DIY Facial Serum - Something To Do During That Football Game

DIY – Facial Serum

Over the past several decades, society’s remedies for everything from toe fungus to wrinkles have been largely serviced by the cosmetics/pharmaceutical industries.  Many of these products do in fact work, however, come with huge financial cost or unwanted side effects.  

It has been my recent epiphany that many such ailments/conditions can be remedied with basic ingredients which most of us may already have.  

Let’s take my $360 set of Obaji skincare which I purchased a year ago from a dermal institute.  Contained within the set of 7 jars and bottles were:

1 – cleanser
2 – toner
3 - “repairing cream” for day use
4 – “repairing cream” for night use
5 – bleaching cream for those miserable dark spots we older folks get
6 – vitamin serum
7 – sunblock

After closer examination and a much lighter wallet, I was surprised to see that the active ingredients contained in #s 3,4, and 6 were all the same.  My math tells me that the average price of each of those items was around $50.  Functionally speaking, it was only necessary for me to purchase one of the three to receive the benefit.  So why do they do it?  Because they know we don’t know any better.

That realization made me mad, and also motivated to figure out some great home remedies that were effective AND reasonably priced.  Here’s what I’ve come up with, and believe me, it’s not rocket science.

ESSENTIAL OILS - Essential oils are highly concentrated, potent oils produced by plants. They provide a concentrated dose of nature’s vast pharmacologically active ingredients in a single drop of oil.  Essential oils are the most concentrated form of any botanical and are the purest form of the plant’s living structure.  

Combining essential oils, (EOs), can be done for two purposes:  1) to create a serum for a particular ailment or remedy, or 2), blended solely for scent – aka perfume.  I will concentrate this discussion on the EOs as it relates to their functionality, (remedy), and specifically I’ll gear toward skincare.

Tea Tree EO is your best friend and one of the cheapest you can get your hands on.  Clearing up everything from toe fungus and cold sores, to absorbing the puss within a pimple, it has a high germicidal value.   I could go on forever about it because there’s not much that it can’t take on.  Yes, it smells medicinal, but remember, we’re concentrating on function.  Tea Tree included within a blended serum for your skin, (especially places prone to break-out), is imperative.  Over the course of a week or two, watch how your pimples break themselves down and becoming virtually nonexistent.  

Next, there’s Lavender EO.  It too is inexpensive and is great to add to your serum, encouraging skin cell growth and promoting healing of sores and wounds.   It has antiseptic properties, along with a host of other non-skin related benefits such as being an anti-depressant and slightly sedating, (relaxing).  

So far, you’ve spent about $12 on EOs.  Now check out the cooking/salad oils section in your fancy supermarket.  What are your choices?  Avocado Oil?  Hazelnut Oil?  Sweet Almond?   I know what you’re thinking… “You are nuts!  I’m not going to put oil on my face!”    

Avocado oil is excellent for dry and wrinkled skin as it moisturizes, nourishes and softens.  It has been found to significantly increase the water-soluble collagen content in the dermis skin layer.  It contains protein, vitamins A, D and E, and some amino acids.  

Hazelnut oil penetrates the skin easily.  It has some vitamin E content.  Cold pressed hazelnut oil is a wonderful, light, penetrating oil that is slightly astringent making it good oil for acne prone skin.  It is high in the essential fatty acids and is soothing and healing to dry irritated skin.  As a bonus, it has been shown to filter sunrays and is therefore commonly used in sun care products.
 

Sweet almond oil is a light, nearly odorless oil.  It is said to have great nutritional value for all skin types.  It has a similar make up to baby sebum, the oil naturally produced by the skin to protect a newborn’s skin, and is easily absorbed.  

Now that I have you convinced, go pick one that best suits your skin type and add it to your EO purchase.  By now I’d guess you’ve spent about $20.  That’s fantastic!

The last thing you’ll need is a small vial or glass container.  I don’t recommend plastic.  The Container store carries small glass vials for $1-$2.

Tea Tree EO should be mixed at about 1% of a solution…. So for every 1 drop of Tea Tree EO, you’ll want to add 99 drops of the carrier oil you’ve chosen.  Lavender is so benign you can almost use it straight up… but you don’t need to, so don’t waste it!  I’ve used up to 5 drops of Lavender EO to 100 drops of carrier oil.  Doing so will slightly improve the overall smell of the concoction, masking the medicinal odor of the tea tree somewhat. 

Now go wash your face with something gentle… like a salty or milk-based soap.  Pat dry, then apply your serum.  You will be glossy for a bit, but don’t fret… it will absorb.  Stay away from your eyes, mouth and nostrils.  Apply your foundation directly afterwards.  It makes application a snap.  Better yet, go to bed without any makeup.  In a few days you’ll see a marked improvement.    

There are many other EOs on the market to choose from.  I’ve chosen the two most economical and readily available.  Rose Absolute and Frankincense are both excellent in facial serums, however, are vastly more expensive.  (And smell better).  Some work really well, but sensitize you to sunburn, so make sure you know an oil's properties before you begin.

For inspiration, you might want to check out http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/  for a wide array of EO choices.  For more choices on carrier oils, you can look at http://www.brambleberry.com/ .   For more information about specific characteristics of EOs, have a look at The Art, Science and Busines of Aromatherapy on Amazon.  One of the best books around on EOs that is no longer in print, The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils, can be found on Amazon if you’re lucky.

The possibilities are endless!  Now go cure something…