Creating Moisturizing Facial Oils

The winter can be a harsh time for your skin. As soon as summer comes to an end, my skin begins to change as quickly as the leaves outside. By the time Winter arrives, my skin becomes very dry. Lotions, creams, and balms become constant companions for my hands and feet. My face however, has a different ally. When the cool dry breezes of winter come along, I abandon the light facial creams that sustain my summer skin. Facial Oil is the only thing that can keep my skin happy from December on.

At first glance, using an oil as a facial moisturizer seems counter intuitive. Most people react to this idea with the concern that it will cause your skin to become too greasy. While that could be true in some extreme cases, most people's skin actually reacts quite well to facial oils. After all, most creams and facial serums are oil based. Water and emulsifiers are added to give the product the cool feeling and pleasant texture that we are so familiar with. Unfortunately, the commercial versions of these products are almost always accompanied by chemical preservatives and other questionable ingredients. Facial oils can be made in small batches that can be used quickly, eliminating the need for a strong chemical preservative.

The key to a great skincare routine is making sure that it matches your unique needs. Creating a custom facial oil allows you to directly control the properties of your daily moisturizer. Since you'll be using ingredients that have not been diluted with water and additives, you'll be essentially (no pun intended) cutting out the middle man. You can be sure that the beneficial components of the oils you are using are reaching your skin at their full strength. You only need to apply about 3 to 6 drops of facial oil per application, but each drop will be packed with full strength natural ingredients.

When it comes to creating a blend for delicate facial skin all oils are not created equal. Even if your skin tends to be dry, your blend should be light, penetrating, and non-comedogenic. My favorite oil to use as a base for any facial blend is Rosehip Oil. With high levels of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, Rosehip oil is a champion in the world of natural skincare. It has been shown to help improve skin elasticity, regenerate skin cells, slow down premature aging, reduce the formation of wrinkles, and reduce scarring. While Rosehip Oil makes a wonderful base for most skin types it is especially suited to mature skin.

Evening Primrose Oil and Borage Oil are also great for facial blends. These oils are high in G.L.A. (or gamma-linolenic acid), an essential fatty acid that helps to balance the skins moisture and auto-immunity. This makes these oils especially beneficial to people who suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis or eczema. G.L.A. is introduced during infancy through breastfeeding, but it is not otherwise produced by the human body. This particular fatty acid is rarely found in significant concentrations in plants, but Borage, and Evening Primrose are two of the highest sources of G.L.A. Their oils have been found to be very effective when used by people with severe skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema or chronically dry skin, but are not limited to use in only those situations. Most skin types can benefit from the use of Borage and Evening Primrose Oil.

Jojoba, a liquid wax which is commonly referred to as an oil, is another classic ingredient for use in facial blends. Jojoba's chemical composition is very close to sebum, a natural fluid produced by human skin. Sebum acts as the skin's natural protective barrier. It also aids in regulating moisture. Jojoba is a smart addition to any facial oil blend, but sensitive skin blends may be particularly helped by the use of Jojoba. It contains a significant amount of myristic acid, a fatty acid that is known to act as an anti-inflammatory.

Fruit and Berry Seed Oils are some of the highest sources of antioxidants found in natural skincare today. Blueberry Seed Oil is at the top of this list. It is one of the most potent sources of antioxidants found in the natural world! Antioxidants and essential fatty acids are known for their amazing anti-aging properties and can also act as a barrier against allergens, free radicals, and even sun damage. Fruit and Berry Seed Oils are mild in aroma, light in texture, and penetrate the skin easily. Each Fruit or Berry Seed Oil boasts its own unique benefits. If you plan on including them into your blend it is worth reading up on which is the right oil for you. For example, Red Raspberry Seed Oil possesses natural anti-inflammatory effects, while Blackberry Seed Oil contains an impressive amount of Vitamin C. Please visit FromNatureWithLove.com to view these oils along with their individual descriptions. You can also refer to my earlier article on the benefits of Fruit and Berry Seed Oils.

Choosing between these fantastic oils can seem almost impossible. Fortunately, you are better off blending two or more of these carrier oils to use as your base than just choosing one. For example, my facial oil at the moment is composed of one quarter of an ounce of Rosehip Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Red Raspberry Seed Oil and Pomegranate Oil. I also add one drop of Sandalwood Essential Oil, one drop of Chamomile Essential Oil and one drop of Carrot Seed CO2 Extract. You must be careful to dilute your Essential Oils or CO2 Extracts very well in a facial oil blend, especially if you have sensitive skin. They can be beneficial additions to your oil when they are chosen wisely and used with care. Alternatively, essential oils can be extremely irritating or even damaging if not used properly. It is worth reading in detail about the benefits and warnings of any essential oil before adding it to your facial formula. Aromaweb offers detailed profiles of 90 different essential oils. You can also visit FromNatureWithLove.com to view our listing of essential oils along with their individual descriptions.

Comments

[Mary]

Emmy, Thanks for the interesting and informative article. I'm going to try some Jojoba with the Rosehip Oil. I have sensitive skin and Rosacea, and oils usually make the rosacea worse. I'll let you know if the jojoba makes a difference.

[Emmy]

You'll have to let us know how the oils work out for you, Mary. Flax Seed Oil and Kukui Nut Oil may also be good candidates for your facial oil. Both have been reported to help reduce the effects of Rosacea in some people.

[Fanta]

This is good stuff.
I made a whipped oil cream out of some oils, butters, and just a few other natural ingredients that were specific to my needs in early December and it works wonders for my face and hair.
I thought for sure it would be too oily for my skin even though they were penetrating oils/butters, but no, they absorbed right in.

[Emmy]

I had the same concern the first time I made a body oil. It's hard to believe that it won't leave your skin overly greasy, but if you choose the right oils it will feel great!

It sounds like your whipped butter came out perfectly. It's so satisfying when you get a formula just right on the first shot!

[Mary]

Hi Emmy! Do you think you might be able to come up with something specifically for around the eyes? I notice in the winter that my age lines show up a lot more around the eyes when my skin is a bit drier. Thanks!

[Emmy]

I will have to put some thought into that one, Mary. I usually use my facial blend around my eyes as well, but formulating an oil specifically for that area is a challenge I would gladly accept!

[d]

Hi Emmy,

I mistakingly bought a large quantity of the Rose Hip Oil. Do you have a recipe I could use with the Rose Hip Oil? Could I just put some scents such as Lavender, Rose Geranium, Rose Absolute in it? This is the content of my cream with Rose essentials. LAVENDER, Lavendula angustifoliu: ROSE GERANIUM, Pelargoonium graveolens: ROSEWOOD, Aniba rosaedora: ROSE ABSOLUTE, Rosa centifolia in a lotion base of LOTION CONTENT: Aqua, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Emulsifying Wax NF, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Vitis vinifera (grape) Seed Oil, Stearic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Silk Amino Acids, Tocopherols, Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Sorbic Acid
Could I just add the Rose Hip oil to this? There is roughly 1% perservatives in the base lotion. Sorry this is so long but I really would like your help to decide how best to use this oil up... thank you very much for your time and consideration ..Denise

[Emmy]

Hi Denise,

Luckily, Rosehip Oil is light, penetrating, and very good for you skin. While it is usually reserved for facial oils and creams, it can also be used to make salt scrubs, facials, creams, lotions, balms, body butters, or almost any other standard bath and body product. It is a very versatile oil. As for adding it to a pre-made base, I would only do so in very small increments. Depending on your base, the oil has the possibility of separating very quickly. I would try adding a teaspoon of Rosehip Oil to a cup or so of Base and see what happens.

[MJ Anderson]

If I want to make a custom facial cream blending the fruit seed oils, can you recommend the proper base material and rations? Or point me to an article on this?

Thank you!

[Emmy]

If you are interested in creating your own fresh cream or lotion recipes, I would highly recommend reading "Making Aromatherapy Creams and Lotions" by Donna Maria Coles Johnson. This is one of my favorite natural skin care books, and in my opinion, an essential text for the beginning formulator. In this book, Donna Maria provides the background information, basic emulsion proprtions, and technique you need to create your own unique recipes. You can find this book in our online bookstore at the following page:
http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/bookstore/product.asp?product_id=bookmakecream

[ponds age miracle]

It's so interesting to create your own moisturizing facial oils, and your blog is a big help; very informative.

vee

[Ashar]

Hi, I have just stumbled on your blog and think that it is fantastic. I was wondering what you thought of using organic coconut oil with organic rosehip? Do you think that this would be too much? Find my skin a bit dry and sometimes breaks out. has been slowly calming down as I use a oilve oil, baking soda and lemon essential oil scrub once a week.

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
A

[Emmy Gabriel]

Organic Virgin Coconut Cream Oil would probably work nicely for you in
a facial oil blend.  This particular Coconut Oil is light,
moisturizing, but slightly astringent, a good combination of properties
for dry skin that occasionally breaks out.  Rosehip Oil is another good
choice.  It is very mild and non-greasy, but is packed with skin loving
components.  It would certainly be worth blending the two ingredients
together and giving the facial oil a try.  Pay attention to how your
skin reacts to the recipe, and change the blend or your routine
accordingly.

[Heather]

Hi Emmy,
This was such a great article, thank you! I am out of Rosehip Oil at the moment, but I currently have Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Jojoba Oil, Olive Squalene, and Virgin Coconut Oil. I'd like to incorporate these oils together if possible to create a synergistic effect, without any of the oils interfering with the other. Is this possible, or a bit too much?
Thanks!
Heather