Yes, that’s right, this acne prone, oily skinned lady is having quite the time experimenting with oils….and I think things are getting serious.
I’ve been told for a while now that putting straight up oil on my face was the solution for all of my skin woes. Cue me smiling, nodding and continuously blasting my face with harsh acne treatments. But of course, my curiosity got the best of me, and I began experimenting with oils at the beginning of the summer.
First up was argan oil. Argan oil is a key ingredient in a lot of hair, skin and body products these days, but I am not messing around…I went for the pure stuff. There are a lot of different brands of pure argan oil, but I got my particular bottle at the Terre D’Oc store in Rockefeller Center. I sort of eased my way into using this, first only applying it to my body after the shower until I finally worked up the nerve to put it on my face. This stuff not only made the skin on my body all hydrated and glowy, but I did not break out on my face once and got tons of compliments on my skin. Argan oil is chock full of healthy fatty acids and vitamin e (hello, healing and soothing) so your skin becomes plump, smooth and even. Unfortunately when I ran out, I didn’t have enough money to buy a new bottle. This oil is pricey! I’ve heard that in Morocco, where argan oil originates, you can find a gallon for something absurd like 9 cents.
Fortunately for me I was gifted a giant bottle of pure maracuja oil by the lovely folks at Tarte.
And not a moment too soon because my skin has become extremely flaky with the transition the winter. Maracuja is similar in feel to argan oil, but is packed with vitamin c, which is really helpful in brightening the skin and evening discoloration. I will say, when I first started using this oil (about 2 drops pressed onto my face twice a day) I did see a lot of clogged pores. When I spoke with a representative from Tarte, he said this was perfectly normal, my skin was “purging” (gross) and that I should power through. Well I did, and couldn’t be any happier. My skin is more radiant than ever (Is that even okay to say? Is that bragging?), break outs are at a minimum and I practically have 0 scarring or discoloration. I am hydrated but not greasy in the slightest. I will definitely not be wasting this on my dumb body like I did with the argan oil because lo and behold I have discovered….
COCONUT OIL! I gotta say, I am pretty late in the game on this one. I have heard people raving about coconut oil for a while now and I just wasn’t sure what to think. I am so reluctant to believe the hype on basically anything and have a really bad habit of even going so far as avoiding products/trends/crazes….I’m not sure what it’s about. I just listened to “Call Me Maybe” for the first time a few weeks ago and wish I hadn’t waited so long. Why do I cheat myself this way?
The same goes for coconut oil. I saw my roommate had a giant jar of it in our bathroom and after taking a whiff, I knew I couldn’t put off trying it any longer. I got my own jar and have fallen deeply, deeply in love. I am obsessed with all things coconut and was so enchanted with the smell of this stuff I went so far as sticking a spoon in the jar and eating a massive glob of it straight up. No shame….it was pretty damn good. I may or may not have eaten a second spoonful with peanut butter on top. After that, I stuck the jar the bathroom and slather it on after the shower, put it on my cuticles, on any flaky patches of my face and run THE TINIEST AMOUNT in my hair. I have to say…you really have to take it easy with this in your hair. Just one drop too much and your hair will look nothing short of extremely disgusting. Other than that, coconut oil is a brilliant, extremely cheap all-purpose product.
I definitely encourage anyone and everyone to try an oil for their skin, hair or wherever they need soothing, healing or hydration. I truly believe there is an oil out there for everyone and they are an extremely natural and safe way to beautify!
