this skin recipe is a winner! let me tell your more about how i found these two ingredients...
Last year I began to introduce hempseed oil into the essential oils blends I make for the skin. This is one of my favorite ways to use pure essential oils – skin blends are easy to make, generally safe, highly effective, and are of a quality far superior to the manufactured lotions you can buy off-the-shelf or at the mall. When I blend at home, I’m able to use top-tier products (similar to the best-quality creams I wouldn’t be able to afford without draining my retirement fund), and tweak the formula to meet exactly what my skin needs.
I’ve experimented with lots of different kinds of carrier oils – natural moisturizing oils that extend and dilute essential oils for use on the skin – from fractionated coconut (FCO) to delicate grapeseed oil. Every carrier oil has its own personality and advantages; but hempseed oil was new to me.
It's gotta feel right
The first thing I wanted to know was if hempseed oil would feel “right” on my skin – if you know what I mean. FCO is certainly a great moisturizer, but it hovers on the surface, and is quite oily for overnight applications (not great for the long-term health of my pillowcases). Other oils just don’t give me enough of the moisture my skin craves in the dry environment I live in. After a bit of research I became intrigued with hempseed oil. It is low (as in zero) on the comedogenic scale; which means that it doesn’t clog pores – important to me because even as an adult as I am prone to acne. (I’d really hoped that I would have graduated from this affliction at 20 … and then I hoped for 30 … and then for 40. Sigh).
Now that I am older, my skin needs a little more strength and moisturizing. Wrinkles, fine lines and flakey skin have become unfortunate daily challenges. What’s a person to do with acne-prone and mature skin? The answer, I discovered, is combining hempseed oil with a little Marula oil.
The secret ingredient
Marula oil (I love this product from New Day) is moisturizing, but it won’t clog your pores. It’s rich in essential fatty acids that mimic those that exist naturally in the outer layer of the skin. It also contains the antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin E, and flavonoids. But the best part? It’s a surprisingly non-oily oil: It penetrates and absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving your face feeling greasy – which makes for lilly-clean pillowcases every morning.
Marula oil is the perfect partner for hempseed oil (just 10-20% of Marula in a blend). It is also nourishing, easily absorbed and high in linoleic acid. I really like this product from Dr. Adorable for its consistent quality, skin-feel and affordability. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid that our body does not produce on its own. Added to a moisturizer, It helps strengthen the skin to keep moisture/water in and irritants out.
The nitty gritty on hempSEED
After quite of bit of experimenting, missteps, and retreats, I’ve found an effective and balanced way to use these two oils effectively for several skin applications.
To daily treat and clean the skin:
- I make a 30 ml bottle of this mixture in amber glass to protect the shelf-life of the oils. I really like glass droppers, which make it super easy to dispense without absorbing the chemicals from plastics.
- I combine 24 oz hempseed oil with 4-5 oz Marula oil... and a few drops of my favorite essential oils for additional nutrients and aromatherapy effects.
- In the evening, dispense a small amount of the blend into the palm of your hand. Apply it lightly with your fingertips to the eyelashes, cheeks and lips to remove makeup remnants.
- Wipe away gently with a soft cloth or cotton pad. (try these amazing little wipes from Bamboo Organics – all natural and soft as a baby’s bottom. They are my new favorites).
- Wash your skin with a gentle cleanser... here’s one I’ve found by Ursa Major that doesn’t undo all the moisturizing good you’ve just applied to your skin.
Here's What You'll Need:
- Moisturize overnight by dispensing a small amount of the blend into the palm of your hand. Rub hands together to warm the oil and gently apply to the face. I like to follow-up with a gentle fingertip massage to tone muscles and deepen the moisturizing power of the blend.
- Mustachioed and bearded folks can use this blend to treat their faces and facial hair to deep moisture. This unique combination leaves the beard feeling soft without coming across heavy or greasy.
Give this recipe a try and let me know how you like it in the comments below! This one has been a winner for me :)
