Can grapeseed oil help rid milia seeds?

Elsie left this comment in one of my earlier entry about her milia seeds: “I went to a dermatologist about milia and they told me to gently massage grapeseed oil around my eyes morning and night. Since then my milia haven’t gone but have been shrinking and softening although the smaller ones eventually do go. I would reccommend this but don’t expect to see results straight away because it takes time.”

I like grapeseed oil and have written that it contains regenerative and restructuring properties with its polyphenols, and the antioxidant power of proanthocyanidins found in grapeseed extract is 50 times greater than vitamin E and 20 times greater than vitamin C. However, I have no idea that it can help to get rid of milia.  Personally, I have used grapeseed oil topically with much success.  It helped improve my skin’s complexion, making it more refine and also, helped to reduce fine lines around my eyes. But I don’t have milia and hence can’t comment on that.  So what could be the possible connection between milia and grapeseed oil?

Shrinking and softening properties
Milia look like whiteheads or headless pimples, but are actually keratin-filled cysts that are formed when skin cells become trapped under the epidermis.  One of the best way to control milia is to exfoliate.  Although grapeseed oil does not have exfoliating properties, but it has skin softening as well as astringent properties.  Hence, consistent use will help reduce skin’s oil production plus smooth your skin, and some users have reported using it to help shrink varicose veins as well as eliminate stretch marks.  In fact, I learnt that grapeseed oil has amazing shrinking abilities and can even help shrink some of the swelling from non-cancerous breast cysts.  (source)  So this seems in line with the shrinking and softening that Elsie experienced with her milia after using the oil.

Anyone else had experience using grapeseed oil to treat their mila or any skin bumps?  If yes, please share your experience.

Comments

  1. pf1123 says:

    Wow! I didn’t know that this oil can help fine lines around the eyes. Maybe I should use this instead of expensive eye creams!!!

  2. sesame says:

    Yes, it helped but only the really fine ones. Doesn’t do that much for crow’s feet or deeper lines. Still, quite good to use if you prefer something cheap. I have since moved to using eye cream and gel but it look me a couple of months to see some results. For the grapeseed, the effects were visible after quite a short while.

  3. Raelynn says:

    i havent been able to actively use grapeseed oil in my skincare, but this just might get me to buy another bottle of chardonnay grapeseed oil! sesame, off topic but when you use MV sunscreens, for both creme du jour and soliei, were they good as makeup bases?

  4. sesame says:

    Yes, I find it works. I currently use MV Creme de Soleil tinted (new one is Facescreen +) as a makeup base. I like it with mineral foundation but with my compact foundation, it makes my complexion darker. For my compact foundation, found that the non-tinted Soleil worked better.

  5. Raelynn says:

    ahh. i see. probably will take the dive and try MVO untinted instead. i’m not too sure if i should try soleil or jour… it’s like if i dont apply any skincare in the day, my skin is only slightly slightly oily and tight and feels that it needs moisture. but when i apply chemical sunscreen (aside form the diorsnow) it looks totally oily and shiny even with makeup on.

  6. nani chen says:

    Really? i must at least try this one. I have been using eye cream and eye serum which i don’t think is working for my fine lines. Any brand recommendations? and do you know about the price range too? Thanks sesame. ?

  7. jac says:

    where can i get grapeseed oil? i have millea seeds ?

  8. Sue says:

    I’ve been having milia seeds for sometimes, and it really bother me…thanks for putting up this articles…i will surely try it.

  9. sesame says:

    Are you based in Singapore? You can try whoopeekiddies.com. If they don’t carry, then you’ve to turn to online sprees to purchase via Garden of Wisdom.

  10. sesame says:

    Grapeseed oil is very cheap – definitely less than US$15 I recall. The one I bought in the past has no brand. You can source from DIY suppliers.

  11. sesame says:

    Creme de Jour feels dry on my skin. A few readers reflected the same. I only use Creme de Soleil now or Facescreen + as it is renamed. The non-tinted version will leave a slight whitecast though. I’m okay but I know some pple don’t like it.

  12. GUNN says:

    wow! i have been looking for an answer for my milia.
    My dermatologist in India told me to avoid sun and not touch my face a lot.
    i have milia around my eyes.
    i would like to have a clear skin.
    THanks Elsie ans Sesame for sharing the tip. I am definitely going to give this a try.

    Gunn.

  13. GUNN says:

    And also do you have any other tip on getting rid of milia. please share.
    Thanking you well in advance!!

  14. sesame says:

    Well, I haven’t had milia to know if it’ll work but it’s a great oil to use on the face anyway. I was cautious when I first applied it around my eyes since it’s oil but after it proved to be okay, I just massage over on a daily basis.

  15. sesame says:

    Milia could be hereditary as well as due to product usage. I have experience of using rose hip oil over my eyes and caused milia seeds to form! So have to be cautious using oil – get those of better quality from recognized stores.

    Exfoliating is one way but the thing is, you can’t use scrubs. You have to choose those that are gentle and it seems grapeseed has this benefit although I can’t vouch for it. Personally, I poked my milia when it was first formed and got rid of it. But it’s not something I would recommend. You need to find a good therapist who can help you.

  16. chenyze says:

    hmm grapeseed oil alone or do i need to mix it with something else? do you there is a negative extreme in using it too often though? i’m now thinking of using grapeseed oil on some nights instead of True Beauty’s repair cream. Partly to prolong the lifespan of the cream, and partly cuz I’m still worried that it’s not going to be moisturising enough!

    By the way, how do I differentiate milia seeds from viral worts? both seem to be elevated skin!

  17. sesame says:

    Viral worts? Sounds much more serious and if I’m not wrong, it’s a lot bigger or grow in clusters?

    I used to use grapeseed oil beneath my sunscreen in the day. In the night, I use it alone. You worried that TB’s Repair Cream isn’t moisturizing? It is…in fact, I now cut the usage cos I find a full squirt is too much.

  18. Ana says:

    I had milia a year ago. when I stopped, thick eye cream and thick concealer, milia have gone away by its own. I’m using eye gels now.

  19. sesame says:

    Yup, a lot of experts dispute claims that milia is caused by product usage but it’s been proven to be so. Long time ago I used a really thick eye cream and developed milia almost immediately. For awhile, I was really fearful of eye creams.

  20. Jasmine says:

    This is interesting because I got lots of milia from Clinique’s All About Eyes Rich, and one of its main ingredients is grapeseed oil … :S strange huh

  21. sesame says:

    I did a search and couldn’t find grapeseed oil or its botanical name listed in the ingredients of All About Eyes Rich. But I saw shea butter, beewax, wheat germ extract quite high up on the list besides the silicon Phenyl Trimethicone – seems to be triggers to me.

    Anyway, the recommendation is to use grapeseed oil by itself and not in combination with other ingredients which could make the product a lot more thicker and emollient.

  22. yay says:

    Interesting…the whole time i thought i got whiteheads around my eye areas… it could be mailia seed…usually when i get facial i told them i want to get rid of it… it does do the trick.. but sometimes it’s too close to my eye area i don’t want them to touch… once my regular doctor use sharp object to get rid of it for me…i told her it’s bothering me too much… maybe i should start using grapeseed oil to see if that help… currently have both side of my eyelids…it’s so annoying & it’s also noticeable…

  23. yay says:

    ops..wrong spelling it should been “milia”

  24. crow says:

    Grapeseed oil is such a great oil. I dont have milia seeds nor ever have had them but this winter i developed exczema under one eye , on the thin skin just below the eye. It is such a tricky area to treat! Any suggestions for clearing it. I know it is not good to use oils on such thin skin so close to the eyes…

  25. chenyze says:

    hmm mine aren’t as bad as the pictures on wiki or the NSC site. it’s more like small bumps on my hands and the sides of my face. they’re a little more translucent than my normal skin tone. last time i was told that they were viral worts! but maybe i’ll just try grapeseed oil anyway hehe.

    too much? in what sense? the thing is all the products absorb so well that i can hardly be sure if i’ve actually covered my face! i know they said only a thin layer is needed but i can’t see where i’ve missed out on! hmm at least it doesn’t feel oily or anything though. and because the skin at the ridges of my nose gets a bit flaky sometimes i worried that it wasn’t moisturizing enough!

  26. sesame says:

    It’s actually not a problem to use the oil around the eyes for me at least…but for eczema, I have no experience although I know aloe vera can help to calm down and you need to moisturize the area to prevent further flare ups.

  27. seashell says:

    I had applied grapeseed oil on t zone this morning. Fr the apperance it is not oil but when i touch its oily. is it like that?

  28. sesame says:

    Hmm…it’s pretty lightweight if that’s what you’re referring to.

  29. sesame says:

    I’m using a mixture of oil on my face now and I don’t apply a lot but it feels comfortable – just a tad oily when I touch my face.

  30. seashell says:

    ya that’s the feeling. any way to improve the oily touch? tks.

  31. sesame says:

    One way is to cut down. I use a mist on my face and then use just one or two tiny drops of oil on my whole face. Works well for me. Because of lesser oil, my face did not feel so oil…at the same time, I enjoyed the hydration from the mist as the oil sealed the moisture.

  32. KTee says:

    I have a bad case of milia seeds around both my eyes. They are definately hereditary cause some of my paternal aunties have them. A beauty therapist once told me that they could only be removed through lazer procedure or something like that, which i am not comfortable in trying. I wonder if the grape seed oil will arrest the situation? I hesistate to try for fearing that i may make it worst… Can i also use grape seed oil on my face in place of my moisturizer? I have oily but dehydrated skin. It is also acne prone.

  33. sesame says:

    Yes, you can use in place of moisturizer. You have oily but dehydrated skin, so I think the moisturizing is not enough. Do you use hydrating mask some times?

    The grapeseed oil is sufficient for those with normal to combi skin but some of my readers with dryer skin find it’s insufficient and so they use the grapeseed underneath their moisturizer.

    Milia seeds can be removed by laser…that’s the only way I know too and so I was quite surprised that a doctor is recommending grapeseed oil.

  34. KTee says:

    Yeah, i have pretty oily skin especially the t-zone. i am still in search of a suitable moisturizer. Am currently using EL’s Time Zone Moisturizer, which i feel is okay if i apply it sparingly. I also try to use hydrating mask once or twice a week on top of the Himalaya Herbals Neem Mask, which is quite effective for oily and acne prone skin like mine. Oh yeah, i like their mud mask too. I don’t get the ‘tight’ feeling after washing, which is good. Maybe i should try grapeseed oil..

  35. Liesl says:

    i wonder whether grapeseed oil for cooking sold in supermarket can be used for applying on the face?? Any difference between those sold in skincare shops??

  36. sesame says:

    Those for skincare are cosmetic grade but I really am not too sure about the difference. I would use those sold as vitamins on my face but for cooking, it sounds a little strange if you know what I mean…if your face is sensitive, I wouldn’t advice as how we process stuff via our skin and our intestines is a bit different and it’ll be safer to stick to cosmetic grade.

  37. Courtney says:

    Just wanted to say that I think your site is where I first saw that grapeseed oil helps milia seeds, and I got one on my eyelid and for the past 5 days I massaged grapeseed oil on it and today I was able to pop it!!! Yay the horrid thing is gone now ? And thanks so much for letting me know about the wonders of grapeseed oil! ?

  38. sesame says:

    I’m glad the info helped you! ?

  39. Serenity says:

    Hi! would you happen to know the ratio for making oil moisturizers? can i possibly mix grapeseed oil, rose hip oil and emu oil? i’m currently using emu oil alone for my face and it is wonderful! i just want to experiment at bit ? many thanks!

  40. sesame says:

    My understanding is that you will have one as the base oil and that should be 75% while the rest should be around 25% each. I suggest you make a small batch and see if it works well.

  41. Serenity says:

    thanks for the fast reply and suggestion. light in your heart! ?

  42. Jacky says:

    I want to know is anyone out there has problems with milia seeds around the labia.

  43. pinksakura says:

    Thank you for your articles, they really help. Just wondering if you or anyone have tried those expensive eye serums, or eye care products with collagen… Do you think that those serums can both help reduce milia AND reduce wrinkles/crowfeet at the same time?

  44. sesame says:

    I think I might have tried once or twice but don’t see much of a difference. But then again, they were more like masks than eye serums or creams.

  45. wendy ho says:

    how can i buy bottle of the grapeseed oil for face and price ? please advice

    thanks,

  46. sesame says:

    Are you based in Singapore?

  47. Farida says:

    I have a very dry skin that has aged faster than my age. It looks surged and dead? how can i revive the skin and put some life in it?

  48. Fang says:

    Hi. I saw your article on using grapeseed oil to remove milia seeds. The bottle which you had posted, will i able to get it in Singapore? Or is there any brand which im able to purchase in Singapore. Thanks ?

  49. Sesame says:

    Try exfoliating more regularly and remember to slather on a good sunscreen to protect daily.

  50. Sesame says:

    It used to be available in Singapore but the company has since, closed shop. This is another shop you can try. http://www.milagrotrading.com/

  51. Fang says:

    I had been trying to search but milagrotrading does not carry grapeseed oil either. ?

  52. Sesame says:

    Oh they’ve stopped carrying then. In that case you have to order from Garden of Wisdom in US.

  53. Hanako says:

    I did laser, it was clean for awhile but after some months it will grow again so I am not sure laser is good, and it is burning pain and I wish I can used cream to cure instead of going for laser, though it is free in salon if you are a regular customer

  54. eva says:

    what brand are u using ? can use cooking grape seed oil ?

  55. Sesame says:

    Better to use cosmetic grade. Try NOW Food.

  56. dramaquin says:

    FYI, some of NOW products has too many fillers in them. As far as I know, food grade is fine. I used cold pressed or expeller pressed olive oil, grape seed oil, sun flower oil. Have no problems. I do a lot of DIY serum and lotion and so far I am happy with them. My skin improved a lot. Why spend on all those expensive skin care that don’t work or not carrying enough effective properties in them. I personally don’t like greasy stuff even though I have dry skin. During winter maybe I will smear a little more cream on my face. Ever since I found out that the DIY recipes works I will stick to this. At least I know what I put in. Also, most DIYers prefer food grade oil because it has less chemicals in then. FYI some sellers do pack their food grade oil into little bottles and sell them as cosmetic grade and you are paying more money. So long as you stick to cold pressed oil you are safe. I am beginning to incorporate macadamia nut oil into my lotion and serum. Seems like it has a lot of beneficial properties. IMHO if you can eat it you can put on your face.

    Hope this help anyone who has doubts

  57. Sesame says:

    You raise a good point about selling food grade oil. I mean…who will know for sure?

  58. Izz says:

    What if im in johor bharu, malaysia?
    Is there any stockist here or online shops?

  59. Sesame says:

    Hmm…I’m not too sure because the online stores have also changed scenes.

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