As you age, your skin changes, leading to new challenges in skin care. According to the National Institute on Aging, as you grow older your skin grows thinner and has less fat to maintain shape and elasticity. Bruises, wrinkles and sun spots are common on aging skin. Mature skin requires heavy-duty nourishment in the form of moisture enhancing oils.
Step 1
Fill a clean container with base cream to half of the desired end volume. Select an organic unscented moisturizer to use as your base cream. According to Barbara Close in "Pure Skin Organic Beauty Basics," a good base cream for mature skin contains hyaluronic acid, oat beta glucan, sea algae extract or black currant extract. Vitamins A, C and E are desirable ingredients in base creams for mature skin. Gill Fahrrer-Halls in "Face Creams, Hair Rinses, and Body Lotions" uses cocoa butter and Shea butter for face creams. Avoid moisturizers that contain alcohol and harsh chemicals.
Step 2
Add 1 tbsp. of carrier oil for each 4 oz. of your desired final volume of face cream. Carrier oils are vegetable-derived oils used to moisturize the skin and dilute essential oils. Close recommends rosehip seed oil and evening primrose oil for mature, dry skin. Both rosehip seed oil and evening primrose oil contain high levels of gamma linoleic acid, or GLA, which comes from the essential fatty acid omega-6. GLA helps skin to retain moisture and supports skin cell structure for firmer skin.
Step 3
Add 20 to 30 drops of essential oil per 4 oz. of your desired final volume of face cream. Essential oils add the benefits of aromatherapy to your face cream. To nourish mature skin, use essential oils everlasting, germanium or lavender. These essential oils are calming and anti-inflammatory.
Step 4
Top off your container with more cream base until you have reached the desired end volume. Stir to mix oils and cream base with a clean knife or spoon until well blended.
Tips and Warnings
- Check your health food stores for containers and organic moisturizers. If you are sensitive to smells, fine tune the aroma of your face cream by adding a few drops of essential oil at a time after blending the other ingredients. If this is your first time making a face cream, make less. Once you have experimented with making your own cream, you will have a better idea of how much you need to make for the period of time you wish to use it.
- Do not directly apply essential oils to your skin or surfaces that come in contact with your skin. Essential oils should be thoroughly diluted with other oils before application. Never ingest essential oils.
Things You'll Need
- Container
- Lid
- Base cream
- Carrier oil
- Essential oil
References
- National Institute on Aging: Skin Care and Aging
- "Face Creams, Hair Rinses, and Body Lotions: Recipes For Natural Beauty"; Gill Farrer-Halls; 2004
- "Pure Skin Organic Beauty Basics"; Barbara Close; 2005
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