Homemade Skincare Recipes- Facial Serum

Welcome to part 3 of my 5 part homemade skincare recipes series- Homemade Facial Serum

In parts one & two we covered homemade face cleanser recipes & homemade facial toners, and today I’m excited to share some fab recipes for making your own natural homemade facial serums!

Before we get started I want to make sure we all understand exactly what a facial serum is, and why it’s a good idea to make it a part of your daily skincare regimen…

What is a facial serum?

Facial serums are thick liquid-like products with active ingredients like vitamins and anti-oxidants that are formulated with smaller molecules so they can penetrate deep into the skin. Serums are designed to penetrate and treat various skin conditions, such as redness, dehydration or lack of firmness, wrinkles, dark spots or to brighten the skin.

Do I need a facial serum and a moisturizer?

People are often confused about the differences between a moisturizer and a facial serum, and may be unsure if they should use one or both products. While facial serums can give you added moisture, the main reason you’d want to use a facial serum is to get added nutrients into deeper layers of your skin that a regular moisturizer is not able to reach. Due to their large molecules, moisturizers can only penetrate the first layer of the skin, allowing them to to hydrate and seal in moisture. A facial serum is able to penetrate into all three layers of the skin because it is made of smaller molecules. The serums ability to go deeper into the skin is what allows it to help combat many common beauty complaints.

To put it simply, facial serums are not meant to replace moisturizers, and should be used in addition to moisturizer to deliver rich nutrients deep into the skin. For best results, apply the serum immediately after cleansing and toning, when skin is still damp, then apply your moisturizer to seal in and increase the benefits of the serum.

Okay! Now that you know what a facial serum is, and why it can be a beneficial addition to your skincare regimen, let’s move on to the fun part…

How To Make Homemade Facial Serum

Making your own natural homemade facial serum is fun, easy, and can be completely customized to meet your specific skincare needs! There are just two main components in every homemade facial serum recipe- carrier oils and essential oils. Simply choose the carrier oil(s) and essential oil(s) that best suit your skin type and any skincare problems you are experiencing.

First, choose carrier oil which is best for your skin type. You can also mix several carrier oils together.

• Carrier oils for Normal skin: Almond, Hazelnut, Apricot kernel, Jojoba, Evening Primrose
• Carrier oils for Dry skin: Almond, Olive oil, Apricot kernel, Soy bean, Avocado, Wheatgerm, Jojoba, Carrot, Evening Primrose
• Carrier oils for Oily skin: Almond, Hazelnut, Apricot kernel, Grapeseed, Jojoba
• Carrier oil for Mature skin: Almond, Hazelnut, Apricot kernel, Wheatgerm, Evening Primrose, Carrot, Rosehip, Pomegranate

• Essential oils for Normal skin: German Chamomile, Lemon, Geranium, Fennel, Lavender, Jasmine, Rose, Neroli, Frankincense, Carrot Seed
• Essential oils for Dry skin: German Chamomile, Lavender, Calendula, Sandalwood, Geranium, Patchouli, Rose, Rosemary, Neroli
• Essential oils for Oily skin: Cedarwood, Geranium, Clary, Lavender, Ylang-ylang, Lemon, Peppermint, Calendula, Frankincense, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Juniper, Grapefruit, Rosemary, Neroli
• Essential oils for Mature skin: Rose, Geranium, Myrrh, Patchouli, Lavender, Citrus, Frankincense, Neroli, Fennel, Clary, Rosewood, Sage, Cypress, Sandalwood

  Add the carriers oils (4 tablespoons) to a dark colored, glass dropper bottle. Then add a mix of the essential oils (20-40 drops). You can also add 10-15 drops of vitamin E oil if you wish. Shake well. Let your serum sit for 24 hours for the oils to mix. Store your serum in a cool dark place. Shake before each use. Apply 2-4 drops to face and neck. Shelf life is approximately 6 months.

 Have you tried your hand at making homemade facial serums? Do you have a favorite recipe? Please leave a comment and share!

Be sure to keep an eye out for part 4 & part 5 of the homemade skincare recipes series where we’ll cover homemade masks & scrubs, and homemade bath and body products! The best way to stay up-to-date on all eco-crazy posts is to subscribe via email in the upper right sidebar, or subscribe via RSS feed here.

Terri
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