Most people know grapeseed oil for cooking, but that’s true of many options that have been embraced as massage oils today. When you’re looking for the best option for a massage at home, you want a solution that’s good for your skin and makes the most of your relaxation time. So, is grapeseed oil good for massage?
Grapeseed oil is great for a massage. It contains vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids, which have been shown to have positive effects on the skin. It’s a carrier oil, so it’s easy to blend with other body oils or essential oils to add more minerals or scents to your massage experience. It is also a lightweight oil, which means it is easily absorbed leaving less of a greasy feeling after a massage.
Let’s dive deep into the benefits of grapeseed oil for skincare, its massage applications, and how to know if it is the right choice for you!
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What We Know About Grapeseed Oil And Skincare Today
As the name implies, grapeseed oil comes from grape seeds. During the process used to make wine, some of the runoff is turned into grapeseed oil.
While we know that it contains linoleic acid and vitamin E, scientific research is still limited when it comes to what grapeseed oil can do for your skin. Despite this, many individuals have reported having great results. What can you take from this?
For one thing, it’s helpful to understand the elements we do know about grapeseed oil so far. We’ll break into that in the next section. Understanding what is in an oil and what kind of effects you might look for in your skin can give you insight into your own results.
For another thing, it means you’ll need to approach using it like something of an experiment. Honestly, I think it is a good idea to approach any new substance you use on your skin this way. While some people find that grapeseed oil clears up their acne, it could just as easily cause acne for others. It may be best to then use a new oil on one tiny area of your skin and see how you like it and what your results are before trying a full body massage with grapeseed oil.
If you are concerned about massage oil and acne, make sure to check out my article ‘Which Massage Oil is Best for Acne-Prone Skin?’
Grapeseed Oil For Healthy Skin
What properties in grapeseed oil make it unique? Well, it has both vitamin E and linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid.
Vitamin E has been shown to fight free radicals. While we know it does this when consumed, it is also believed to do this when applied to the skin, though more research is needed. Studies have found that vitamin E helps develop a protective barrier over the skin. It works to help prevent and counteract the signs of skin aging. Healthy skin, rich in vitamin E, can help protect again sun damage. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.
These same studies found that linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, is limited in the skin, but is an essential nutrient for skin health. Other studies supported these findings and agreed that linoleic acid also works to create the healthy protection skin needs from UV light. They found that omega-6 fatty acids work to reduce inflammation in the middle and outer layers of the skin.
Grapeseed oil is also a mild astringent and antiseptic. Most massage oils are a risk for people who have oily skin. They can clog pores and cause breakouts. Because of the astringent and antiseptic properties, grapeseed oil has been shown to help heal acne, tighten pores, and reduce the appearance of scars.
Because of this, many people like to massage a few drops of grapeseed oil on their faces before they go to sleep at night. This helps moisturize the skin. Because oil creates a barrier over the top of the skin and absorbs more slowly, it holds in moisture. Many people have found grapeseed oil to be an effective makeup remover.
What Is a Carrier Oil For Massage At Home?
Oil famously doesn’t mix well with water. Water blends well with most substances, so you can easily make rose-scented water on your own. Creating a rose-scented oil would be more difficult because it doesn’t typically blend well with other materials, especially liquids.
A carrier oil is one that blends well with other substances. Grapeseed oil and jojoba oil are both great carrier oils. Because of this, these two oils can be blended together, for people who want to experience the benefits of both types of oils together. Alternatively, grapeseed oil can be blended with essential oils to capture the properties of those or to make a massage oil with a pleasant scent.
Why Massage Oils Are a Popular Choice and How Can Grapeseed Oil Enhance your Experience
Why do people choose massage oils instead of massage lotions or other products for a relaxing time at home?
Massage oil is absorbed slowly. This means a few different things for your massage at home. For one thing, it means the substance goes a long way, so you don’t need to keep applying more and more. It means the substance glides across the skin, for long luxurious strokes.
It can also mean that the oil stays on your skin, creating a greasy after-effect feeling that many people don’t enjoy.
Keep in mind that studies have found you’ll get your best results when a massage lasts for an hour or longer. While the slow absorption of massage oils may be frustrating in some ways, it can also encourage you to take more time with your massage.
Of course, it can still be too much for some people. Wiping off with a warm cloth after can help, but if you don’t like the feeling, then massage oils may not be for you.
As far as the greasy after effect goes, grapeseed oil is a good compromise. It has a nice balance of the pluses and negatives of oil’s slow absorption rate since it tends to absorb more quickly than other massage oils.
Massage lotion is often cold when applied to the skin, but massage oil warms quickly. You can easily get a massage oil warmer or just hold the substance on your hands for a bit to get it to a comfortable temperature.
Using a massage oil is also good for those who are concerned about using synthetic substances on your skin. When you use a simple choice like grapeseed oil, you know exactly what’s going on in your skin. This creates peace of mind.
Oils, such as grapeseed oil, also create a protective layer over the top of the skin. This means that your skin can hold in moisture. A lot of people report their skin feeling softer the next day.
If you would like to know more about how massage oil compares to other options, go ahead and visit our article ‘Massage Oil or Massage Lotion? Find Out Which is Best for You!’.
The Bottom Line
Everyone’s personal preference will vary, but generally, yes, grapeseed oil is a great choice for a massage at home. Compared to other oils it offers a lot of benefits and compromises.
Many people complain about the downsides of massage oils, like greasy after-effects and stained sheets. These are still concerns, but much milder ones with grapeseed.
As a carrier oil, it also offers you a lot more options if you want to get creative with making your own blended solutions.
Alternatively, if you like the sound of a lot of the benefits of grapeseed oil, but this one just isn’t for you, you might consider jojoba oil which has a lot of similar properties.
If you enjoy a good massage at home and are looking to try new massage oils, grapeseed may be a good choice for you. If you have oily skin, grapeseed may be one of your best options to give massage oils a chance.
