Do you struggle with dry skin on your face? Did you know that flowers have tons of natural benefits for your skin?
I recently formulated this floral facial serum and have been loving how my skin feels after using it! My forehead gets especially dry over the winter, to the point where the dry skin starts flaking off.
Yes, I know, I should exfoliate and moisturize and do whatever else to my skin more often to head this off. But ... I don't. Skin care has never been a huge priority for me.
That's one reason I am loving this serum. A few drops, rub it in, and enjoy my improved skin!
Making Your Own Floral Facial Serum
This serum is pretty simple to make. It's a simple combine-and-use recipe. However, it does include an extra (optional) step of making an herbal infusion. Don't be intimidated by this as it's not a difficult process – it just takes a bit of time.
If you don't have access to these fresh flowers, though, feel free to skip the infusion. The serum is still so good without it.
Ingredients:
1 oz. peony-infused jojoba oil (see directions below) – you could also use lilacs or rose petals if they are more accessible for you
1 oz. sweet almond oil
3 drops Frankincense essential oil
3 drops Lavender essential oil
3 drops Geranium essential oil
1 drop Jasmine essential oil
1 drop Helichrysum essential oil
1 drop Rose essential oil
Instructions:
Combine jojoba and sweet almond oils in 2 oz. dropper bottle. (I just eyeball half and half instead of measuring.)
Add essential oils, put cap on bottle, and swirl gently to combine.
To Use:
Put a few drops onto dry facial skin and gently massage in.
Can also be used on other areas – such as neck, decollate, and backs of hands (these are the areas that age us the fastest).
Making an Infused Oil
Infusing herbs in oil is a way to pull the beneficial properties of a plant into a form that is easier to use.
You can infuse many types of oils with many types of plants, and the process is generally the same.
1 – Harvest desired plant
Make sure the plant is as clean as it can be. You don't want it to be covered with road dust, for example, or be under a tree where birds nest.
It's also important that the plant has not been sprayed with chemicals.
I live in a town that sprays for mosquitoes weekly. I can't escape that, but I can make sure that I only harvest plants that have not been sprayed. I will either cover them tightly with plastic on the nights the city sprays, plant them in containers that can be moved inside on those nights, or, in the case of peonies, I only harvest them before spraying starts for the year. Once the plant has been sprayed for the first time, I stop harvesting flowers.
You should also avoid harvesting plants from areas where there may be a lot of chemical runoff, like a road ditch in an agricultural area.
2 – Dry the Plant Matter Thoroughly
You do not want any moisture in your infused oil. It will make it go bad.
I spread my peony petals in a thin layer on window screen and let it air dry for several days.
You can dry plants in a dehydrator or even an oven, but keep in mind that heat destroys some beneficial compounds. I prefer to dry at room temp.
Once completely dry, you can immediately make an infusion, or you can store the dried plant for later use. I keep mine in mason jars. Just make sure to label what's in the jar and date it! Most dried plants are good for a couple years.
3 – Infuse the Oil
To infuse the oil, you will basically fill it up with the dried plant.
I typically make larger batches, so I'll stuff a half-pint or pint jar full of dried plant, lightly crushing it, and fill the jar with oil. However, if you only want to make enough for one recipe, you'll measure out the amount of oil needed into an airtight container and then stuff as much of the dried plant into the oil as you can.
You will want the plant matter to stay submerged in the oil as much as possible. I like to infuse oil in a wide-mouth mason jar, put a regular mouth lid on top of the plant matter, and then put in one of those spring-like balls that come with blender bottles (pictured at left) before screwing the lid on the jar.(I keep meaning to get some fermentation weights for this purpose but just haven't gotten around to it yet.)
Let the container sit for about a month, gently turning it over or swirling every couple days to move the oil around.
4 – Strain the Oil
After the oil has infused for a month, all you need to do is strain out the plant matter.
The simplest way I have found to do this is to put a double or triple layer of cheesecloth over the mouth of the jar the oil has been infusing in. I put a rubber band around the top of the jar to secure the cheesecloth, and then, I simple pour the oil through the cheesecloth into another container.
That's it! Your infused oil is ready!
Benefits of the Ingredients
Every ingredient in this serum has tremendous benefits for the skin.
- Peony: Antioxidant and ant-inflammatory properties
- Jojoba Oil: Mimics the skin's natural oils and deeply moisturizes
- Sweet Almond Oil: Rich in nutrients and strengthens the skin's barrier
- Lavender Essential Oil: Soothes Irritation and helps combat premature aging
- Geranium Essential Oil: Helps tighten pores and balance the skin's natural oils
- Frankincense Essential Oil: Promotes a glowing complexion and reduces fine lines
- Jasmine Essential Oil: Brightens and hydrates
- Helichrysum Essential Oil: Promotes the body's natural collagen production and cell regeneration
- Rose Essential Oil: Reduces redness and minimizes signs of aging
The dilution of this serum is 1%, which is gentle enough for everyday use.
Sourcing Quality Ingredients
The quality of the ingredients you choose is paramount in anything you make. This isn't a cheap serum to make as it contains some pricey essential oils, and it will cost a lot to start if you don't already have them on hand.
I recommend leaving out the pricier oils like Jasmine, Helichrysum, and Rose rather than buying cheap drug store versions. Bargain oils are generally synthetic, adulterated, or both. They won't give you the benefits and could even be harmful, so use only the essential oils you have or can afford to buy quality versions of, and leave out the rest. It will still do you plenty of good even if you leave out the three drops of the three spendy oils.
The sourcing of essential oils is more important than including them all.
I look for organic jojoba oil that is cold-pressed or expeller-pressed since heat damages the beneficial properties.
For the sweet almond oil. I also choose organic, cold-pressed, and unrefined.
For both, it's also best if they come in amber bottles to keep out UV light that can oxidize the oils.
Always remember, what goes on your skin goes into your body, so using pure, high-quality ingredients is worth a little extra expense!
Enjoy your homemade facial serum!
*The information presented here is for educational purposes only and is in no way intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition. Consult your doctor (preferably a naturopath or functional medicine provider) if you have a serious medical condition or are taking any medications.
*This site may contain affiliate links, which means you pay the usual price, but a portion of it goes to me and supports my family and small business. I appreciate it and will only ever affiliate for products that I use and love.*
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