The thought of slathering oil onto our skin and hair is probably going to bring the feeling of disgust to a lot of us – especially for those with oily skin. Many people associate applying oil onto skin with breakouts; and onto hair with greasy scalp.
But guess what? Oils (the right type), can actually be beneficial to skin and hair, and has been a proven beauty staple for thousands of years – the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans have been great adopters of this. While this may sound counterintuitive, but hey, oil can help balance and nourish skin and hair.
Those of us who paid attention during Chemistry lessons may remember that oil removes oil. Problems like clogged pores enlarged pores (caused by clogged pores), dull skin and acne (also caused by clogged pores) are often caused by a layer of sebum that’s naturally produced by your skin and later oxidised and solidify.
If you want clearer and healthier skin? Then you probably have to start considering using oil to remove it so that new, radiant skin can be revealed.
Here, we tell you what oily goodies you should be including in your stash and why, as well as products that we’ve found to be liquid gold.
Hair oil
What do you do to take care of your hair? Shampoo? Conditioner? How about adding a hair oil to your regime for an additional booster?
The goodness of oil doesn’t only stop at nourishing skin, it nourishes hair too. And there are so many ways and benefits of using hair oil:
- Before you shower to protect hair from the harshness of shampoo and the action of shampooing
- After you shower and before you blowdry your hair to act as a heat protectant
- Before you step out of the house to give it a glossy finish
- Before jumping into the pool to protect hair from chlorine and UV rays
- Add it into hair mask to make the formula even more nourishing
Try: L’Oreal Paris Extraordinary Oil
The new Extraordinary Oil from L’Oreal Paris is one that we’ve recently fallen in love with. Formulated with six different floral oils, this hair oil is sweet-smelling and doesn’t leave a greasy sensation on the hands as well. In fact, just moments after application, you can run a blotting paper over your hair and you’d notice that it is fully absorbed and doesn’t leave any greasy residue on your hair. Your hair will feel smoother and softer immediately, and you’ll find that it becomes much easier to manage. This retails at SGD23.90, which is really affordable, compared to other hair oils I’ve tried.
How to use: Dispense one to two pumps of Extraordinary Oil onto your palm. Rub your palms together to warm up the formula. Run it through the ends of your hair. Avoid the scalp.
Serum in oil form
If you’re looking for a hydrating and soothing serum, consider an oil. Those that contains essential oils, for instance, are great for giving targeted treatment while providing you with an sensorial experience.
Try: Decleor Hydra Floral Aromaessence Neroli
The new Aromaessence from Decleor, from the Hydra Floral range, doesn’t just provide hydration, but also has anti-pollution, anti-free radicals, anti-UV and anti-internal imbalances properties. Coupled with the light cream and facial massage techniques, this naturally-scented oil doesn’t just soothe the skin but also calms your nerves. Don’t be afraid of the oil clogging your skin or giving you breakouts, because you can hardly feel the grease seconds after you apply it.
How to use: Dispense just one to two drops of the serum onto palm and warm it up by rubbing palms together. Take three deep breaths into your palms to take in the scent of the essential oils. Then, apply it lightly all over your face.
Cleansing oil
A cleansing oil is a great product to go for if you don’t want to dry out your skin. Unlike cleansing foam that can strip your skin of its natural moisture, an oil will have great affinity with oil, so it will only remove excess sebum,
as well as makeup and other impurities.
Try: Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil
The Bobbi Brown Soothing Cleansing Oil is formulated with jasmine flower extract, kukui nut oil, Italian olive, organic sunflower and jojoba oils – all of them known for their soothing and nourishing properties, as well as high antioxidant content. You can use this to remove makeup at the end of the day, and also as a cleanser to perk skin up in the morning.
How to use: Dispense about a pump onto dry palms and apply onto dry face. Wet your hands and then massage over the oil to emulsify it. When it has turned into a milky lotion, rinse off.
Oil moisturiser
You can also invest in an all-rounder oil moisturiser that does more than just taking care of one part of the body. Many beauty olive oils are great for the face, body, nails and hair. You can also add a few drops of it to your bath water to make your bath time more nourishing for you.
Try: Olivella Moisturising Oil
The Moisturising Oil from Olivella has a natural tinge of yellowish-green because it uses 100% virgin olive oil. Olive oil has been used by ancient civilisation for the longest time because of its natural benefits including vitamin E and antioxidant properties. End your regime off with the Olivella Moisturising Oil, apply it onto your nails and cuticles or onto dry areas like the elbows and knees, and you’d notice your skin look more supple and rid of dryness (evident from a slightly more white appearance, or flakiness).
