DIY Face Serums

                                   

• Making your own facial serum is really easy! All you need is a carrier oil (or oils!) and essential oils (or oil!) of your choice. Below are a few skin care/facial serum recipes using the essential oils and carrier oils listed above:
   

NATURAL SKIN CARE RECIPES:

1. Moisturizer for Normal Skin 

Geranium 1 drop  
Lavender 2 drops
   Sweet Almond Oil - 1 Tablespoon

Blend essential oils with Almond oil. Apply to face after cleansing and toning. Use a few drops of this blended mixture as needed. Note: when mixing your essential oils with the carrier oil or lotion, let set for 1 to 2 days so the oils can blend thoroughly.

2. Face Serum for Sensitive Skin

• 2 tbsp Almond oil
• 2 tbsp Jojoba oil
• 5 drops Chamomile essential oil
• 5 drops Rose essential oil

3. Face Serum for Mature Skin

• 2 tbsp Jojoba oil
• 5 drops Rosehip oil
• 5 drops Pomegranate seed oil
• 5 drops Carrot seed oil 

4. Antiaging Eye Serum

• 2 tbsp Wheat Germ oil
• 2 tbsp Grapeseed oil
• 2 tbsp Pomegranate oil
• 2 tbsp Carrot seed oil 

5. Antiwrinkle Moisturizer

• 60% Hazelnut oil/ Sesame Oil 
• 20% Rosehip seed oil
• 10% jojoba oil
• 10%2 Rose essential oil 

       


6. Nourishing face serum 

• 2 tbsp Almond oil/Pumpkin seed oil 
• 2 tbsp Rosehip seed oil
• 5 drops Lavender essential oil
• 5 drops Neroli essential oil

7. Antiaging Face Serum

• 20% Evening Primrose oil 
• 20% Apricot kernel oil
• 60% Avocado oil 

8. Face Serum for Acne

• 2 tbsp Hazelnut oil
• 2 tbsp Rosehip seed oil
• 5 drops Lavender essential oil
• 5 drops Tea Tree essential oil/ Eucalyptus oil 
• 5 drops Geranium essential oil

9. Face Serum for Dry Skin

• 10% Evening Primrose oil 
• 10% Chamomile essential oil
• 20% Jojoba oil
• 60% Avocado oil 

GOLDEN TIPS

Oils are great for the skin. I learned that oil-based serums are actually wonderful for all types of skin, including mature skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, acne prone skin etc.  Face oils & serums are a wonderful way to heal, moisturize and protect your skin!!! 

And one more thing, last but not the least: while storing these oils, keep them in cool, dry and dark places and their bottles should better be in dark colors so that they are affected less by the sunlight!!!

Enjoy your own homemade serums :)))

Tips for Shiny Healthy Hair

Healthy Shiny Hair

Great hair doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You don’t need to spend money on expensive high-end products, or even go to the salon every month. All it takes is a little tender loving care to get your hair back to its natural health and shine.

 

 

 

Here are 10 Tips for Shiny Healthy Hair:

 

 

Tip#1

Choose the right shampoo and conditioner according to your hair type.

 

 

 

Tip #2

Preventive Care: Don’t let your hair be a victim to the environment. Protect it by deep conditioning once a week or using a hair mask. This will fortify your strands, making them much healthier and easier to manage. So treat your hair to some spa time every week and within a month, you’ll definitely see a difference!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tip #3

Skip the Heat: I cannot tell you how important it is that you skip the blowdrier/straightener/curler as much as possible! On your days off where you’re not leaving the house for example, why not let your hair air dry to its natural state? The more heat you put on your hair, the more you dry out the strands, leaving your hair weak, brittle, and not very healthy. If you must blowdry every day, make sure you do it at the lowest heat setting possible. Yes, it does take a little longer, but especially for those with thin hair like mine, it can make a world of difference! Also, don’t forget that ceramic irons are much more gentler on your hair than non-ceramic ones, so be sure you use the best kind.

 

Tip #4

Don’t rub! After getting out of the shower, pat your hair dry and then wrap it in a towel. But under no circumstance should you rub your hair dry since that causes breakage which will eventually lead to split ends.

 

Tip #5

Brush With Care: The way you brush your hair is very crucial to its health. Never pull on it too hard – you’ll end up pulling out strands! If your hair gets easily tangled, brush it slowly and with care starting at the ends and working your way up – especially if your hair is wet.

 

 

Tip #6

Skip a Day: One of the best advices I was given by my hairdresser was to not wash my hair every day. Sure, it may sound a little gross, but washing your hair every single day strips it of its natural oils, which leaves your hair dry and brittle. Instead, wash your hair every other day to retain essential oils.

 

Tip#7

Natural Oils: Apply a few drops of castor oil, argan oil or coconut oil all over your hair, especially to the ends after shower before combing your hair. You can apply jojoba oil into the scalp. They all add strength as well as shine to your hair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tip#8

Cut your hair every 8 weeks: On average, hair grows at a rate of about one-half inch (1.25cm) per month.This means, between cuts, the hair should have grown about an inch (2.5cm). If your hair is already the length you desire, this means you have an inch to spare, and that inch is the part of the hair that has been the most abused, most mistreated, and most damaged. In short, that inch is ready to retire.

If you are trying to grow your hair longer, this means you can lose the least

healthy half-inch of hair with each trim and still gain 3 inches each year. It may seem like slow progress, but you'll be happier with the results in the end. 

Removing split ends is one of the ways to healthy hair.

 

 

Tip#9
Healthy diet is a must: Dark green vegetables, fish (especially salmon), chicken and turkey, beans and nuts should be consumed. Without adequate protein or with low-quality protein, one can experience weak brittle hair, while a profound protein deficiency can result in loss of hair color.

Tip#10
Avoid hair dying: If you dont have grey hair, don't dye your hair. Dyes ruin the hair's chemistry.

 

 

 

 

 

                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

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REMEMBER: A woman's hair is her crowning glory!!!!

DRY SKIN: Tips to Prevent Dry Itchy Skin

DRY SKIN

There's nothing worse than dry, itchy skin. Dry skin can happen any time during the year, but is most prevalent in winter (hence the term, "winter itch"). Find out why your skin tends to be dry in winter and how to solve dry hands, feet, body, face and lips year-round. 

In winter, low temperatures, low humidity and strong, harsh winds deplete skin of its natural lipid layer, which keeps the skin from drying out. The dry air from furnaces and other heating sources also suck the moisture out of skin. To keep skin soft and supple, your goal is not only to add moisture to skin, but to keep moisture in as well. 

                                                                                                        

Why Dry Skin?

You get dry skin because your skin is not producing enough natural oils to keep itself hydrated. This lack of oil will cause your skin to be dry,sensitive and feel tight and itchy.

So when you go to buy your daily facial cleanser, make sure to get one that does not contain a lot of alcohol, which will irritate already dry skin.

Then, it is really important to get a good facial moisturizer. The ones which contain olive oil can be a good choice as these are safe and natural. 

If your skin is dry, it may also be sensitive. When you try new products watch out for redness and don't use products that cause irritation. Also, you may want to try to find a facial cream that has sun screen in it too. 

            

 

Here are some tips to prevent dry itchy skin:

1) Keep water lukewarm not hot in shower or while washing hands or face (hot water robs skin's moisture)

2) Moisturize your skin after every shower while your skin is still damp. (You can lock moisture in the skin this way)

3)Exfoliate your skin, both your face and body, weekly (to remove dead skin, so that moisturizers can be better absorbed by the skin)

4)Don't use drying soaps, use mild cleansers instead.

5)Use lip balms for your lips.

6) Invest in a deeply nourishing facial moisturizer,a body moisturizer, plus a humidifier if you live in low-humidity climate.

                  

 

7) You can take fish oil pills.

8) Drink plenty of water.

9) Use bath oils during taking a bath or right after the bath.

10) After you take a shower or a bath, pat dry with a towel, don't rub it.

11) Use natural oils for your face at nights for moisturizing. (Sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil etc )

12) You can apply facial masks for deeper hydration.

 

DIY EYE-SERUM RECIPES

DIY Eye Serum

Eye serums are fairly expensive skin care products among all. If you are on a budget, you can do your own eye serum with effective natural ingredients. 

Below you will find 2 homemade eye-repair serum recipes.


First of all, you will need a clean serum bottle with a pump, which you can obtain from drugstores. Your run-out serum's bottle will also do, however you have to clean it with alcohol.

Or, a clean eye-dropper bottle.



 FIRST RECIPE

If you like the oily textured eye serum, you will not need a serum bottle but an eye-dropper bottle instead. Obtain it from a drugstore.

For oily textured eye serum, all you need is:

1) Clean glass eye dropper bottle

2) Wheat Germ oil

3) Jojoba Oil

4) Carrot seed oil

5) Pomegranate oil

6) Grape seed oil

 

You will take the same amount of each oil with an eye-dropper, and mix them in your eye dropper bottle. Shake well before each use. One drop for each eye will be enough.

Your DIY eye- serum contains all the useful and necessary ingredients and antioxidants an eye serum should have!!!

                               ooooo0000000oooooo

 SECOND RECIPE

I, personally like eye serums with gel consistency. So in this recipe you will need aloe vera gel and/ or Vitamin E gel as the basic element.

Here is the recipe for your eye serum:

1) A clean serum bottle

2) 1 tablespoon of Aloe Vera gel and/or Vitamin E gel

3) 1 teaspoon Grape seed oil

4)  1 teaspoon Pomegranate Seed Oil 

5) 1 teaspoon Carrot Seed Oil

6) 1 teaspoon chamomile oil 

7) Little Wooden spoon

Combine 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel and 1 tablespoon Vitamin E gel (or a few Vitamin E capsules) together in a bowl. Add the oils and mix them very well with a little wooden spoon.You should have a white jelly-like cream. Spoon the mixture into the serum bottle. 

Now you have your DIY Eye-serum (in gel form) with perfect ingredients!!!!   

...............2 homemade eye-repair serum recipes...........

DIY Facial Mist



DIY Facial Mist

You can find the information about facial mists in my blog: what they are, why they are used etc. They are simply great to refresh and hydrate your face. Many organic or drugstore brand facial mist sprays can be expensive. A cost-effective solution is to make your own home made facial mist with simple ingredients you can obtain easily. 

Here you will find the recipe to make your own facial mist at home.

All you need is:

1) Spray bottle

2) Purified/distilled water

3) Glycerin

4) Essential oil of your choice (rose/ lavender / eucalyptus / chamomile)

         

 

Where to obtain the ingredients:

You can obtain spray bottle from any drugstore, bottled distilled water from grocery store or gas station or pharmacies, glycerin from drugstores and essential oils from anywhere selling natural organic products. 

Why distilled water?

When you are making a facial mist, it is better to use distilled water. The harder the water, the higher the mineral count and the more chance of a dry and irritated skin. You can also use drinking water after you boil it.

After obtaining the necessary ingredients, follow these easy steps to make it:

Step 1. Fill your 3/4 of your spray bottle with pure water

Step 2. Add 1 tsp of glycerin in the spray bottle

Step 3. Add 5 drops of rose oil and 5 drops of other essential oil of your choice

Step 4. Replace the spay nozzle, close the spray bottle and shake the bottle to mix the oils and water.

Your facial spray is ready!!!!!

Now you can liberally spray it on your face!

ANTIAGING: CARRIER OILS AND ESSENTIAL OILS: Natural Skin Care

  

CARRIER OILS

Carrier oils, also referred to as base oils or vegetable oils, are used to dilute essential oils and absolutes before applying to the skin. They “carry” the essential oil onto the skin.

Carrier oils are generally cold-pressed vegetable oils derived from the fatty portions of the plant. Unlike essential oils that evaporate and have a concentrated aroma, carrier oils do not evaporate or impart their aroma as strongly as essential oils, if at all. Essential oils are added to carrier oils to impart both a scent and their healing properties.

Essential oils do not go rancid. Carrier oils, however, can go rancid. Carrier oils that you purchase should be natural and unadulterated. Exceptions include carrier oils that have natural vitamin E added because Vitamin E acts as a natural preservative.

         

 CARRIER OILS:

ALMOND OIL Botanical Name: Prunus amygdalus var. dulcus Aroma: Nutty, slightly sweet and Light Texture: Absorbs moderately, slightly oily and leaves the skin feeling slightly oily. Color: Almost completely clear with a trace of yellow Additional Info: Considered to be the perfect all-purpose carrier oil. Blends well with Avocado Oil. APRICOT KERNEL OIL Botanical Name: Prunus armeniaca Aroma: Slight Texture: Usually non-irritating. Absorbs moderately and is somewhat oily. Color: Almost completely clear with a trace of yellow. Additional Info: Contains Vitamin A. Because of its texture, this makes it perfect for blending massage oils. This oil will not leave you feeling greasy or slippery. It also softens the skin. AVOCADO OIL Botanical Name: Persea americana Aroma: Medium. Somewhat sweet and nutty Texture: Thick, leaves a fatty, almost waxy feel to the skin. Color: Deep olive green Additional Info: Blend a 10% dilution of avocado oil with another carrier oil. Excellent for mature and dry skin types. Contains B Complex and Vitamins E,D and A as well as lecithin, potassium, and chlorophyll. It is a very moisturizing oil and especially beneficial for rash, eczema, mature skin, parched skin, and aging skin. BORAGE SEED OIL Botanical Name: Borago officinalis Aroma: Sweet and light Texture: Thin to medium, somewhat oily on the skin Color: Light yellow Additional Info: Excellent for treating skin conditions such as psoriasis. Borage oil can go rancid quickly. It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of borage oil with another carrier oil. CALENDULA OIL Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis Aroma: Spicey sweet aroma Texture: Thin Color: Yellow to Amber Additional Info: CALENDULA OIL SHOULD NOT BE USED BY ANYONE THAT HAS AN ALLERGY TO RAGWEED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Comes from the Marigold and works well blended with Sweet Almond Oil. Great for reducing inflammation. It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of calendula oil with another carrier oil. CARROT SEED OIL Botanical Name: DAUCUS CAROTA SATIVA Aroma: Spicy aroma Texture: Medium/thick Color: Yellow to Amber Additional Info: Rich in beta carotene and vitamins A & E, highly beneficial to skin   COCOA BUTTER Botanical Name: Theobroma cacao Aroma: In unrefined cocoa butter it is very sweet and rich with a chocolate aroma. In refined cocoa butter the aroma is not as noticeable. Texture: At room temperature the cocoa butter is solid and difficult to work with and will more than likely break-up into pieces. Color: Tan with a yellow hue Additional Info: In order to use the cocoa butter it will be necessary to blend it with other oils in order to make it more manageable. It can be used in creams or lotions. COCONUT OIL Aroma: Coconut aroma Texture: Easy to spread and non-oily Color: Light Additional Info: It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of coconut oil with another carrier oil.   EVENING PRIMROSE OIL Botanical Name: Oenothera biennis Aroma: Sweet and light Texture: Thin and its not oily on the skin. Color: Medium yellow Additional Info: Excellent for treating skin conditions such as psoriasis. Evening Primrose Oil can go rancid quickly. It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of evening primrose oil with another carrier oil. Can be used in creams. GRAPESEED OIL Botanical Name: Vitus vinifera Aroma: Sweet, light, with a small nutty aroma. Texture: Thin fine texture, leaving no oily residue Color: Almost clear with a tiny hint of yellow/green. Additioanl Info: Inexpensive. May have some trace amounts of chemical solvent in the oil because of the manner in which it is extracted. It has the possibility of turning rancid quickly. If it is stored in a dark bottle in a cool dark area, you may not have any problems with rancidity. Blends well with Avocado Oil. HAZELNUT OIL Botanical Name: Corylus avellana Aroma: Nutty, light and slightly sweet Texture: Thin and is slightly oily on the skin Color: Pale yellow Additional Info: I've found this is an excellent oil for those with oily skin. Helps to prevent dehydration of the skin. JOJOBA OIL Botanical Name: Simmondsia chinensis Aroma: Light and nearly odorless Texture: Silky and usually absorbs well on the skin. Can feel waxey. Color: Yellow Additional Info: This oil is really a wax. It usually does not go rancid very quickly. It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of jojoba oil with another carrier oil. Great skin conditioner for most skin types. KUKUI OIL Botanical Name: Aleurites moluccana Aroma: Nutty, light and sweet aroma Texture: Thin and its not oily on the skin. Color: Clear with a slightly yellow hue Additional Info: Excellent for treating skin conditions such as psoriasis. Kukui Oil can go rancid quickly. It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of kukui oil with another carrier oil. MACADAMIA NUT OIL Botanical Name: Macadamia integrifolia Aroma: More aromatic than other nut oils and is very sweet. Texture: Because it is a thicker oil, it will leave an oily film on the skin. Color: Clear with a slight yellow hue Additional Info: Blend a 10% dilution of macadamia nut oil with another carrier oil. OLIVE OIL Botanical Name: Olea europaea Aroma: Smells like olives. Texture: Heavy and oily. Color: Use the greenest oil you can possibly purchase. The greener the oil, the closer it is to pure cold pressed. Additional Info: May be blended with a 10% dilution of olive oil with another carrier oil. POMEGRANATE SEED OIL Botanical Name:Punica granatum Aroma: Light and nearly odorless Texture:Thin and slightly oily on the skin Color:Clear Additional Info: Can be applied under eyes without dilution with any oil.   PUMPKIN SEED OIL   Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo Aroma: Light and nearly odorless Texture:Medium and slightly oily on the skin Color:Clear/ pale yellow Additional Info: The oil produced from the pumpkin seeds is reputed for it extraordinary wealth of vitamins A, E, C and K- excellent combination for the skin.   PEANUT OIL Botanical Name: Arachis hypogeae Aroma: Light with a slighty nutty aroma Texture: Thick and is very oily on the skin. Color: Clear Additional Info: PEANUT OIL SHOULD NOT BE USED BY ANYONE THAT HAS AN ALLERGY TO PEANUTS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. It is used in some massage oil blends. Always let your massage therapist know if you are allergic to peanuts before the massage begins just in case they use a peanut oil blend. Peanut oil is generally Good for those who have arthritic conditions. PECAN OIL Botanical Name: Carya pecan Aroma: Extremely light with nutty aroma. Texture: Medium and slightly oily on the skin. Color: Clear Additional Info: It has the possibility of turning rancid quickly. If it is stored in a dark bottle in a cool dark area, you may not have any problems with rancidity. ROSEHIP OIL Botanical Name: Rosa mosqueta Aroma: Mild with an earthy aroma. Texture: Light and leaves the skin slightly oily Color: Clear Additional Info: Excellent for treating skin conditions such as psoriasis. Rose Hip Oil can go rancid quickly. Contains Vitamins A,C, E. It is also expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of evening primrose oil with another carrier oil. SESAME OIL Botanical Name: Sesamum indicum Aroma: Medium, sweet, and nutty. Texture: Slightly thick and leaves the skin slightly oily Color: Pale yellow Additional Info: May be blended with a 10% dilution of sesame oil with another carrier oil. Good calcium source. SHEA BUTTER Botanical Name: Butyrospermun parkii Aroma: Nutty aroma Texture: Solid and workable at room temperature. May leave a waxy feeling on the skin. Color: Cream colored Add'l Info: Typically used in lotions and creams SUNFLOWER OIL Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus Aroma: Sweet and light Texture: Thin with no oiliness on the skin Color: Clear with a yellow hue Add'l Info: Go for the unrefined sunflower oil. WALNUT OIL Aroma: Rich and with a nutty aroma Texture: Delicate Color: Light Add'l Info: It is expensive, so you can blend a 10% dilution of walnut oil with another carrier oil. WHEATGERM OIL Aroma: Wheat aroma and slightly nutty Texture: Thick and sticky Color: Golden orange-brown Add'l Info: WHEATGERM OIL SHOULD NOT BE USED BY ANYONE THAT HAS AN ALLERGY TO WHEAT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. High in Vitamin E which gives powerful healing properties. Usually included in a blend for preservation and anti-oxidative properties. Because of this you can blend a 10% dilution of wheatgerm oil with another carrier oil. If it is blended with preferably almond or grapeseed oil, then use 25% wheatgerm to 75% almond or grapeseed.

 

 

ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils are distilled from leaves, barks, roots, flowers and other aromatic parts of a plant or tree. Essential oils are more potent than carrier oils and if applied to the skin undiluted can cause severe irritation or allergic reaction. Therefore, essential oils are mixed with carrier oils to dilute potency. Additionally carrier oils carry the essential oil too the skin, thus the term carrier oil.

    

Essential oils, also referred to as "essences", are botanical extracts of various plant materials, and do not only originate from flowers, but from herbs, trees and various other plant material.

There are also certain safety precautions to be followed in the use of essential oils, such as never to use pure, undiluted essential oils on the skin.

Use of essential oils:

• Air freshening
• Bathing, Jacuzzis, showers, saunas
• Compresses
• Foot and hand baths
• Hair care 
• Massage
• Sitz bath
• Skin care
• Steam inhalations 
  
  
  
  
  
  In Skin Care, essential oils are diluted with various carrier oils. There are more than 100 essential oils, but here I will mention the most popular ones used in skin care.
  
  
  
  ESSENTIAL OILS (used in Natural Skin Care)
  
  Chamomile: An excellent skin cleanser. Good for dry and itchy skin, eases puffiness and strengthens tissues. Smooth out broken capillaries thus improving skin elasticity.
  
  Geranium: A good overall skin cleanser. Wonderful oil for mature and troubled skin and brings a radiant glow and promotes circulation. Safety Precautions: Geranium essential oil is well tolerated by most individuals, but since it helps in balancing the hormonal system, care must be taken during pregnancy.
  
  Lavender: Useful for all skin types as it promotes growth of new cells and exerts a balancing effect on the sebum (oil glands). Has a healing effect on burns, sunburns, acne, eczema and psoriasis.
  
  Lemon: Brightens pale and dull complexions by removing dead skin cells. Has an effective cleansing action on oily skin. Note this oil is photo toxic; care should be taken to avoid exposure to sunlight, ultraviolet light and sun beds after application.
  
  Neroli: Useful for dry, sensitive and mature skin as it helps with regeneration of cells and improves elasticity. Helps reduce the appearance of varicose veins, scarring and stretch marks.
  
  Rose: Particularly good for mature, dry, or sensitive skin. As a tonic it is a soothing quality for inflammation and constricting action on capillaries.
  
  Rosemary: Helpful for sagging skin as it is a strong astringent. Tones and tightens the skin. Has a stimulating effect on the uterus, so do not use if pregnant.
  
  Sandalwood: A balancing oil and good for dehydrated skin, and dry eczema. Provides a softening affect and makes a great neck cream when mixed with cocoa butter.
  
  Ylang Ylang: Has a balancing effect on sebum so useful for both oily and dry skin types. 

•  You will find my homemade serum recipes which are prepared with these oils in one of my other posts called DIY Face Serums.