Tuesday 18 October 2016

My Current Collection of Face Oils...

When it comes to face oils I am very fussy, this is mainly because I have had so many experiences of them breaking me out. I find that many are full of fragrances and are high in essential oils which tend to cause a reaction on me, causing small red spots and under the skin lumps. Not pleasant! Nowadays I usually go for high quality face oils that are full of natural ingredients as opposed to ones packed with fragrance and carrier oils, which surprisingly even some expensive brands use. Proving that expense doesn’t always mean quality.

Before I purchase a face oil these days I make sure I research the ingredients and try to go for 100% natural, unless I’ve heard lots of rave reviews then usually my intrigue gets the better of me! The oils listed below are the ones I currently have in my stash (not all successful purchases) and in fact I have learnt a lot from these, I think they have influenced my choices going forward. I do have a couple of other new ones that I am loving and currently trialling so will review these in due course.

Usually I would use oils nightly in between my serum and moisturiser but recently I have started incorporating oils into my morning routine. After serum in the morning and either using more drops than usual in place of a moisturiser or using around 3 drops and applying a light layering of moisturiser after. I have seen such positive result using oils and like using different ones to target different issues, I have seen them help reduce blemishes, deeply hydrate yet balance the oil production in my skin and over time even out any areas of pigmentation.


The below oils are the ones I have in my current collection….


Pai Rosehip Biodegenerate Fruit and Seed Oil Blend- £22.00 from Pai Skincare

This oil is a fairly new purchase for me, it has been raved about a lot within the beauty community but I have always been reluctant to buy because I have had bad experiences with rose as an ingredient before. I think its rose oil that’s been a problem for me which is different to rosehip oil in the sense that one comes from the actual rose petals and the other comes from rose hips which are the fruit of the rose plant. The oil from the rose petals are very highly perfumed which is why I think it causes a reaction on my skin.

This oil is unique in that it uses concentrated fruit hip oil with twice the regenerative sterols (which apparently have benefits to the immune system) and five times the caretonoids of seed oil and is rich in concentrated trans-retonoic acid which is an essential fuel for the skin’s natural repair function, delivering pro-vitamin A to the skin without causing irritation. I can confirm happily that this is the case, I have had absolutely no reaction to this at all. Apparently this particular oil is the most concentrated rosehip oil on the market today, premium CO2 supercritical extraction delivers the complete and concentrated properties of the plant, making this oil more powerful than any other simple cold pressed rosehip oils.

Now all of this information is well and good but the important part is whether it actually works or does anything beneficial. The first thing I noticed about this oil is obviously the bright orange colour! I was concerned that I would turn out looking like a tangerine/oompa loompa but after massaging in a few drops it does disappear from the skin and your left with super glowy skin! FYI it doesn’t really seem to smell of anything, kind of like herbal tea!

I did seem to get a couple of spots after the first few uses but I think this is fairly normal as it contains vitamin A which is commonly known as retinol in it’s over the counter form. After this the breakout subsided and I was left with clear skin.  I have continued to use this oil on nearly a daily basis as I love the light texture, it’s non sticky/non greasy and easy to massage in and I have found that it has really helped my skin when going through a breakout phase. It leaves my skin feeling well-nourished and hydrated without causing excessive oiliness which is isn't what I was expecting. Definitely do not rule this oil out if you are oily or acne prone as I really believe it would be beneficial for you, it balances excess sebum and really works wonders on blemishes.

Another good point to mention is rosehip oil is excellent for scarring and I have noticed that some scars I had from past blemishes have significantly faded and I believe it’s down to all the rosehip that I have been putting on my skin! I think most skin types will see great results from this oil and think it’s perfect for especially around this time of year! At £22 this is excellent value as it will last a long time, it’s a fantastic product worth buying. I will repurchase this for sure.

Ingredients:
Rosa Canina Seed Extract* - Rosehip CO2 Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract* - Rosehip CO2 Fruit Extract, Tocopherol - Natural Vitamin E, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract* - Rosemary Extract (Anti-Oxidant)



Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate - £37.00 from Kiehls

After singing the praises of the Pai oil I have to say this next oil is a thumbs down for me. I had such high expectations of the Kiehls Midnight Recovery. I think it’s because it’s a such a highly coveted oil which so many people love, not mention the numerous awards its won. But unfortunately it just hasn’t worked for me.

Let’s start with some of the main ingredients, these are Evening Primrose which helps boost radiance, Lavender essential oil which helps soothe inflamed and irritated skin and provide a more even/brighter look and finally Squalene which is a botanical lipid that is similar in molecular structure to the skin’s natural lipids, easily absorbed and helps restore moisture balance. All of this sounds fantastic but I was wary of the essential oil aspect because as previously mentioned my skin doesn’t always agree with products that have a high essential oil content.

The oil itself is clear and quite runny, I absolutely loved the smell (very relaxing and soothing) but found that when applied over serums it would cause peeling. This is a big pet hate of mine. I tried it over numerous serums and it still had the same effect. My skin did feel nice when applied, but I didn’t see a noticeable change in how my skin looked upon application, like I have with the other oils mentioned in this post.

Due to the name I was expecting to wake up to a radiant restful complexion but found this wasn’t the case. Overnight I developed some whitehead spots which is usually a tell-tale sign for me that the product isn’t suited for my skin, as my skin is very reactive. Despite this I persevered but every time I used it I always awoke with troublesome skin, and gradually my skin got more congested. I definitely put this down to the fragrant oils that seem to load this product. There are some very purifying oils in there - coriander, lavender and rosemary are notorious for presenting irritation. So for the price I personally wouldn’t recommend this, there are so many other lovely natural facial oils that have better ingredients! Definitely consider your skin type before purchasing this as I don’t think it would suit sensitive skins. Or at least carry out a patch test which is what I failed to do myself! You live and learn!

Ingredients:
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Squalane, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Coriander Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Lavender Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Linalool, Rosemary Leaf Oil, Citronellol, Geraniol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Cucumber Fruit Extract, Turmeric Root Extract, Limonene, Citral, Sclareolide, Rose Flower Oil, Jasmine Extract, Sunflower Seed Oil


Nude Progenius Rescue Oil – £58.00 from Space NK

Firstly, I purchased this in a sample size from eBay as I wanted to try it but didn’t want to fork out on £58 before knowing if I liked it. I am so glad I did as this bottle lasts a while and gives you a decent amount so you can really decide if it’s for you. This is my second small bottle, they are so portable and ideal for not taking up too much space!

What I like about this oil is the texture, it’s extremely lightweight (almost water like) so perfect for the summer months and times when you don’t want to feel overloaded with product. The formula contains bakuchiol which is natures answer to retinol, this really interested me as I am wanting to dabble in anti-ageing products without the use of harsh chemicals or ingredients. Prescription medication is absolutely a no no for me, but each to their own! I would much rather go down a natural route that has less side effects etc. So this is where Nude’s Progenius rescue oil comes in. It helps repair and refine skin’s texture using purifying coleus root and organic rosemary extracts which clarify the skin and antioxidants provides protection against environmental aggressors.

Nude’s statement is that they are ‘beautiful without’ – parabens, sulphates, PEGs, TEA, DEA, Proylene Glycol, Phthalates, Petrolatum, Synthetic colour, Synthetic fragrance, mineral oil and silicones. Sounds exactly what my sensitive skin would love! And it does. Although there are some purifying ingredients in this it does seem to calm skin, reduce blemishes and prevent breakouts without causing irritation. I put this down to the quality of ingredients.

I personally wouldn’t use this oil every day or on the days that I exfoliate, just because I wouldn’t want my skin to freak out (due to the bakuchiol) but this is perfect for 2-3 times a week to brighten the complexion and clarify. I have used this under my moisturiser in the mornings because of how sheer and super-fast absorbing it is, but generally would recommend this as a night treatment.  Over time I think you would see that it creates smoother skin and reduces pore size, but because I don’t use this regularly enough I can’t comment too much on that. Also it’s worth mentioning that it’s all natural, vegan and cruelty free and is recommended for all skin types - although I wouldn’t rely on this oil to hydrate as I would say it’s more of a ‘dry oil’ as opposed to a typical face oil. But if you’re looking for something a little different and perhaps more ‘natural’ than Sunday Riley’s Luna then I would definitely check this out!

Ingredients:
Inca Gold Oil, Rosehip Seeds, Safflower Seed oil, Bakuchiol, Thyme leaf extract, papaya extract, hibiscus flower extract, jojoba oil, sunflower seed oil, citronellol, linalool, isoamyl laurate, fragrance (parfum), squalene, coleus root extract, Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary leaf extract), carrot root extract, macrocystis pyrifera extract, rose canina fruit extract, citral, limonene



Balmology Rose Beauty Oil - £30.00 from Balmology

I won’t go into too much detail with this oil as I have already recently reviewed it, see here - http://www.blushandsage.co.uk/2016/10/best-of-natural-skincarebalmology.html but I have to say it’s one of my most favourite discoveries! I love how super nourishing this is without ever causing me to breakout. The ingredient list is delightful and it smells incredible!

I’ve been using this almost nightly usually either on its own (using 1 full pump) or using half a pump and applying a light moisturiser over the top. There is something so comforting about the scent and you can really give a good massage with this oil. I’ve also enjoyed applying this to my décolletage as it’s so beautiful. I may even start adding it to my body creams or just applying it alone after the showering….

I love the ethics behind this brand and the customer service is second to none. I urge you to invest!

Ingredients:
Argania spinosa kernel (argan) oil*, Macadamia ternifolia (macadamia) oil*, Corylus avellana (hazelnut) oil*, Rosa canina (rosehip) oil*, Persea gratissima (avocado) oil*, Tocopherol, Cymbopogon martini (palmarosa)*, Pelargonium graveolens roseum (geranium bourbon)*, Boswellia carterii (frankincense)*, Rosa damascena (rose otto)*, citral**, citronellol**, eugenol**, farnesol**, geraniol**, limonene**, linalool**.
*Certified Organic. **Naturally occurring in essential oils.
 Made with 99% certified organic ingredients.

What are your favourite face oils and have you tried any of the ones I’ve listed?

Thanks for reading xx













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