5 surprising ways to use oil and vinegar in your beauty routine
If you haven’t included oils and vinegars into your beauty routine yet, consider yourself the odd one out. In the past five years, sales of such products for skin and hair benefits have tripled. So, why are we all obsessing? Because they’re generally less expensive than the raved-about department store variety, they’re natural, and they work.
But, things can easily get complicated. Take the coconut oil hype for example. Rubbing it all over your bod may be a marvellous way to moisturize naturally, but many dermatologists will advise you to keep it far away from your face. The hidden detriment to this soothing, hydrating, tropical island-smelling product is that it’s non-comedogenic—meaning it will clog your pores, which will lead to blackheads, breakouts, and you being miserable.
Before you get overwhelmed with all the specifics behind incorporating natural products into your skincare regime, we have something that can help. Ahead, a simple hit list that identifies the best natural solutions to use for all five of your major skin woes. From erasing brown spots to minimizing the signs of aging, flip through the gallery for our top picks of the five natural oils and vinegars you can safely and confidently add to your beauty shelf.
1. Use apple cider vinegar to erase brown spots
Those expensive anti-aging products you’ve been buying probably brag about the amounts of alpha hydroxy acids they contain, as they’re known for removing dead skin cells and revealing a new, illuminating complexion underneath. Well, apple cider vinegar contains much higher levels of alpha hydroxyl acids, and is probably a fraction of the cost of such high-end products. Minimize the appearance of brown spots by applying apple cider vinegar to them with a cotton ball. Leave it on for half an hour, and wash clean. You should notice a difference in about six weeks.
Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar ($6, well.ca)
2. Speed up the healing time of blemishes with frankincense
Aside from the nativity story, frankincense isn’t mentioned in common chitchat — until recently. Turns out, it offers a magnitude of health benefits, particularly when it comes to skin issues. Frankincense is anti-bacterial and contains anti-inflammatory properties, making it a great option to apply to acne to clean out clogged pores while soothing inflamed skin. This essential oil is also antiseptic, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Not only does it help heal stubborn blemishes, but also can help prevent new beamers from forming as well. On-top of all its blemish-healing, -soothing and -preventing benefits, it also boasts anti-scarring properties so all those zits will be so yesterday.
Fabulous Frannie Frankincense 100% Pure Essential Oil ($18, amazon.ca)
3. Soothe irritated skin with chamomile
Whether caused by hives, a sunburn, psoriasis, spider veins or eczema, blotchy skin can be difficult to avoid. Soothe the red splotches and bring your complexion to an even state with chamomile — it contains azulene, which is what helps calm the irritation.
Now Essential Oils Chamomile Oil ($65, well.ca)
4. Minimize the signs of aging with vitamin C
We rely on vitamin C to boost our immunity and help get rid of a nasty cold, but applied topically, it can help reverse and prevent signs of aging. How? It neutralizes the free radicals that age you. Free radicals take electrons from proteins in strands of collagen causing breaks and thereby damage your skin (read: causing wrinkles and sagging). Vitamin C can replace such electrons to keep your collagen in tact and keep you looking youthful.
Nature’s Best Vitamin C Serum ($27, amazon.ca)
5. Tackle dry spots with jojoba oil
We’ll blame it on our over-heated offices and Canada’s gusty winter winds, but dry complexions are a common concern for us all. The natural fix? Hydrate your skin with jojoba oil. This waxy oil is packed with a crazy amount of vitamins and minerals — like vitamin E and B-complex — that help you achieve healthy skin and hair. It’s gentle enough to use on sensitive skin (yes, even on your face) without clogging pores, causing an oily t-zone or triggering allergic reactions. Have a seriously dry mug? Apply it just before bed as an overnight moisturizing mask. Dry lips? Use it as a lip balm too.
Now Solutions Jojoba Oil ($17, well.ca)
Renée Reardin is a writer and editor with 15 years of experience in the beauty, fashion, and wellness spaces. You'll also find her work on other Canadian publications like Elle Canada and The Globe and Mail, and American publications like InStyle and Glossy.
Fashion FWD:
The next best thing to being a fashion editor - BTS access to trends, products & news.