Information on Grapeseed oil (Vitis vinifera)
Grape Seed oil has a fine texture and is almost odorless, light in texture and is easily absorbed by the skin. Grapeseed is put through a process to deodorise the oil, as raw grapeseed oil has a strong, vinegary aroma.
Uses of Grape Seed Oil
Grapeseed has mildly astringent qualities which help to tighten and tone the skin and this makes it useful for acne and other skin complaints.
Properties of Grape Seed Oil
It is rich in linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid quite important for the skin and the cell membranes.
This oil has regenerative and restructuring virtues and has great skin moisturizing properties.
Grape Seed oil is usually refined, bleached, deodorised and winterised before it is sold for topical use. You do get grapeseed oil that has not been put through these processes, but raw grapeseed oil has a strong and vinegary smell and is not commonly used in aromatherapy.
Other Carrier or Base Oils
Other fatty oils (also called excipients, base or carrier oils in Aromatherapy) can be mixed with grapeseed oil to provide their therapeutic properties:
Sweet Almond Oil is commonly used for facial massage or in cosmetic products for the face. This oil can be mixed with Grapeseed ,as Grapeseed will provide extra anti-oxidant and toning properties to the blend.
Jojoba oil (actually a form of plant wax) can also be added to this oil in a blend. Jojoba oil is more expensive, so mixing it with a cheaper carrier may be a good idea, and will provide its mild anti-bacterial properties to a blend. Jojoba oil mimics the natural sebum of the skin and emulsifies dirt (the filament) in the pores, helping to cleanse the skin.
Aloe Vera can be added to a carrier oil blend for healing purposes, Avocado for it’s rich moisturising properties and wheat germ oil is a marvelous base oil that contains vitamin E which helps to preserve the shelf life of a blend, while encouraging cell growth in the skin and combating dermatitis.
All carrier oils offer their own therapeutic properties which can be blended together or used on their own for various treatment option on the skin.
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