Japanese Beauty Secret: Camellia Oil

While I may have ignored my dear mother's pleas to take my vitamins, I do heed her beauty advice. She was raised in Japan where women are notorious for their beauty regimens, keeping their skin glowing and their hair super lustrous.

So I asked my mom for a beauty tip from the land of the rising sun, and she offered one up: "Since I was a little girl, Japanese women used Camellia oil, from the Camellia flower. You put it in your hair and it makes it look nice and shiny."

I made my way to the local Japanese grocery store and picked up a bottle of Oshima Tsubake Camellia Oil ($20). After washing my hair with my regular shampoo and conditioner, I applied some of the oil into my damp hair. I've never had a problem with my locks (Melissa claims I have "model hair"), but it really made a huge difference! The oil left my hair soft and manageable without weighing it down or making it look greasy. Call me a Camellia oil convert.

But Camellia oil isn't just good for your hair, it's also known for fading stretch marks and acne scars, as treatment for dry cuticles, and as a facial moisturizer -- even for oily skin. It doesn't clog your pores, and it's great for sensitive skin since it's all natural and free of chemicals. 

Thank for the tip, Mom! Maybe I'll start taking my multi-vitamin now, too.