There’s no doubting that of all the beauty products out there, face oil is definitely one of the most divisive. The reason? While some claim that using face oil actually balances oily skin—resulting in less oil production and a natural, lit-from-within glow—others believe that it’s too heavy for some skin types, with certain oils actually clogging pores and exacerbating breakouts.
So despite celebrities like Pixi Geldof and Julia Roberts raving about the benefits of using argan oil and olive oil on their faces, I’ve remained slightly nervous about regularly slathering something so greasy onto my spot-prone skin. That is, until I learned about another type of oil that not only promised a whole host of skin benefits but claimed to be the perfect face oil for those of us with oily, acne-prone or sensitive complexions.
Grapeseed oil is nothing new, but if you’re anything like me, you might not have been aware of its skincare benefits. In fact, with trendier ingredients like coconut oil constantly hitting the beauty headlines, you might not have heard of grapeseed oil at all. Naturally brimming with vitamins C, D and E—alongside high levels of omega-6 fatty acids and linoleic acid—grapeseed oil contains basically all of the stuff our skin needs to look and feel healthy. Plus it’s naturally anti-inflammatory (so it’s great for calming irritated or sensitive skin), antimicrobial (so it targets spot-causing bacteria) and noncomedogenic—meaning that it won’t clog your pores.
Turns out celebs aren’t immune to the benefits of grapeseed oil either. Emma Stone, who is also a big fan of argan oil, told Marie Claire that she loves using natural oils as part of her skincare routine. “I use natural grapeseed oil from the grocery store on my face as moisturiser,” Stone revealed. “After the shower, I pat it on, and then I’ll use it throughout the day and at night.”
Nicole Richie also swears by grapeseed oil as part of her body care routine. “I use multiple oils for my body,” she told Into the Gloss. “Grapeseed oil is nice. I’m very natural.”
As for Megan Fox’s Hollywood glow? Yep, turns out it’s down to grapeseed oil. “After my shower I moisturise with grapeseed oil from Whole Foods,” Fox told HuffPo. “It’s a great moisturiser and lighter than olive oil.”
New Zealand–based beauty brand Antipodes features grapeseed oil as a hero ingredient in many of its natural skincare formulations, so it was the Hosanna H2O Intensive Skin-Plumping Serum (£30) that I opted for during my first foray into grapeseed oil. Traditionally, I opt for serums that contains ingredients like salicylic acid or tea tree oil to target blemishes, but I was seriously impressed with how clear, bright and dewy my skin has been since using this serum for just a few weeks. Plus it’s lightweight and sinks straight into skin without leaving any greasy residue behind, so I’ve been able to wear it during the day beneath makeup too.
So what else is grapeseed oil good for besides keeping oily skin types in check? Well, it turns out, it treats dark circles and pigmentation, reduces the appearance of scars and stretch marks, protects skin from environmental damage, reduces inflammation and redness and hydrates dry skin. Basically, grapeseed oil might just be the ingredient we’ve all been missing from our skincare routines.
Next up, a celeb facialist says to stop making this mistake to get glowing skin.
