This nourishing facial serum is a very special one in my recipe book. Made with four of my favorite skin care oils, this blend is deeply hydrating and yields a lovely bronzing hue that can be tailored to many skin tones. The star of this recipe is sea buckthorn oil, which in my opinion, is an underutilized oil that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. While most skin care oils are pressed from the seeds of a given plant, sea buckthorn oil is pressed from the seeds and berries which yields a vibrant golden hue and contains abundant antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Sea buckthorn oil also contains linoleic acid which has been shown to support the skin’s lipid barrier,  helping to reduce overall moisture loss. For all of these reasons, it remains high on my list of favorite skin care ingredients.

Sea buckthorn oil can be used for a wide range of skin types but is most beneficial for those who experience occasional non-cystic acne or those with aging skin. My skin tends to be dryer and I am hitting the age where signs of aging are starting to become more apparent. Although I fully embrace my age, I am really keen on giving it all of the moisture it needs to remain soft and supple. This nourishing serum is fabulous at doing exactly that!

A little goes a long way with sea buckthorn oil, so blending it with other skin-loving oils is the ideal way to work with it. Some of my favorite oils to blend with for my dry skin type include argan oil, cranberry seed oil, and rosehip seed oil. I will also occasionally add a bit of pomegranate seed oil during the wintertime when my skin needs a little more support.

This recipe absorbs beautifully into the skin, while the natural bronze hue helps to even out skin tone without actually staining the skin. You can use as little as a couple of drops without having much of an effect on the applied color, or you can increase the amount to accentuate or warm up your skin tone.

I generally use this serum in the daytime because I like the bronzing effect it gives my skin, but you can also use it at night or as an oil cleanser.

“Glow-Up” Facial Serum with Sea Buckthorn Oil

Makes about 2 tsp. facial serum.

Ingredients

• 1 tsp. organic argan oil
• 1/2 tsp. organic cranberry seed oil
• 1/2 tsp. organic rosehip seed oil
• 3-8 drops organic sea buckthorn oil

Directions

1. Pour all oils together in a glass bottle with pump top and roll between your palms to mix.
2. Label with ingredients and date made.

To Use

• Dispense a dime-sized amount, massage into clean skin, and leave on.
  
  

Pro Tips

• This can also be used as an oil cleanser, but you won’t get the golden hue effect since most of the oil is wiped off. To do this, massage the serum into skin and gently wipe away with warm washcloth. Note that this oil will stain your washcloth so use one you don’t mind staining or one with a dark color.
• It’s easier to add more sea buckthorn oil than take it away. Start with 2-3 drops and then adjust as needed.
• If you want a little more hydration, I like to occasionally add pomegranate seed oil. It makes this blend thicker and even more hydrating.

Looking for Other Natural Skin Care Recipes?

Check out the Mountain Rose Herbs Book of Natural Body Care!

You may also be interested in:

• DIY Facial Serum with Tamanu Oil
  
• Guide to Oil Cleansing
  
• Guasha Facial Massage Tutorial