Face oils are an absolute favourite with Team Bloom. Full of natural botanical ingredients, including vitamin rich and potent compounds, extracts and base oils, these easy to apply products pack a real punch when it comes to replenishing and feeding your skin into a state of healthy balance.
All of this vitamin and compound rich potency are combined with the fact that face oils have zero water content, and therefore no need for preservative systems or emulsifiers which can compromise the efficacy and natural power of any skincare product.
At Bloom we make two beauties - our Nightly Revive Face Oil with argan, frankincense and rose. This oil is better suited to dry or mature skin types. Our other product is the Nightly Replenish Face Oil with neroli, avocado and balancing ho leaf and suited to all skin types.
We tend to recommend that face oils are used at nighttime as your skin absorbs more product during the bedtime hours than at any other point during the day. However, plenty of people (myself including) also use face oils in the morning in place of a moisturiser. If you are a big fan of make-up and don't tend to have a lot of time in the mornings then possibly stick with a regular moisturiser for day time use (e.g. our Daily Replenish face cream, or our Daily Revive face moisturiser) as these are more mattifying and you won't have to wait the 5-10 minutes that would be required before applying make up after using a face oil!
Another great thing about face oils is that they are relatively easy to make at home. And if you have super sensitive skin, you can forego the inclusion of any essential oils and kee them as simple as you like. Check out some recipes below, but first I want to dispel the myth that face oils are not good for problem or breakout skin.
Surprisingly, if you have oily or problem skin prone to breakouts, a simple face oil can help bring your skin back into balance. Here's how. Face oils are free of the synthetics that are found in many face moisturisers and washes that are targeted towards those with problem skin. But the drawback with these is that 'problem' breakout skin is sensitive and reacts to these additives and preservatives. Stripping these out of your skincare routine and instead cleansing and nourishing the skin with a very lightweight base oil to help bring sebum production back into balance can be the first slow step to getting your skin back on track. It won't happen overnight - as the mum of a 19-year-old prone to break outs I can attest to this - but jumping around from one product to another that you hope might help, applying foaming washes and all manner of other preservative laden products will definitely not get rid of the breakouts in the long run, and in fact will probably make the skin worse.
So, how to make a face oil? If you have a clean glass jug, and a clean empty bottle with a pipette for dispensing then you are halfway there.
Next you need to purchase some base oils. Some of the best for beginners are well known and include jojoba oil, argan oil, rosehip oil, sweet almond oil and evening primrose oil
Jojoba oil is known for its moisturizing properties and is like the skin's natural sebum, making it ideal for balancing oil production.
Argan oil is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, providing nourishment and a youthful glow.
Rosehip oil, packed with antioxidants and vitamins A and C, helps to rejuvenate the skin and reduce the appearance of scars and fine lines.
Sweet almond oil is great for soothing and softening the skin,
Evening primrose oil can help with inflammation and redness and is also good for dryness and fine lines.
The best oils for oily skin are grapeseed oil, which is lightweight and has astringent properties that can help tighten pores and reduce oiliness. Safflower oil is also beneficial as it is non-comedogenic and can help balance the skin's natural oil levels without clogging pores. Additionally, using neem oil may be advantageous due to its ability to treat acne and soothe irritated skin.
When choosing oils for oily skin, opt for those that are non-comedogenic and have balancing or clarifying properties to help maintain a healthy complexion
The best oils for aging skin include pomegranate seed oil, which is rich in antioxidants and can help promote skin regeneration and improve elasticity. This oil is has been shown to stimulate collagen production, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Another excellent choice is avocado oil, packed with vitamins A, D, and E, which deeply nourish and moisturise the skin, helping to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Olive oil is another beneficial option, known for its high content of squalene and oleic acid, which can provide intense hydration and support skin repair. And finally, carrot seed oil is prized for its rejuvenating properties and can help improve skin tone and texture. But you wouldn't need to use too much of this as you might end up with an orange coloured face ;)
FACE OIL RECIPES - to make 50ml bottle
FOR DRY OR AGING SKIN:
10ml avocado oil
5ml olive oil
10ml rosehip oil
5ml pomegranate oil
10ml evening primrose oil
10ml argan oil
add 10 drops of essential oil, I would recommend a mix from any of the following: sandalwood, frankincense, neroli, rose (no more than 2-3 drops), helichrysum, geranium, benzoin, patchouli, lavender. These oils are either moisturising, sebum balancing, hydrating, skin smoothing or a combination of all those properties.
Mix in the jug and decant into your clean bottle. Use twice daily or as needed to smoothe and replenish the skin.
FOR BREAKOUT OR OILY SKIN:
20ml grapeseed oil
10ml jojoba oil
10ml rosehip oil
5ml hemp seed oil
5ml neem oil (pretty smelly, be warned, but very antibacterial!)
add 10 drops of essential oil, I would recommend a mix from any of the following: lavender, ho leaf, geranium, lemon, grapefruit, rosemary, ylang ylang, tea tree, roman or german chamomile. Most of these oils are either antibacterial, astringent, antinflammatory or a combination of all 3.
When using essential oils, it's important to dilute them properly with a carrier oil (never more than 1% in volume, 20 drops is 1ml for reference) and conduct a patch test to ensure the product you have made is suitable for your skin.
It's fun and easy to make face oils and I hope you get the chance to try!