BLOG: Glow Serum

A glow serum is a wonderful way to nourish and care for your skin. It is often formulated with nourishing plant oil(s), possibly in combination with essential oils. Depending on the ingredients used, a glow serum can be applied for various purposes, including reducing skin irritations, cleansing and nourishing troubled skin, and reducing fine lines. In this blog, I will show you the effects of different carrier oils and which essential oils you can use for skin care when making your glow serum.
 

Vegetable Carrier Oils 

Most glow serums are based on a neutral carrier oil, from which the serum is further built up. For example:

• Fractionated Coconut Oil, provides hydration and skin care and is very similar to the fat of human skin, allowing the oil to absorb quite quickly without leaving a greasy residue.
• Grapeseed Oil, has soothing and protective properties for the skin, and because this oil is very neutral, it is very suitable for people who are sensitive to allergic (skin) reactions.

Once you have chosen a base, you can also add other plant oil(s), tailored to the purpose for which you want to create a serum. Consider plant oils such as:

• Sweet Almond Oil, for example, for softening, caring for, and nourishing the skin.
• Calendula Oil, for example, for soothing damaged, irritated skin and wounds.
• Castor Oil, has anti-inflammatory effects on the skin, clears the skin of bacteria, and supports the skin's restorative capacity.
• Jojoba Oil, for example, for acne care (regulates sebum) or for nourishing and softening dry, chapped skin.
• Rosehip Oil, has anti-inflammatory properties, refines lines, and softens scars. 
  
  

Essential Oil

To complete your glow serum, you can add essential oils. Examples of essential oils you can use:

• Cedarwood, astringent, antifungal.
• Clary Sage, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and sebum regulating.
• Copaiba, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.
• Frankincense, astringent, skin-restoring, antiseptic, and refines lines.
• Geranium, astringent, skin strengthening, restorative, and calming.
• Helichrysum, anti-inflammatory, calming, and skin-restoring.
• Lavender, calming, itch-relieving, and skin purifying.
• Myrrh, anti-inflammatory, astringent, and skin protective.
• Patchouli, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, restorative, and regenerates the skin. 
• Rosemary, skin strengthening and restorative.
• Tea Tree, antibacterial, antifungal, and protects the skin.
• Ylang Ylang, strengthening and balances sebum production.
   

Overview per skin type - Plant Oils / Carrier Oils

* When combining, use a maximum of 50%
** When combining, use a maximum of 25%
*** When combining, use 10% - 50%
 

Overview per skin type - Essential Oils

Please note: The use of essential oils on sensitive skin is very personal and depends on how sensitive your skin actually is. Lavender essential oil is often a safe option. If you have sensitive skin, always test a small amount of (diluted) essential oil on the skin first and check how you react. 
 

Let's get started!

For a body serum, aim for a maximum of 3% dilution of your essential oils. For 10 ml, this means a maximum of 8 drops of essential oil. 

Your face is more sensitive than the rest of your body, so aim for a maximum of 1.5% dilution. For 10 ml, this means a maximum of 4 drops of essential oil. 

1. Choose the essential oils you'd like to use and mix them in a dropper bottle. Use the table above as a guide. 
2. Choose your desired carrier oil(s) and fill your dropper bottle with it. Use the table above as a guide. 
3. Shake/swirl gently to mix everything well, and your serum is ready. 

You can use your serum daily on cleansed skin. If you use darker-colored oils, be careful with light clothing (collars) and white/light bedding.

Examples of essential oil combinations:

• Nourishing: Frankincense, Lavender, Patchouli, and Ylang Ylang.
• Impurities: Copaiba, Lavender, and Tea Tree.
• Mature skin: Frankincense, Geranium, and Patchouli.

Combine with a carrier oil of your choice. 
 

Hydrosols

If you want to provide extra care for your skin, use a hydrosol before applying a serum. Consider, for example:

• Chamomile Water, anti-allergic, calming, and restorative. Note: less suitable for dry and/or mature skin. 
• Lavender Water, cooling, itch-relieving, restorative, and relaxing.
• Rose Water, softening, cell-renewing, hydrating, sebum-regulating, and astringent.
• Witch Hazel, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, soothing, and antioxidant. 

Apply the hydrosol to cleansed skin, let it absorb briefly, and then apply the glow serum.  

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Sources:
- Essential Oil Safety, Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young
- Modern Essentials Handbook
- Aromecum, drs. Harmen Rijpkema

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Disclaimer:

It is very important to use 100% pure essential oils and to be well informed about which oils can be safely ingested and which cannot. 

There may be a possible interaction between medications and essential oils, including an enhancement of medication side effects. Consult your doctor if you have questions about implementing essential oils into your daily routine. Pay particular attention to (possible) pregnancy and the use of blood thinners, regarding which essential oils are safe to use. Adapted guidelines also apply to children. Consult a qualified physician for this. 

This information has been compiled with the greatest possible care. The information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases, nor to replace medical advice from professional doctors and medications. Anyone suffering from an illness or injury should consult a qualified physician.
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