Russian Astronauts once considered sea buckthorn berry oil to protect their skin from powerful sun rays in outer space. Gratefully, this is easy to do at home or at the beach. It’s really easy to make yourself an after-sun, recipe that can limit the damage that we all know the Sun’s ultraviolet light can do. These formulas can be used in conjunction with your sunscreen if you like.
The plant oils that can have the greatest effect are those of total sea-buckthorn, the deep orange carrot root CO2 oil , German chamomile, German blue chamomile, chamomile, rosemary oil high in antioxidants and rose hip. The reason these extracts are so beneficial is that they’re all very gentle, and won’t irritate the skin, or make your eyes tear, and have a higher concentration of important nutrients which have the ability to limit, or at least slow the aging activity that excessive sun can produce.
Their gentleness allows them to be used in high concentrations in your formulas without the intense feeling steam distilled oils can cause. (Though you can still add these — just at much lower amounts).
Each of these oils contains a great natural balance of nutrients that limit the two major skin aging processes: oxidation and inflammation. Free radicals are produced when light rays alters the structure of healthy molecules in the skin. The molecule which has lost an electron becomes an oxidative radical and steals electrons from other healthy molecules(a simplified explanation, yes, but pretty well sums it up).
The anti-oxidants found in these carbon dioxide distilled essential oils brings a halt to by donating an electron to the now unstable molecule.A blend of antioxidants is useful, as the oxidative radicals themselves take different shapes, requiring different substances to properly quench them.
Inflammation is the other aspect of sun damage we’d like to prevent. German chamomile CO2, along with specific base oils are also known for their ability to reduce inflammationas are the CO2 extracts, yet the chamomile may be the most effective.) It’s helpful to choose base oils with these properties for your recipes.
If finances limit your ability to buy several oils at once, even just a couple, used at slightly higher strength can be very helpful.
Apply these blends right after you’ve been in the sun, and again throughout the day if you like. You may find your skin turns a little red while the antioxidants absorb, but it won’t take too long. You might apply these before being in the sun as well.
These are some formulas you might like to experiment with: For each ounce you make, start with a base of 1/3rd each Virgin Coconut, Tamanu and Rosehip Seed Carrier Oils. Then add the following: thirty-five drops of sea-buckthorn, carrot root oil extract, seven drops of the antioxidant extract of rosemary, plus eleven German chamomile, German blue chamomile, chamomile.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and create your own blend – there are many oils that will do the job, and a little research will help you in your creation.
Aromatic oils impart a broad set of therapeutic benefits. Discover more on single oils like caraway seed oil and seabuckthorn CO2.