Image source: pixabay.com/jackmac34
There are at least 5 good reasons for using carrot oil in facial care. I have combination skin, which can get really dry in some places in winter. As I historyI like to use a few drops of oil at the end at this dry time of year. This time I decided to try carrot oil.
Carrot oil is extracted from the roots of the wild carrot. It is usually mixed with carotene and another oil, so it is not pure carrot oil. It has a dark colour and a bitter smell. I mix about 3 drops into my day cream every day and I am really impressed! Why?
1. carrot oil is the healthiest self-tanner in the world
This oil gives my face a light tan, which suits me just fine. In February, very few of us have a healthy skin colour... I really like the shade of my skin and most days I can skip foundation. I just add a touch of powder and I'm done. I think that's really brilliant. The complexion just looks healthy and fresh. (The short video shows the oil I started with - I now recommend a different one, you can find the update below).
2. carrot oil protects and prolongs the holiday tan
I have to be a bit careful with my tan - we all should be. If I get too much sun, huge pigment spots on my cheeks remind me of my naivety and arrogance. For years I didn't want to believe that the sun damages the skin in the long term. Well, now I believe it. That's why I value the little bit of tan I can get before the spots appear.
Carrot oil helps me to keep this tan for longer in the future. In addition, carotenes in the plant itself have the task of protecting it from the consequences of UV rays. The oil cannot be used as pure sun protection, but it can certainly help. The above-mentioned walnut shell oil in my product helps to keep the tan even longer.
3. carrot oil helps against skin blemishes
Supposedly also against acne, which seems logical to me because of the high vitamin A content. I can only say that the skin is soft and feels pleasant, but since I regularly use cupping and cockroachmy skin is generally in good condition. The carrot oil has a regulating effect and helps to reduce inflammation. Oily and blemished skin benefits from these properties. Pimples and blackheads are prevented by using carrot oil.
I can truly say that my combination skin reacts wonderfully to this product. The dry patches are gone and the oily patches remain clear and no longer greasy. Instead, my face has a beautiful natural glow. The carrot oil contains high doses of carotenoid lycopene, which is also found in tomatoes, watermelons and rosehips. These bring the naturally oily skin back into balance.
Image source: pixabay.com/ivabalk
4. carrot oil contains large amounts of vitamin A and provitamin A
Does vitamin A mean nothing to you? But perhaps retinol - indispensable in anti-ageing skincare. It is found in a natural form in carrot oil. Vitamin A helps to renew the skin by regulating cell division. This is one of the reasons that:
5. carrot oil firms, rejuvenates and refreshes
Of course, I don't use the oil with the expectation that it will make me look 20 tomorrow. It just makes my skin look good and feel very comfortable. For me, it's a good feeling to have a natural product that protects the skin and provides it with the substances it needs. The fact that carrot oil also gives it a fine tan makes me very happy.
Carrot oil provides the skin with intensive moisture and protects it from free radicals thanks to its high vitamin A content. The oil stimulates cell renewal and forms a protective layer on the skin. A real blessing for my combination skin.
How do you use carrot oil in facial care?
You can do this in two ways. You can use the pure oil by moisturising your face after cleansing and massaging the oil into damp skin. Or you can use it like I do. I mix a few drops into my day cream and use the mixture. This guarantees that I spread it evenly and that my face doesn't get too dark.
Don't forget to treat your neck as well. Otherwise it will look a bit strange - a brownish face on a white neck. An important note: carrot oil can stain fabric. That's why I only use it during the day, although enough women report using it as a night moisturiser too. At first I was afraid that the neck area of my tops would turn brown, but not a trace. The discolouration is not that bad at all, especially not if you mix it with the cream. I reckon you'd have to get a whole drop of pure carrot oil on the garment for it to stain.
Another important note: The oil may only be used externally! We are talking about a skin care product here, carrot oil is not an edible oil.
Which carrot oil?
There used to be some recommendations here, you can also see the oil I started with in the short videos. I would like to update the recommendation here as I have tried a few oils over the last few years until I found one that I fell in love with. It's high quality and high yielding, which is important to me as I now use it also use in summer for my legs - You know, it's the beginning of June, it's hot, you want to wear a skirt, but your legs are still white as cheese 😉 This is where carrot oil really helps. That's why we've added this product to our shop and you can find it here : Organic carrot oil (fresh complexion and beautiful legs)
Carrot oil as a hair treatment
In the hair, the oil is said to be a real help for damaged ends, strengthening and repairing them. It is massaged warm into damp hair and rinsed out again after about 15 minutes. It does not discolour the hair, but I have not tried it myself. I'm mentioning it here for those who are interested in this kind of thing; for me, who has to wash my hair every other day anyway, oil in my hair is not particularly appealing. The active ingredients vitamin A and E can supposedly accelerate hair growth and even reduce hair loss.
As you can see, this oil is a real asset to any skincare set. I'm a fan of natural, simple things that do great things. I'm delighted to have discovered carrot oil and it will be a permanent fixture in my bathroom!
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