Mother Nature never fails us – by using her gifts as nature intended, we have a wonderful opportunity to achieve naturally-beautiful perfection. There are very few ‘natural’ skincare products available to us at a price we can afford which can truly be described as ‘natural’. They have either been heat-treated or had ingredients added to them which may be well-known irritants, toxins or parabens.
The joy of using natural ingredients is the certainty that they contain all of the essential vitamins that your skin needs. By using facial oils they take your skincare routine to a new level and results are often seen immediately.
As oils are Mother Nature’s precious gift to us it would be a real shame not to fully explore the benefits of using facial oils in place of creams crammed full of toxins and unnatural chemicals which may be doing untold, long-term damage to our precious skin.
We have listed below a small selection of the interesting or unusual oils which are often used in our personalised facial serum blends. We do not, however, add any essential (aromatherapy) oils into the mix, relying simply on the healing properties from each carefully-selected oil.
Borage Seed Oil –
Borago officinalis
Pressed from the seeds of the beautiful Borage plant, Borage Seed Oil has the highest concentration of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) naturally found, higher than in any other plant source! GLA is an Omega-6 fatty acid, an essential fatty acid. Omega-6 fatty acids cannot be produced in our bodies but must be obtained from food sources. Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are vital for healthy brain function, metabolism and for bones, hair and skin growth. It has been widely studied for its ability to calm and reduce inflammation, and has been used with positive results for many different skin disorders, such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, rosacea and prematurely-aged skin.
Extraction – Cold Pressed/Unrefined
Shelf life – 3-6 months
Hemp Seed Oil –
Cannabis sativa
This exceptionally-rich oil is high in essential omega fatty acids and proteins, a deep green colour and a wonderful aroma of nuts. Hemp Seed Oil is anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing, an excellent choice to help balance dry skin, fight skin inflammations and help to heal skin lesions. Hemp Seed Oil if bursting with anti-oxidants and contains moisture-balancing properties. As the oil is not greasy and readily absorbs into the pores, it is an excellent choice for those looking for rejuvenating and moisturizing properties to feed their facial skin. The vitamins and minerals present in Hemp Seed Oil are easily absorbed through the skin, resulting in a more vitamin- and mineral-enriched tonic.
Extraction – Cold Pressed/Unrefined
Shelf life – 8 months
Macadamia Nut Oil –
Macadamia integrifolia
A superb protective oil with a high absorption rate, this beautiful fine oil comes from the pressed nuts of the Macadamia tree. It is a priceless delight for the skin and has proven itself to be one of the best regenerative oils available. It is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, and closely resembles sebum (the oil naturally produced by ones skin to help protect it), with an added bonus of it having been used successfully as a healing oil for scars, sunburns, minor wounds and other skin irritations.
Extraction – Expeller Pressed/Unrefined
Shelf life – 10-12 months
Rosehip Seed Oil –
Rosa rubiginosa
A rich, amber-coloured oil from the ripened fruit of the famed Rosehip, which is also known as Rosa Mosqueta, ithis is the perfect oil for reducing scarring. This unique oil is very high in essential fatty acids and is used widely in preparation to help treat crinkly laughter lines (the “W” word is banned here!) and prematurely-ageing skin. A truly delightful, light oil which soaks straight into your skin leaving no hint of a sheen.
Extraction – Cold Pressed/Unrefined
Shelf life – 10-12 months
Safflower Oil –
Carthamus tinctorius
A super moisturising oil with some 78% Oleic acids, this is an excellent base oil for specialist skincare preparations. With its deep, soothing properties, it is often the first port of call for those looking to treat their skin to natural delights.
Extraction – Expeller Pressed/Refined
Shelf life – 1 year
We also use selected macerated oils, harnessing the power of flowers steeped in a vegetable oil for a few weeks which gives a perfumed, added dimension of the plants’ medicinal properties to our facial oil blends. Two of our favourites are:
Calendula (Macerated) Oil
With such gentle, cooling and soothing properties, Calendula (Macerated) Oil is a perfect oil for those of us who suffer with dry, damaged or inflamed skin and is also gentle enough to be used in baby preparations. Calendula Oil can be used in preparations for acne, inflammation and soothing irritated skin.
Rose Petal (Macerated) Oil
The name alone evokes a deep sense of serenity and love. Rose Petal (Macerate) Oil is an excellent choice for dry, mature skin but it is also a beautifully-cooling and mildy-astringent oil with a delicate, dreamy scent to add a touch of luxury to any blend.
NB. All of our bottles are PET recyclable blue plastic bottles.