When I was a child in the '90s, I always saw my mum as being "old." She wasn't. In fact, being 38 when I was born, she was far from it. But in my mind, she was way older than the other mums at my school, and so, to my pre-pubescent self, she was neither cool nor youthful. Thirty years on, however, I now look at my mum—who is now approaching 70—and only see how radiant and bright she looks.
The most frustrating thing though is that whenever I've asked my mum about the products she likes or I give her products to try she'll say, "You know me, Kesh. I only like oils." And it's true. She's not a huge beauty lover like I am—I'm a true magpie when it comes to trying all the latest buzzy ingredients. In contrast, ever since I can remember my mum has hinged her beauty routine on a plethora of oils for her hair, skin and body care. Every day, she plucks oils from her shelf and incorporates them into her routine (which is enviably simple) and this is what she swears by for her beautiful skin.
As I've grown older and my interest in beauty rituals and routines has ramped up, I've added more oils into my own regime and have really noticed the difference they make. Everything just feels more soft and supple. In skincare, it's an excellent finishing step to lock in the ingredients from your serums and moisturisers and applying some to your body as soon as you step out of the shower will result in sustained hydration.
In fact, because my mum loves beauty oils so much I tend to give her the ones that I'm sent to test out. After all, who better to let me know if they're actually any good? Luckily, she's finally ready to let me know what her absolute favourites are and the products that she repurchases time after time.
Keep scrolling for the nine best beauty oils that my mum uses on rotation.
This oil contains St John's Wort which helps to calm—perfect for the transitional weather if it's causing havoc with your skin.
The vitamin A in this formula comes from three different ingredients so you're getting a large dose of the regenerating active. It also contains antioxidants, amino acids, fatty acids, and omegas for plumpness and volume.
Though technically not an oil, the daytime version of the Midnight Recovery Concentrate is one of my mum's favourites and the texture sits it on the cusp of an oil and serum. The ginger root, sunflower, tamanu oils help to perk up dull skin.
Who doesn't love a multitasking oil? Apply this from head (yes, even in your hair if you like) to toe for all-over softness.
I bought my mum an assorted set of these oils for Mother's Day one year, and she now swears by using them in the bath. The Revive Evening scent (geranium, ylang-ylang, patchouli and sandalwood) is perfect for an uplifting bedtime bath session.
I introduced my mum and sisters to my holy-grail hair oil a couple of years ago, and now it's a go-to for all of us. Manketti oil is lightweight yet super nourishing for Afro hair whether you have it natural, relaxed, in braids or under a wig.
This super-light dry oil is perfect for when we're finally in summer clothes. My mum will spritz some on as a top-up before we head out for lunch or dinner. It gives the skin a beautiful glisten but isn't greasy.
A classic and a staple that hasn't left my parents' bathroom shelf since before I was a teen. Both I and my mum prefer this over the tub of cocoa butter, as that can be a little too heavy and takes longer to sink in.
A gem that my mum rotates for her straight-out-of-the-bath routine. This oil has been a firm favourite for years and is especially good for de-stressing (the lavender scent is great for this), plus you wake up with very soft, radiant skin.
Up next, I'm a bodycare expert and this scrub is my secret to soft skin.