I’m having a major love affair with oils lately. I’ve researched all of them—carrier oils, essential oils, which oils are best for which skin types and concerns. I’m like an oil master, mixing my way through an endless array of face and body concoctions. Today I want to focus on one of my favorites: the brightening (and anti-aging) body oil. We often overlook the needs of our body, instead focusing on our complexion. But our décolletage, neck, elbows, hands, knees, and shoulders are all areas that are exposed almost daily, yet they’re not being cared for.
Well, this Brightening Body Oil not only brightens (duh) the skin, it also helps to reduce the appearance of sun spots and freckles, intensely moisturizes without causing breakouts, offers antioxidants for serious anti-aging benefits, and leaves skin soft, smooth, and gorgeously glossy. The best part: you can make it at home, in five minutes, for about $20 total with tons of oil to spare, so make a new batch every week and bathe your limbs in beneficial oils that give not only good beauty benefits, but also a good scent. All-natural, of course.
I first posted this recipe on my beauty blog, Beauty Banter, but also wanted to share it with our Poosh readers. Learn what you need, step-by-step instructions on how to make it, and the perks of each ingredient.
Two types of carrier oils; we suggest jojoba oil for oily and combination skin types and avocado oil and rosehip oil for dry and mature skin types. Have normal skin? Use both rosehip and jojoba. Make sure all oils are cold-pressed and organic (use the links to purchase our favorites).
Organic lemon essential oil
Organic orange essential oil
Organic lemongrass essential oil
4 oz. glass bottles with pump
Funnel
*Invest in an essential oil starter kit like this if you’re going to be making several different kinds of body and face oils.
Rosehip oil – A wonder anti-aging oil, rosehip not only moisturizes, it also offers the skin antioxidants and vitamin A. It’s a wonderful oil for evening skin tone and removing sun damage and pigmentation, while also treating wrinkles and texture. While rosehip is great for dry and normal skin, some combo skin can tolerate it (I can use it on my body), so patch-test on your chest before moving forward with your body oil.
Avocado oil – This highly hydrating oil is chock-full of monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid (which is bad for oily skin but great for dry and sensitive skin). While it may clog pores—its comedogenic rating is 3—it’s said to be a choice carrier oil for dry skin types that are prone to acne. I don’t recommend using this for oily or combo skin types, but with the astringent qualities of the brightening essential oils, this carrier oil is ideal for our brightening body oil for dry skin.
Jojoba oil – A hydrating oil that works on all skin types without clogging pores. It is the oil that most closely resembles our body’s natural sebum, so it’s said to regulate oil for combo/oily skin types, while also moisturizing drier skin types. Oh, and did we mention it helps with acne and wrinkles? Well, it does.
Lemon essential oil – The ultimate skin lightener and brightener, but lemon also helps to tighten sagging skin, and it can even help regulate oil production (so it’s great for oily/combination skin types).
Orange essential oil – An effective anti-aging oil that increases collagen and blood flow; also a great antiseptic for oily skin types.
Lemongrass essential oil – A natural antiseptic and astringent; can be tolerated on all skin types; leaves skin more even, brighter, and glowing.
The rule of thumb is for every 30 mL (or 1 oz.) of carrier oil, you add 12 drops of essential oil. This will give you a 2% dilution. If you have severely sensitive skin, I suggest only diluting to 1%, so cutting the 12 drops per 30 mL to 6 drops per 30 mL. Since we are making 4 oz., that’s 120 mL, so technically, we can use 48 drops of essential oil to give us the 2% dilution. I only used 36 drops and it felt great. But test the oil, and if your body reacts well, you can always add more essential oil into the mix.
With your funnel, pour 2 oz. of jojoba or rosehip oil into the glass bottle, then add 18 drops of lemon oil. Next, add 1 oz. of avocado or jojoba oil, depending on your skin type (see above). Then another 12 drops of lemongrass. Pour in another 1 oz. of avocado or jojoba oil, then top it off with 6-12 drops of orange oil. Remove the funnel, close the bottle with the pump that is provided, shake well, and you are ready to use. Bonus: this oil smells delish, like a citrus tree.
*I have combination/acne-prone skin, but since the essential oils are so antiseptic, I’m able to use half jojoba and half rosehip oil as my base/carrier oil. Mix and match depending on what suits your body. For dry skin, I highly suggest doing half avocado and half rosehip. If you have oily skin, perhaps 3/4 jojoba, 1/4 rosehip (stay away from avocado entirely).
I suggest patch-testing to make sure you don’t have any irritation before smothering on your entire body. I’m obsessed with this oil for my neck and chest as it has really helped with hydration levels and diminishing pesky sun damage.
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