Grapes are such givers. These bountiful little berries are responsible for jams, jellies, raisins, juice, vinegar, and perhaps most famously — wine! Other than their delicious taste and versatility, grapes are also jam-packed with good-for-you components like omega-6 fatty acids, linoleic acid, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Along the way, some kind souls discovered that when you press grape seeds for oil, that oil can do wonders for our skin. Turns out, those little seeds pack a big and beneficial punch. And that's why we're here! Let’s talk about what grapeseed oil is, grapeseed oil benefits, how to use grapeseed oil, and what it can do for your skin.
IN A NUTSHELL
Ingredient Category: Carrier Oil, Emollient
Main Benefit: It contains hydrating fatty acids to help lock in moisture. It’s also full of antioxidants like vitamins E, D, and C to help protect skin from environmental stressors.
Find It In: Prince Charcoal Detox Mask, Just Dew It Hydrating Serum, H2 Oh Yeah Hydrating Moisturizer, and Crème de la Cream Brightening Moisturizer.
What Is Grapeseed Oil?
If you are familiar with the size of grapeseeds, you might be wondering how oil is made from such tiny seeds. The winemaking industry does much of the legwork by pressing tons of grapes for various vintages. After those grapes are pressed, there's an abundance of seeds left, which can then be pressed to extract a light oil.
Cold and expeller-pressing are the best extraction methods for grapeseed oil for skin, as they retain all the natural goodness grapes contain. These processes also avoid high heat and harmful solvents, like hexane, that cause chemical alterations that damage the grape's active ingredients and make them less effective.
The result is a lightweight, fast-absorbing oil with a silky texture and light yellow-green color. This versatile oil can be used for cooking, applied directly to the skin and hair, or employed as a carrier oil for aromatherapy blends. Because it is mild, light, nourishing, and non-greasy, it’s well-suited to every skin type.
Grapeseed Oil Skin Benefits
With such powerful and nutritive qualities, grapeseed oil can work wonders for your skin. Here are a few benefits you can expect:
Grapeseed oil hydrates skin. Emollients like grapeseed oil work to smooth and soften dry, rough, and flaky skin by adding nourishing fatty substances, like omega-6 fatty acids, to whatever it touches. It also packs a huge vitamin E punch, which is ideal for locking in moisture and fortifying the skin barrier. This makes it an excellent addition to face moisturizers. Our H2 Oh Yeah hydrating moisturizer and Crème de la Cream brightening moisturizer both employ the power of grapeseed oil.
It’s full of antioxidants. Grapeseed oil is rich in compounds like beta carotene, polyphenols, and vitamins E, C, and D, which all have potent antioxidant powers. That translates to extra protection from environmental aggressors, plus it helps to lessen the appearance of dark spots and scars.
It minimizes the look of pores. Because grapeseed oil is non-comedogenic and naturally cleansing, it helps clear out the dirt and oil that can clog pores and make them appear larger. It also absorbs quickly, making it great for oily skin.
It lessens the appearance of occasional redness and evens skin tone. Thanks to its mild cleansing and emollient properties, grapeseed oil helps calm and protect angry skin, giving it a much-needed break from certain irritants. This helps enhance brightness and even out your complexion.
How to Use Grapeseed Oil for Skin
Incorporating grapeseed oil into your skincare routine is as easy as pie. It can be integrated into a multi-step regimen with ease or used all on its own. You can buy pure grapeseed oil and apply it as a serum before bed, add a few drops to your favorite moisturizer to punch it up, or create DIY treatments and masks. It also pairs well with a wide assortment of ingredients and other natural oils, like avocado and coconut.
If you're looking to keep things more straightforward, there are tons of moisturizers, face creams, serums, overnight treatments, cleansers, scrubs, and more that contain grapeseed oil. Our very own Prince Charcoal natural detox mask boasts grapeseed oil, along with a medley of botanicals and clays that help detox, balance, and nourish your skin.
To take advantage of its skin hydrating properties, add a serum and moisturizer that contains grapeseed oil. We’ve added it to our award-winning hydrating serum, Just Dew It, for its added antioxidant and hydration benefits.
Ready to incorporate grapeseed oil into your daily skincare routine? Simply seek it out at your local health foods market or search for it on skincare product ingredients lists. Your skin will thank you for it!
