Horsetail Oil, 125 ml

A horsetail oil sold under the El Nile Horas name. The front of the box calls it a natural premium oil, names horsetail extract and gives the size, 125 ml. It comes in a black box lettered in gold, with the brand's triangle, a small plant sprig and the Eye of Horus at the top and a drawing of a brown horse on grass above the name. The horse is only a picture of the name: horsetail is a plant, not an animal and not an oil seed, so horsetail oil is a base oil that carries the herb, and the front of the box does not say which base oil.

What it is for: the front of the box lists no uses, so these are the usual ways horsetail oil is used. It is an oil to put on dry hair and the scalp before washing; it adds shine and softness to dry, frizzy ends; and it softens dry cuticles and the skin around the nails. It is a cosmetic: it works on how hair and nails look and feel.

Use a little at a time. Before washing, warm a few drops between your palms, smooth them through dry hair from the middle to the ends and work a little into the scalp with your fingertips; cover your hair with an old towel, leave the oil for half an hour, then shampoo as usual. For dry ends, one or two drops on dry hair are enough. For the nails, rub one drop into the cuticles of each hand in the evening.

The difference from an unlabelled bottle in a bazaar is what you can see for yourself: a brand name and a printed box with the name and size on the front. It reaches you unopened, at the price on this page, with nothing to haggle over.

It is for external use only. Try a drop on the inner arm first and wait a day before using it more widely. The front of the box does not name the base oil, so if you have a nut allergy, read the label on the bottle before you use it. It is not a sunscreen and has no SPF. Keep it out of the eyes and away from small children, and if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a doctor first.

Close the cap after each use and keep the bottle out of direct sun and heat. Oil can mark fabric and towels and makes floors slippery, so wipe your hands before you touch clothes. At 125 ml it is over the 100 ml cabin limit, so it cannot fly in hand luggage: pack it in checked baggage, with the cap screwed down tight and the bottle sealed in a zip bag.

Who it suits: anyone with dry hair, dry ends or dry cuticles who wants one simple oil for them, and anyone looking for a small, useful present from Egypt that packs easily. Skip it if oil weighs your hair down or you dislike the feel of oil on your skin.