This is the second Oil Sample Pack for Sensitive Skin that I ordered from Garden of Wisdom. Check out the first pack HERE. It's $9.25 for your choice of 3 oils, depending upon which Sampler Pack you choose (sensitive, dehydrated, oily, etc.). This time I chose Plum Kernel Oil, Camellia Sinesis Oil and Perilla Oil.
Unfortunately I'll only be reviewing the Plum Kernel Oil and Camellia Oil...upon closer googling I found out that Perilla is best kept refrigerated after opening. With traveling so much I didn't want to get attached and have to worry about it trying to keep it cold. Because of that I didn't even test it out. But I still wanted to mention it as a viable option for those with sensitive skin, acne prone skin because what I read at least sounds really good!!
From Garden of Wisdom regarding Perilla Oil:
As a natural antiseptic, perrilla oil is great for use on acne prone skin, as it will help to eliminate the bacterial causes of acne. Perilla oil is an anti-inflammatory that will help to reduce swelling and calm and relieve itching of the skin. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, Perilla oil is nourishing and will help to keep skin healthy and vibrant.
Onto the other two!!
I tried Plum Kernel Oil first. It felt really good going on...soothing, lightweight and absorbed pretty quickly. It was also very moisturizing without being greasy. The smell, however ,was not so great?? It's hard to describe. It didn't smell good, but it didn't smell bad either. I don't know!!! I've read reviews describing the smell as marzipan-like, though I've never smelled it and can't comment. But if marzipan is reminiscent of old fruitcake then that's the closest thing I can think of!! Good news is the smell quickly goes away :-)
This ended up being too rich and started clogging my skin. Unfortunate because I really like the way my skin looked while using it. It GLOWED!!
From the Garden of Wisdom site:
Plum kernel oil is an exotic and rich oil. Although it is very rich, it has excellent skin penetrating abilities and does not leave a greasy residue behind. Plum kernel oil is very nourishing, as it is very high in essential fatty acids that are key to keeping skin bright and healthy. Powerful antioxidants help to protect skin from damaging free radicals. This oil also helps to prevent and treat signs of aging of the skin, keeping it looking youthful and radiant.
I knew going in that it was rich and probably wouldn't work, but considering the description and that it was so inexpensive to try a sample of I went for it!! I'll use the rest of the sample up by either using it on my hands before cream or adding it to body lotion.
Next up is Camellia Oil. This one is Camellia Sinesis. There is also Camellia Oleifera, which is supposed to be a bit more emollient.
I'm totally in love with Camellia Oil. There!! It's out there!! This makes my skin so silky smooth and soft I want to touch it all day long!! It's lightweight, moisturizing, sinks in very quickly and has no smell that I can detect. It also doesn't irritate or clog my skin. Amazingly I have also been breaking out less and I feel it has helped keep my skin looking fresh and supple - a definite plus when getting non-consistent sleep.
From Garden of Wisdom:
Camellia oil has been used for centuries as a natural hair conditioner, and may also be used on the skin for fantastic results. Camellia oil has anti-aging properties that help to fight wrinkles and diminish the appearance of fine lines. This oil is light weight on the skin, making it great for facial application.
I loved Camellia Oil by itself, but I've found an even better combination. I combine 4 drops of Kukui Nut Oil + 5 drops of Camellia Oil and apply after misting my skin with filtered water. With this combination I haven't had a full-on spot in several weeks! Now that's something to celebrate...especially since I've been battling acne and random spots for what seems like forever, but has been about 1 1/2 years.
This combination of Kukui + Camellia is also the most moisturizing yet lightweight oil I've tried to date. It's so good that I can sometimes get away with using just this mix and don't have to layer anything over it on my super dry areas. An amazing feat when I also have a slightly oily chin and nose!!! Oh, on that note this combo has also made those areas less oily.
I couldn't be happier with these sampler packs! I'm really excited I took the chance and discovered some gems :-) If you are on the hunt for your perfect oil, check them out...