Grapeseed Oil in Skin Care

Grapeseed oil is an extremely popular and affordable ingredient in many skin care products.

It is rich in hydrating fatty acids as well as numerous antioxidant compounds.

It’s diverse set of properties make it useful in treatments of various common skin concerns like eczema, melasma, and wrinkles.

Check out this blog and take the Baumann Skin Type quiz to see if grapeseed oil in skin care is right for you!

Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil

Grape seed oil is one of the most popular oils used in face creams. It is safe, easy to formulate and does not have a bad smell. It also has many properties that make it a good ingredient in anti-wrinkle creams.

Grapeseed oil benefits

Grapeseed oil is primarily known for its moisturizing and antioxidant capabilities.

Phenolic compounds (like gallic acid) are good antioxidants which are beneficial in many anti-aging products.

Those and other compounds present in grapeseed like linoleic acid are also effective anti-inflammatories.

Linoleic acid is a hydrating fatty acid, desirable for many skin treatments.

It also contains an appreciable amount of vitamin E, a known antioxidant.

It is an occlusive oil, meaning it prevents transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and helps other ingredients absorb into the skin. (Skin slugging)

With antimicrobial properties, it also has uses in acne treatments for eliminating bacteria, or for use in other infectious skin conditions like a staph infection. (29)

Some studies have even found grapeseed oil might treat certain kinds of tumors without damaging normal cells. (23) More research always needs to be done on cancer treatments with evidence-based FDA trials before their use can be recommended to treat cancer.

What kind of oil is it?

Grapeseed oil is a plant extract primarily composed of unsaturated fatty acids, which means it could be classified as a “dry oil.”

There is a low presence of saturated fatty acids in it as well, which gives it some thickness.

Because grapeseed oil is thick, it is not considered an essential oil even though it is derived from plants; it is instead considered a carrier oil.

Grapeseed oil is a hydrating unsaturated oil rich in natural antioxidant phenolic compounds.

vitamin e in grapeseed oil

What are the active compounds?

Grapeseed oil is rich in various fatty acids, phenolic acids, tannins, flavonoids, and stilbenes. (3)

Grape seeds are the most common source of resveratrol, a potent antioxidant, anti-cancer compound to which grapeseed oil owes many of its benefits.

It has a high concentration of gallic acid, for example, a phenol known for its significant antioxidant properties. (5)

Soothing, unsaturated linoleic acid is the most common fatty acid in grapeseed oil. (2)

Oleic acid is also found in low concentrations, which aids in the absorption of other ingredients by creating penetrable holes in the skin barrier.

Some saturated fatty acids are found in trace amounts in grapeseed oils depending on the variety of grape processed. (4)

Grapeseed oil also contains a significant amount of vitamin E, a potent antioxidant and antimicrobial compound. (2)

Grapeseed oil side effects

Grapeseed oil is not known to pose any particular risks of side effects.

Allergies to grapes or grapeseed are extremely rare.

As an occlusive, overuse of grapeseed oil can result in overhydrating the skin, which can result in a change to microbiome.

is grapeseed oil safe

Is it safe?

Grapeseed oil is an extremely safe ingredient in skin care in most kinds of regimens.

According to research organizations like the CIR, there are no common safety concerns associated with grapeseed oil.

No studies have found evidence of toxicity to normal human cells following oral or topical use.

It is considered a clean ingredient in beauty products and skin care.

Grapeseed vs olive oil

In terms of fatty acid composition, grapeseed oil is primarily composed of linoleic acid while olive oil is mainly oleic acid.

Otherwise, the two oils share many antioxidant phenolic compounds in common such as various tocopherols and carotenoids.

Because olive oil contains so much oleic acid, it is better suited to oilier skin types who are not at risk from irritation.

Olive oil is also comedogenic, which means if you have acne prone skin, olive oil is likely to cause clogged pores.

Grapeseed oil does not contain nearly as much oleic acid and is not comedogenic, meaning it is safe for dry skin and for use in acne.

Both oils are antioxidizing and antimicrobial.

Specific uses

Grapeseed oil is extremely versatile with very few drawbacks, making it one of the most popular ingredients in many skin care products.

It contains many beneficial compounds used to treat various conditions,

To find out whether grapeseed oil is a good fit in your custom skin care regimen, take our dermatologist- developed quiz and shop by your Baumann Skin Type!

Take the Quiz

Acne

Grapeseed oil is non-comedogenic, meaning it does not clog pores which leads to acne.

In addition, it is rich in antimicrobial and antioxidant phenols which eliminate acne causing bacteria on the skin.

If you have very oily skin as well as acne, adding more oil onto your skin (even a good oil like grapeseed) is not always advised.

Make sure to learn about the skin’s natural oil production to understand more about when to use oils in your acne routine.

Hair care

Grapeseed oil is one of the best oils for use in most kinds of hair care.

Grapeseed oil is loaded with hydrating fatty acids that are wonderful for moisturizing and repairing hair follicles.

The linoleic acid in it is particularly good as an anti-inflammatory compound, which is good for treating an irritated scalp.

Because it is not a comedogenic ingredient, it poses very little risk of clogging the pores on your hairline.

Be sure not to apply directly to the roots if you don’t shampoo more than a few times per week. Oil buildup can result in greasy feeling and looking hair.

grapeseed oil for dry skin

Dry skin

Grapeseed oil is full of hydrating, moisturizing compounds which are great at repairing the skin barrier and preventing damage to dry skin.

The most common usage of grapeseed oil is in moisturizers designed for treating dry skin.

Conditions like eczema are also treatable with grapeseed oil; it serves as an effective emollient and antioxidant as well as repairing the skin barrier.

Skin lightening

Because it is primarily composed of unsaturated fats and contains a lot of resveratrol, grapeseed oil is a weak skin lightening tyrosinase inhibitor, meaning it can be used in moisturizers used after treatments for hyperpigmentation.

Dark spots, melasma, and sun damage are all kinds of hyperpigmentation that benefit from using a skin lightener like grapeseed oil.

Applying the oil on its own onto the skin will not produce any significant results.

Grapeseed oil, like many other plant based skin lighteners, works best in combination with other skin lightening ingredients like:

Arbutin

Cysteamine

Ferulic acid

Hexylresorcinol

Kojic acid

Licorice extract

Niacinamide

Resorcinol

Wrinkles

Grapeseed oil is rich in antioxidant phenols, flavonoids, and other compounds which are beneficial in many kinds of anti-aging products and treatments.

Hydrating antioxidants with occlusive properties like grapeseed oil work great alongside ingredients like retinoids.

There are many anti-aging ingredients that can be combined with grapeseed oil such as:

Argiriline

Exosomes

Hyaluronic acid

Vitamin C

Best products with grapeseed oil in skin care

Once you’ve taken the quiz, check out some of my favorite products containing grapeseed oil:

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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