My miracle oil.

Two years ago, I thought I was lucky to have good genes since I wasn't prone to acne(I had black heads and white heads though) . I also thought that cleansing your face was the only thing that I needed to do to keep it that way. It was only when I moved here in Australia and got the chance to work in a pharmacy/beauty shop that I realize that I was missing a big part of the basic skincare regime: cleanse+tone+moisturize+exfoliate. Cleansing is something we can't escape because we all take a shower. Toning is forgivable if you skip it but I still suggest that you do it. Exfoliation must only be done 1-3 times  a week so I wont put much stress on this. Moisturizing, lastly, is as important as cleansing.

"Any biological system, including the skin, survives by carrying out a multitude of biochemical reactions. In essence, biochemical reactions are chemical "transactions" involving biologically important molecules. The vast majority of biochemical reactions proceed normally only if the reagents are properly dissolved in water or, in some cases, oil. Lack of water in or around cells disrupts normal metabolism and tissue repair. Therefore, dehydrated skin has a decreased capacity for repair and regeneration."

So if you don't want premature wrinkles, you better start moisturizing as early as....NOW.

A good day moisturizer would have a high SPF (sun protection factor)--This would be a different blog entry. I want to focus on night moisturizers because it is in our sleep that our skin regenerates the best. And at the young age of 23, I have found a night moisturizer  that I know I'll use until I grow old!

 Let me introduce to my my miracle oil, Rosehip oil.

Rosehip oil comes from the “hip” of the rose, which is the seed pod or fruit of the rose that occurs after the rose petals fall off.

Rosehip oil  has natural ingredients like:

-vitamin A – also known as topical trans retinoic acid, this can help with oily skin, skin that is dehydrated from sun exposure, fine lines, wrinkles, and an uneven skin tone.
- Linoleic acid – helps to preserve the cell’s natural barrier to the environment and is vital for the structure of cell membranes.  This is an omega 6 fatty acid.
-Oleic acid – an omega 9 fatty acid, this helps to create supple and moist skin and improve overall skin condition.
-Linolenic acid – this is an omega 3 fatty acid and it may help to improve skin conditions by softening and moisturising the skin.  It is also important for the structure of cell membranes.
-Lycopene – this is an antioxidant and it protects the skin from free radical damage, reducing the risk of premature ageing.
-Beta-carotene – a source of pro vitamin A and an antioxidant to help improve the appearance of sun damaged skin.  It can also help to prevent the signs of ageing.
-Vitamin C – this is an antioxidant that protects against free radical damage.  It also plays a role in the formation of collagen.

Sounds too good to be true? Well, I am here to testify! I've been using rosehip oil as my night moisturizer for less than 2 years already. I am on my fourth bottle I believe. I love it becasue it's 100% natural. I'm not putting any chemicals on my face with this product. With all the other products I use, it's  good to skin my skin a breather.  Also, rosehip oil is good for any skin type! Even if I have oily skin, it doesn't make my skin oilier.

So how do I use rosehip oil?
-After I cleanse and tone my skin, I use 3-4 drops of rosehip oil on my palm. I rub my palms and gently pat my whole face. It's best to just pat and not rub our face with the oil  because it is easily absorbed that way.
-When I feel a pimple coming out or if the pimple is already there, I just put more oil in that area(because I'm paranoid! haha!)
- When one of the threading ladies that I go to "accidentally" cut my upper lip, I also used rosehip oil on it.
-Sometimes, when I feel like it, I add rosehip oil to my moisturizer.
-When I have a wound or scratch, I also use a drop or two on it.

What are the AMAZING effects?
- I can definitely say that I have a more even skin tone than before.
-I believe I don't have wrinkles yet. HAHA.
-I don't worry about pimples because I can prevent pimples from coming out with rosehip oil. It helps me dry out the pimples that I already have. And the best part is I wasn't scared of pimple marks because there weren't any!
-I had no scars with the cuts I had from threading.

Not yet convinced? For a 25ml bottle, the cheapest you can get is AUD 20. This tiny bottle can last up to 4-5 months!---Of course depending on how you use it. BUT HOW GOOD IS THAT?

Still not convinced? See the difference!

This was the high school me back in 2007. See the little zits on my forehead? Hello puberty!

This was me in my freshman year in UP Diliman. Now say hello to my  face when it was exposed to all the sun and pollution the world could have. (I rode every possible public transportation there is just to get to school)

And this is the 2012 me! I have nothing on my face  in this photo but I look fresh and neat!

Now, I think that I was a bit in denial when I was told that I didn't changed the way I looked since high school. I'll take that as an advantage. I hope I still look the same when I'm in my 40's and 50's.

Well, that was a bit embarrassing! Forgive the photos. HAHA. All for the sake of proving a point.
Anyway, I've tried only a couple of brands namely Trilogy and Sukin.

There are only two differences between these: price and thickness. Trilogy is more expensive and thicker than Sukin. Other than that, it's the same thing.

Not to brag or anything, but I had a lot of people (in varying age groups!) asking me what my secret is. My skin isn't perfect but it definitely improved with just 2-4 drops a day. Simple as that! ;)

Tips by Tippy:
-Although Rose hip oil is all natural, it is a possibility that you can be allergic to some of it's components. Make sure to do a patch test first!
-Though I said it's a miracle oil, beauty can not be achieved overnight. You have to use it everyday for at least 2 months to achieve results. Also, maintenance is the key.
-Rose hip oil may not be the best moisturizer for you. Remember that we are all unique and our bodies react differently. I just highly suggest this because it worked for me!For some tips on how to choose your moisturizer according to your skin type, click on this.

P.S. I'm not sure where to get this in the Philippines because the brands I've used are Australian  made. I browsed through an online shop that sells this but I didn't take note of it.