body care ·
haircare ·
skincare
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The Best of Beauty: Oil Based Products
Sunday 10 September 2017
Up until this year I must admit I wasn't keen on oil-based products - I expected them to leave my hair/skin/body feeling greasy which I obviously didn't want. However, after my multiple operations in June this year, my skin, hair, nails, pretty much everything was so, so dry, because I couldn't bathe properly, and as a bath lover, my skin is used to bath oils, bubble baths and moisturising shower gels, so along with trying to repair my body from surgery, my skin and hair was a dry mess. I started using oil based products to try and repair my skin and hair, and they worked so effectively, without leaving my skin greasy feeling, and that's when my love affair with oil based beauty products began. Here are some of my favourites...
Starting with the Paul Mitchell Marula Oil collection, we have the Marula Oil Rare Oil Perfecting Hairspray (£22.95), in stunning white packaging, this is a flexible, layering hairspray which replenishes the hair whilst it holds it in place. It's great for locking out frizz and humidity and leaves a natural, touchable finish rather than a sticky, hard mess, making it a great holiday companion.
Next from the Marula Oil collection is the Rare Oil 3-in-1 Styling Cream (£29.95), a multi-tasking styling cream which instantly smoothes, fights frizz and helps to seal in split ends whilst it styles the hair. All you need is just a pea-sized amount applied to damp hair and then blow dry to create a soft hold with beautiful shine and it feels super lightweight even on my fine hair.
So you've heard of foundation primers, well now there's a primer for your hair! This is the Rare Oil Style Extending Primer (£29.95), a primer spray which creates a foundation and extends the life of your style as it conditions and protects the hair. It too has a lightweight feel to it and it also forms a humidity-resistant shield for long-lasting style, so again perfect for warmer climates. As an added bonus it also smoothes and adds shine to the hair to give you a perfect blowdry.
Onto one of my favourite brands at the moment, Palmers with their Olive Oil Formula Dry Oil Mist (£6.99). This is a weightless dry oil which gives a sheer veil of moisture to the hair, creating a protective layer and leaving the hair with a glossy sheen. It contains a blend of Amla, Argan and Grape Seed Oils to help protect the hair from styling tools and also battle frizz, whilst Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Vitamin E instantly restore moisture into the hair. As mentioned I have quite fine hair, and this doesn't make my hair greasy or oily in the slightest.
Crabtree & Evelyn now do their amazing hand creams in a much larger pump bottle and here I have the Pomegranate & Argan Oil Nourishing Hand Therapy (£23). This hand cram has a rich and nourishing Shea Butter and Ceramide formula which is enhanced with the anti-oxidant goodness of Moroccan Argan Oil to nurture and protect, lightly sealing the skin with moisture. The fragrance contains warm Mediterranean notes of Orange, Pomegranate and sweet Fig mingled with the hear of Ginger and Black Pepper to leave the skin beautifully scented and feeling amazing!
My first bath after my operations contained allllllll the oils, including the Burt's Bees Lemon & Vitamin E Bath & Body Oil (£9.99). This is such a delightful and indulgent natural bath oil, made from pure, concentrated plant-based essential oils and vitamins like lemon, sweet almond and vitamin E for super moisturisation and suppleness to give you the most heavenly soft skin, with no greasiness in sight! It smells divine and really is such an amazing bath treat, and at such an excellent price too.
If you have any end-of-year holidays abroad coming up, well firstly, lucky you! Secondly, I would absolutely recommend the Institut Esthederm Sun Care Oil (£42.50). This is the ultimate way to protect and condition both the skin and hair whilst in warmer climates. It is lightweight and water-resistant so there's no need to have to worry when going in the pool, and it leaves no traces of grease or white residue like from many suncare products. This absorbs super quickly and also optimises cells' natural tanning processes to give a gorgeous, golden glow! You only have to apply it 20 minutes before going out into the sun, and once your holiday is over, it can be used all year round as a dry oil to nourish and add a delicate scent to the skin and hair.
Another wonder product is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream All-Over Miracle Oil (£29). This oil formulation of the cult Eight Hour Cream can be used on the face, body and hair, being a luxurious head-to-toe moisturising and conditioning treatment. It is clinically proven to moisturise for 8-12 hours and is so easy to use with it's pump spray applicator. The Miracle Oil is delicately scented with a light, citrus floral fragrance which helps promote a sense of well-being, and is such a delight to use.
I would never normally think to look to a shaving brand for a body oil, but here we have the Shaveworks Pearl Polish Dual Action Body Oil (£28), a gentle cleanser and luxurious shave oil that reduces irritation whilst providing a long-lasting shaving lather. It is suitable for use all over the body and leaves the face, legs, chest and anywhere else you like to shave super soft and well nourished. A product both men and women can share in the bathroom, unless you want to keep it all for yourself!
A product which I think will make the most perfect Christmas gift is the Ark Skincare Body Beautiful Conditioning Oil (£35). This beauty can be used in three different ways: as a body/massage oil, as a bath oil or as a hair oil, and I love a multi-use product! This is a rich, silky conditioning oil to balance the body and mind, which contains a trio of 100% natural oils for maximum skin benefits and a 100% natural fragrance which contains over 25 essential oils, this really is the best of the best and it also contains a pump for easy use!
My final body oil-based body products ends with one of my favourite high-street brands, Palmers. Here we have the Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil Rosehip Fragrance (£5.99). This is a multi-purpose skin product which can be used all over the body and face, and improves the skin penetration and absorption, whilst aiding the appearance of scars, stretch marks, dry, damaged skin, uneven skin tone, ageing skin and fine lines and wrinkles! It doesn't leave the skin feeling greasy whatsoever, and dries super quickly, which I love as I hate standing around waiting for lotions and potions to dry especially when the weather gets colder! Brrrr! This is also available in a spray formula, which makes a great holiday accompaniment.
I first discovered the DHC Olive Virgin Cotton Swabs (£6.75) at least a couple of years ago now and I have used them every single day since when I have worn makeup, they are absolutely genius! As I have hooded eyelids, I get mascara on my lids every single application, and I used to have to use a cotton bud and an eye makeup remover every single time, which could be messy and time consuming. However, with these, all I need to do is take one out of the wrapper and wipe away any eyeshadow fallout or mascara remains! It is so easy, and the oil nourishes the skin, and I always have backups for when I run out!
Onto the face, and starting with the Sukin Restoring Argan Oil (£14.95). This is a facial oil which has been created using a 100% natural blend of coveted Argan Oil, with Maracuja Oil, Rosehip Oil and Jojoba Oil to replenish and soften the complexion. It is rich in essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins, giving you the ultimate facial treat and comes with a pipette dropper applicator ensuring you only use the amount of product you need each time.
I find cleansing oils remove my makeup far better than regular cleansers, just like the nspa Deep Cleansing Facial Oil (£6). This nourishing cleansing oil is super easy to use, I just pop it on with a cotton pad, and it removes makeup so easily! It has a non-greasy texture and melts away even heavy eye makeup, whilst leaving the skin super moisturised and cared for. At just £6, this is definitely one of the best value cleansing oils on the market, and well worth a try! It has a pump applicator, which again makes it super easy to use the right amount without oil going everywhere!
Another beautiful cleansing oil is the Burt's Bees Cleansing Oil with Coconut & Argan Oils (£16.99). It is slightly more expensive, but certainly still extremely reasonable for the quality of the product. This Facial Cleansing Oil is formulated with a blend of natural moisturisers, including coconut and argan oils, which combine to help keep the skin soft, clean and well nourished. Again, it removes makeup so quickly and effortlessly, ensuring you don't have to rub or tug on the skin, keeping it well protected and not at all oily or greasy.
Moving on, we have the Sukin Nourishing Chia Seed Oil (£14.95). This is a daily face elixir harnessing the omega fatty acid potency of chia seed oil. Rich in the perfect balance of Omega 3 and 6, Chia Seed Oil imparts so much goodness to the skin, including minerals, antioxidants and amino acids to help minimise the appearance of fine lines, and reinforce the skin's moisture barrier. Just like with the Sukin Restoring Argan Oil, this two comes with a pipette dropper applicator, making it so easy to use and include in your skincare routine.
Back to one of my favourite brands, DHC, we have the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (£12.50). Again, this is such great value, for such a quality product which is full of natural ingredients. DHC Deep Cleansing Oil removes all traces of dirt and makeup, even heavy eye makeup, whilst nourishing your complexion with antioxidant-rich olive oil. You can apply it straight onto the face, and then you can add water to turn it into a milky, vitamin-rich emulsion which rinses clean, leaving your skin super soft and well cared for.
My last oil-based beauty I have to share with you is the nspa Nourishing Facial Oil (£7). This has been formulated using age-defying ingredients to help reduce the first signs of ageing for a smoother, firmer complexion. Enriched with Argan Oil, this nourishing, yet quickly absorbed facial oil helps to restore radiance to the skin for a healthy glow. Facial Oils can be used on a daily basis, or if your skin isn't overly dry or damaged, they can just be used as a treat when you feel in need of it.
Remember, starting with the skin is the most important thing when it comes to beauty and makeup, because without a good base, it's hard to create a masterpiece.
All the Loves,
Kathryn x
*This post contains PR samples, but all views are my own