Why Carrot Seed Oil Deserves A Place In Your Skin Care Routine: Benefits of carrot oil on the skin

Carrot Seed Oil? What's That And Why Have I Not Heard Of It Before? If you've never heard about using carrot seed oil for skin care, you're not alone; it turns out it's not that common and not many know that it even exists!

Basically, the carrot seed oil is extracted from the seeds of the wild carrot plant known as daucus carota. Cold-pressed from carrot seeds and yellowish-brown in colour, it is used in skincare products for its anti-ageing benefits. The origin of this oil dates back to ancient Egyptian and Greek civilisations.

Are Carrot Oil, Carrot Seed Oil and Carrot Seed Essential Oil all the same?

No! All of these are different oils. Confused? Let us explain.

1. Carrot oil: Carrot oil is prepared by infusing carrots with oil, heating it and then filtering it. It can be used directly on the face.

2. Carrot seed essential oil: This essential oil is produced by distilling seeds of the wild carrot plant (daucus carota sativa). It cannot be used directly on the face; it must be diluted with a carrier oil like coconut oil, jojoba oil or olive oil.

3. Carrot seed oil: This oil is made by extracting the oil from the seeds of the wild carrot plant through a cold-pressing process.

This therapeutic oil has several useful compounds and vitamins, which makes it beneficial for your skin. Want to know the benefits of this oil? Here's what you need to know about the benefits of carrot oil.

Carrot seed oil is a natural anti-ageing serum for your skin! Yes, we know that's a tall claim, but we're going to back it up with facts. To begin with, it is rich in antioxidants which help it fight free radicals and eliminate signs of ageing.

In addition to this, carrot seed oil is rich in several vitamins: vitamin A, which slows down the skin ageing clock; vitamin C that boosts collagen production and vitamin E that moisturises the skin and smoothens lines. Carrot seed oil is also known to stimulate cell regeneration, which gives you supple skin. You can use it once a week as an anti-ageing treatment and get all the carrot oil benefits for skin.

One of the ways to use it is by preparing a homemade face mask by mixing equal quantities of carrot and avocado oil and letting it rest on your skin for 15 minutes to help your skin regenerate.

This oil, with an earthy aroma, possesses anti-inflammatory properties. These help to heal the skin in several ways. Using carrot seed oil soothes the skin by reducing redness, irritation, acne and acne scars on the face. By eliminating these, it helps keep the skin calm and clear.

One of the qualities of carrot seed oil widely researched is its powerful antibacterial properties. Research has shown that carrot seed oil combats the growth of various bacteria such as listeria monocytogenes and staphylococcus aureus. By inhibiting the growth of these bacteria, carrot seed oil prevents skin infections caused by these bacteria. Carrot seed oil is also powerful against fighting fungi such as dermatophytes and other viruses.

Another often talked about benefit of carrot seed oil is its effectiveness in protecting the skin from sun damage. Studies conducted on the same have found that one of the carrot seed oil benefits is that it has an SPF between 30-40, making it a pretty valuable and effective UV-blocking agent.

Carrot seed oil has powerful moisturising properties, which make it effective to fight excessive sebum production. It does not clog pores and suits all types of skin, and keeps it moisturised naturally.

Evidence suggests that using carrot seed oil for skin helps treat various skin conditions such as vitiligo, eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. A study conducted in 2016 demonstrates that carrot seed oil has antibacterial properties. Due to these properties, it inhibits the growth of many harmful bacteria. In this way, it also attacks bacteria that cause these skin conditions, thus helping treat them.

There are several ways to use carrot seed oil for the skin, and here are some of them:

For soft and supple skin, you can prepare this coffee, coconut, carrot seed oil and honey scrub. While coconut is a natural moisturiser, honey heals the skin. Coffee will help get rid of dead skin cells, and the carrot seed oil in the scrub will repair damage caused by the sun and eliminate wrinkles. So, in conclusion, this scrub is the solution to multiple skin problems and is one of the best carrot uses for skin.

• To prepare this all-rounder scrub, pour 2 tablespoons of coconut oil and 2 teaspoons of honey in a bowl.
• Add 4 tablespoons of coffee grounds and blend all these ingredients.
• When done, add 8 drops of carrot seed oil and blend again.
• Store in a clean jar. To use this scrub, apply it gently all over the face and neck and let it sit for a few minutes.
• Rinse it off with warm water and repeat twice a week for best results.

Another way to use carrot seed oil for the skin is to prepare a face mask with lavender oil. Using this face mask helps you achieve flawless skin and a lighter complexion. So if you've just gotten home from a vacation and want to get rid of your tan and lighten your complexion, try this out!

• Take equal amounts of lavender oil and carrot seed oil and mix them well to prepare a smooth mixture.
• Apply it evenly on your face and let it sit for 20 minutes.
• Rinse it off with warm water and apply moisturiser if required.
• Doing this regularly will give you lighter skin.

With its high SPF, there's no doubt that carrot seed oil can be used as sunscreen.

• To protect your skin from sun damage and to block damaging UV rays, mix a little bit of carrot seed oil with a few drops of sesame oil and apply it on your skin to protect skin.
• However, if your skin is oily, refrain from using carrot oil and sesame oil as a sunscreen.

If your skin is missing its glow, then here's another face mask that you make quickly at home and use for achieving hydrated, glowing skin. It will rejuvenate your skin, restore its moisture and make you feel beautiful.

• All you have to do is mix 1 teaspoon of multani mitti with 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel and 2-4 drops of the carrot seed oil.
• Mix all the ingredients to form a paste and apply evenly on the face.
• Wash it off after 15 minutes.

While carrot seed oil works amazingly well for skin, you must be careful about its usage, just like with any other ingredient. One of the best ways to ensure that it doesn't affect your skin adversely is to do a patch test. You can do this by pouring a drop of carrot seed oil on your forearm. Leave it for at least 30 minutes. If your skin is allergic to it, then it will quickly react to it.

• Large amounts of carrot seed oil might affect sensitive skin, so if you have sensitive skin, use it accordingly.
• When applying topically, use carrot seed oil for skin with a carrier oil such as coconut oil.
• Usage of carrot seed oil must be avoided during pregnancy.
• If you have asthma or epilepsy or consume medicines for any liver condition, consult with your doctor whether you can use carrot seed oil or not.
• Try to use carrot seed oil in the evenings, as the beta-carotene present in it can oxidise in the presence of sunlight and heat, causing irritation and discolouration on the skin.