How To: Use Beauty Oils

Oils have found their moment. And it's right now! No longer just considered something to get rid of when it comes to your complexion or your hair (sebum, we're looking at you!), oils are now a fully fledged beauty product in their own right. Here's how to integrate them into multiple areas of your beauty regime to see fab results...

Face oils

Oils for your face can be broken up into two major categories: cleansing oils and nourishing/moisturising oils. Let's look at cleansing oils first, as this is often the first part of any lasses beauty routine, AM or PM.

A cleansing oil is top notch for removing makeup at the end of the day, and can even be beneficial for women with 'oily' skin (which, ps, can totally be anyone! My time here at bb has indicated that ladies are aghast when it's suggested they may have oily skin, and I am never too sure why? Oil is a natural component of a person's skin, and its presence doesn't denote anything - no, not even pimples necessarily - in just the same way as dry or combination skin doesn't denote anything either. Moral? If you have oily skin, just own it!) The thing is, an oil based cleanser is ideal for removing excess oil in the skin, without stripping it. You know that tight feeling you can get after cleansing? Well, if you ever get it again, consider swapping your face wash of choice - it'sa not sucha good thing! (Italian accent to highlight this beauty point). An oil cleanser works under the laws of attraction. Like attracts like. Therefore, oil will seek out oil and the sebum in your skin with be drawn to your cleanser for a thorough cleanse without entirely stripping your skin. An oil cleanser will also help to deposit rich, moisturising oils to your skin, to help protect and defend against premature aging. Kiss goodbye to that tightly cleansed feeling for good. One of our top picks is the Planet Eve Facial Cleansing Oil which has been designed to balance sebum levels in the skin, without using harsh chemicals.

Now, let's look at nourishing/moisturising oils (for lack of a better word - because really, all beauty oils are nourishing, which is one of their major drawcards!) When it comes to skincare, you've probably heard of rose hip oil by now. Trending for a few years, this stuff is natural and packed to the brim with antioxidants to help keep skin supple and soft. Here at bb, we've had the pleasure of sampling Rose-Hip Vital's Rosehip Oil, which is cold pressed (extracted without heat, solvents or chemicals, so it's super safe to use on all skin types). This oil is amazing for skin that's a little dry, dull and in need of some TLC. The best time to apply is right before bed, after your cleansing routine. Try tapping on around your eyes (leave at least 3cm between where you apply and your actual eye, as product travels on your skin, and you don't want it creeping into your peepers), and on to your forehead. You'll wake up feeling super refreshed and like your skin has had double the beauty sleep it actually got the night before. Win!

Another nourishing oil based product we love here at bb is the Anumi Miracle Recovery. This serum is full of Vitamin E and made with squalene, which mimics the molecular structure of skin, to improve skin's elasticity. Plus it absorbs quickly and works a treat when you add a touch to your regular moisturiser a couple of times a week.

Body oils

Body oils are so fantastic at moisturising, I must admit, they've left my lotions and body butters for dead. For the time being at least! Body oils are fantastic, because they are often formulated to be intensely nourishing whilst sinking in fast. Plus, they contain natural oils for those who like their beauty a little greener. This month bb sampled the Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse (which is actually a multipurpose oil, for face, bod and hair) and it has certainly been embraced by the ladies in the office! Lightly fragranced, it's comprised of a 98.8% natural, silicone-free formula and contains a delish blend of macadamia, hazelnut and camellia oils.

Another body oil we are loving for the last days of sunshine and limb baring is the Pure Fiji Exotic Oil in Coconut scent. The delish coconut scent is only half the reason it's so lovely to use - a nourishing blend of exotic nut extracts also promote cellular renewal for younger looking skin.

Hair oils

Last, but by no means least, hair oil is another ace oil product to integrate into your beauty routine if you haven't already - with a huge selection of argan and Moroccan oils on the market, it goes to show that plenty of women are loving adding an oil to their tresses. If you are new to hair oil, there are a few things to remember. First off, oil works best when applied to damp hair. After shampooing and conditioning (you can also use products that contain oils for this, like the Royal Moroccan Hair Repair Shampoo and Conditioner) towel dry your hair and then apply your oil before blow drying, or letting your hair air dry naturally. Another tip is to only apply the oil to the lower 2 thirds of your ends. If you apply right up to the roots, chances are you'll end up with greasy looking hair. It's really the drier ends of hair that benefit the most from hair oil. Try the Royal Moroccan Serum Treatment which contains flaxseed and argan oil for long-term conditioning minus the grease.

Do you use an oil in your beauty routine? Which is your favourite? Let us know! - Lauren