A few months … actually, many months ago, I was introduced to English organic brand, Neal’s Yard Remedies. The previous post has a little more about my introduction to the brand so I’m not going to repeat it here. I do however, want to share 1 product I’ve tried from the brand that I really enjoyed using, and I wanted to quickly talk about it because I just realised I’m a little more than halfway through a bottle already!
It’s the Neal’s Yard Remedies Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil and my skin loves this stuff!
Facial oils aren’t something everyone will like, I’ll concede, but I love them when they work which isn’t always. The great thing about facial oils for me, is that they really do help balance out my skin when it’s gone off kilter. With some, I use them as a serum, where I layer a moisturiser over to seal in the oil, sometimes I mix a couple of drops of oil into my moisturiser to give it more slip but with this Frankincense Facial Oil, I could do one more thing – I could use it alone as moisturiser!
I love glass bottles and for me, oils should come in glass bottles. Glass is inert and won’t react with products unlike plastic. Further, the deep blue glass of Neal’s Yard Remedies helps protect the contents from oxidising. Above all though, they look so pretty! I challenge you to disagree 😀
Frankincense, if you may remember from biblical stories, is one of the 3 gifts brought by the Magi when visiting baby Jesus and is an aromatic resin collected from the Boswellia genus tree. It is regularly used in incense burners and perfumes. So, knowing all that, know then that this facial oil smells pretty much like incense so it’s going to be a scent that you either love or hate.
I love it! 😀 I find it soothing and calming and when I apply this on in the evenings, I love taking deep breaths of it after warming the oil between the hands, just to calm me down and relax before bed. It’s lovely!
The oil comes in a dropper bottle so it’s easy to use and dispense the product. If I use this as a serum i.e. after toner before moisturiser, I use just 2 drops warmed up between my hands and then spread over my skin. The oil is rather thick, so I do advise warming and spreading it between your palms before pressing it into your skin.
Being an oil, it does leave a bit of a residue, but I’m not fussed about it and usually layer on my moisturiser after that. Sometimes, I drop another 2 drops into my night cream just for kicks!
When I was using this, I did notice a rejuvenation of my skin as the name of the oil implies. My skin looked clearer and better the next morning and with regular use, my skin just looked so much better! But because I do try other products along the way, I stopped using this for a while.
Recently, after another bout of dull skin (this usually happens after a spell of poor nights, bad diets and general stress) I decided to keep things in my routine simple, and after using my double toner (clarifying and hydrating) and a hydrating gel, I dropped 4-5 drops of this Frankincense Facial Oil into my palm and used it on its own without moisturiser.
My skin lapped it all up! 😀 It feels a little oily initially but after a while, it had absorbed nicely into my skin. It doesn’t sit on top of the skin, if you might imagine. I have combination-dry skin and this seems quite sufficient for me without making my skin feel dry.
The next morning, it looked clearer, felt softer and I looked better. I did the same for a few nights, and it really does seem to revitalise my skin. I knew therefore that I could also use this as a rather more intensive rejuvenating “treatment” for my skin.
I’m a little more than halfway through this 30ml bottle which surprises me somewhat because I didn’t realise that I’d been using it so often. Yes I love this and I’m quite happy to repurchase it because when I and my skin need a pick-me-up, this does it easily, quickly and effectively.
In a nutshell
The Neal’s Yard Remedies Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil is a blend of oils that can be used lightly like a serum or in a more intensive manner as a moisturiser. The texture is rather thick but once warmed up, it absorbs well into the skin without leaving an oily residue. I find that I can use this both like a serum (2 drops) or as a moisturiser (4-5 drops) and both times, it helps perk up the appearance of my skin, making it look clearer and better and making it feel softer. I’m definitely repurchasing this one!
Pros: Lovely smell, Perks up my skin almost overnight, Keeps skin feeling comfortable and looking and feeling better
Cons: Pricey
Who will like this: Anyone familiar with using facial oils, Anyone who feels their skin needs a pick-me-up when nothing else seems to help
Here is the ingredient list for anyone interested.
Fans of organic/natural skincare will enjoy this one since Neal’s Yard Remedies claims to be a natural and organic brand that is certified by the Soil Association which I was told has very stringent measures of what “organic” entails. I do also note that on the box it indicates that this oil has a recommended open shelf life of 3 months.
Mine is older than 3 months but still smells good (not rancid) and still seems to work well. I think if you do use this daily, you might be able to finish it up in 3 months but realistically, I don’t think you will simply because in our tropical weather, we just don’t use as much as someone would in a drier, colder climate. I do keep mine in a dark room so don’t expose it to heat and light and I think it’ll be fine.
Have you tried this Frankincense Facial Oil? Do you like using facial oils?
I love this one and it’s the first facial oil I’ve been able to use as a moisturiser. Oils like the Kiehl’s MRC or Estee Lauder Nutritious Essence, both of which I also like, are more like a serum and the other facial oil I’ve tried from Clarins was more of a treatment. I’m open to trying more or other facial oils though so if you have a fave, hit me up! 😀
Paris B
Neal’s Yard Remedies Rejuvenating Frankincense Facial Oil Price: RM199/30ml Availability: NYR counters (I believe in Isetan) and their store at The Gardens
When you mention frankincense, I immediately think of myrrh too because of the biblical stories:)
I’ve gone back to using oils as well as this wuss has started turning on the heater at home 😛 I love my Santal oil from Clarins and use that almost nightly. NOt going to change 🙂
i have tried myrrh oil from darphin too! and all the 3 clarins facial oil. LOL! #obsessed
So do I! Gold doesn’t come to mind as easily though LOL I think facial oils are great to rebalance my skin. Everytime my skin goes bonkers, a simple routine with facial oil brings it back to the center. Will try the Clarins next!
i didn’t think i’d love the smell of frakinense but i love the smell of this! unfortunately this is rather pricey for oil, worse when the SA refused to take my money 😛
p/s: don’t ever bother going to the NYR counter in Isetan Lot 10, they have nothing there.
Yes it smells amazing and I can’t believe the SA didn’t want to sell this to you! Jeez!! Thanks for the heads up about not going to Isetan. I didn’t know they had a counter at Lot 10. I’ve seen the counter at Isetan KLCC and it always looks so pretty but I never thought to stop and look LOL
The ingredients include citrus, bergamot and turmeric oils which may be irritating for sensitive skin. I personally like the prescription “oil-based” moisturiser I have been advised to use after battling super dry dehydrated skin (after the unsuitable cleanser episode). The oil component is squalANE (a less pore-clogging form of the squalENE naturally found in sebum) and it has hyaluronic acid in as well. I only apply this on my cheeks since they are the drier spots of my face. My forehead and chin are normal, nose oilier.
I think HABA also do some lovely squalane-based moisturising oils (plain or with vitamin C) which look really intriguing.
Oils should go over moisturiser or the barrier formed by the oil is going to prevent any water/silicone-based cream from absorbing into the skin.
Thanks for pointing out the citrus oils, Firn. Yes, it does make it potentially irritating to those who have very sensitive skin. As for layering, I was told that a cream/oilbased cream will go over an oil as it acts to “seal” and “sandwich” the oil against the skin, while a water based cream will go under it. with the oil acting as a seal. Sometimes all these things confuse me 😛
But Paris, it is really not that pricey in the grand scheme of things I think. If you look at Tsubaki’s oil and stuffs like tht.. Wondering if it can help me with my break-out prone skin though.. Must go and check it out. I usually just bypass it at KLCC, its next to Guerlain, coz it looks rather intimidating and expensive. LOL…But I love love their blue bottles… my fav type of blue too, An Ancient Egyptian type of Nile blue… hehehehe
To be fair, it isn’t Deepa but by way of initial outlay it is rather pricey. I’m not sure if it can help breakout prone skin but there might be other facial oils for that. I too used to think it looked expensive and placing it in the middle of Isetan KLCC doesn’t help either does it?! It wasn’t until I realised that the prices weren’t like Guerlain prices (hoho!) that made me reconsider trying some of their other products. Next, I’d probably go for their Rose balm. I hear it’s awesome!
Hi Paris I have been using Aesop Fabulous Face Oil for the past 6 months. It has been my skin saver! My cheeks were sahara desert dry & I tried to compensate with thicker creams which only made me break out. So I did alot of research & this Aesop oil was recommended. By the way, this is my first experience with face oils & I love it! Highly recommended! Price is AUD57 for 25ml
Oh I’ve read so many good things about Aesop Fabulous Face Oil! Thanks for reminding me of it – I think I’ll give it a try next! So many people seem to have reported good things about it. Do you use it as a moisturiser too?
Hi Paris, yes mostly. I add a light moisturiser just on my cheeks as they are drier than the rest of my face. I hope you try it soon and blog about it!
Will do once I’ve given it a go! 😀
Hey Paris, thanks for the heads-up! I loooove face oils, and I’d love into their offerings! For the moment my favorites are Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Treatment and Estelle & Thild Rose Otto Facial Oil. I’m running out of the Aesop one though! It’s time to look for something new to try 🙂
Yay I remember you love face oils and I haven’t tried the Aesop Parsley Seed one but was it you who loved the Fabulous Face Oil? I have it next on my list of oils to try 😀 I think I’ve come across Estelle & Thild on spacenk or cult beauty so I’ll take a look too. Rose Otto sounds delicious!
Hmm it’s probably not me! I got a sample packet or two a while ago. It’s not how it works though. It’s the ylang-ylang that bothers me! Oh and I also love bodhi Desert Rose. That is another great face oil (that smells amazing)!
Ah ok mistaken sorry! Haha Thanks for the Bodhi Desert Rose rec too. My list to try is a mile long thanks to you! LOL
I have only recently started using face oils, but for some reasons, though my face feel oily afterwards, it doesn’t feel properly moisturized. This sounds like a really great oil to try. I’ll have to see if I can get it here. 🙂
That happens to me sometimes too! I’m not sure which are the ones you’re using, but for those, I use a thin layer (2-3 drops) and then layer on a moisturiser to help. I also find that if you spend a little time to massage in the oil, my skin feels better and if you apply it on damp skin, it absorbs more quickly and skin also feels a bit better too. Try that and see if it works for you 🙂
I am a fan of facial oils!!! That said, i dont have much luck with Clarins lotus treatment oil or Blue Orchide’s, nad Kiehl’s. I an planning to write a review on one of the oil from Neal’s Yard, too. Wish I gave this a try as well, but in the meantime, i gotta finish mine. Oil takes forever! Hehehe
That’s true about oil taking forever to finish! I could never finish this in 3 months as recommended 😛 But I like what it’s done for my skin. Will be interesting to see which oil you picked 🙂
Ai-yooo… I suddenly feel very drawn to the Gardens this very weekend to spend RM190/- on something in a little blue bottle to put on my parched face…
ROFLOL!! Oh dear I don’t think they have samples of this one but there’s no harm asking if they do. When my skin feels very parched, I like using it on damp skin and then seal it in with a moisturiser. Or just use a little more and leave it on like an overnight “mask” 🙂 Oils do take some getting used to though!
The rustic/earthy scent of frankincense takes a little getting used to but fortunately, it’s very light.
For non members, it’s RM199/-. Apparently 10% off for members.
But on the plus side, the bottle is really filled to the top – so much so that when I put the stopper in, the oil overflowed out. Arrghhh… spilled oil.. don’t waste – my elbows and knees got a lot of oil rubbed in last night!
Yikes! Thanks for letting me know about the price, JK and yes the scent is very incense-y isn’t it? I didn’t have that problem about the oil spilling out but again thanks for letting us know about it! I hope you like using this oil as much as I have. I do love the scent so I hope it doesn’t bug you too much either 😀
While I was in London, i came across a brand called Spa Sanctuary. They too had their own Facial Oil and it was affordable! Hmmmm, around Rm 80 for a 30 ml bottle. And let me tell you, it is superb. So, do check it out. I just included this review to make it easier for you. Have a good day!
http://www.mouthsofmums.com.au/review/sanctuary-spa-therapists-secret-facial-oil/
Thanks for the info Shaila. Not sure where to look for it but will bear it in mind if I ever come across the brand!
tried a sample of this oil – all i can say its life changing for me.
Have rosacea its got worse, used this oil last night, this morning my skin is smooth and a lot of the redness and inflamation has gone. No its not cured, but my goodness what a change.
Have you tried this every day? If so, does it clog your pores?
Yes, only in the evenings and no, it doesn’t clog my pores.