Hello there. Yep. That’s me in my nightgown and zero-makeup. And this is my VERY favourite DIY anti-wrinkle serum. I looove to smother this sensuous golden ointment all over my face before bed at night. Seriously peeps, this stuff is awesome! Before I started using this serum, my skin was feeling pretty dry and haggard (probably didn’t help that my sleep was unbroken due to a certain little one-year-old!). But since I’ve been using this serum (as well as my DIY face cream during the day), the skin on my face feels so much more plump and hydrated.  My pores just suck this serum up and every one of them sit back and smile.

If you’re planning to come along to my next DIY Chemical-Free SKINCARE Workshop this Sat 15 Oct at Forth you will be lucky enough to make a bottle of this amazing Anti-Wrinkle Serum to take home and start using on your very appreciative skin. Unlike many store-bought ‘anti-ageing’ products in the shop which contain nasty toxins (which ironically accelerate ageing!), this DIY serum is natural and supportive, truly healing and nourishing your skin cell-deep. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with wrinkles – it is a natural process of ageing. But premature ageing is a sign that something’s not right in – or on – your body. As the skin ages, the layers of tissue and cells begin to thin. This contributes to sagging, wrinkled, more translucent skin. It can also affect healing and display other kinds of damage, like age spots. There are many things that can speed up the process of ageing. Some of these things include sun damage, dry skin, poor nutrition and sleep, high stress levels and other health conditions (i.e. diabetes, obesity, circulatory issues). Oxidative stress is also a major component of ageing. It involves cellular breakdown, with free radials wreaking havoc on tissues – hence the loss of collagen, stiffness, aches and pains, tumour growth, and so on.  When the body can produce enough antioxidants and is supported via dietary and supplemental antioxidants, not only is the breakdown stopped in its tracks, but the cells themselves can actually be repaired and restored.

Natural DIY ingredients (i.e. essential oils, butters, carrier oils, salts, etc.) nourish and protect the skin. Some essential oils can erase damage as they work at a cellular level, restoring the cell structures that spread thin with age (i.e. myrrh and frankincense). Essential oils are also potent antioxidants which help to protect skin cells (and internal cells) from free-radicals, thus slow down ageing (i.e. clove). There have also been clinical studies to show that essential oils such as lavender and rosemary can lower cortisol (stress) levels, which slows down ageing. Another beneficial component of essential oils is that they have strong anti-inflammatory properties. Geranium, lavender, copaiba and roman chamomile, all help to reduce inflammation on the skin and inside the body.

frankincense-myrrh-3

My DIY anti-wrinkle serum that we will be making at the workshop is amazing at hydrating the skin and preventing and retarding wrinkles. It can also help to improve your complexion by decreasing blotchiness, dark spots, light spots, redness and blemishes. The serum contains jojoba oil, which is actually a wax, and is a potent balm for skin ailments and a skin restorer. Myrrh essential oil and frankincense essential oil are also used in the serum. They are both highly prized and are considered sacred biblical oils. They have been used for thousands of years to heighten spirituality in religious rituals, and as medicines for cancer, leprosy and syphilis. In terms of skincare, they are useful for wrinkles and other skin conditions such as chapped, cracked and inflamed skin. They may also be helpful for eczema, fungal infections, ringworm and wound-healing. They also have anti-infectious, antiseptic, astringent and tonic properties. In addition, Frankincense is also particularly useful at getting rid of warts, precancerous skin blemishes, moles and ulcers. Geranium essential oil is used in this serum for its strong floral scent, and also to balance the sebum production in the skin. This means it’s great for combating oily skin, while at the same time useful for dry skin by keeping the skin supple. It also has astringent properties, which can tighten loose skin, and lots of antioxidants which encourage cell turnover (meaning you’ll have fewer wrinkles to begin with!).

That’s it – that’s all you need for a beautiful, toxic-free, nourishing serum. You may have noticed that all the ingredients are oils. If you have oily skin, don’t worry, this serum would be helpful for you too as it helps to balance out sebum production, and is also antibacterial. I have breakouts when I don’t get enough sleep or stress too much, so I was a bit wary about slathering oil on my skin. It just seemed to me that adding oil to oily skin would make the skin even more oilier. But I’ve actually found that using the serum reduces my pimples, and calms down inflammatory skin.

Not only is this serum toxic-free and great for your skin (and your health!), but it is also so crazily cheap and easy to make. Many natural serums in health food shops, while fantastic quality, can get up there in price, anywhere from $40 – $80. Actually, I was listening to a podcast the other day and the lady speaking was talking about her serums that she sells at ritzy spas for $200 a bottle!!! You can save SO MUCH money by making your own high-quality serum. The one you’ll make at the workshop (not including the bottle) costs about $5.20 to make – cheap as chips, especially considering you use some of the more highly-prized and expensive essential oils such as frankincense and myrrh. Jojoba oil is also a more expensive carrier oil. You could really go indulgent and use 1 drop of rose essential oil (which costs approx $3.63 per drop) in place of the geranium oil, and still make a very cost-effective serum! Great way to justify purchasing the rare and divine essential oil of rose. Rose essential oil is deeply nourishing and beneficial to the skin, and having the highest frequency of essential oils, very effective at removing emotional blocks. It takes 9.85kg of rose petals to produce a 5ml bottle – hence why it is so pricey! (Don’t worry, not all essential oils are as expensive as rose – most are very cost-effective!).

*****DIY Chemical-Free SKINCARE Workshop******

If you’d like to learn how to use essential oils to make your own natural, toxic-free skin care products, come along to our next workshop! If you’d like to attend but can’t make the date, please let us know and we can organise another workshop at a time that suits best.

When: Sat 15 Oct, 6pm-8:30pm
Where: 47 Wilmot Rd, Forth (Robertson’s Learning Space from Purple House Natural Therapies)
Cost: $30 (to make and take five skincare products)

During the workshop you will make:

Honey Lavender Face Wash – 250ml
Anti-Wrinkle Serum – 25ml
Skin Perfecting Face Cream – 120ml
Lemongrass & Ginger Salt Scrub – 250ml
Choc Mint Lip Balm – 10ml

All of the products will be made from natural ingredients, including 100% pure, therapeutic-grade Young Living essential oils. All ingredients and containers for the products will be supplied. You won’t believe how quick and easy it is to make your own skincare products! And it’s also super cheap – it is literally only $30 to make five high-quality, natural products, including the cost of the containers.

As spaces are limited, we would appreciate that you book in and pay prior to the workshop.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Filly