The Best Anti-Aging Skin Care - Beauty Secrets Revealed

• For years, so many of you have been asking about my beauty secrets. Not that they're secrets mind  you, but I do get asked all the time "what's your secret to looking so young." Which I immediately make that person my BFF. 
  Every time, the conversation goes like this:
  Curious Person: “Hey, Cristi? What do you use to keep your face so young looking?”
  Me: “I wash my face with natural stuff and make my own moisturizing oils.”
  Curious Person: “What kind of stuff and what oils? Can you give me a recipe?”
  Me: “Oh, a whole bunch, blended together. I’ll blog it soon, I promise.”
  

  Fast forward to 5,456 years later, otherwise known as today, and I'm now blogging  it. So here goes:

  
  Face Wash:
  
  OK, I don't always make my own, but when I do, I blend the following:
  Fresh squeezed lemon (1 whole lemon- not the seeds)
  1t Grapeseed Oil
  1t Jojoba Oil
  Whisk, whisk, and whisk some more. Apply on face liberally, but avoid getting in your eyes as it will burn. Let it sit for a few minutes. Use warm water and a wash cloth and rinse. 
  Easy Peasy!
  
  Moisturizer:
  I use natural and essential oils EVERY DAY!!
  Here's my Simple Homemade 3-Ingredient Moisturizer – Read further down how to customize your own for gorgeous Skin:
  1. Jojoba Oil
  2. Primrose Oil
  3. Essential Lavender Oil
  (Sometimes I substitue the Grapeseed oil for Sweet Almond Oil)
  The key to creating your own moisturizer is knowing which oils to use and why you are using them. 
  The first ingredient is the base or carrier oil, then there's a bonus oil, and lastly an essential oil.
  
  Base Oil
  

  My two favorite base oils are argan oil and/or jojoba oil, because they’re both verrrrrrrry healing and nourishing, they’re both very light and they sink into your skin without any feeling of greasiness, and they’re great for all skin types.

  Here are the base oils you could choose from (this is not an exhaustive list, but it’s most of ‘em):

  • Argan oil (great for dry, aging, oily, normal, or acne-prone skin) Expensive and hard to find, FYI
  • Jojoba oil (great for dry, aging, oily, normal, or acne-prone skin) MY FAVORITE!!!
  • Apricot kernel oil (great for any skin type, but especially good for normal, dry and aging skin)
  • Sweet almond oil (just an all-around great facial oil, but it takes a bit longer to “sink in” than the first two) EXCELLENT for hands and legs
  • Grapeseed oil (great for normal, oily, or acne-prone skin) MY SECOND FAVORITE!!!
  • Avocado oil (great for dry and aging skin) WARNING: Dog may lick off your face
  • Hemp seed oil (great for any skin type, also very light) Don't inhale

  Nourishing/Bonus Oil:
  

  If you want to skip the nourishing oils, that’s just fine. Maybe some day in the future you’ll want to add one. In fact, I’m sure you will. Here are some ideas for the more nourishing “bonus” oils:

  • Tamanu oil (wooooooooooonderful for acneic or oily skin, or skin with scars)
  • Sea buckthorn oil (powerfully nourishing, this is a great oil for all skin types, but especially aging or dry skin)
  • Rosehip seed oil (incredibly regenerating, this oil is known for it’s firming and anti-aging abilities – it’s good for dry, aging, and normal skin)
  • Carrot seed oil (you only need a small amount of this oil, but it’s superb for any skin type – is there anything it won’t heal?) I suppose you could mash carrots in a Magic Bullet and use as a face mask too
  • Borage oil (crazy high in oleic acids, this oil is great for most skin types, but especially oily and acneic skin)
  • Evening primrose oil (acne, aging, normal skin, you name it – and evening primrose oil can even be taken internally to help with acne)This plant you grow and it spreads like crazy
  • Neem oil (very antimicrobial and healing, neem oil is a stellar choice for acne and oily skin)Great use for anti-lice btw- don't even ask me how I know that one
  • Emu oil (emollient like you wouldn’t believe, emu oil is protective and nourishing for dry or aging skin) DO NOT harm the Emu when collecting this oil please

  Essential Oils: 
  You only need a couple of tiny drops of essential oil to get an amazing benefit for your 

  skin. Essential oils are potent and must be diluted by the base oil (and they last forever when you use them this way)! There are FAR too many essential oils with skin benefits to list them all here, so I’m just picking and choosing a few of the more widely available or commonly known essential oils.

  • Lavender (acne, oily, or even dry skin – lavender is healing, but a little, tiny bit goes a long way)
  • Peppermint (like lavender, peppermint is great for oily and acneic skin, and like lavender don’t use much! It’s very astringent, but it might also tingle your skin right off its bones)
  • Chamomile (my favorite chamomile is Roman – and roman chamomile is wonderfully healing and soothing, so it’s great for ALL skin types. Really. Very, very great, but also very expensive)
  • Rose (wonderful for aging, dry and normal skin, it’s also pretty expensive, unless you find the “mixed with jojoba” kind, which just means it’s diluted and you can use more in your blend than if it were “neat”)
  • Rose geranium (another great, all-around healing essential oil – this is especially good for dry, sensitive, aging, and normal skin)
  • Lemongrass (brightening and toning, this is a great oil for normal, oily, or acneic skin) I grow this grass outside to deter bugs, like mosquitoes. However, my dog seriously eats this like crazy
  • Rosemary (got acne and oily skin? You might just want this)

  Making Your Own Recipe:
  This is where the fun starts for you. You get to experiment with the type of blend that works best for your skin. Use a 1-oz bottle (for essential oil purposes), but if you use a smaller bottle, be sure to adjust your essential oil additions downward as necessary.

  • 1. Fill your small bottle just under 2/3 of the way with your base oil 
  • 2. Add your “bonus nourishing” oil until the bottle is just about full (unless you’re using carrot seed oil, in which case just put in  a few drops) 
  • 3. Add ONLY 4-7 drops of essential oil. Less if you’re using peppermint, especially. Cap and shake well after each drop, and you can gauge, very roughly, just how much essential oil you’ll need. You should be able to smell it, but it should not be overpowering. Just faintly identifiable.

  Benefits and Information on the Oils:
  (Note: I researched the following oils and cut/pasted the information several days ago. I have since forgotten the websites and cannot accurately reference. Please do not sue me for plagerism as I am now giving due to credit to google and all sites that come up during the google search) 
  
  Grape seed oil benefits can do wonders for your skin, and can make the perfect moisturizer. The antioxidants in the oil are called procyanidolic oligomers (PCO’s), known for their health giving properties, and are more powerful than vitamin C and vitamin E.

  Grape seed oil is made by cold-pressing the grape seeds, after they have been used to make wine.  It is used in many facial and body care products, and is known for its anti aging effects.

  It is very rich in vitamins, minerals and protein, and can be found in many products such as; soaps, hair care, cosmetics, facial creams, body creams, bath oils, lip balms and anything else you can think of.

  Grape seed oil contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants, and definitely what you need when it comes to looking younger.  Polyphenols can help slow the process of aging, as well as having anti inflammatory and anti oxidant properties, and in turn can makes it great for helping clear up acne. The benefits of grape seed oil will help prevent pores clogging and breakouts, it is very good for oily skin as well.

  This oil contains a high amount of linoleic acid, which is a fatty acid essential for the health of the skin and cell membranes.

  This is the reason why it makes such a wonderful moisturizer, as it really nourishes your skin, helping keep it smooth and subtle.

  It is known for its ability to lock in moisture, leaving your skin feeling more supple and smooth, and it does not leave a greasy feeling, which makes it ideal to use on all skin types. The best thing about grape seed oil is its ability to be easily absorbed into the skin, instead of sitting on top of the skin. This  helps fight free radicals and stop some of the enzymes that destroy collagen, elastin and other connective tissue.

  As it is a natural oil, it will inhibit problems such as fine lines and wrinkles, caused by the loss of collagen and elastin. As we age, our bodies produce less and less collagen, which of course gives you fine lines, wrinkles and blemishes.  It makes sense to use a natural oil like grape seed to help beat the aging process and keep you looking younger

  Along with vitamin C, grape seed oil is able to help the skin with the production of collagen.  Make sure you are always using organic cold pressed Grape seed Oil.There are plenty of products you can use to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines, but most of these products are only temporary.  Whereas, a natural oil like grape seed can offer a more natural and healthy solution.
  

  Rosehip seed oil comes from the plant rosa mosqueta. It is a native plant of Chile, where much of the rosehip seed oil used for cosmetic application comes from. It is usually cold pressed because it is a delicate oil and should be kept refrigerated to prevent rancidity. Rosehip seed oil is high in essential fatty acids and is good for dehydrated, aging, scarred and sun-damaged skin.
  
  Emu oil is a highly penetrating oil due to a small molecular structure. Its chemical composition is very close to that of human sebum. This makes it a superior carrier oil for other ingredients. Because its composition is so close to the natural oils we produce, it enables other ingredients mixed with it to penetrate the skin better. It is high in essential fatty acids, is moisturizing and is good for wrinkles.
  
  Jojoba is a light cosmetic oil. It nourishes and hydrates the skin, keeping it soft and pliable. It is purported to minimize pore size with regular use. Jojoba oil is suitable for all skin types, and it absorbs well. It is resistant to rancidity and has a long shelf life. It is similar to human sebum and will create a protective barrier over the skin but will not aggravate acneic skins. Jojoba oil can also help to break up sebum in clogged pores. 
  
  Avocado oil is a rich, green-colored oil that is exceptionally well suited to dry, mature and sun-damaged skin. It is rich in vitamins including vitamin A, B1, B2, D and E. It also contains lecithin, amino acids, sterols and other fatty acids. Avocado oil is used for skin problems such as psoriasis and eczema. Refrigeration is recommended to maintain its integrity. 
  
  Almond oil is widely used in cosmetic preparations. It is recommended for all skin types and has superior emollient properties. It smooths, conditions and softens the skin. It contains skin-loving essential fatty acids and has a shelf life of approximately one year. 
  
  Sweet Almond Oil is one of the most commonly used base oils, rich in essential fatty acids, good for all skin types. Sweet Almond Oil is often used in massage therapies, as it is lightweight, mild and easily absorbed into the skin. As a base oil, it has a longer shelf life than some others because it is not easily oxidized. 
  
  Apricot kernel oil is similar in viscosity and feel to almond oil, but is better suited to aging and sensitive skin. It is rich in fatty acids and has a golden color with a nutty odor. It prevents dehydration, has revitalizing properties and is good for inflammation, boils and burns. It absorbs readily, making it ideal for cosmetic use. 
  
  Olive oil has been used cosmetically since ancient times. It is rich and green in color with a characteristic odor. It helps maintain skin elasticity. It contains antioxidants to protect skin from damage. Because it is rich in essential fatty acids, olive oil is good for dehydrated and aging skin.
  
  That about sums it up. If you have any questions, email me at cristi@envisionmyself.com.
  To your success,
  Cristi Adkins, RN
  Mrs. Maryland International