When looking for a facial oil, buy the best for your skin type. Pure plant oils differ in how they feel on your facial skin; dependent on your skin type. Read through the participants’ comments on texture, scent and colour [the FaceWorkshops trial run in March 2016].
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Jojoba oil (Nr 1)
Dry/Dehydrated
- Light and very well absorbed – No scent noticeable – Pale
- The product absorbed well and I like the texture – I couldn’t pick up a fragrance on this, other than a natural oil type aroma – I like the colour.
- Texture good, felt quite rich – Could not smell any fragrance – Colour good
Sensitive
- Very good as it gave enough slide to the skin but did not leave it feeling oily – Not noticeable – Fine
- Absorbs very well, skin felt silky and smooth – I couldn’t decide the scent but it was gentle and calming – Colour was fine, light
Normal/Combination
- Absorbed ok – scent was bit chemical – pale colour
- Light texture – No scent – Liked colour
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Rose hip seed oil (Nr 2)
Dry/Dehydrated
- Slightly heavier than Nr.1, easily absorbed but thinner than Nr.1 – No noticeable scent – Slightly darker in colour
- As Nr.1 – Couldn’t pick up a fragrance on this other than a natural oil type aroma – The colour gave me an expectation that this oil would be richer, but it seemed to be the same as the other two. In fact because of the depth of colour it seemed to spread further in my hands which made it seem less rich – but when used on my face I felt it was exactly the same.
- This oil felt thinner on my face, absorbed too quickly – No fragrance – Colour too dark.
Sensitive
- A bit more ‘sticky’ it did absorb but too a while. My cheeks were red the following day – The scent was stronger than oil 1, I couldn’t determine the scent – Colour was much darker, I wasn’t keen.
- Absorbed too quickly so skin felt dry during the massage – Unpleasant – Too dark
Normal/Combination
- Rich, good absorption – Slight pleasant scent – Liked colour
- Seemed to be the same as oil 1 – a stronger scent – brighter colour may attract people to it.
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Meadowfoam seed oil (Nr 3)
Dry/Dehydrated
- Very light and easily absorbed – A buttery vanilla fragrance – Very light colour
- As 1 above – I picked out a light herbaceous fragrance with this which I liked – Good. Because of the fragrance I liked this the best of the three oils.
- Texture nice and rich – Again I would of liked a more noticeable scent, I could not smell a fragrance – Colour good.
Sensitive
- Absorbed well, skin felt silky and smooth – Scent was gentle and calming – Colour was fine
- Did not sink into skin so had to wipe some off at the end – Not noticeable – Good
Normal/Combination
- It seemed to shine more on the skin and go further – Scent was the same as oil 1 – colour the most attractive
- Medium absorption – Nice scent – Colour too pale
In Summary
Jojoba for Sensitive Skin [or a medium-length facial massage]
- Jojoba oil was favoured by people with sensitive skin type. It is light, similar to sebum and ideal to perform a gentle massage. The main fatty acids are: Oleic 5.0 – 15.0 %; Linoleic 5.0 %; Eicosenoic 65.0 – 80.0 % max; Erucic 10.0 – 20.0 % max. Our participants who preferred jojoba oil were either using jojoba at home already (very sensitive skin type) or switched from using Pai (a darker, rose hip based oil) due to jojoba being more gentle (combination/sensitive skin type).
Rose hip for Dry/Mature Skin Type [or a short facial massage]
- Rose hip seed oil is extracted from the seeds of a wild rose bush (Rosa moschata or Rosa rubiginosa) in the southern Andes. It can also be extracted from Rosa canina, which grows in many regions of the world including South Africa and Europe. The oil has been favoured by both combination and mature/dry skin types, depending on weather and preferences for what feels “rich”. The skin feel is heavier compared to jojoba but absorbs faster; an ideal “serum base” for active ingredients. The colour is an issue [bedding, white collars] but the richness/absorption are exemplary for dry skin.
- The oil has a long history of use by indigenous tribes in Latin America. The main fatty acids are: Palmitic 3.4 – 4.4 %; Oleic 14.0 – 16.0 %;Linoleic 43.0 – 46.0 %; Linolenic 31.0 -34.0 %. Our participants who liked rose hip oil are using either Merumaya (mature/dry skin type) or Antonia Burrell (combination skin type).
Meadow foam seed oil for Dehydrated skin [or a long facial massage]
- Meadow foam seed oil has a skin feel distinct from many other natural oils. It is the heaviest of the oils, paradoxically with the lightest colour. It is extracted from the seeds of Limnanthes alba and is extraordinarily stable (it contains over 98% long chain fatty acids; it contains the C22 fatty acid (Docosadienoic Acid) that is very stable]. Obtained from the US for this trial. The oil is a great lubricant without being overly greasy, softening, barrier forming and reducing trans epidermal water loss. It is known to lock the fragrance into the skin. I would recommend this oil for extreme climate conditions or dehydrated skin, it provides an additional barrier aiding skin recovery.