Beauty oil for every season

I love face, body and hair oils. My skin is temperamental though, so I can’t use the same beauty oil throughout the year… here are a few of my favourite oils for every season.

A beauty oil for every season

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse multi purpose dry oil

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse beauty oil

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil has cult status. It’s well deserved. I first tried it in 2014, and I am still a fan. Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse is a cocktail of 7 precious 100% botanical origin oils namely Tsubaki, Argan, Macadamia, Borage, Camellia, Hazelnut and Sweet Almond. This Omega rich oil nourishes, replenishes and beautifies the skin of your face, body and hair.  It provides long-lasting hydration and strengthens the skin’s barrier.  Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse absorbs almost instantly, gives your skin a healthy glow and it smells amazing. It is a pricey one, but if I could, I would use it every day from top to toe. It really is that good.

SKNlogic Omega Face Oil

SKNlogic Omega Face Oil

The SKNlogic Omega Face Oil is a superstar product that contains Omega 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9. It contains 9 different oils with natural cholesterols and ceramides that aid in improving barrier function. It also contains a powerful antioxidant blend of Vitamin C & E. It is lightweight, non-greasy and feels like a dry oil as it absorbs almost instantly. It is perfect for all skin types including compromised and sensitive skin. It can be used on its own or mixed with your moisturiser. I think this beauty oil is going to be a winner for me in summer as it’s not heavy at all. It also gives fantastic slip for facial massage and works like a bomb with a Gua Sha.

Raw Beauty Afriglow Multi-use Illuminating Dry Oil

Raw Beauty Afriglow Multi-use Illuminating Dry Oil

I got an awesome Instagram notification on Mother’s Day… I won a giveaway! Thank you again Flowers & Leaves . Included in the selfcare hamper, was an Afriglow dry oil. I was so excited… until I opened the bottle. The oil was most definitely illuminating. The rose gold serum oil looked extremely intimidating. Especially if you are as pale as I am. The bottle was staring at me for about two weeks, but as I don’t like to be wasteful, I decided to give it a try. The website stated that you can add a few drops to your foundation and apply your make-up as usual. HOLY COW! Holy grail older gals! The base is Squalane oil which is a bio-identical luxurious skin-nurturing oil.  It therefore doubles as a skincare serum.  It absorbs instantly and leaves a satin glow finish. This is a magic potion that truly gives a beautiful glow. I am weary of the word ‘glow’ as it often means oily for me. But this super lightweight oil gave my older, dull-looking skin, a beauty boost that it most definitely needs. When I use it, my skin looks bright and dewy, and I get complimented non-stop. It’s a must for winter. I hope that it performs just as well in summer as my skin tends to get oily in warmer months. Fingers crossed. PS It looks great on the body, but I am too stingy to waste a single drop. Well done Raw Beauty. WELL DONE. Afriglow is an extremely lightweight ‘dry’ oil,  allowing it to be enjoyed by all skin types as it leaves no greasy residue.  They say this rose gold serum blends into all skin types leaving behind a beautiful dewy glow.

Let’s not forget the natural oils…

Castor Oil

SOil castor oil

What can I say… castor oil is a gift from nature. This golden elixir deserves all the attention it has been getting lately.  Castor oil is rich in ricinoleic acid, a rare compound renowned for its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. It hydrates, calms, soothes and leaves your skin feeling and looking its best. Castor oil is a deeply penetrating oil, and that’s where the magic lies. It’s not just amazing for your skin; it even offers relief from conditions like arthritis, muscle pain, and inflammation. Castor oil has so many benefits and it’s a must-have health and beauty oil for all over. I’ve been using SOil Organic Aromatherapy’s Castor Oil for a few months now and I am hooked. Mixed with SOil Organic Aromatherapy’s Jojoba Oil and Frankincencse, it makes a beautiful serum that’s being raved about all over social media.

Jojoba Oil

Flowers & Leaves Jojoba oil

I have been using Flowers & Leaves’ Jojoba Oil since the beginning of winter and it has turned out to be a godsend. I’m actually a bit sad that I didn’t realise sooner how amazing this oil is. Jojoba Oil isn’t actually an oil at all… it’s a liquid wax that is almost identical to the composition of the natural oils that our skins produce. Who knew?! What I do know is that Jojoba Oil is loved by my skin (and hair and nails). It absorbs beautifully and leaves my skin feeling deeply hydrated.  It not only hydrates and moisturises, it also soothes sensitive skin, protects the skin barrier, is non-comedogenic, and it works well with all skin types. It is a must if you suffer from dry, itchy scalp. I’ve also read that it may promote collagen production, minimise fine lines and wrinkles, minimise the appearance of scars, and so much more. Jojoba oil is a 10/10 oil.

xoxo

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