Note: Before you start reading the article, I just wanted to let you know that I am not an expert when it comes to skin. The opinions expressed here are just my personal experience. I obviously have had a positive experience using grapeseed oil but there are also those who have not. Please use it at your own discretion.
Hello everyone!
As you may know, I am super excited to finally write this post and share with you why I love Grapeseed Oil so much!
I have previously talked a couple of times about my Sensitive Acne Prone Skin on my other articles and I have mentioned how I have been having great results by Using Grapeseed Oil for Skin as a Night Serum.
I wanted to use the grapeseed oil for a good amount of time before I opened up my pie hole in excitement. Lots of self-control was exercised for this people, lots of it! I'm the type of person who has to instantly tell everyone about a product if I love it!
Well, it's been over 6 months, and I feel like I can finally give a wholesome review to my all natural alternative to night serums and all the benefits of grapeseed oil to skin.
Contents
Grapeseed Oil Key-Notes
Grapeseed Oil for Skin Results: Before and After
Today, I will be spilling all the 411 on this nature's serum for healthy skin, how I use it, as well as what it's done for my complexion!
I had perfect skin in high school, not so perfect skin pretty much all of my twenties, and finally this year my skin has made a tremendous difference! Even without makeup!
Check out my before and after!
Grapeseed Oil Results for Acne Prone Skin
Not only did I kiss acne goodbye, but the overall condition of my complexion has improved so much! I still get the occasional breakout but nothing to what it used to be!
I know that the #1 product that has changed the way my skin looks and feels is this amazing grapeseed oil! That and drinking lots of water has finally given me the healthy glow my skin once lacked.
Let's jump right into everything I have learned during these months of using the grapeseed oil as night serum.
What is Grapeseed Oil?
Technically, grapeseed oil is a byproduct of winemaking. Once the grapes are pressed, the seeds are left over. There are different ways to extract the oil from the seeds but when it comes to cosmetic purposes, cold pressed extracted is the best.
Cold pressed is actually the best because the oil is more active, since it hasn’t been heated, processed or distilled in any way. This keeps the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties intact.
What is Grapeseed Oil Known For?
Grapeseed oil is known for its: Anti-Inflammatory, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties. These properties, along with high amounts of omega chain fatty acids and vitamin E contained in grapeseed oil, have increased the popularity of it as a topical treatment for skin and as night serum.
Grapeseed Oil Benefits for Skin
As I mentioned before, grapeseed oil has several benefits for skin usage:
Pretty amazing benefits, huh? You can see why it sucked me in! And I'm so glad it did!
Moisturizes, Hydrates Skin and Reduces Dryness
One of the main benefits why grapeseed oil is good for your skin is that it moisturizes, hydrates and reduces dryness.
Skin dryness is a very common problem among adults and children due to frequent usage of hot water, soaps and other irritants such as perfumes or dyes.
All these products remove the natural oils from your skin’s surface and cause a disruption in the skin’s water content, making it dryer and less elastic.
Grapeseed Oil for Oily Skin
Based on an article focused on plant oil application, the high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids, and antioxidants contribute to grapeseed’s oil hydrating qualities.
A lot of people are in doubt which one is better for skin dryness, Olive Oil or Grapeseed Oil? Both these natural oils are widely used on natural skin moisturizers because they have similar effects and are used on various skin types.
Both the olive oil and grapeseed oil, as well as other products such as aloe vera, almond, wheatgerm and cucumber products tend to have better hydration effects than other harsher products.
Some find grapeseed oil better since most people’s skin absorbs it better, leaving behind less greasy residue than olive oil.
Also, grapeseed oil has a higher vitamin E content, making it more suitable for oily skin types and acne-prone skins, since it doesn’t clog pores or leave behind a shine.
Helps Fight Acne
Grapeseed oil can help you fight acne since it contains high levels of linoleic acid, which is an omega-6 fatty acid that helps control acne by decreasing clogged pores.
Acne prone skin are deficient in linoleic acid, making the oil thick and sticky, leading to clogged pores.
And since it is anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, it is ideal to sidekick your fight against breakouts, as well as a carrier oil for tea tree oil, which is another acne fighter.
Lightens Dark Circles
Another benefit of grapeseed oil for skin is that it lightens eye dark circles. It is actually an effective and cheaper option to expensive eye cream.
The main reason is that this natural oil contains vitamin E and moisturizing fatty acids, which reduces inflammation and help decrease pigmentation associated with skin inflammation, in our case dark eye circles.
Minimizes Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Besides rich in fatty acids, grapeseed oil contains polyphenols, which help fight premature aging and wrinkles.
Polyphenols are popular to slow the aging process as well as reverse signs of aging, like wrinkles, fine lines or sun spots.
This oil contains natural astringent properties too, making the skin looking firmer.
Grapeseed Oil for Acne Prone Skin
Defend Against Sun Damage
Grapeseed oil contains a number of antioxidants, including Vitamin E, Flavonoids, Proanthocyanidin, Carotenoids, Phenolic Acids, Tannins and Stilbenes, which improve its anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and its skin cell protection effects.
Using it regularly improve your skin’s appearance and reduce minor aging signs, including dark spots and loss of elasticity.
While it is not recommended to replace the regular sunscreen with this type of natural oil, there is evidence that grapeseed oil and coconut oil actually offer protection against UV radiation when you are exposed to sun.
Protects Against Free Radicals
The antioxidants found in this oil can help to prevent, cure and UV-induced free radical damage to the skin. This results into a smooth and firmer skin, better protected against more serious issues too, such as Skin Cancer.
For those that don’t know, free radicals are unstable molecules that can wreak havoc on your body’s cells.
Works to Fades Scars
Not only this natural oil is very rich in vitamin E, but it also contains high levels of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid which is proven to speed up the healing process and actually decrease the formation of keloid scars.
Best Grapeseed Oil Bottle Product
The brand I use is Now Foods Grape Seed Oil, 16 Ounce and it says to be 100% pure and perfect for sensitive skin.
Now, let me share with you what Grapeseed oil has done for my sensitive acne prone skin and why I love it so much!!
The main reason I bought this was to use as an alternative to chemically filled anti-aging night serums. I decided to start using an overnight anti aging serum sometime last year and had horrible experiences with the ones I tried: irritation, breakouts, dryness...it was awful! Nothing seemed to agree with my sensitive skin.
That's when I went on a google search mission to find the perfect oil for my skin. Mission accomplished.
How Grapeseed Oil Helped My Skin
Note: I have sensitive acne prone skin that is oily around the t-zone (combination skin).
- Over time it has been the main ingredient in helping kick acne out of this complexion.
I do not suffer from acne anymore! Woohoo! And although I still get a couple to a few zits around my "special lady time" it's mild in comparison to the 10-15 zits I'd have on my face all at once.
- It helps speed up the healing process of the few breakouts I get every month AND helps fade the scar.
- It has helped fade and blur old acne scars. I still have them but they're not a noticeable as they used to be.
- It has brought out a glow to my complexion that I've never had before. Never.
This is what I'm most excited about! My complexion finally looks healthy, even without makeup! There's a natural glow and dewiness to it that I always craved.
- I don't have to wear as much makeup as before.
I used to pack on the foundation to cover up my acne scars and then pack on the blush and highlighter to fake a healthy glow. But now my natural glow peeks out of my makeup. I probably wear 1/4 amount of product to what I used to.
This is me January 2013 with layers of makeup on....
This is me now, letting my skin breathe with just a tiny amount of makeup...
- It has erased my dark eye circles.
I never had major dark circles to begin with but if you look at my before and after you can see how my under eye area looks brighter and smoother in the after photo.
- It has helped even out my complexion
I used to have an uneven skin tone but it seems to be evening out.
I can't say anything about it's anti-aging claims since I'm only 29 and have yet to see any wrinkles but hopefully I won't see any if I keep using this product! A girl can hope, right?
How to Use Grapeseed Oil?
There are actually two ways to use grapeseed oil: either applying it directly to skin or taking it as extract by mouth, in liquid or pill form.
Here’s the best way to use it for each situation:
How to Apply Grapeseed Oil to Skin
After I wash my face at night time, I warm 3-4 drops of the oil between my fingers and then massage all over my face. I then dab 1 drop around each eye, concentrating most of the oil to the area one can develop "crows feet". Finally, I massage another 5 drops to my neck and decolletage.
It never feels heavy on my face nor do I wake up with an oily complexion (or oily pillow cases). My skin looks so refreshed, dewy and renewed in the morning! I love it!
There was a week I ran out of my daily moisturizer and used this instead and had no problems whatsoever! I think I will add a couple drops to my moisturizer during the dry winter months. I've also added a drop to my foundation for an extra dewy look.
I would highly recommend anyone with sensitive, oily, acne prone skin, dry skin, really anyone with skin to try it out! Again, I'm not an expert so use at your own discretion.
Risks and Side Effects
Grapeseed Oil is known to not have any side effects in most people, however if you know that you have an allergy to grapes, the I recommend you to not use it.
Also, if you have a very sensitive skin, start by using only small amounts, just to first test your skin reaction. You can try to test it on other parts of your body before the face, to make sure you don’t experience any irritation.
Also, be careful when combining this oil with other essential oils which can worsen skin reactions, especially orange and lemon based oils.
Are you a fan of natural alternatives to skin products? If so, what are your favorites? Let me know in the comment section down below.
I am 50 and I have always had clogged pores and less than average skin… I have been using grapeseed oil for a full week and I am shocked to see the changes in my skin. My skin feels instantly softer and looks cleaner and brighter. I am a full convert as I have seen a small reduction of my crows feet.