When I was young I didn’t give a second thought to taking care of my skin. Because of too many hours in the sun and harsh acne treatments, my skin has paid the price. If I only knew then what I know now.
But because I can’t go back to my twenties, I try to make better choices these days. This includes avoiding ‘beauty’ products containing questionable ingredients and making a lot of my own personal care products. Not only is it fun to DIY, but when you make your own, you know exactly what is in it.
By making your own DIY face serum for aging skin you are going to benefit in several ways, and here are two big ones…
- You will save money. Creams and serums for aging skin can cost a ton of money. By investing in a few simple (and versatile!) ingredients, you can save yourself a lot of money over time by making your own.
- You will avoid a laundry list of questionable ingredients. Take this popular over the counter option below. Although this brand won’t cost as much as some other options, just around $30, the ingredient list is downright scary…
RETINYL ACETATE (VITAMIN A ACETATE), FRAGRANCE, BUTYLPARABEN, DIAZOLIDINYL UREA (FORMALDEHYDE RELEASER), TRIETHANOLAMINE,ALCOHOL DENATURED, METHYLPARABEN, PEG-100 STEARATE, PEG-20 STEARATE, POLYSORBATE-80, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, D&C RED 33, RED 33 (CI 17200), ACRYLAMIDE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYLTAURATE/ACRYLIC ACID COPOLYMER, GLYCERIN, CHLORPHENESIN, ACETYL TRIFLUOROMETHYLPHENYL VALYLGLYCINE, YELLOW 10 ALUMINUM LAKE, POLYCAPROLACTONE, LITHIUM MAGNESIUM SODIUM SILICATE, BEESWAX, GLYCERYL MONOSTEARATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CAPRYL GLYCOL, ISOCETYL STEARATE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, STEARYL ALCOHOL, STEARIC ACID, ISOHEXADECANE, WATER 1
And although some of these ingredients are perfectly safe, a lot of them should definitely be avoided, including some of the top offenders including:
- Retinyl Acetate is a synthetic Vitamin A ingredient that has been linked to mutations at the cellular level and reproductive toxicity.
- Fragrance alone can contain hundreds of undisclosed chemicals linked to allergies, asthma, respiratory, and reproductive problems. More info on fragrance side effects.
- Butylparaban & Methylparaben are both part of the paraben family. Parabens are inexpensive chemicals that act as preservatives. They are used to prevent the growth of bacteria and extend the shelf life of beauty and personal care products. Parabens can mimic estrogen in the body and are disruptive to the endocrine system. Here are a few tips to help you avoid parabens.
Unfortunately these are only 3 of the over 30 ingredients in this one product. Add them all together and you have a recipe for disaster.
So how do you make your own healthy DIY face serum for aging skin?
It’s pretty easy! Just mix together a few skin supporting ingredients and you have a simple, healthy, effective face serum. For this recipe you will need a carrier oil and a few essential oils. That’s it!
We highly suggest using our powerful, secret ingredient carrier oil, but there are definitely other carrier oil options.
Rosehip Seed Oil is from the seeds of a wild rose bush in Chile. This is a great carrier oil option for aging skin because it contains the Vitamins C and A. It is also high in essential fatty acids including linoliec, linolenic, and oleic acid and absorbs easily into the skin. Great for rejuvenating and evening out your skin tone.
Rosehip seed oil is UhMaaaZing for the skin and the super important secret ingredient in this recipe. We love this unrefined organic rose hip oil. This is a carrier oil you can add into loads of DIYs, so its worth having around the house for many other applications.
Frankincense Essential Oil is a must have for all of my skin care creations. It has been shown to visually tighten the appearance of skin and offer support for the overall health of your skin.
Lavender Essential Oil is another ingredient that you will find in almost everything that I make. This essential oil is supportive to the skin and super versatile. A quick search on Scratch Mommy brings up a TON of recipes using this versatile and fairly inexpensive essential oil.
Optional oils:
Rose Essential Oil and Helichrysum Essential Oil are both powerhouses when it comes to skin care. But these oils are a little pricey, so if you don’t have them in your cabinet, just swap them for more frankincense (but, we highly recommend them as staples in your DIY skincare arsenal).
- ½ oz rosehip seed oil (it's important to use organic, unrefined rosehip seed oil)
- 6 drops organic frankincense essential oil
- 2 drops organic lavender essential oil
- Optional:
- 2 drops organic rose essential oil (can add 2 drops frankincense instead)
- 2 drops organic helichrysum essential oil (can add 2 drops frankincense instead)
- Add all ingredients to a ½ oz dark glass bottle with dropper
- Roll between hands to mix together
- Apply a small, pea sized amount after cleansing the face.
- Store in a cool, dark place.
If you aren’t feeling terribly DIYish (or don’t have time or ingredients etc etc etc), I do offer a fantastic handcrafted, organic Face Serum over in my Pronounce Skincare Shop!
Hope you enjoy this recipe! Want more skin care recipes for aging skin? Find more on my site here.
Also, you know there are loads more DIYs and informational posts right here on Scratch Mommy…
- DIY Skin Lightening Serum for Acne Scars & Hyperpigmentation
- Understanding Body Butters and How to Use Them in Skincare
- Skincare During Cancer Treatments
- DIY Skincare Toolbox- Ingredients needed to start making your own skincare products
- DIY Detox Face Mask Made With Charcoal, Turmeric, Witch Hazel and Whole Milk Yogurt
- Six Steps to a DIY At-Home Facial
- DIY Chlorine-Blasting Bath Bombs
Comments 9
What about carrot seed oil, I hear that it’s wonderful for the skin as well?
Author
You could definitely use carrot seed oil in the face serum. There are so many essential oils that support the skin! That’s part of the fun experimenting until you find something that works best with your skin. 🙂
Thanks so much! I have good skin (genetically handed down) for 52, and so appreciated, but very excited to give this a try!!
I love the recipe but where I live I can’t find rosehip seed oil what can I use instead ?
Author
Hi Sayara! If you don’t have access to Rosehip Seed Oil, you could try Apricot Kernel, Sweet Almond or Argan Oil. Those would all be great options. 🙂
Do I add a cream over this serum? Do I use it at night only? Thanks!
You’d want your cream or lotion before the serum. And yes, this is perfect at night. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Oh this is too easy! I can do this! Thank you!
Boy do I need some of this!