I’ve tried out what feels like every skin care cream, vitamin, mineral and natural treatment imaginable. Even nightingale droppings and snail slime (which I love!), but nothing has done as much for my skin since I started making my own flower infused oils. It’s dewy, plump, glowing, and even in complexion. Now I can’t give you the exact recipe for the oil i’m talking about, it has to stay a secret but will come out in my book! (Updates will be posted here), but I am going to give you a list of oils that are great for the skin and healing flowers for infusing.

Oils (the right kind) are far superior to typical creams that too often contain toxic chemicals. Creams contain wax and sit on top of the skin, sealing it off (they work by trapping in moisture). But skin epidermis is essential layers and layers of skin cells held together by lipids. Oils nourish this lipid and enter deep into the epidermis layers, moisturizing the skin from the inside, so to speak. By making your own skin care products like this, you not only save money and live more sustainably, but you control what you put on your body. And these oils and flowers are great for nails and hair too! They make beautiful little homemade gifts as well.

Ingredients

1 part dried flowers (you shouldn’t infuse fresh plants into oils as it can introduce bacteria)

2 parts organic oil

Recipe

Pour oil into a mason jar and add the dried flowers and seal. Let the jar infuse in sunlight for two weeks. For a quick-version: heat the mason jar with oil and flowers au-bain-marie (in a double boiler), gently simmering for several hours to extract the flowers’ healing properties into the oil.

Face Oils

Almond Oil (high in the skin supporting antioxidant vitamin E, skin softening) (1)(2)

Argan Oil (Dense, nourishing oil high in skin-softening vitamin E, fatty acids, and antioxidants) (3)(4)

Avocado Oil (rich in skin nourishing fatty acids, lecithin, collagen repairing, and other protective antioxidants) (5)(6)

Black Current Seed Oil (rich in fatty acids that helps repair damaged skin, anti-inflammatory properties) (7)(8)

Extra Virgin Cold Press Olive Oil (highly nourishing and hydrating, high fatty acid count) (9)

Grapeseed Oil (regulates oil production, high in antioxidants) (10)(11)

Jojoba Oil (nut oil similar to the natural sebum of the skin) (12)(13)

Marula Oil (high in fatty acids, amino acids, and oil balancing benefits, good for acne-prone and oily skin) (14) (15)

Red/Black Raspberry Seed Oil (high in skin repairing vitamins/antioxydants like vitamin C and beta-carotene, protects skin from free-radical damage) (16) (17)

Rose hip Oil (high in vitamin C (skin repair) and other protective antioxydants) (18)(19)

Flowers

The flowers listed below contain varying degrees of the same benefits: anti-inflammatory, skin brightening, anti-histamine, skin-softening, antioxidants that protect the skin from free radical damage (sunlight+pollution), anti-bacterial, regenerative and reparative properties.

I could go into the specifics as to which is more powerful in each category, but it becomes to fluid at a point. I would suggest you think about which flower you’re most drawn to and start experimenting. Roses are a great place to start, and try combining different flowers to optimize the effects. Collect flower petals (pesticide free!) and dry them in sunlight or in the oven at the lowest temperature for about 10 minutes and then infuse into your oil of choice.

Calendula

Chamomile

Jasmine

Lavender

Lotus

Passionflower

Rose

Sunflower

Violet