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Easy self-care ideas and glow up tips like using natural face skin care oils for clear skin and anti-aging benefits. Get simple self care routines with the best oils for mature skin – of course with vitamin E and other nourishing ingredients that give you healthy, glowing skin without spending a fortune. Learn how these pantry staples can transform your beauty regimen through their hydrating and rejuvenating superpowers. It’s time to create your own glow up checklist and say goodbye to lackluster skin!
Remember the first time you bit into a juicy peach on a sunny summer day? The sweet nectar dripped down your chin as you closed your eyes and smiled. The tender flesh melted on your tongue, its fragrance filling your senses with the very essence of freshness and joy.
That’s how I felt when I first discovered French women’s secrets to nourishing their skin with natural oils – total bliss!
Over 40? Then we need this!
Like you, I’m a busy 40-something woman juggling career, family and a hundred errands that seem to pop up out of nowhere. My days fly by. But in my years living in France, I learned that French women glow from the inside out by taking sensual pleasure in simple self-care rituals.
French women have a lot of natural beauty secrets, the best ones I listed here. Lubricating their skin daily with potions made from luxurious natural ingredients is an indulgence French women adore. Far from being greasy, these elixirs give your face a dewy glow that looks perfect without makeup.
When I first felt the luxurious glide of olive oil expertly massaged onto my face, my stressed skin drank it in. I emerged with a silkiness that stunned me. Why had no one told me about this liquid gold before?
Over time, I discovered magnificent oils of grapeseed, meadowfoam, argan, and more-each with its own personality. Playing with blends and textures was like learning a new language. I wanted to savor every precious drop!
Of course, glowing skin is about much more than products. It’s a mindset shift to honor the needs of our bodies as we mature. My French friends laugh, drink and live life to the fullest between kids, work and family. They prioritize simple pleasures that reconnect them with their sensuality.
Their joy comes from within, not from striving for perfection. But a little pampering never hurts!
So let’s explore how we can sensually nourish ourselves with rejuvenating elixirs…
What your skin craves most after 40
Like a peach picked at perfect ripeness, our skin’s needs change with the seasons and over the decades.
In our 20s, controlling oil and breakouts are top concerns. But by our 30s, collagen and elastin levels begin to decline. Skin loses its plumpness and dewiness without rich hydration.
In our 40s, wrinkles and dark spots begin to appear. We notice dryness, especially around the eyes, neck and lips. Our complexions crave antioxidant nourishment to minimize environmental damage.
After the age of 50, skin becomes even thinner and more susceptible to irritation. Prolonging cell turnover and minimizing loss of firmness are priorities. Preventing moisture loss is essential.
The most effective oils to address these concerns are those high in vitamins A, C and E and essential fatty acids. These nourish the skin at the cellular level for renewed smoothness, elasticity and radiance.
The many benefits of natural oils
Oils provide skin with the nutrients it craves for deep hydration and regeneration. Key benefits include
- Increase collagen production to firm skin
- Seals in moisture to prevent dryness
- Absorbs quickly without being greasy
- Delivers antioxidants to reverse signs of aging
- Soothes irritation and inflammation
- Helps other products penetrate
Science now shows that plant-based oils can benefit us inside and out. These are not the greasy, processed oils used in many skin care products! But cold-pressed versions that are rich in vitamins, fatty acids, antioxidants, and more.
Beyond the feel-good factor, here are some stellar ways luxurious natural oils can enhance mature complexions:
- Rosehip oil: Fades wrinkles, scars and sun spots
- Pomegranate oil: Boosts new cell turnover
- Hemp Seed oil: Soothes inflamed, eczema-prone skin
- Avocado oil: Deeply nourishes with vitamins A, D, E
- Argan oil: Repairs dryness and improves elasticity
- Carrot Seed oil: Prevents sun damage and rejuvenates skin cells.
Top anti-aging Oils
Heh, it’s really hard to define the best anti-aging oils, but here are my top 3 finds for glowing skin after 40 (plus the best one will come a little later)):
Castor Oil – Deeply penetrates the skin with fatty acids to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps fade spots and scars thanks to its antioxidants. Castor oil’s antibacterial properties also help clear acne. Its thick texture makes it great for moisturizing dry, flaky skin back to supple softness.
Argan oil – Often referred to as “liquid gold,” argan provides a potent dose of vitamin E along with fatty acids. It absorbs quickly to improve elasticity while controlling excess oil. No wonder French women, who widely use this natural remedy, have such stunning complexions!
Jojoba Oil – This waxy oil mimics the skin’s natural sebum to balance oiliness and dryness. Jojoba contains antioxidants like vitamin E and anti-inflammatory ingredients to improve tone and texture.
Beyond store-bought options, I love to make my own luxurious skin elixirs. Once you try them, you’ll be hooked!
My current favorite is a soothing overnight mask that blends almond and meadowfoam oils with lavender essential oil. Close your eyes, inhale and feel your stress melt away…
What’s the best anti-aging oil for all skin types?
The answer is really simple)))
Rosehip oil!It’s rich in vitamin A, C and antioxidants.
It has cell regenerating, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. And it absorbs easily & non-greasy.
Extensive research shows that rosehip oil effectively reduces wrinkles, scars, and spots. In one study, rosehip oil significantly faded surgical and burn scars in 180 patients. It also stopped premature aging and restored skin tone. [1, 2]
Another study of 108 patients found that consistent use of rosehip oil reduced the redness and discoloration of post-surgical scars [3]. Even post-surgical scars!!!
The science is clear – rosehip oil is proven to treat the signs of aging)). It works on all skin types. Simply apply rosehip oil daily or use it in DIY recipes for youthful, glowing skin.
Simple Rituals for Self-Care, Not Self-Criticism
Aging gracefully isn’t about erasing every wrinkle. The French believe that caring for our largest organ should be sensual, not stressful.
So here are a few examples of simple, natural rituals you can begin to restore that glow to yourself:
1…
Take 5 minutes each morning and evening to massage in the oil with upward strokes.
This is my absolute favorite way to nourish my skin – I’ve been doing it for several years now (and all the people who say I look much younger prove that I’m on the right track)).
2…
Add them to your hair care to restore the vibrant shine of your locks.
3…
Use weekly masks with oils that target your biggest skin concerns-such as brightening and firming. I apply them while soaking in my Cleopatra bath. Ooh la la!
4…
You can also add a few drops of oil to night creams for extra nourishment if you are not ready to give up that harmful toxins that are stealing your youth.
Always remember to patch test anything new to make sure you don’t have a reaction. But quality oils are well tolerated by most skin types.
Start using natural oils now to nourish your skin back to a supple glow. Combined with eating clean, managing stress, and laughing often, these simple rituals will help you look and feel votre meilleur.
Over to you! Have you discovered any luscious oils that your skin is devouring? Share your favorites and tips below!
With love,
Sofi
References:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4655903/
2. http://mettamassagetherapy.com/reprints/rosehip_oil.pdf
3. https://file.scirp.org/pdf/JCDSA_2015062914154638.pdf
Your tips are very very helpful and thank you for sharing your tips, I also recommend Frankincense oil and rose oil. I’m 61yrs old and I started using essential oils about 3yrs ago and every one tells me I don’t look my age that I look 10 to 15yrs younger
Thank you for sharing your recipe! I also love adding Frankincense oil, it adds so much efficacy)))
Do you have recipes if yiu mix oils and suggested routines of what you use and when?
Gigi pls stay tuned – I am working on it)))) Very soon you will find it on the blog))))
Thank you started using caster oil and in 2 weeks noticed difference and in my 40’s
Yes, all of them work in their own unique way)). And castor oil is sooo potent!! Totally agree!