Outstanding Oils

I used to think the worst of beauty oils and it really had nothing to do with the oil itself. It was mainly because every time I would travel I would lose half of it in my cosmetic case. Even when enclosing it in a Ziploc bag, the bottles – no matter how tight they were sealed still gave me the added surprise of escaped oil. Fast-forward to us being grounded for the foreseeable future (thanks to the ongoing variants of the pandemic!) and I am back on the oil bandwagon. Of course, now that it's winter the cooler air tends to dehydrate even the most moisturized skin. Oils are a nice way to enhance our skincare routine either as a base, or part of the repair. Plus, a little goes a long way. Here are some skincare notables: 

Face (Women):

Cultivate Apothecary takes you from farm (the nineteenth-century Stonegate Farm, to be exact) to face. Committed to a low carbon footprint, the custom-blend Day (Awaken) to Night (Moonlight) serums gives you round-the-clock benefits. Inspired by the beautiful nature of New York's Hudson River Valley, the apothecary utilizes the herbs, fruit and flowers grown on the farm for their botanical beauty and wellness line. The 3 different serum combinations tackle normal/dry, combination and mature or sensitive skin. Created with an Estate Blend of organic calendula, comfrey leaf, chamomile and lemon balm each serum is contained in a decorative amber flint-glass apothecary bottle.

Face (Men):

BIOGRAPHY's entire collection focuses on facial oils using high quality potent botanicals, so it's no surprise they made one for males as well. BIOGRAPHY offers up a multi-purpose oil great for a shave, a beard and the overall face. A Few Words uses a unique combination of radish, black cumin, sandalwood among other ingredients to get the job done right.

Body:

My friends at Sanctuaire, a lifestyle shop focusing on BIPOC owned brands put me on to the UK's own NARLOA. With no-fillers, artificial fragrances, NARLOA's products are 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Check out the Rose Garden or Marigold body oil this season. Each with a special concoction of natural ingredients like Grapeseed oil, Argan oil, sunflower, apricot, jojoba – the bottles are as beautiful to look at and display, as they are to use.

Hair:

Looking for support for healthy hair? Look no further than Mata Ayurveda. The oils founded by Hair and Ayurveda expert, Shivangi Tripath, take on the challenge of three major issues: oily hair, dry hair and the buildup of dandruff. Made with organic bhringraj derived from the plant known as the "false daisy" the oil, for Oily Hair helps prevent overactive oil production. The Dry Hair oil contains therapeutic grade amalaki to strengthen scalp and hair. The Dandruff oil contains therapeutic grade 100% neem oil which serves as a natural anti-bacterial to exfoliate the scalp and remove buildup.

Oral:

Take your oral hygiene to the next level with UMA's Pure Detox Oil Pulling Treatment.  Founder Shrankhla Holecek shares this 5000-year-old Ayurvedic ritual to promote oral cleanliness by ridding ama (excess impurities and toxins). It only takes one tablespoon of this powerful blend of Sesame, Coconut, Clove and Peppermint oils which includes Neem and Turmeric for you to feel the lasting benefits. Freshen your breath and whiten your teeth by using the oil daily for 10-20 minutes.