We all want to protect our skin from aging, and would love to be using the best products for this purpose. You can easily mix up some one of the world’s finest anti-aging skin care blends at home, for a fraction of the cost of the high end products. Because you’re not paying for advertising and shelf space in a high end store, you can use the finest ingredients every step of the way, while directly targeting the causes of premature skin aging.
Our skin has to defend itself on a daily basis from an onslaught of aging factors. From the outside, these include overexposure to sunlight and pollutants in the air. From the inside, processed foods, and especially sugars, are aging our skin more quickly. All these factors result in either one or both of these processes: the creation of oxidative radicals and chronic inflammation on a cellular level. Both these processes result in the slow, steady degradation of our skin cells.
What happens when UV radiation strikes our skin is that oxidative radicals are formed, which begin to damage our skin until they’re “quenched”. Essential oils are known to be some of the strongest natural antioxidants on the planet. Sea buckthorn oil was examined as a potential agent for Russian astronauts to protect their skin from UV exposure. Myrrh essential oil has one of the highest ORAC values known of any natural substance, and has long been a component of blends for mature skin.
Over the last decade, inflammation has been implicated as perhaps the biggest source of aging to our cells. While inflammation can help us heal at the right times, if, as a result of dietary and environmental factors, we’re experiencing “chronic inflammation” on a cellular scale, our skin will certainly be aging more quickly. Essential oils happen to have very potent anti-inflammatory effects. The “blue” part of German blue chamomile is so potent that the oil is to be used in only very small concentrations (always less than 2%). The boswellic acid in frankincense is a well-known anti-inflammatory — and this action is associated with many other oils too, which we’ll include in our recipe.
And it’s not just the essential oils that have anti-aging therapeutic effects. The carrier oils in which the essential oils will be based contain antioxidants (argon oil is rich in vitamin E, for example) — and omega-3 essential fatty acids in hempseed and evening primrose are highly regarded for their anti-inflammatory properties. Because the essential oils and carrier oils offer these actions while having completely different molecular structures, the actions will synergize — work together with multiplied effects.
Now that we’ve got a little background, how do we go about creating our blends? First, gather all your tools and containers. The blends are best mixed and stored in cobalt blue or amber glass bottles, and if the bottles have a dropper top or pump top, it’ll make it easier to dispense the blend when your done. Also, you’ll want to know the volume of your bottle(s) in ounces, as you’ll use them for measuring.
To begin, fill your mixing bottle (or bottles) nearly full with the carrier oils. You needn’t be exact with the carrier measurements, just be sure to not fill the bottle completely, as you’ll be adding your essential oils afterward (this can be done the other way around, but if a spill is going to happen, it’s more likely a result from filling with the carriers than the essential oils). The recipe is for one single ounce — simply multiply as necessary to achieve your desired finished volume.
We’ll use three types of carrier oil for the base. Each of these oils has unique therapeutic qualities, that when used together create and incredibly beneficial synergy for the skin. So fill your bottle one third of the way with each of these: virgin coconut, evening primrose and argan nut oils. If any of these oils is difficult to find, you can leave one out if need be — or you can substitute another high omega-3 oil for the evening primrose (like hemp, borage or flax) and either rosehip seed or tamanu nut for the argan.
To this bottle, add the following: 24 drops sea buckthorn essential oil (also found as CO2 extract — not the “cold-pressed” oil), 7 drops myrrh essential oil (or CO2 extract), 7 drops German chamomile, and 7 drops lavender. For extra care for mature skin, you can optionally add 7 drops frankincense. Put the cap on and invert the bottle several times to mix (it’s better to not shake the bottle, as this can blend oxygen into the oils which can degrade it faster). You’re good to go! Apply this wonderful mixture to your face, and any other part of your body you wish, at least once per day. If your bottle is only one ounce, you can store it anywhere. Larger amounts can be stored in the refrigerator for several months. Be consistent, keep using it, and you’ll really help your skin maintain its youthful qualities.
More information on therapeutic essential oils and proper use of aromatherapy carrier oil is available online at the Ananda Apothecary.