The skin around the eyes is some of the most sensitive and thinnest skin on our bodies. The eyes can get easily irritated and are greatly affected by heat, so it’s super important that you stay hydrated so they stay hydrated.
I like to keep a spritzer of rose hydrosol next to my computer to spritz my eyes whenever I start feeling fatigue creep up, if I start getting blinky because they are dry, tired, etc. Cucumber slices over eyes are always wonderful, too—they are moisturizing, cooling, regenerative to the skin and also help reduce bags and minimize wrinkles.
For many of us, sometimes bags or dark circles around eyes may be an issue. To reduce this, it’s good to introduce circulation-enhancing ingredients as well as tightening and toning astringents.
Witch hazel is great for this, but keep it out of the eyes. Castor oil and hazelnut oil are astringent oils while apricot kernel oil is extremely gentle and works wonders to reduce wrinkles.
In the morning, I like to spritz my eyes with rose hydrosol, do some eye exercises, such as looking all the way to each side, gently at first and then as far as I can next, followed by looking up and looking down, then some eye circles. All very gently.
I also like to eat fruits and veggies to nourish my eyes from the inside. I am careful about what I let in, and I abstain from television and brutality, avoid the news, and spend a lot of time in nature, creating art and being with beautiful humans. Always be mindful of what you let into your sight, for you digest what you see as well as what you eat. Remember the saying you are what you eat? Well, you are what you see can apply here, too. What are you letting into your vision?
Eyebrow Balm, page 94
To get the most out of applying hydration around the eye area, massage products around eyes, with little circles moving from near the eye out, always pulling in the direction of the ear. Finish with massaging from the inside next to the nose to the outside of eye area across the cheek bone and down to the neck by the lymph nodes. This will aid the skin’s removal of excess toxins and fluids around the eye area and into the lymphatic system. This will reduce bags, dark circles, and general puffiness.
Serums versus Moisturizers
Moisturizers do just that: moisturize. While they can also have excess nutrients, their prime purpose is to moisturize. Serums, on the other hand, are a potent blend of powerful and often highly concentrated ingredients, kind of like a supplement for the skin. Serums can be layered with moisturizers or used alone.
This is the ideal blend if you want to keep eye moisturizing simple yet effective.
8 grams apricot kernal oil
8 grams squalene
1 drop jasmine sambac (optional)
Makes 16 grams.
Mix all ingredients in a little half-ounce jar with dropper, shake, and label.
To use, massage 2 to 3 drops around eyes. Finish with massaging from the inside next to nose to the outside of eye area, across the cheek bone, and down to the neck by the lymph nodes.
squalene oil, apricot kernel oil
This blend is a wonderful way to start the day around the sensitive eye area. It contains a potent package of fine line and wrinkle repelling, tightening, and soothing herbal oils and precious essential oils revered for their youth enhancing qualities.
6 grams jojoba oil
2 grams argan oil
2 grams camellia oil
1 gram pomegranate oil
1 gram rosehip seed oil
1 gram raspberry seed oil
10 drops carrot seed oil
2 drops sandalwood essential oil
1 drop myrrh essential oil
1 drop immortelle essential oil
Makes ½ ounce.
Mix all ingredients in a little jar with dropper, shake, and label.
To use, massage 2 to 3 drops around eyes. Finish by massaging from the inside next to nose to the outside of eye area, across the cheek bone, and down to the neck by the lymph nodes.
carrot seed oil, argan oil, rosehip oil, jojoba oil, pomegranate oil, camellia oil, raspberry oil
Wake up refreshed with healthy, lovely eyes! This serum has a bit heavier feel due to the castor oil and will sit on the skin longer than a day moisturizer. The blend is also astringent so it will moisturize and tighten and tone skin.
2 ounces castor oil
3 grams green tea (matcha) oil extract in grapeseed oil (see page 22)
3 grams oregon grape root oil extract in olive oil (see page 22)
2 drops blue yarrow essential oil
2 drops frankincense essential oil
2 drops cypress oil
Makes a little over 2 ounces.
Mix all ingredients in a little jar with dropper, shake, and label.
To use, massage 2 to 3 drops around eyes. Finish with massaging from the inside next to nose to the outside of eye area, across the cheek bone, and down to the neck by the lymph nodes.
castor oil, oregon grape root, olive oil, matcha, grapeseed oil
This oil helps add a bit of shine, nourishment, and can help increase thickness and overall brow health.
6 grams apricot oil
½ grams castor oil
½ grams bhringaraj oil extract in grapeseed oil (see page 22)
½ grams horsetail oil extract in olive oil (see page 22)
½ grams nettle oil extract in olive oil (see page 22)
½ gram raspberry oil
2 drops sandalwood essential oil
Makes 8.5 grams.
Mix all ingredients in a little jar with dropper, shake, and label.
To use, massage 1 to 3 drops per eyebrow, rubbing oil into brow and then smoothing it down and shaping it.
bhringaraj powder, horsetail oil, nettle leaf, grapeseed oil, castor oil, apricot kernel oil, raspberry seed oil, olive oil
This conditioning blend works to hold brows in place without being greasy. Use eyebrow balm in the morning along with your regular skin care routine to keep the brows in place all day long.
10 grams coconut oil
10 grams jojoba oil
5 grams beeswax
1 drops myrrh essential oil
1 drop jasmine sambac
3 drops bergamot bergaptene-free essential oil
This recipe makes almost 1 ounce of eyebrow balm and is pictured on page 88.
Measure oils and beeswax into a heatproof container, set over double boiler on medium heat, and stir until melted. Remove from heat, add essential oils, mix well, pour into tins, cap when set, and label.
To use, rub a wee bit into finger and thumb and stroke into eyebrows in the direction of the hair. Work into eyebrows and shape them as desired.
This conditioning blend works to hold brows in place without being greasy.
Ears are an often forgotten area when it comes to skin care, but being that they are full of nerve endings, help us hear, and are an undeniably important part of our whole body system, they also need to be treated with care. Simply massaging the ears daily is important and can be linked to myriad healthy benefits. If you want to learn more about how beneficial it is to massage the ears, do a search on reflexology.
1 ounce jojoba oil
1 ounce sunflower oil
½ ounce borage oil
5 drops sea buckthorn berry oil
3 drops rosemary essential oil
Makes 2½ ounces.
Mix all ingredients together, bottle, and label.
To use, massage about 2 to 3 drops onto ears. Start with the top of the ear and massage down to the bottom, massage around the cartilage on the inside, and end lightly by pinching the ear from the top to the bottom and around the cartilage on the inside.
NOTES