and yes… this oil is as good as they say). An oil that deserves a very special mention is Naturals Beauty’s Sweet Orange Wrinkle Banisher. This oil takes top spot on days that my skin is very sensitive. It is amazing and I will be making sure that I have enough of this beaut in my stash when winter comes a knockin’. This is most definitely one of my best beauty buys of 2014.

I also tried a couple oil cleansers and two really stood out: Dermalogica’s PreCleanse and Lipidol’s Cleansing Face Oil. You will note in my review of the Lipidol Cleansing Face Oil that I liked it as a pre-cleanser, but I don’t use it just for removing make-up anymore. It has proven to be a perfect morning cleanser and it works beautifully as a second cleanse. It has been a godsend on sensitive skin days and this product will be repurchased again and again.

BODY

My skin is very dry and body oils work the best to combat scaly, dull skin. Favourites of 2014 include Lipidol’s After Shower Oil and the REN Moroccan Rose Otto Ultra-Moisture Body Oil. I have recently discovered Nivea’s Firming Body Oil and I adore it! It is light, absorbs very well and does not aggravate my eczema-prone skin. It is true love, people. Well worth a go. Yet another Lipidol product that deserves 5 stars is the Lipidol Sunscreen Oil. It feels like the After Shower Oil but with an added SPF… need I say more? One of my best beauty discoveries of all time is the TanOrganic Self Tanning Oil. I am allergic to the chemicals in self-tanning products, but this organic self-tanner gives my a gorgeous tan with no negative reaction. Read my full review HERE.

HAIR

I don’t think a day has gone by that I have not used a hair oil since discovering what a major difference it has made to the condition, look and feel of my dry, chemically treated hair. To treat my hair I love to use Africa Organics Hair Treatment Oil (I love their hair care products) or good old organic coconut oil. To treat and style, INOAR Extreme Premium Oil and Moroccanoil can’t be beat. My full Moroccanoil review is on it’s way. I now understand why the brand has such a cult following. Great budget-friendly options include Dark and Lovely Amla Legend Oil and OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco (available at Foschini).

xoxo

Retailbox Hair Lust List

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I’m not really one for ‘window shopping’, but I couldn’t help lusting after quite a few goodies while browsing Retailbox lately. I am really trying my best to take better care of my hair and Retailbox is the perfect one-stop-shop.

These items make my heart skip a beat…

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Kerastase Elixir Ultime  – I’ve read a few rave reviews on this hair oil and the packaging just looks so indulgent, don’t you think? R470

L’Oréal Tendresse Shampoo and Detangling Cream. I didn’t know that L’Oréal made hair products for kids. I’m always on the lookout for products to keep Cara’s curls looking great and I’d love to give these a try. R231 and R267

Pureology Strength Cure Restorative Masque. ‘Boosts strength and reduces breakage. Helps protect colour radiance.’ Sounds like just what I need. R305

Paul Mitchell Spring Loaded Conditioner. The name just says it all. I have to try this on our curls. R275

Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo. I haven’t tried anything from this brand yet, but from what I’ve heard, this shampoo is a winner. And because its sulfate, phosphate and paraben-free, it’s gentle enough for everyday use. I want. R270

Invisibobble in Candy Pink. Just so cute. R80

Tangle Teezer. I would love to find out how the Tangle Teezer will perform with our curls. I know many say it’s a must-have, but I wonder if it’s worth the hype and the price tag? I so badly want to find out. I would love the Compact Christmas Edition for myself and a Magic Flowerpot for Cara. I mean, seriously… how cute is that? R260

Moroccanoil Curl Control Mousse. After watching the how-to video on this product’s page, this mousse has gone from my ‘want list’ to my ‘need list’. It looks like the perfect styling product for me. R290

Paul Mitchell Neuro Dry. A hairdryer is a hairdryer, right? Well, apparently not. ‘Boasting tourmaline ions for quicker drying, reduced frizz and enhanced shine, the dryer offers 2000W of power, whilst the ‘Clean Filter’ is activated by the SmartSense microchip to ensure optimum performance and efficient styling.’ I think I want to trade Cara’s neon pink dryer (that we’ve been sharing) for this one! R2 500.

xoxo