It seems like there’s always another new oil making its debut in the beauty industry these days. Actually, it’s not just the beauty industry that’s searching for hot new oils to use. The rising awareness of the need for natural alternatives to our conventional solutions means that more and more natural oils are getting the spotlight they truly deserve. Grapeseed oil happens to be one of those oils.

Nevertheless, while coconuts and jojoba revel in their beauty-industry glory, grapeseed is still somewhat thrust into the shadows. It’s been growing in popularity over the past few years, but this oil is in no way new. In fact, the first historical reference to grapeseed oil was way back in the 1500s! Despite its humble status, there are plenty of uses and benefits to this oil. This article will explore why grapeseed oil is a worthy addition to a range of DIY’s. We’ll delve into its benefits, uses, and how you can incorporate it into your routine. I’m a big fan of wine in any form. So if there’s some way to incorporate a derivative of it into my beauty routine, sign me up! But first things first, what’s this oil all about, and is it healthy?

Is Grapeseed Oil Healthy?

Grapes growing.

Grapeseed oil is created from the winemaking process. Once the grapes have been pressed, grape seeds are left behind and oil is extracted from the leftovers. If that’s not sustainable beauty, I don’t know what is. It essentially means that there is nothing remaining from the original product once the grapes have been used. That being said, this makes it important to ensure that the grapeseed oil that you’re going for is organic so that no unwanted chemicals or additives are being filtered into your final product. 

Before we get into the specific health benefits of grapeseed oil, it’s essential to note that this oil has a high smoke point. This means that it’s not a good option for frying. The good news is that it’s basically flavorless. So it allows other ingredients to take the limelight both in terms of flavor and scent. Keep on reading to find out if grapeseed oil is healthy.

Omega-6 Fatty Acids

This nourishing oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids, which are polyunsaturated fats. Not only are they crucial for brain function, but they also encourage skin and hair health. These fatty acids also work to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. When people talk about consuming “healthy fats”, omega-6 fatty acids are pretty much at the top of that list. It’s important to note that as with everything in life, there can be too much of a good thing. Consuming too much omega-6 fatty acids has the potential to lead to inflammation. This can contribute to a myriad of health risks. Nevertheless, if you know how to moderate your intake, there’s no reason why grapeseed oil should prove to be a problem to your health. Knowing your limits is an essential aspect of overall health!

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a potent, fat-soluble antioxidant that is touted for its scar-healing properties. Antioxidants protect your body from free radicals that have the potential to damage your cells. Free radicals are associated with a multitude of chronic illnesses including cancer, and they also contain skin-damaging properties. With this in mind, vitamin E can be a useful nutrient for both your internal and external health. And grapeseed provides you with plenty of this handy vitamin!

Grapeseed Oil Vs. Olive Oil

Both grapeseed oil and olive oil have their perks.

The grapeseed oil vs. olive oil debate is one that’s usually reserved for chefs or those who know their way around a kitchen. There are obvious differences between the oils that I feel like we should just get out of the way. First of all, it almost goes without saying that olive oil is extracted from olives. And grapeseed oil is extracted from grapes through the winemaking process. Both oils are used in many dishes, with much overlap, but let’s take a closer look at some distinct differences. 

The most marked difference between the two oils is the type of fats that they contain. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats, while grapeseed oil is rich in polyunsaturated fats. Both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats aid in the absorption of vitamins in the body. However, the polyunsaturated fats found in grapeseed oil are considered essential because your body does not produce them on its own and they’re necessary for normal body functioning. 

Another difference between grapeseed oil and olive oil is that grapeseed oil contains more vitamin E than olive oil. In fact, it contains twice as much of this skin-replenishing vitamin. This makes it a winner in terms of skin and hair renewal. That being said, olive oil contains vitamin K while grapeseed oil doesn’t. Seeing as this vitamin is also important for the wound-healing process and repairing skin conditions such as stretch marks, olive oil is still in the race. I guess you’ll just have to try each oil for yourself and see which one works best for you! 

Grapeseed Oil Benefits

Grapeseed oil is a great source of antioxidants.

This fruity oil is one of the most desirable oils when it comes to skincare. It often falls between the cracks, while coconut oil and almond oil steal the limelight. But don’t underestimate its potent benefits. One of the biggest benefits of grapeseed oil is its incredibly rich antioxidant content. Grape seeds are packed with polyphenols and OPC’s (oligomeric proanthocyanidins), which are a couple of the most impressive and potent antioxidants in nature. The reason as to why these are particularly powerful is because they complement numerous vitamins in your body.

This should be unsurprising, given the well-known health benefits of moderate wine consumption. Some of the touted benefits include lowering blood pressure, balancing the gut microbiome, and protecting your body against a range of cancers. It sounds too good to be true. But if some squashed grapes can do all that for your body, consider how great they are when you think of all they can do for your skin too. 

If you want to make the most of grapeseed oil benefits, you’ll want to make sure the oil that you’re using is cold-pressed. This ensures that all the active ingredients remain intact and haven’t been chemically altered. Oils that have been heated, distilled or processed lose some of their potency, and this can be detrimental to maximizing their benefits. So, if you want the cream of the crop, go for a cold-pressed oil. Additionally, the grapeseed oil that you use should be organic so that you’re not exposing yourself or your skin to any pesticide residue or other additives that might be harmful to your health in the long-run. 

Grapeseed Oil Uses

1. Carrier Oil

The primary use of grapeseed oil in the health and beauty industry is as a carrier oil. With so many carrier oils available including jojoba, argan, sweet almond, and coconut oil, you might be wondering why grapeseed oil stands out among the rest. The truth is that it might not. Choosing the carrier oil that works for you is largely a matter of preference, but I do think that this oil, in particular, is not given enough credit as a carrier oil. 

So if you’re trying to figure out why you should pick up the grapeseed oil instead of the sweet almond oil, let me break it down for you. Grapeseed oil is easily absorbed into the skin and contains a neutral scent. It’s light in both color and weight, which can’t be said for many of the other carrier oils on offer. This is often what makes it a go-to among the other more powerful, heavy oils used in many DIY’s. 

2. Moisturizer

You can use grapeseed oil to make your own facial moisturizer.

If your skin is feeling a little dry or dehydrated, pause before reaching for the coconut oil. Although it’s true that coconut oil is deeply hydrating, it’s also an occlusive. This means that it has the potential to clog your pores. Unlike this nutty oil, grapeseed oil is a non-occlusive oil. So when it moisturizes your skin, it doesn’t block your pores at the same time. For those with oily or sensitive skin, this is the ideal oil to give your complexion a much-needed hydration boost. What’s more, is that the antioxidant properties also give grapeseed oil anti-aging qualities. Who doesn’t want hydrated and youthful skin all rolled into one?

For an easy DIY moisturizing solution, pour grapeseed oil into ⅔ of a small bottle. Add a nourishing oil, such as rosehip oil, until the bottle is almost full. Top it off with 5 drops of an essential oil of your choice (my favorite is lavender, for its balancing and soothing properties). Shake the bottle well and you’re good to go! This moisturizing facial oil has a shelf life of around 6 months when kept out of the sunlight. Shake well before each use, rub some between your hands, and apply directly onto your face. Your skin should feel softer, look brighter, and most importantly, truly be healthier! 

3. Aromatherapy

The use of aromatherapy is becoming more and more popular as our society turns to holistic methods to reduce stress and anxiety. Despite the skeptics, there has been much research into the effectiveness of aromatherapy way beyond its stress-relieving properties. A systematic review showed that aromatherapy even has the potential to reduce pain. When you take into consideration the fact that your sense of smell is directly connected to your central nervous system, it’s logical that aromatherapy can have a profound effect not only on your state of mind, but also on your physiological health. 

With this in mind, grapeseed oil is a wonderful carrier oil in aromatherapy. Its light scent and texture mean that when it’s mixed with essential oils of your choice, you can create a range of blends without the carrier oil taking the spotlight. Basically, it’s light enough that it lets the essential oils do the talking. You can use it as a carrier oil for massage oils or in a diffuser. The aromatherapeutic opportunities are endless. 

Grapeseed Oil For Skin

Woman with healthy skin.

If you’re one of those people who take natural skincare seriously, then this should not be the first time that you’re hearing about grapeseed oil. Many of the compounds found in grapeseed oil, including vitamin E and the fatty acids that we’ve mentioned, are ideal for optimal skin health. Its non-occlusive properties mean that it penetrates the skin without leaving it feeling oily or greasy. 

When using grapeseed oil for skin, it can moisturize your skin, lighten dark circles, tighten pores, and smooth your skin tone to reduce the appearance of scars and wrinkles. It can also be used as an alternative to coconut oil for an natural makeup remover. If you use it for this, make sure to follow up with a cleanser and wash your face with lukewarm water to leave your skin clean from any leftover dirt and grime. Many people make the mistake of relying solely on a makeup remover to remove their makeup. It’s an innocent mistake, but unless you rinse your face, there is residue left behind that eventually gets absorbed into the skin. 

How To Use

Grapeseed oil is a really easy oil to use on pretty much all skin types thanks to its lightweight qualities. When you’re using pure cold pressed grapeseed oil, you can apply it directly onto your skin. If you want to maximize the potential in this oil, you can use it as a base for a range of DIY’s. Depending on your skin concern, you can mix essential oils with the grapeseed oil to leave your complexion clear and healthy. Lavender can be a great balancing skin solution to soothe acne and reduce inflammation. Alternatively, lemon or tea tree essential oils contain powerful antibacterial qualities that prevent breakouts and tighten pores. If this all seems just a tad complicated, you can also simply add a couple drops of the oil into your regular skincare products for an extra boost. 

Grapeseed Oil For Hair

Grapeseed oil can make your hair healthier.

When my hair is going through a shedding streak (usually during the stressful winter months) I’m always on the lookout for any natural solutions that can nurture my hair back to health. And by health, I mean thickness. The nutrients and antioxidants found in grapeseed oil mean that it has the power to help boost hair growth. It’s not a magical cure for your hair-shedding woes, but there is no denying that the nutrients can give your lackluster hair some much-needed nourishment. Vitamin E, polyphenols, OPC’s and fatty acids are all essential for optimal hair health. 

If nothing else, you should use grapeseed oil for hair to help tame your frizzy flyaways and prevent breakage. Although there are many natural oils that you can use to achieve frizz-free hair (argan oil, jojoba oil, and, once again, coconut oil to name a few), grapeseed oil is unique. It doesn’t leave your hair with that greasy, heavy feeling that you sometimes get with other hair oils and serums. Its lightweight texture can be too light for some. But when it comes to your hair, non-greasy and lightweight are qualities that you can’t overlook. 

How To Use

If you’re wondering how to use this oil on your hair, don’t fret – it’s simple!  Take a small amount of oil in the palm of your hand and massage it into the scalp. The fatty acid content in grapeseed oil gives it moisturizing properties. This makes the oil a quick and easy frizz-control treatment. One of the great things about natural oils is that you can also just pour a couple of drops into your shampoo and conditioner. This means that you can reap the effects without having to do a whole DIY session. 

Learn more about grapes with our Benefits Of Grapes Explained

Conclusion

When it comes to natural oils, they can sometimes all blend into one overwhelming blur. The truth is that while there is a lot of overlap, each person has unique needs. And what this means is that natural or otherwise, solutions are not one-size-fits-all. With the rising awareness of the need to prioritize holistic health and understand your body’s particular needs, more and more natural ingredients are emerging from the shadows. Grapeseed oil is one of those oils that has been lying around for centuries but was shafted in favor of other, more ‘popular’ options. We all know that ‘popular’ doesn’t necessarily translate to ‘the best’. It’s something to keep in mind when you’re considering adding grapeseed oil to your wellness kit. 

Whether you use it in the kitchen, on your skin, in your hair, or for any other range of uses, there are numerous ways to incorporate grapeseed oil into your life. Next time you reach out your hand for the coconut oil, consider grabbing some grapeseed oil instead. It can be difficult to give up tried-and-tested natural solutions for new ones. But your skin also needs different things at different times. Sometimes it needs the deep hydration of coconut oil and sometimes it needs the skin-softening benefits of grapeseed oil.

For a quick and easy DIY, mix equal part jojoba, argan, and grapeseed oils. Then add in around 20 drops of lavender and peppermint essential oils. Ta-da, you have yourself a balancing facial serum! Experimenting with different natural oils opens you to new possibilities. Furthermore, it also helps you understand your skin on a more cellular level. With all of these benefits at your disposal, it’s worth giving grapeseed oil a try! If you find that it’s not for you, there are plenty of other natural oils out there that might be!