Are you thinking about getting an effective anti-aging skin cream? You may have come across grape seed oil (Vitis vinifera) derived from wine grapes. This oil is considered a treasure, and with good reason. Besides its amazing effectiveness, the production of native grape seed oil is very costly. About 40 kilograms of grape seeds from two tons of grapes are needed to produce one liter of the valuable oil [1; 2]. The fact that it promises a good effect is also supported by its long tradition as a household remedy. Already in the Middle Ages it was used as a remedy for wounds, skin cracks and other skin problems. We are also convinced of what cold-pressed grape seed oil can do for skin and hair. Therefore, we would like to tell you here why we also use this noble oil in our products.

• Grapeseed oil in skin care
• Effect of grapeseed oil on the skin
• Application of Grapeseed oil
• Can pure grapeseed oil be used on the skin?
• Our tip: Grapeseed oil from the inside
• Bottom Line
• FAQ
• Sources

Grapeseed oil in skincare

Cold-pressed grape seed oil consists of almost 90 percent healthy omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, such as linoleic acid. Your body cannot produce these fatty acids itself, but they are of great importance. Your skin needs the fatty acid, for example, to enable cell renewal and wound healing and to be able to regenerate. It is also a component of ceramides and in this function ensures an intact skin barrier. This can reduce water loss and the penetration of harmful substances into the skin.

In addition, the oil contains many other ingredients such as antioxidants, which can protect your skin and hair from the damaging influence of free radicals and thus from premature aging and disease. Antioxidants include resveratrol and oligomeric procyanidins (OPC), which have the strongest antioxidant potential of all. In addition to their skin-protecting effects, they promote metabolism and the speedy absorption of vitamins and other ingredients in your skincare regimen into your skin, delay the aging process, and inhibit inflammation and bacteria.

Finally, grape seed oil contains lecithin, a lipid that has a nourishing, moisturizing, smoothing and refatting effect, regulates the cornification of your skin and can promote the absorption of other active ingredients [5; 6].

Valuable vitamins in grapeseed oil

But that's not all: grapeseed oil contains vitamin A, B vitamins, vitamin C and D. Particularly special is the high proportion of fat-soluble vitamin E (about three times more than in olive oil) and vitamin K. The latter is important for a functioning metabolism and blood clotting [2]. Vitamin E is considered a significant antioxidant and ensures that your skin stays youthful and healthy for longer. It is also an effective anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant [5; 7].

Effect of grapeseed oil on the skin

So you see, this oil can do a lot for the beauty and health of your skin. Considered the "source of eternal youth," it's especially potent as an anti-aging and skin-protecting agent, leaving your complexion smooth, fresh, supple, clear and radiant. In summary, it can ensure that 

• Your skin barrier remains intact,
• Keeping moisture in your skin and preventing dry skin, cracked skin and chapped skin,
• Fights pathogens, prevents blemishes and inflammation, heals wounds and strengthens the skin's own immune system,
• your skin metabolism and cell division is promoted,
• prevent wrinkles, smooth your skin and revitalizes your complexion,
• promotes skin regeneration,
• tightens deeper connective tissues, and helps to 
• fight skin diseases such as allergies and eczema [1; 2; 3; 4; 5].

Ideally, you should massage or pat the oil onto your face. Normally, it is then completely absorbed [6]. 

Grapeseed oil for the hair

But grape seed oil is not only good for the skin. Your hair, for example, if it is brittle, damaged or dry, can also benefit from the antioxidant power of the oil. To get shiny, healthy, strong and non-greasy hair, the moisturizing oil is just right. It seals the outer cuticle and makes your hair beautifully supple again without weighing it down.

In addition, the vitamin E contained in the oil promotes hair growth. To do this, simply apply some slightly warmed oil to your hair or the ends of your hair, leave it on for about 20 minutes and then rinse it out with cold water only [4; 5; 6]. You can use grapeseed oil as a treatment (overnight, for example) or for regular care as a conditioner. It is also possible to mix the oil with your usual shampoos, conditioners and treatments [1].

Application of Grapeseed oil

Whether you prefer to apply a few drops of oil to particularly stressed skin or hair areas, or you want to completely coat yourself with grape seed oil: The precious oil is suitable for many different applications in cosmetics.

What makes it special is that it is odorless and can usually be absorbed quickly into the skin and hair without leaving greasy traces. Also, it can be mixed wonderfully with another oil such as almond or jojoba oil, if the large-scale application is too expensive for you. One quick tip: Use a soft sponge for application [5].

In addition to using grape seed oil as a skin care product on the face or hair, you can also use it as follows:

• on cracked areas on elbows or feet
• as a massage oil, bath additive, body oil or as an additive to a mask
• as a component of homemade peelings, for example in combination with sea salt or
• as an after-shave after shaving to soothe the skin, prevent itching and heal small wounds.

Which skin-type is grapeseed oil suitable for?

Unlike some other oils (such as coconut oil), grape seed oil is suitable for all skin types. Dry, oily, blemished and combination skin usually tolerate the oil well, as it has a comparatively light texture, is quickly absorbed, regulates the oil and water balance of the skin and does not clog the pores (is non-comedogenic). If we consider the skin types in detail, then grape seed oil can, among other things.

• regulate moisture loss from dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier (with the help of linoleic acid and lecithin),
• curb excessive sebum production, scaling, inflammatory tendency of oily and/or blemished skin and prevent blackheads,
• inhibit photoaging of the skin through its antioxidant ability and plump up the mature skin type through its high moisture content and strengthening of the skin barrier [5]. 

Can grapeseed oil be used pure?

Of course, there are now some products that contain grape seed oil. However, in this case, the quality of the oil is usually not apparent to customers. All the good qualities concern only native, cold-pressed grape seed oil (light green color), which was produced without solvents and ideally comes from organic cultivation. Only then it is guaranteed that the oil also does not contain harmful substances such as pesticides and its valuable content has not been destroyed in the heating/refining process. We use the best grape seed oil in our products The Morning Glow, The Evening Glow, The Hug, The Good Night and The Blissful Day.

Grapeseed oil is also very good pure, but applied sparingly to the desired areas. This way it offers the highest effectiveness [2]. However, the correct storage of the vegetable oil is important in this context. Under the influence of light, heat and oxygen, it quickly becomes rancid and loses its effectiveness. Therefore, when shopping, make sure to choose only an oil in a dark glass bottle (!) and always store your oil in a protected place.

Our tip: Grape seed oil from the inside

If you want to take care of your body all around, then enrich your daily diet with a small amount of cold-pressed grape seed oil as cooking oil. The polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins and secondary plant substances in the oil are good for your entire organism and act like cosmetics from the inside. For example, they ensure good blood circulation and a functioning metabolism. Due to the neutral taste of the oil you can refine sweet and savory dishes with it.

Bottom Line

The non-comedogenic grape seed oil nourishes, protects and moisturizes the skin and is particularly popular as an anti-aging ingredient due to its abilities to tighten connective tissue and stimulate cell division and regeneration. It is basically suitable for all skin types, as it is quickly absorbed into the skin and does not clog pores. Due to the antioxidants it contains, it can prevent free radical damage to the skin barrier and promote wound healing. Grape seed oil can be applied externally and also taken pure. It is important that it was cold pressed without solvents and that the grapes were previously raised without insecticides and other harmful substances.

FAQ

What is grapeseed oil good for?

Organic grape seed oil, due to its high content of fatty acids such as polyunsaturated fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants and valuable plant substances, is suitable as an addition to a healthy diet, for hair care and for use on the skin of the face and body. Non-comedogenic grape seed oil is suitable for all skin types and can strengthen the skin barrier, metabolism and immune system of the skin, moisturize and smooth wrinkles. It can help promote the regeneration and healing of your facial skin and give it a youthful glow. The prerequisite for this is that it comes from solvent-free cold pressing.

Can you take grapeseed oil pure?

Cold-pressed grape seed oil is ideal for pure ingestion as a cooking oil due to the high content of valuable ingredients (such as unsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, antioxidants). Because the taste is also very pleasant. However, the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in grape seed oil is not optimal. This should be about 5:1, whereas in grapeseed oil it is about 1.135: 1. It should therefore only be taken in small quantities.

What is the best grapeseed oil?

The best is cold-pressed vegetable oil with organic seal, which has been obtained without solvents, only by pressure. Thus, it should be free of pollutants such as insecticides. Virgin grape seed oil is light green in color and tastes slightly nutty-fruity [2]. In this form, the valuable nutrients, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants are preserved. To ensure that the oil retains its good effect, you should rely on products in dark glass bottles and store them protected from light, heat and oxygen. This is the only way to ensure that it does not go rancid in the short term. Glass bottles because plasticizers from plastic bottles could contaminate the oil from grape seeds and reduce the nourishing effects. [6] Such oil is very suitable for food, cosmetics and hair [4]. For this purpose, be sure to pay attention to the information of the distributor when buying.