Grape seed oil, also referred to as grape oil is produced from the pressing of grapes. As such, it is a common by-product of the wine making process. Ideally, wine is made by pressing the grapes, leaving behind the seeds. It is from these seeds that the oil is extracted. In recent times, the oil has grown in popularity owing to its excellent health benefits.
These benefits are attributed to the oil’s structural makeup as it includes oleic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic and stearic acid. The oil also has small amounts of Vitamin E. Additionally, grape seed oil is a healthy option for oral intake because it is rich in polyunsaturates.
In addition to its culinary use, the oil can be used on both skin and hair, making it an integral part of your beauty regimen.This also explains, in part, why grape seed oil is a common ingredient in many cosmetic products. Below are 10 impressive reasons why you should use grape seed oil on your skin and hair.
Grape Seed Oil Benefits For The Skin:
1. Grape Seed Oil Moisturizes the Skin:
If you are wondering how to maintain healthy hydrated skin, then apply grape seed oil topically on a regular basis. The oil covers the skin traps moisture and prevents it from getting lost.
This is very important because, for many people, dry skin is often predisposed to a myriad of skin conditions. Grape seed oil is an ideal choice because it is rich in linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is a type of omega-6 fatty acid that has been shown to fight dryness on the skin.
2. Grape Seed Oil can be used by People with Oily Skin:
Oily skin is characterized by frequent breakouts on the skin, leading to acne formation. One of the ways to counter this without encouraging the skin to produce more oil is to use a light oil.
This is where grape seed oil comes in handy. It is rather light, and its consistency is somewhere between that of olive oil and jojoba oil.
This comparison suffices because research has shown that jojoba oil has a consistency that is quite similar to that of sebum, the natural oil produced by the skin. For this reason, grape seed oil is an ideal option for anyone who finds olive oil a little too heavy, or needs an excellent alternative to jojoba oil.
In addition to this, grape seed oil has also been shown to have astringent properties. This astringency tightens the skin’s pores and helps regulate oil production.
3. Grape Seed Oil Slows Down the Aging Process:
Need to maintain youthful skin while eliminating wrinkles naturally? Grape seed oil is an excellent option for you. The oil is rich in two key compounds: polyphenols and flavanoids.
These compounds are antioxidant in nature, and this means that they help fight free radicals on the skin. Free radicals are compounds found in the environment which, on skin exposure, damage the skin.
This hastens the aging process and leads to the formation of wrinkles on the skin. By fighting the free radicals, grape seed oil is able to maintain radiant skin.
Additional benefits of using grape seed oil on the skin include its high concentration of Vitamins C, D and E, all of which are integral for the management of scars on the skin.
4. Grape Seed Oil for Massage Therapy:
Grape seed oil is highly recommended for massage therapy, thanks to the ease with which it is absorbed by the skin. Its light texture makes it easy to use.
Additionally, it works as a great carrier oil and can easily be mixed with different essential oils to facilitate massage therapy. This way, the oil’s nourishing properties are beneficial for the skin. Alongside the rejuvenating effects of a massage, the oil also leaves the skin feeling well moisturized without the excessive greasiness associated with a number of oils.
5. Grape Seed Oil used to Manage Skin Conditions:
The healing benefits of grape seed oil make it an excellent natural remedy for the treatment of a myriad of skin conditions. It not only has anti-inflammatory in nature, it also has antioxidants that go a long way in helping with the recovery process.
The presence of Vitamin E also helps with the process of skin repair, and is required for the stimulation of new skin cells. The new cells protect the skin from infection. Grape seed oil’s moisturizing properties also help reduce rash formation on dry skin.
Some of the conditions for which the oil has been shown to be helpful include rosacea, psoriasis and eczema. The oil is also helpful for the management of allergic reactions on the skin.
Grape Seed Oil Benefits for the Hair:
6. Grape Seed Oil used to Alleviate the Symptoms of a Dry Scalp:
As mentioned above, grape seed oil is rich in linoleic acid (approximately 70% of the oil’s constituents) that helps to protect the scalp from moisture loss.
This is especially effective for the natural treatment of a dry scalp. Best of all perhaps, is the fact that the oil’s lightweight properties retain the scalp’s moisture without the heaviness of other oils. It is also important to state that the oil does not blog the scalp’s pores, thus allowing it to breathe at the same time.
7. Grape Seed Oil used to Moisturize the Hair:
Enhance your hair’s moisture by adding grape seed oil to your moisturizing combination. This goes a long way in retaining the moisture content on the hair strands, thus preventing them from becoming dry and brittle.
This is one of the ways to prevent hair breakage. If you struggle with split ends, one of the best things you can do is to apply grape seed oil on the hair. Depending on your hair type, the oil also helps reduce hair frizziness, and this eases its management.
8. The Oil can be used as a Hair Sealant:
For natural hair enthusiasts, one of the ways of locking in moisture in the hair is to apply grape seed oil as a sealant. The oil’s active ingredients allow moisture retention on the hair strands.
Note however, that for this remedy to be effective, it must be applied on damp hair so that there is moisture present to start with. For this reason, the oil is to be applied after shampooing and conditioning the hair. For great results, you may try mixing the grape seed oil with whipped butter to improve the mixture’s sealant properties.
9. Used to Reduce Hair Loss:
With its many benefits for the skin and hair, it comes as no surprise that grape seed oil can be used to slow down and reverse hair loss.
The oil’s antioxidant properties are known to inhibit the production of hormones that enhance the loss of hair. The presence of linoleic acid also comes into play here as it encourages the development of hair follicles, thus encouraging hair growth. Once the follicles are well developed, the oil helps strengthen the hair strands, both at the root and at the follicle.
10. Used to Nourish the Hair:
If you would like healthy stronger hair, add grape seed oil to your hair regimen. The oil nourishes the hair, thanks to its high concentration of linoleic acid, Vitamin E and proteins.
One of the reasons why this oil is recommended is because it is odorless. The absence of a scent means that you do not have to deal with any lingering smell as is characteristic of other oils such as coconut oil. Its lightweight nature also means it can be applied on the hair without leaving it greasy and matted up.
While grape seed oil has immense health benefits for the skin and hair, it is important to carry out a patch test on part of the skin. This is attributed to potential skin reactions especially for those with sensitive skin.
Simply apply a small amount of the oil on a part of the body that is not easily visible and monitor the reaction, if any. In case of any skin irritation after about six hours, discontinue the use of grape seed oil.
To use the oil on the hair, simply massage a generous amount of the oil between the palms of your hands and apply on the entire length of the hair. Wrap your hair using a towel and leave it that way overnight before washing the next morning. Alternatively, add it to your moisturizing mixture and use daily.
