Sunscreen was usually it for me, even though I knew deep down that it was not sufficient for my very dry skin. Since I can't be bothered to wear foundation, I've thought maybe, at least occasionally, I could treat my face to some moisturizer.
I am an avid gardener and most know that gardening can be very tough on hands and face. Basically, I could be considered a beautician's nightmare.
A surgeon's suggestion
Bio-Oil? I had never heard of the stuff, but concern and discomfort forced me to purchase a large and small bottle package on special offer at a big box store.
From the first time I used it, Bio-Oil became a friend.
My surgery scars are hardly noticeable. Best of all, I found it was incredibly soothing, absorbed in seconds, and was easy to apply.
I started on the small bottle, thinking cynically that I would never manage to get through the large one, because I still didn't believe the oil would do what it was supposed to.
The thought of using it as a facial moisturizer never even occurred to me. The two bottles remained in the bathroom cupboard. The scars were gone. Mission accomplished.
I did an unusual thing--looked in the mirror, and seriously examined my facial blemishes. Dark spots, many wrinkles, and flaky, rough skin greeted me. A sadness, that I had lost all the bloom of youthful skin overwhelmed me briefly.
My sunscreen was finished, and so was my moisturizer.
Then I remembered the Bio Oil. Maybe that would work. I dug it out from the depths of the cupboard, just the little bottle.
What is Bio-Oil?
It has a pleasant fragrance, possibly because it contains chamomile, lavender, rosemary and calendula oils. These are delivered through its main ingredient, Purcellin oil, which has mineral oil in it.
Mineral oil use seems to cause quite a lot of controversy. I was surprised when I learned this because my mother was a great believer in it for different purposes, like keeping baby bottoms smooth and free of diaper rash, and dosing us with it as a laxative for constipation.
I couldn't help wondering about this, and went on-line reminiscing and tut-tutting about my poor mother's choices all those years ago.
Guess what? It is still freely used for these purposes!
Bio-oil is not recommended for internal use however, so its other ingredients must make it worth the patent.
No turtles were killed
My 85-year-old great-aunt Muriel had the most spectacular, beautifully soft skin, in an era when there were very few beauty preparations. She told me she never used anything other than turtle oil as a facial moisturizer. I was just a child at the time, and remember feeling sad about the turtles that had to be sacrificed for her face. Sadly, it seems turtle oil is still very popular for this purpose.
Bio-Oil is inexpensive, and feels remarkably similar to her turtle oil.
Like all products, I'm sure some people would have skin sensitivity to facial use of Bio-Oil, although there is general consensus that it is miraculous for scars, even from my somewhat snooty surgeon. For me, it is working well on my aging skin, and I love the fact that no turtles have lost their lives for me.
Vicki