If you read the post about the absolute devotion I profess for coconut oil, you would take that I have a thing for natural ointments and that, if they get on well with my skin type, my loyalty is 100% guaranteed.

With age, I have discovered that the more natural and simple products I  use as part of my skincare routine, the better my skin looks. I would love to own every single it-product of cult brands such as Sisley or La Prairie, but even if  I could afford to base my skin care routine on luxury cosmetics, I would not discard these natural oils from my bathroom cabinet because they are now part of my everyday skin care rituals.

4 natural oils I use in my facial skin care routine

Grapeseed oil:

I have been religiously using grapeseed oil for several months now; every night as a leave-in serum, as an after-sun treatment and in the morning after my moisturiser when I feel it needs an extra dose of nourishment and hydration.

What I love about grapeseed oil is that not only is it a wonderful moisturiser which suits sensitive skin types, but, because of its high contents in healthy fatty acids and vitamin E, it is also a great ally to have to combat the free radicals our skin is exposed to on an everyday basis. Another aspect I love about grapeseed oil is that it does not make my skin break-out. I have combination skin and even when using grapeseed oil up to three times a day and have not seen any blemishes popping up. I think subtlety is key and there is no need to overuse it. I only pour a few drops in the palm of my hand, rub them and apply it on my face patting it in, including the eye contour area. Grapeseed oil is non-comedogenic, which means it does not clog your pores. I must say that, so far, it has been great for me. Another extra bonus? it is rather inexpensive so there you have it: a natural oil which ticks all the right boxes. There are some natural skincare brands which have grapeseed oil amongst their stock of products so there is plenty to choose from. My advice would be to use a certified organic oil.

Rosehip oil:

Another of my cult products. I would say that coconut oil, grapeseed oil and rosehip oil constitute the dream team of my skincare routine. I use 100% organic, cold-pressed rosehip oil at night time in conjunction with grapeseed oil and I am quite happy with the results so far. Rosehip oil helps replenish and nourish my skin so I think it is a great combination when used with a natural, light moisturiser such as grapeseed oil. Rosehip oil is also commonly used to prevent stretch marks and to improve the overall elasticity of your skin, so it works wonders as a natural body moisturiser.

Marula oil:

I use Marula oil when my skin is in need of a hydration boost.  I love how it leaves my skin feeling supple and plumpy. If you have not heard of Marula oil before and want to look for factual information, you can find loads of articles about it all over the web. I did so and decided to see for myself how it worked on my skin. So far, I have not incorporated it into my everyday routine and have been using it once a week or every two weeks as a sort of skin treat and, judging by how my skin looks after applying it, Marula oil is just right for it. Aside from its use as a facial skin care, Marula oil is also often used to moisturise and soften your hair, though I have not tried it yet. Stay tuned, though 🙂

Castor oil:

I had heard about how castor oil was used in cosmetic formulas to enhance the appearance of eyelashes and help with their growth. Castor oil is high in Vitamin E, minerals, proteins, Omega 6 and other healthy fatty acids which make it a good option for treating skin and hair. Though I have not used it primarily for skincare, I do apply it under my eyes as a natural eye contour cream and use it on my lashes too. I rub a few drops on my eyelids and use it as an overnight leave-in treatment. One thing I still have to get used to is the consistency of this oil, much thicker and viscous than the other oils I use. I am also experimenting with castor oil as a hair treatment. It looks like castor oil can be applied in a number of ways, using it as a serum on its own or mixing it with other oils, such as jojoba oil or argan oil. I cannot comment on this as I am yet to try any homemade serum formulas but what I did try is simply adding a few drops of castor oil to my shampoo before washing and I did notice that my hair looked softer and less frizzy. I will be sure to update this post or publish another instalment once I get myself around experimenting with castor oil as a hair care treatment.

Have you tried any of these oils? Are you a regular user of any of them? Let me know in the comments below.

Thanks for reading!