Alberta Co-op Grocery

Grapeseed Oil for the Skin

Posted April 28th, 2010

As a teen battling acne, I was deathly afraid of any skin care product containing oil.  Oil equaled acne, as far as I was concerned.  Everything I put on my face had the opposite effect: dry, dry, kill, and dry.  Which, when you are a teen prone to oily skin, does not seem to matter much.  Ten years later, as I approach thirty, it is a whole different story.  Now, I have a wonderful mix of dry skin that still breaks out and I’m starting to see little lines on my forehead.  Acne, dry skin, and wrinkles…is that what they mean by “combination skin”?!  Reluctantly, I have started to use products that do not dry up my skin and I have even started putting (gulp) oil directly on my face.  Once I got over the fear, I was pleased to discover that grapeseed oil might be just what my skin needs.  I picked up a bottle of the Aura Cacia oil at the Co-op, and it claims to “restore balance and firmness to combination and oily skin”.  I did some research and I found that it contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants.  Antioxidants slow the aging process and have an anti-inflammatory effect, which prevents pore clogging, and helps clear up acne!  In addition, grapeseed oil contains linoleic, palmitic, and stearic fatty acids, which are essential for the health of skin and cell membranes.  It appears that grapeseed oil is the perfect moisturizer and toner for someone with my kind of skin.  And, to my pleasant surprise, putting oil directly on my skin has not made my breakouts worse, it has actually reduced redness and dryness, and because grapeseed oil is light and absorbs quickly, my skin does not have a greasy feel.

Suggestions for topical application:

• Mix 2 drops of either lavender or clove oil(both good for acne or red, sensitive skin) with 30 ml of grapeseed oil and apply to face with a cotton ball.
• Use as a massage oil with your favorite essential oil (eucalyptus is great for massage)
• Add a little to your bath along with your favorite soap or essential oil to moisturize your entire body.

Tags: oil, skin care
Posted in Wellness