Facial skincare is an expensive habit. I should know, Sephora gave me a gold card because I used to buy so many beauty products there!
But yet I still got breakouts and had really oily skin. I was on a non-stop cycle of trying to find the one miracle product that would sort out my skin.
Not surprisingly, I never found it.
I have a personal theory that when there is too much choice in a type of product, it means that none of them work very well. (Think about it. If one of them DID actually work, we wouldn’t need the 150 other options. We would just use what worked.)
You’ve probably read the studies that expensive moisturisers don’t work any better than their drugstore counterparts. So what are we paying for? Some “scientific research” which is questionable in my opinion, celebrities to advertise the products, and a nice big marketing, PR & packaging budget!
So should we just buy the cheapest moisturizer possible?
Not necessarily. I think it’s also important to consider what ingredients are actually inside your moisturizer.
Most moisturizers, from the cheapest to the most posh, are loaded with unpronounceable chemicals. And since a lot of what goes on your skin is absorbed into your body – this is a bit scary.
But there is a better way! We can choose moisturizers with high-quality, natural ingredients which are good for our skin.
And since we’re always on the lookout for a quick, handmade project – we can make our own luxe facial oils which are good for our skin, our mood AND our bank accounts!
Making your own facial oil is super easy – just pour the ingredients into a bottle, shake, and you’re finished! Of course, for a really luxurious facial oil, you’ll need to buy some specialty ingredients like essential oils or vitamin E capsules. But what I love about this recipe is that it’s easy and versatile. So don’t feel like you have to buy all of the ingredients for this first batch. Start off with one oil and a couple essential oils. Then next time buy another oil and make a blend.
All of the ingredients are natural and will be really handy in any of your homemade beauty projects!
Luxe Facial Oil
Basic recipe:
50 ml (approx 2 ounces) of carrier oil
15 drops of essential oils (either 15 of one oil, or 5 drops each of 3 different oils … just make it 15 drops total)
1 Vitamin E capsule (optional)
Combine oils in a dark glass bottle. Pierce the vitamin E capsule (if using) with a needle and then squeeze into the bottle. Gently shake to combine all of the oils. You’re done!
What types of oils should I use?
You can choose oils that are good for your skin type. Some oils are more ‘oily’ than others, and better for dry skin. As I have oily skin, I stick to lighter oils. Also, in aromatherapy different essential oils are better for different skin types. You can’t go wrong with lavender essential oil, but other oils can help with specific skin conditions. Here are some of my suggestions, but experiment and see what works for you:
Normal skin:
Carrier oil: almond, apricot kernel
Essential oils: lavender, rose, patchouli
Oily skin:
Carrier oil: grapeseed, jojoba (I use a combination of the two)
Essential oils: lavender, geranium & patchouli, or rosemary, peppermint and lavender
Dry skin:
Carrier oil: olive, avocado,
Essential oils: chamomile, rose, & geranium
I have more questions!
Where can I buy oils, essential oils and dark glass bottles? You can buy everything online from Mountain Rose Herbs (US) or Aromantic (UK).
How long will my facial oil last? For at least a year, probably 2 years. But I like to make it in small enough quantities (like this recipe) so that I can use it up and adjust the ingredients next time!
How do I use my new facial oil? Just put a few drops of oil on your hands, rub your hands together gently and massage into your face, concentrating on the drier areas. I like to do a few minutes of facial massage in the evening when I apply the oil. Relaxing!
What handmade beauty items are in your beauty routine? What would you like to learn to make? Let us know in the comments!