Beauty Review: Akamuti Raspberry Seed Oil

When I recently ran out of moisturiser and eye cream, I decided to reach for Akamuti's Raspberry Seed Oil to see if it could carry me through. I'm so glad I did because this oil is my new best friend!

HOW SKIN LOOKS & FEELS
Akamuti's Raspberry Seed Oil hydrates and nourishes the skin wonderfully with its omega fatty acids and vitamins E & A and the results are impressive. My skin looks healthy and clear. Even during this super hot week we have had in London, my skin has not looked greasy but rather refreshed and glowy. I was always wary of using oils as moisturisers because I thought I would look a little too shiny but this oil absorbs quickly and does the job of a moisturiser exceedingly well. I like the fact that I can now moisturise my skin with a product containing only one ingredient: cold pressed raspberry seed oil (cold pressed ingredients are extra potent as the benefits of the ingredients have not been destroyed through overheating).



OTHER BENEFITS
As soon as I heard that Raspberry Seed Oil was reputed to have 'fantastic anti-UV abilities' and was 'naturally high in SPF' it was yet another reason to lather it on! Akamuti also explain that their Raspberry Seed Oil is ideal for distressed skin and helps to repair and condition the skin. My skin isn't particularly distressed right now (me, on the other hand, that's another story) but I have found the oil to be excellent for normal skin as well.

It's working really well as an eye cream replacement also. I tap the teeniest amount under the eye area and wait 30 minutes before applying a concealer, which glides on without any creasing or cakey residue.

HOW TO USE
I love the small droplet glass bottle my oil came in (10ml). I drop a bit into my hand which warms it up and then just apply to the face (only a small amount is needed). I don't detect a raspberry scent but more of a neutral aroma with nice Earl Grey tea undertones!

OTHER OILS TO TRY
I also noticed Akamuti stock lots of other oils (organic and fair trade options) which was rather fortuitous as I had recently been reading about the numerous uses for various oils and had planned to stock up on some for beauty and cleaning purposes. Akamuti stock olive oil which is amazing for polishing wood furniture, sesame oil which is often used in Ayurvedic medicine and which I just found out is recommended as the perfect moisturiser for my dosha, Vata (sorry to get so personal). They also have sweet almond oil which I want to try using as a base for making a body oil for summer by adding organic essential oils of orange and ginger perhaps).

Okay, I'm waffling now. Oils clearly get me excited but I just wanted to share this beauty find with you as I have been using it for the past few weeks now and have been impressed with the results and purity of the one ingredient!

Purchase Raspberry Seed Oil at Akamuti - 10ml for £2.95 or 100ml for £10

5 Uses for Sweet Almond Oil

1. Eye Make Up Remover
Almond oil can remove mascara and heavy eye make-up quickly and gently. Just place a few drops onto an organic cotton pad and wipe over eyes.

2. Dry skin / Night Oil
Apparently Liz Hurley uses Almond Oil on her face to rehydrate dry skin. Try using it a few nights a week before bedtime to help skin repair during winter time.

3. Hair Dye Removal
Remove stubborn hair dye stains on skin around hairline. Green women who still want to dye their hair (with ammonia free natural dyes) will understand the trouble of removing dye stains on the hairline. Using Vaseline was once encouraged but as it contains petroleum, a different and more natural solution is needed. I covered a cotton pad in almond oil and was really impressed by how effectively it worked.

4. Décolletage Moisturiser
Do as the French women do and start moisturising your décolletage area daily. Almond oil works wonderfully as a body moisturiser, nourishing the skin without leaving a greasy residue.

5. Carrier Oil for your favourite essential oil
Use with coarse sea salt and lemon essential oil for a zesty body exfoliant or add a few lavender drops to almond oil and rub onto stomach during that time of the month.

I use Absolute Aromas Sweet Almond Oil which is available at most good health food stores or online at Goodness Direct (£1.86 for 50ml) or the organic version at Amazon UK.