The composition, properties and benefits of camelina oil. Methods for its application in cosmetology. Recipes for masks with camelina oil for face, body and hair, real reviews.
Camelina oil is not at all a squeeze of mushrooms with wavy ocher-colored caps, as one might think, being guided by the name. Its source is an unpretentious herb that was actively cultivated in Russia 100 years ago. And although over time the modest camelina was almost completely replaced by sunflower, in recent decades it has begun to regain its lost ground again.
Description and composition of camelina oil
In the photo, saffron milk cap
Sowing mushroom is a relatively short (up to 80 cm) plant with almost bare stems, rare small leaves and bright yellow inflorescences, which is part of the extensive family of Cruciferous, Brassicaceae or Cabbage. By the way, a member of the same family and a close relative of camelina is the much more famous rapeseed, the oil of which is very popular in the USA.
According to scientists, the mushroom moved to Russia from Asia several centuries ago, received here the "unofficial" nicknames of False Flax and German Sesame, and took root in many regions of the country, but he especially fell in love with Eastern Siberia, the Urals and the Far East.
If we talk about what camelina oil is made of, then the raw materials for it are tiny balls of a catchy red-orange color - camelina seeds. They are harvested in early to mid-July, passed through a press, filtered and get a golden liquid of deep yellow color with a recognizable smell, slight bitterness and taste, which are reminiscent of radishes to some, cabbage stalk to others, and spicy horseradish to others.
The spent seeds are sent further, to meet with hot steam and distillation, but they generate much less interest. The yellow-brown liquid extracted from the cake after meeting with high temperatures cannot boast even a tenth of the beneficial properties of cold-pressed camelina oil. On it you can fry food, add to salads, season cold snacks and cereals, mix marinades and sauces, use in soap making and paint production, but only the first, "cold" squeeze is used by the real love of gourmets, healthy lifestyle supporters, cosmetologists, perfumers and even pharmacists. … And for good reason.
The composition of camelina oil:
- The basis of beauty, health and youthfulness of the skin - unsaturated fatty acids Omega-3, 6 and 9, which are almost in a perfectly balanced state with saturated acids;
- Palmintic acid, which promotes the production of collagen and elastin;
- Stearic acid, which enhances the protective properties of the epidermis (unfortunately, it can also make oily skin and hair even more greasy);
- Eicosenic acid, which regenerates tissue cells and makes curls more elastic and well-groomed;
- Linolenic, linoleic and oleic acids, each of which has its own benefits;
- Vitamin E, according to the content of which camelina beats both super-useful pine nuts and flax, as well as vitamins A, B, D, F, K;
- Minerals iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus;
- The active elements are phytosterols, phospholipids, amino acids, etc., which have a complex beneficial effect on the body.
The harm of unrefined camelina oil is associated only with the presence of ambiguous erucic acid in it, which is not fully absorbed by the body and is considered dangerous for the heart. But:
- Its content is minimal here - 2, less often 4% versus 50% of rapeseed oil.
- Breeders have already bred non-erucous varieties of camelina.
- If you plan to use the oil in cosmetic procedures, the notorious acid will not only not harm your health, but also slow down the aging process.
Note! The benefits of camelina oil are not limited to the fields of cooking and cosmetology. Even the cake is used in the production of animal feed, and the stems left after collecting the seeds are used for the production of packaging materials.
Useful properties of camelina oil in cosmetology
In the photo camelina oil
But let's leave alone animal husbandry, pharmacology and perfumery and see how camelina oil is useful for ordinary users who decide to transform their skin and hair with it.
In masks for the face, neck, décolleté and hands, oil:
- Reduces the first wrinkles;
- Lighten age spots and evens out the complexion;
- Softens the skin, makes it moisturized and tightened;
- Protects the epidermis from harmful environmental factors;
- Supports the water-lipid balance of the skin;
- Stimulates the processes of tissue renewal;
- Improves the condition of the capillaries located in the upper layers of the skin;
- Accelerates the healing of small wounds, relieves irritation.
The benefits of camelina oil for hair are due to its ability to:
- Strengthen hair follicles;
- Accelerate growth;
- Stop cutting;
- Give the strands a well-groomed look;
- Restore curls damaged by numerous styling and staining.
Camelina oil can be bought either in hypermarkets in the department of healthy food products, or in stores focused on healthy lifestyle products. It costs an average of about 100 rubles. for 250 ml.
Buy oil in small glass bottles, such a container preserves it better than plastic, and a small volume allows you to use up the precious content before it begins to oxidize. And to slow down this process, store the oil in the refrigerator under a tightly closed lid.
Contraindications and harm of camelina oil
There is no product that delivers one pure benefit. Has its own contraindications and camelina oil.
It cannot be used for cosmetic purposes:
- for various skin lesions - scratches, wounds, abrasions;
- with dermatological diseases - psoriasis, eczema, etc.;
- people who are allergic to camelina oil.
In some cases, healing squeeze can become part of the therapy of a particular skin disease, but a specialist must make a decision about this. When used alone, the harm from camelina oil can many times exceed the benefits obtained. Even the seemingly harmless idea of treating diaper rash on a child's body with a healing fluid should be approved by a pediatrician.
Methods of using camelina oil
The growing fame, the wonderful properties of camelina oil and its use in the production of top-class cosmetics made the supporters of home cosmetology pay close attention to the "false flax". And as soon as that happened, recipes for healing mixtures for body, face and hair care began to multiply exponentially.
Ginger oil for face
Squeeze from "German sesame" is so little widespread in our country that many people do not even suspect whether they are allergic to this product. To make sure you are not allergic, be sure to test the oil on the skin of your wrist or inner bend of the elbow before using it for the first time.
On the basis of camelina oil, you can prepare a face scrub. Mash 1 tsp. main ingredient with the same amount of finely ground sea salt and 1 egg yolk. Apply to cleansed face, massage gently for 5 minutes and rinse with warm water. If you have sensitive skin, replace salt with sugar.
Recipes for masks with camelina oil for the face:
- For dry skin … Steam a dessert spoon of the main ingredient to a pleasant temperature for the body, apply with a wide brush or cotton pad to cleansed face skin, cover with a linen or cotton cloth and lie down for 15 minutes. Finally, blot your face with a paper towel.
- For oily skin … Grind 2 tablespoons in a coffee grinder. l. oatmeal, mix with 2-3 tsp. oil, add to the mass 2 tsp. lemon juice and treat the face, paying special attention to the forehead, T-zone and chin. Wash off the mixture after 15 minutes.
- Anti wrinkle … 2 tbsp. l. pulp of ripe avocado, mashed in mashed potatoes, mix with 1-2 tsp. oil and 3 drops of vetiver, lime or rose essential oil. The mask is kept on the face for 20-30 minutes, then washed off with warm water.
- Softening and rejuvenating mask … Mash 1 tbsp. l. heavy cream, sour cream or yogurt with 1 yolk and 2 tbsp. l. rice flour. Add 1 tbsp. l. oils, mix and apply to face, neck and décolleté. Wash off after 20 minutes.
Note! Owners of dry skin can do up to 2 masks with camelina oil per week, normal masks should be treated with it no more than 1 time in 7 days, oily - 1 time in 10-12 days.
Camelina oil can be used to care for the eyelids. Just lubricate the delicate skin in the eye area with a warm product and gently remove it with a paper towel after 10-15 minutes.
In addition, you can use camelina oil as a lip balm in its pure form or by mixing it with honey in a 3: 1 ratio.
Using a clean old mascara brush, lubricate the hairs of your eyebrows and eyelashes with oil before bed. This will strengthen them and accelerate growth.
Gingerbread body oil
A unique set of fatty acids endowed camelina oil with the ability to qualitatively and quickly soften dead skin cells, simultaneously nourishing and moisturizing the skin, which is why the golden liquid has become a welcome guest in cosmetic mixtures for the body. But you cannot abuse it: if you use the product excessively, you risk getting clogged pores and a scattering of acne on your back and chest.
How to use camelina body oil:
- From hardened areas … Lubricate your elbows and knees with a warm substance, leave for 20-30 minutes and wash off the rest with a napkin.
- Stretch marks … Massage problem areas of the body with camelina oil with added ethers of carrot, frankincense, geranium, immortelle or jasmine seeds - 2-3 drops per 1 tbsp. l. fatty base.
- For scrubbing the skin … Process the body with a mixture of equal parts oat flour, finely ground salt and camelina. After completing the procedure, the scrub is left on the skin for 10 minutes and then washed off.
- To take care of your hands … It is useful to lubricate dry, chapped, freckled hands from time to time with squeeze of "German sesame". It's funny that reviews of camelina oil either claim that it is quickly absorbed and does not require blotting, then they mention the need to wipe your hands with a paper towel. Which option will be relevant in your case depends on the characteristics and condition of the skin.
Gingerbread oil for hair
With all the benefits of camelina oil, girls with oily hair at the roots should not treat the scalp with it - leave the golden liquid for split ends and the main length of the hair. But for strands with increased dryness, masks with a nutritional supplement will fit just right.
The easiest way to use camelina oil is to wash your hair. Add a little oil to your usual portion of shampoo - literally 10 drops, lather on your hair, massage your scalp for a few minutes and rinse as you usually do.
With the use of camelina oil, it is good to massage against hair loss. Lubricate the head along the partings with warm camelina oil enriched with esters of Crimean rose, patchouli, petitgrain, rosewood or sage (2-3 drops per 1 tablespoon of base). Massage with your fingertips, sliding the skin in different directions and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and shampoo. If desired, the mixture can be strengthened with 1 tbsp. l. henna for dark hair or a dessert spoon of ground cinnamon for light hair.
Recipes for hair masks with camelina oil:
- For accelerated growth … Grind 4-5 tablets of brewer's yeast in a mortar, dilute the powder in 3 tbsp. l.warm oil, add 5 drops of ginger or cinnamon ether and brush the scalp along the parting. Leave the mask under the film and towel for 2-3 hours. Rinse off with warm water and plenty of shampoo.
- For hair nourishment … Brew 100 ml boiling water 2 tbsp. l. fresh or 4 tbsp. l. dry nettle. While the infusion is cooling, whisk 2 tbsp. l. warm camelina oil with 1-2 egg yolks and 2 tsp. cognac. Combine both mixtures, distribute along the entire length of the hair from roots to ends and keep under cling film and a thermal cap for about 1 hour.
- For thicker hair … Mash 1 tbsp. l. honey with 2 yolks, add 2 tbsp. l. camelina oil and 2-3 drops of clove, ylang-ylang, juniper, fir or rosemary essential oil. Treat the scalp with the mixture, distribute the remains over the entire length and wrap the hair with plastic wrap, and on top of it with a towel. The mask needs to be kept on the head for about 2 hours.
- For a silky and well-groomed look … Lubricate your hair with warm camelina oil with a couple of drops of bergamot or Sudanese rose essential oil, hide under a plastic bag and a thick towel, and rinse after 1-2 hours.
- From the section of the hair … 2 tsp mix camelina with 1 tsp. fresh citrus juice (lemon, tangerine, orange) and the contents of 1-2 drops of Aevit. Treat the ends of the hair with the mixture, wrap with plastic wrap and leave for 20 minutes.
Cosmetic masks with camelina oil are made in courses of 7-10 procedures, after which you need to switch to some other remedy so as not to addictive skin and hair to the healing product.
Real reviews of camelina oil in cosmetology
Among the advantages of squeezing from "false flax", they note more than a moderate price of camelina oil, its pleasant texture and undoubted benefits for hair and skin. Most of the complaints expressed relate to an unusual smell, with which many could not come to terms. In addition, some people did not like the increased fat content of the product, because of which it is not always well absorbed. However, the benefits and harms of camelina oil in cosmetology are relative concepts. Everyone determines them for himself empirically.
Mila, 27 years old
Camelina oil has only one drawback - its smell, which can be tolerated for the sake of extraordinary miraculous benefits. I put it on my hands and from the first time I noticed that the unpleasant smell of oil from the skin evaporates very quickly and is not felt at all. This, of course, makes me very happy. Camelina oil is not viscous, so it is suitable for massage, I do a facial massage with it. I also apply oil to my hair, to the length and ends (I don't apply it to the roots, they are already oily for me). Camelina oil was a real discovery for me.
Anna, 43 years old
Camelina oil has a characteristic cabbage smell. It smells like fresh young head of cabbage or cabbage juice. For me personally, this is a pretty pleasant scent. I can also say that it is very good to lubricate your hands with this oil, especially if the skin is too dry and cracked. It, of course, like any vegetable oil, is rather poorly absorbed, but if you anoint your skin, and after a while wipe your hands with a napkin, it remains soft and moisturized. True, the smell evaporates rather badly, it is persistent. Well, for home beauty treatments it will do.
Angelina, 29 years old
I couldn't eat, but for beauty it was just a find. I now have it on the shelf in the bathroom. The first few times I used it only for the body. I have a terrible dryness in winter. After the shower, I applied oil all over my body, more on the driest places (I have it on my elbows, thighs, legs. I also applied it to my face. My skin was immensely grateful. The oil was absorbed in 20 minutes, and there was practically no trace left. So I applied 3 times in a row. When the skin stopped literally drinking this oil, reduced smearing to 2 times a week. Then I decided to try to treat my hair. I added 1 teaspoon of oil to colorless henna and applied for 20 minutes. The result is excellent. Hair became more manageable., smoother, healthier look. The only thing is a wash. Here you need to approach more carefully. I wash off 2 times with shampoo and rinse with apple cider vinegar (1 spoon per liter). I will experiment with this wonderful oil.
What is camelina oil - watch the video:
