I’ve been using Camellia oil for years now, which is what Tsubaki oil is commonly known as. This is great stuff, and so versatile too. It’s priced absolutely spot-on for an organic bottle of this size. The product is made by producing an oil from Camellia seed (To be precise, this one is Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil), which is closely related to the plant that tea leaves come from, but not quite the same. This is a real multipurpose oil that is certainly not just for the face. It can be used to remove make-up, rubbed into nails and cuticles, on stretch marks, as a massage oil, to relieve a dry scalp, as a face oil to reduce fine lines, as a body moisturiser, to reduce skin pigmentation, to work into the ends of dry hair, and to offer some sun damage protection. In all the time I’ve been using Camellia oil, I learnt something new with this brand. It says on the back of the box that you should apply to the affected area during night time only, and that you should refrain from direct sunlight, as this might cause skin irritation. I must admit, I’ve only ever used Camellia oil during the day, and never personally suffered with any irritation or problems. This is distributed from the USA, so I don’t know if this warning is aimed at users in a hotter climate than ours. Therefore, it’s worth being a bit cautious until you see how you personally react to it. To use, you can add a few drops of this oil to your shampoo, face cream, body moisturisers, hand creams, etc, or use it neat. When applying the oil to your skin, it has such a lightweight texture that it's absorbs in very quickly, and is definitely not greasy. There isn’t much of a smell to the oil. I could detect a very subtle smokey undertone, but it’s not noticeable unless your nose is touching your skin. This is a real must-have beauty essential, which leaves your skin and hair soft and supple. It’s packed full of vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids. Once you incorporate this oil into your daily routines, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it. Because one product does so many different things, it’s ideal for travel also. This brand comes in a lightweight glass bottle, with a close fitting glass dropper. The lid seals really well, so there is no leakage from the bottle. I would definitely buy this brand again. It’s unrefined, cold pressed to retain all the beneficial properties, and soil association certified organic. It also comes beautifully presented, so it would also make an ideal gift. Once opened, it has a 12 month shelf life. I keep mine in the fridge when I’m not using it, as I find it keeps it fresher for longer.
