stuff I’m not paid to endorse: beautiful oils
Every Thursday I post a list of things I like. I’m not paid to say these things. I just think you might find them useful. Today, it’s all about oils, ain’t it!
There is a lot of misinformation about oil, as something to ingest, but also as a beauty product. Know this: oils don’t make you oily. Quite the opposite, in fact. Soaps, for instance, are made of oil. Oils nourish. Oils carry toxins from your cells. Oils clean.
I follow Ayurvedic thinking when it comes to oils. This style of healing uses oils to heal a number of ailments, particularly those that stem from a Vatta disposition. Vatta is a personality tendency characterised by flightiness, agitation, an inability to focus, excitement, sleep problems, digestion issues. I’m VERY Vatta. But even those of us who aren’t Vatta-dominant experience the craziness of out of control Vatta because our culture if very Vatta. Fast food, fast traffic, fast timetables, chaotic schedules…it’s knocking our Vatta about. And one some of the best ways to calm Vatta involve oils. Oils are heavy and grounding. They coax Vatta back down to earth, like Miss Jane pulling Mr Squiggle back down to the ground.
1. If you’re interested in learning more about the Ayurvedic take on oils and Vatta behaviour, Deepak Chopra’s Perfect Health (you can buy direct on the right there) is a good start.
2. On my face I use: Rosehip oil. Two or three times a week I apply it at night as a moisturiser. It works wonders: smooths out scars, adds plumpness and relaxes my skin when it’s a bit “angry” (from wind or sun or travel or detoxing). That scaly texture disappears overnight. I smother myself in it when travelling on planes – in part for protection from aircon, but also for its calming, grounding effect. My skin just soaks it up. Right now I use the Trilogy brand – organic, from New Zealand and formulated by two Aussie sisters. Kosmea is another good brand. Most chemists and health food shops stock both brands.
3. On my feet: organic, untoasted sesame oil. This is an Ayurvedic application: rub sesame oil (it must be the untoasted version, which is a little harder to find) into your feet, and the back of your neck before having a shower at night. Let it soak for a bit, then rinse off…it is unbelievably grounding and is great for insomnia!
4. On my hands: Bio Oil. My friends Josh and Lauren put me onto this one. Bio Oil contains a whole bunch of different oils (calendula, lavender, rosemary, chamomile and what’s called “PurCellin” oil) and is formulated for scars (it’s very good for stretch marks), but I find it great as a hand moisturiser, especially in winter. Almost as cheap as chips ($14.95 for a small) and available everywhere, by which I mean Priceline, Big W, Coles etc.
5. On my salads: hemp seed oil. I mentioned this lovely oil last week. Perhaps you know about how flaxseed oil is high in essential fatty acids? And is great for increasing HDL (good cholesterol) and reducing LDL (the bad stuff)? Well hemp seed contains even more EFAs and in a better balance that its flaxy cousin. It’s also more stable and doesn’t go rancid as easily. I also love the flavour. A warning: it’s rich and rather herbaceous in flavour. But works really well with apple cider vinegar as a dressing on salads. For my bowel-friendly breakfast recipe see my previous post.
6. In my hair: Moroccan Oil. This stuff is going bananas; everyone is talking about it. You apply it to your ends before drying and it adds lustre and richness. For real. It’s only just arrived here and select salons stock it. My hairdresser does – Ardino Hair in Paddington, NSW- if that helps.
Not the foodie post I was expecting from you Sarah, but love the beauty tips. Just rubbed my bio oil into my hands and luuurv it. Who would have thunk it?
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I’ve just started using pure coconut oil as a moisturiser and it’s not an understatement to say it’s changin’ ma life! It comes in a solid form that looks like candle wax and melts to a clear liquid at around 24 degrees. I just melt a little piece between my fingers until its malleable and creamy and use like a ‘normal’ (ie chemical cocktail moisturiser). It feels amazing, smells incredible and at $10 for a 375mL jar is not breaking even my ridiculously small bank. Oh, and it’s organic, fair traded and you can eat the darn stuff as well.
Super.
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Morrocan Oil is amazing… I have thick curly hair & it actually smoothes it out…even the frizzes. OK, I’ll never be able to run fingers through it, but this stuff makes even that target pretty close.
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love love love trilogy rosehip oil and bio oil! organic coconut oil is also great for your hair (or all over body moisturiser if you have the patience to let it soak in unlike me) and only $10 for a 2kg bottle from my local green grocer. just discovered your blog and love it!
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I fell off my bike on the sydney harbour bridge a few years ago, lost a tooth and shattered my chin. Had to have stitches. Mum bought me some bio oil which i applied every night after the stitches came out (it smells nice too). I now have no scar on my chin.
PS My neighbour, who works in intensive care, reckons they recommend bio oil to plastic surgery car accident patients. I didn’t know that when mum gave it to me, but it works. HIghly recommend.
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I tried Bio Oil on my hands last night and it was perfect for my dry hands. I am a firm believer in good oils, and I plan on doing some Oil purchases over the weekend and read more about their applications. Thanks for an enjoyable blog Sarah.
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To Jess and tea&pages,
What brand of coconut oil are you using? =)
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olivia – ive got banaban organic coconut oil. bought it about 18mths ago from the local green grocer/fruit and veg market. its meant for cooking but i use i for everything else and it smells just like cake!
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Moroccan oil is not an oil, it´s Argan oil with a bunch of silicones added. It makes more sense to use pure Argan oil.
Now, I need to get my hands on untoasted sesame oil…
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‘Bio Oil’!? No way! ‘Bio Oil’ is mineral oil. Mineral oil = bad news for skin and our environment. Always read the labels thoroughly…
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I hope you aren’t vegetarian. Bio Oil contains duck fat and mineral oil. Worst beauty product!! Always read the ingredients before buying…
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=28800
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[...] oils. I love them all. My body soaks them up. This rose flavour is very pretty. I’ve mentioned how oils work from an Ayurvedic point of view [...]
[...] I love them all. My body soaks them up. This rose flavour is very pretty. I’ve mentioned how oils work from an Ayurvedic point of view [...]