Today I’m going to share with you one of my favorite skin care recipes, an anti-aging moisturizing serum that I’ve been using for several years.
First, let me say, what you eat matters to your skin. Sooner or later, what you eat shows in your skin. Getting rid of processed food and switching to a more plant based diet made a huge difference in my skin, especially once I started incorporating more healthy fats like avocado into my diet. The difference was truly amazing. My skin started to looked younger and more hydrated within a month or two. If you’re really looking to improve your skin, look first at what you’re eating (or not eating.)
It wasn’t until about 6 or 7 years ago that I really started to notice that my skin was starting to age. I was getting more smile lines (as I like to call them) and fine lines under my eyes. It kind of hit me hard at that moment–I need to take better care of my skin!
Due to sensitive skin and rosacea, I had been using natural products for awhile but that rude awakening spurred me on further to protect my skin and to slow the aging process a bit. It was at that point I starting using more essential oils on my face and I discovered the lovely combination of German Chamomile and Jojoba Oil. Not only did this combination hydrate my skin but it was gentle and it really helped the redness caused by my rosacea. My skin started to look and feel amazingly soft.
After a few years, I started adding other ingredients that enhanced the serum even further. To this day, this is my favorite daily moisturizer! I apply a few drops to a freshly washed face, wait about 5 minutes and then apply my makeup as usual. The serum can also be used as a nighttime moisturizer.
The Ingredients
All of the ingredients in the Anti-Aging Moisturizing Serum are beneficial for maturing skin. It is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that nourish the skin, smooth fine lines and wrinkles and enhance the texture of your skin.
The serum is also gentle enough for sensitive skin and can help reduce skin inflammation, redness and scaring. Using this on a daily basis has really improved my rosacea.
Several of these ingredients are much-loved and much-used ingredients in my pantry and in my skin care. I’ve touched on Jojoba Oil and Chamomile in past posts so today I’ll focus on some of the other ingredients you may not be so familiar with.
Calendula
Calendula is a cheery yellow flower that is easily grown in most gardens. I started growing it last year and it produced beautiful, daisy like flowers from mid summer right through the fall. With a handful of seeds, I was able to dry enough calendula to last me until next summer.
Think of calendula whenever you have any type of skin issue, from wounds, bruises, rashes, sunburn, diaper rash to dry, itchy skin and eczema, calendula is a powerful healer of the skin. It has been shown to improve elasticity and skin hydration. It can also be used to promote skin health after the skin has been damaged.
Frankincense Essential Oil
In skin care, frankincense is particularly helpful for mature skin, helping to restore tone and lifting and tightening sagging skin. It can slow down the appearance of lines and wrinkles and it may even reduce wrinkles you already have.
Carrot Seed Oil
Carrot Seed is another essential oil that restores tone and elasticity to the skin. It stimulates cell renewal and may be helpful for sunspots. It is nourishing to the skin and may also reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
German Chamomile Essential Oil
Not be confused with Roman Chamomile, German Chamomile is particularly beneficial for sensitive, red, inflamed and dry skin. All the chamomiles are soothing, calming and anti-inflammatory but German Chamomile is particularly so because of it’s chemical composition.
DIY Anti-Aging Moisturizing Serum
What you’ll need:
-
1 half pint glass jar with lid
-
Glass bottle for your finished serum (I like to reuse the bottle the jojoba oil came in)
-
4 oz jojoba oil (and a little more if needed)
-
1/8 cup dried German chamomile flowers (Matricaria Chamomilla)
-
1 tbsp dried calendula flowers (I purchase my herbs from Bulk Herb Store & Mountain Rose Herbs
-
1 tbsp dried lavender
-
6 drops frankincense essential oil
-
6 drops carrot seed oil
(optional)
-
6 drops German chamomile essential oil (optional) * * useful for those with sensitive, red, inflamed or dry skin or those with rosacea.
Instructions:
-
Fill your clean, dry jar with the dried herbs. Add the jojoba oil and shake to combine. You can expect the herbs to expand a bit over the next day or so.
-
Check your jar over the first couple of days to ensure all the herbs are completely covered with the oil as they expand. Add more jojoba oil if needed.
-
Allow your oil mixture to infuse for 2 weeks in a warm, sunny spot or infuse using one of the quick methods (see below.)
-
Strain the herbs and add the frankincense essential oil, carrot seed oil and German chamomile essential oil. Gently turn your jar back and forth to combine. Label & date your infused oil.
-
I like to return my infused oil to the original glass jojoba oil bottle for daily use.
Recipe Notes:
Since water can introduce moisture and bacteria, make sure that your glass jar and lid are completely dry before adding the herbs and oil.
If you don’t want to wait 2 weeks for your infused oil, try one of these quick methods.
Quick Infusion (Double-Boiler Method):
In a double boiler or a heat safe measuring cup in a pan of water, simmer the oil and herbs over very low heat. Simmer gently for 30 to 60 minutes or longer, keeping the oil between 95-110 degrees. As Rosemary Gladstar likes to say, “the lower the heat and the longer the infusion, the better the oil.”
Quick Infusion Method 2# (Dehydrator):
This is one of my favorite methods! If you have an Excalibur (or similar type) dehydrator with a temperature control, you can infuse your herbs in it.
Add all of your herbs and oil to a pint jar. Shake to combine.
Remove enough of the trays in your dehydrator so that your glass jar with infused herbs sits in the bottom. Set the temperature between 95-110 degrees and leave it for 2 days or longer, shaking it periodically.
Enjoy!
–Jen
You might be interested in other recipes that incorporate the herbs and oils used in this recipe:
Coconut Cocoa Lip Balm
How to Make Delicious Licorice Tea
Making Herbal Vinegar
Healing Herbal Teas for When You are Sick
Calming Herbal Bath Salts
How to Infuse Culinary Oils with Herbs
FREE E-BOOK, “Three Home Remedies You Can Make in an Afternoon”
Resources:
Aromatherapy: An A-Z by Patricia Davis
Rosalee de la Forȇt. http://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/
This site is for educational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice. Information found on myhealthyhomemadelife.com is meant to motivate you to make your own health care and dietary decisions based upon your own research and in partnership with your health care provider.
My Healthy Homemade Life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
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| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Servings |
oz
|
Ingredients
- 4 oz jojoba oil
- 1/8 cup dried German chamomile flowers (Matricaria Chamomilla)
- 1 tbsp dried calendula flowers
- 1 tbsp dried lavender
- 6 drops frankincense essential oil
- 6 drops carrot seed oil (optional)
- 6 drops German chamomile essential oil (optional)
Ingredients
|
|
Instructions
- Fill your clean, dry jar with the dried herbs. Add the jojoba oil and shake to combine. You can expect the herbs to expand a bit.
- Check your jar over the first couple of days to ensure all the herbs are completely covered with the oil as they expand. Add more jojoba oil if needed.
- Allow your oil mixture to infuse for 2 weeks in a warm, sunny spot or infuse using the quick method (see below. ) Strain the herbs and add the frankincense essential oil, carrot seed oil and German Chamomile essential oil. Gently turn your jar back and forth to combine. Label & date your infused oil.
- I like to return most of my infused oil to the original glass jojoba oil bottle for daily use.
Quick Infusion (Double-Boiler Method):
- In a double boiler or a heat safe measuring cup in a pan of water, simmer the oil and herbs over very low heat. Simmer gently for 30 to 60 minutes or longer, keeping the oil between 95-110 degrees. As Rosemary Gladstar likes to say, "the lower the heat and the longer the infusion, the better the oil."
Quick Infusion Method 2# (Dehydrator):
- This is one of my favorite methods! If you have an Excalibur (or similar type) dehydrator with a temperature control, you can infuse your herbs in it. Add all of your herbs and oil to a pint jar. Shake to combine. Remove enough of the trays so that your glass jar with infused herbs sits in the bottom. Set the temperature between 95-110 degrees and leave it for 2 days, shaking it periodically.
Recipe Notes
Since water can introduce moisture and bacteria, make sure that your glass jar and lid are completely dry before adding the herbs and oil.
Recipe by Jennifer Prentice @ www.myhealthyhomemadelife.com
Complete instructions can be found at www.myhealthyhomemadelife.com/recipe/diy-anti-aging-moisturizing-serum/
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