With an initial investment in essential oils and
vegetable oils you can make a pretty good eye care product instead of purchasing expensive products. A
good quality essential oil cost more than the inferior products, but you
will see fine results in a healthier way. The
same goes for vegetable oils; never purchase cheap unrefined massage
oils in a clear bottle since they need to be stored dark like the
essential oils.
I was looking at some eye creams online and since I make my own skin care products I had no idea that they were so expensive.
I decided to take a closer look at this Caudalie Eye Cream for 95 dollars to see what I would get for my money:
- They don't use parabens, triclosan, phtalates, or petrochemicals so that's pretty impressive.
- The product focus on revitalize and renew skin on the delicate eye area for transformational results is amazing according to the claims.
- It contains viniferine, which according to the product information, reduces dark spots.
- Grape seed polyphenols have been added to protect the skin and delivers antioxidant properties.
- It contains tetrapeptides which fights puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles.
I
don't even know if this product lives up to its claims, but according
to testimonies it does. The ingredient list is long, but is it necessary
to put all those extra ingredients on the skin? I don't think so!
Let's see what we can use for our eye product:
- Carrot seed oil is considered one of the strongest revitalizing essential oils for the skin, frankincense, sandalwood, patchouli, and neroli are also recommend.
- Geranium, helichrysum, and spikenard have historically been used to regenerate the skin.
- Ylang Ylang blended with lavender, or rosewood blended with lavender have historically been used to restore skin elasticity.
- Lavender, spikenard, and myrrh have historically been used to retard wrinkles.
- Frankincense is the most commonly used essential oil for age spots on the skin. Geranium mixed with patchouli have historically been used to reduce the appearance of dark spots. Virgin coconut oil is said to reduce them as well.
- Essential oils have a superior ORAC value to most foods. For example, according to the Essential Oils Integrative Medical Guide, German chamomile's ORAC, antioxidant capacity, is 218,600 while blueberries' ORAC value is 2,400. You can also make your own antioxidant serum with essential oils, green tea, and aloe vera.
I do not design a special eye cream often, but I use ingredients in my facial products that are supporting my aging skin. Frankincense, myrrh, and Sandalwood are my favorite oils for skin rejuvenation. Learn more about what oils to use for aging and maturing skin. The facial oil I made the other day was also designed to care for my aging skin.
If you want to target the eye area specifically:
Make your own oil blend specifically for the eyes. According to Valeri Worwood, the basic blending guideline would be something like this:
- Use 2 teaspoons of a suitable base oil such as hazelnut, avocado, rose hip, or wheat germ.
- In addition to your base oil, add a few drops of evening primrose, borage seed, or jojoba oil.
- Add 2-4 drops of suitable essential oils. Valeri Ann Worwood suggests lemon and lavender for ages between 25-40, and lavender and palmarosa for ages 40-45. For the mature age group she suggests to use lavender and lemon as well.
- In addition to the regular essential oils, include a couple of drops of carrot seed oil.
- Add vitamin E capsules. One capsule if you are under 45 years of age, and two capsules if you are older.
Blend
the base oils, add the vitamin E capsule, and add the essential oils
last. Make sure you mix well and apply very gently around the eyes.
Leave if for a while, and if needed gently wipe off any excess.
What about puffiness?
Valeri Worwood suggests in her book, The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, that you mix hazelnut oil with witch hazel, fennel and German Chamomile essential oils for puffiness and dark shadows.
- Mix the 2 drops each of the essential oils with one tablespoon of witch hazel, cover and put in the fridge to cool.
- Wrap an ice cube in a cotton wool ball, dip it in the essential oil and witch hazel mix, and apply over a closed eye and the puffy area.
- Remove the ice cube after a few seconds and apply a small amount of the hazelnut to the moist skin.
Worwood also recommends to dab cold green tea or rose hip tea to the area. Keep the tea in the fridge to keep it cool.
As
you can see, it's not really necessary to purchase your own eye cream.
Of course, there's the convenience of buying something pre-made, and essential oils may seem expensive. True, essential oils can be expensive for a small bottle, but it lasts a long time.
You can't use the eye cream to make perfume, facial toners, acne products, anti-stress relief, lotions, soaps, or cold and flu remedies like you can with one or two bottles of essential oils.
You are not exposed to the unnecessary ingredients added to a store bought product either. So, you can't lose making your own fancy skin care products. Remember, you don't have to do it exactly like it is described here; modify and use the things your budget allows.
You can't use the eye cream to make perfume, facial toners, acne products, anti-stress relief, lotions, soaps, or cold and flu remedies like you can with one or two bottles of essential oils.
You are not exposed to the unnecessary ingredients added to a store bought product either. So, you can't lose making your own fancy skin care products. Remember, you don't have to do it exactly like it is described here; modify and use the things your budget allows.
Before you leave:
I recommend that you always perform a skin patch test when you try a new oil.
Check out my safety page to make sure you are aware of any contrindications before you use essential oils. Some oils are not suitable when suffering from certain conditions. Also, Read this Before You Start Using Essential oils. Some oils should not be applied prior to sun exposure so make sure you check this list before spending time in the sun.
Not sure how to apply the oils? Visit these pages to learn how to apply the oils:
- Topical Application
- Inhaling Essential Oils
- Are You Diffusing the Oils Correctly?
- How to Dilute Essential Oils
- Vita Flex Technique
If you're new to essential oils you might want to check out my Getting Started Guide.
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