Sea buckthorn oil is a valuable and very useful cosmetic oil. It belongs to the so-called special oils. It means it is added only small quantities to enhance the effect of the product. Before you buy sea buckthorn oil you should read my article on sea buckthorn oils because it really matters how your sea buckthorn oil is made. Sea buckthorn oils prepared in different ways contain completely different fatty acids. Check out my article here.
I have prepared products myself following next two sea buckthorn oil recipes. I know roughly how they work on my own skin. However, I have not tested the cream for winter use in really frosty weather. Frosts are, for one reason or another, quite rare today.
All sea buckthorn oils are very valuable oils. Therefore, they should be used in the simplest possible products. Complex formulas with excipients can interfere with oil absorption. These products are simple to make. They also best bring out the great properties of sea buckthorn oil.
Serum from sea buckthorn oil
Oil serums are easy and quick to prepare by yourself. In the serum, the wonderful properties of sea buckthorn oil are at their best. Sea buckthorn oil should be used specifically for oil serums.
Sea buckthorn oil is rich in omega-7 fatty acids aka palmitoleic acid. Palmitoleic acid is a very rare fatty acid that occurs only very small amounts in some oils. The exception, however, is sea buckthorn oil. Sea buckthorn oil can contain up to 30% palmitoleic acid. Palmitoleic acid protects the skin from moisture loss. It is well absorbed into the surface layers of the skin, giving the skin a very smooth feel. Therefore, sea buckthorn oil is especially suitable for winter use, when the skin suffers from drying.
Safflower oil
I have chosen safflower oil as a base oil to this serum. Safflower oil really has a lot of skin-cherishing properties. Due to its high linoleic acid content, safflower oil is quickly absorbed into the skin. It does not leave a greasy feel on skin. Safflower oil is suitable for most skin types. It also does not clog skin pores.
You can also use your own herbal oils for oil serums. Instructions for making herbal oils can be found here. I myself used the dandelion oil I extracted for this oil serum in the summer. Dandelion is a really good herb to protect and moisturize the skin. Marigold oil or plantain oil are also very suitable to mix with sea buckthorn oil.
Jojoba oil
I like to use jojoba oil in serums. Jojoba oil has very small molecule size. It is able to penetrate very deep into the skin. Jojoba oil has been used in the pharmaceutical industry as a carrier to deliver drugs through the skin.
Sea buckthorn oil
Sea buckthorn oil is an integral part of this oil serum. Please check that your sea buckthorn oil is made from sea buckthorn berries without seeds. This makes the omega-7 fatty acid content high enough. You can read more about sea buckthorn oil here.
Moisturizing, caring oil serum from sea buckthorn oil
You need the following ingredients for sea buckthorn oil serum:
- 10 gr of safflower oil or the herbal oil of your own
- 2 gr of sea buckthorn oil
- 2 gr of jojoba oil
- 0,5 gr evening primrose oil
- 0,25 gr vitamin E
- 1 gr essential oils (optional)
- 20 ml pipette bottle
Do like this:
- Measure all ingredients in a small mixing bowl.
- Thoroughly mix the oils into a smooth mixture. If you wish, you can add essential oils to the product. The aroma of sea buckthorn oil is very pleasant, fresh and strong enough, so there is usually no need to use a fragrance supplement.
- Then pour the prepared oil serum into a sterilized (alcohol) pipette bottle.
- As safflower oil is very rich in easily oxidizable linoleic acid, always store the oil serum in the refrigerator.
- Sea buckthorn oil serum lasts only 3-4 months. Linoleic acid oils are so easily oxidized. However, the serum lasts longer than the dry winter season when stored in the refrigerator.
How do you use sea buckthorn oil serum?
Apply a couple of drops of sea buckthorn oil serum in the evening to cleansed, still slightly moist skin. Gently pat the serum on the skin. If you did not use essential oils, you can also apply the serum to the skin around the eyes. Alternatively, you can also mix a drop of oil serum with your night cream.
Sea buckthorn oil has a strong orange colour. The skin also turns slightly yellowish for a while. However, the colour fades pretty quickly and the skin turns a bright and clear.
Sun coloured, yellow outdoor cream
Sea buckthorn oil brings a beautiful yellow colour to this fluffy cream. The cream does not contain any fragrances. The fresh, orange-like scent of sea buckthorn is enough.
Sea buckthorn oil is a particularly protective oil. That’s why it’s suitable for outdoor creams. Palmitoleic acid and palmitic acid are absorbed into the outer layers of the skin, providing effective moisture protection. Sea buckthorn oil carotenoids are beneficial when the skin is exposed to UV rays. However, carotenoids are not the actual sunscreen.
This cream is waterless. Anhydrous creams do not freeze on the surface of the skin in the same way as emulsion lotions.
Shea Butter
I chose shea butter for this product because it is suitable for most skin types. Shea butter does not clog pores as easily as other face creams. You can read more about shea butter here
Rice bran oil
Rice bran oil is a mild, colourless and odourless oil that is suitable for almost everyone. You can read more about rice bran oil here. You can replace rice bran oil with sunflower oil, avocado oil or safflower oil.
Calendula oil
Calendula is a real miracle in skin care. It is a caring herb that also gives a great colour as well as a mild scent to cosmetic products. Calendula oil can be made by yourself. You can find instructions for making oil extracts here.
Arrowroot powder
If you wish, you can add a teaspoon of arrowroot powder to the cream in case the cream feels too greasy. You can replace the arrowroot powder with potato flour, rice starch or corn flour. Please bear in mind that do not add too much flour/starch in the cream. They are not absorbed into the skin. Excess use of them leaves nasty lumps on the skin which drop off after the cream has dried.
Winter cream for outdoor use; ingredients
For winter outdoor cream, you need the following ingredients
- 47 gr of shea butter
- 47 gr of ready-made calendula oil or rice bran oil or other highly absorbable oil
- 4 gr of sea buckthorn oil
- 2 gr vitamin E
- 3 gr of arrowroot powder
Do like this:
- Mix shea butter and oil in a steel or glass bowl.
- Place the bowl in the water bath until all of the shea butter has melted.
- Stir the cream until it cools below 40 degrees
- Add sea buckthorn oil and vitamin E and mix well
- Add arrowroot powder and mix well
- Keep stirring until the cream is solid
- Pack the cream in a clean, sterilized glass jar and label (ingredients and date)
- Put the cream in the fridge to harden for one day
- Anhydrous cream will be preserved at room temperature without any preservatives for about 3-4 months.
Use only a very small amount of sea buckthorn outdoor cream at a time. The cream is very full-bodied and requires some time to absorb properly. However, it does not clog the pores but is absorbed into the skin, forming a protective layer on the skin.
First apply the cream to your palms and then pat it evenly on the face and neck area. Allow the cream to absorb for about 30 minutes before going out.
Tip:
Vegetable butter easily clogs the drain. When washing the dishes you used to make the cream, wipe them first with paper towel to remove all grease before putting them in the dishwasher.
Did you try the recipes? Please tell me what you think!