Traveling all around the world is incredibly adventurous.
It also can be hard on the skin, especially face and area around the eyes.
Why?
Biggest culprit is the especially dry recycled air inside airplanes.
Often, I’m outside an entire day and fail to drink enough water. Add to the lack of water, I drink coffee, tea and wine...all are diuretics.
The hand and shower soap provided by apartments and hotels is very harsh, void of any oil or cream.
Walking, with open-toe shoes and boots, can harm skin. First, blisters and sore spots; then, scaling and cracking toes and heels.
What to do?
Drink plenty of water.
Cut back or at least be aware of your coffee, tea, and wine consumption. Increase your water intake, when needed.
Use soap products made with olive oil.
Use creams on your body, especially face, hands and feet, day and night.
Creams?
With so many brands and varieties of creams, face cream and eye serums, on the market, choosing the right one can be tricky...especially when you are in a country that doesn’t carry familiar products. Even if you are familiar, you may have to shell out a hefty amount for a small tub of eye cream. What’s in that stuff, anyway?
I prefer my own homemade creams and eye serums, made of natural ingredients. When you use good quality, natural products, your own homemade creams are safer and they don’t burn holes in your pocket.
Here are a few of my favorite recipes below:
Eye serums (3)
Face cream
Also, be sure to scroll down for information about
cocoa butter, Jojoba and Avocado oils.
Special note: Although unusual, allergic reactions to essential oils do occur. Please, stop any use should you experience itching, redness, etc.
Also, please read important information at the bottom of this blog.++
Eye Serums
1. Rejuvenating essential oil eye serum is great for rejuvenating and tightening the skin around the eyes: mix 30 millimeters jojoba oil with 5 drops of Rose essential oil and 5 drops of Chamomile essential oil.
(See information about containers below under "Notes and Suggestions.")
2. Vitamin E* restoring eye cream is an easy-to-use night cream that moisturizes, repairs and brightens the skin around the eyes...and just two ingredients: coconut oil and Vitamin E*. Mix 4 tablespoons of coconut oil with ½ teaspoon Vitamin E* oil.
3. Eye cream with Frankincense and Shea Butter: mix all these ingredients together.
10 drops frankincense essential oil
1 ounce pure aloe vera gel
1 ounce unrefined shea butter
1 ounce unrefined coconut oil
½ teaspoon vitamin E*
Application for Eye Serums and Creams
Apply in the morning and before bed. Use a dropper to release a drop or two on the tip of your ring finger. Gently apply below your eyes and above your eyes just below the brow bone.
(Do not apply to eyelid to avoid seepage into your eye. It’s not damaging, but it might sting.)
Smooth the serum on the skin from your eyes to your temple where those lovely laugh lines extend toward your hairline. Then, carefully tap with your ring finger all around, gently forcing the liquid to penetrate the skin.
After applying in the morning, I wait about 15 minutes to ensure absorption. then, using a clean, soft towel I pad the areas to remove the excess serum that can cause your makeup to stick and collect, especially powdered makeup.
Hydrating face cream.
This is a basic recipe. Increase amounts as you wish.
1/4 cup aloe vera gel
2 tablespoons vegetable glycerine
1 teaspoon jojoba oil**
1 Vitamin E* capsule (optional)
2-4 drops of essential oil like lavender, chamomile or rose
Notes and Suggestions
I don’t carry all these ingredients around as I travel...too many, too heavy and too cumbersome. Rather, I buy the ingredients in the quantities I need for a batch of serums and creams.
Containers: I store my concoctions in either dark or blue glass bottles with an eye dropper for eye serums. Larger plastic flip-top bottles for face cream and a plastic tub for foot cream.
Cocoa Butter
In general, cocoa butter around the eyes is good as an anti-aging agent. This antioxidant is a good moisturizer. It promotes elasticity and tightens the delicate skin around the eye area. The active property in cocoa butter is polyphenol which stimulates the skin by reducing the amount of active oxygen carrying blood to prevent the buildup of cholesterol. Finally, cocoa butter fades dark circles.
**Jojoba and Avocado Oil
Two of my favorites for skin care recipes! Jojoba is an oil that’s very close to our skin’s natural oil, and you can use it for just about anything (much like coconut oil). It’s non comedogenic, so it won’t block pores, and, in fact, it helps oily skin level out oil generation. Plus it’s loaded with vitamin E, linoleic acid, and antioxidants that regenerate skin cells.
How to make sure essential oils are real and quality. Click below for
“7 Signs Your Essential Oils Are Fake” by "Prevention Magazine."
Finally, isn't it nice to pamper yourself?
Click HERE for Care of Fingernails and hands and feet.
Resources++
To be clear, I didn’t create these concoctions. I have no special knowledge about essential oils. Rather, I've learned by reading articles written by those more knowledgeable. My recipes are are a combination of in information from sites like Livestrong, The Indian Spot, One Good Thing by Jillee, and HelloGlo. Also, I learned from the Great American store in St. Petersburg, Florida.
++Please note, I am not a physician, nor am I certified in any way with regard to health, healthcare, vitamins, essential oils, or creams. Always discuss with your medical practitioner before using any alternative medicines, natural supplements, vitamins, essential oils, or creams. All information, content and product descriptions contained within this site are for reference purposes and are not intended to substitute advice given by a pharmacist, physician or other licensed health-care professional. You should not use this information for treating a health problem or disease or to make a self-diagnosis.
Actual product packaging and materials may contain different information than shown on this website. Contact your health care provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem. Information and statements regarding Wellington Fragrance products have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health condition or disease.
The following safety precautions are guidelines only. You should consult with any aroma therapist about essential oil usage and always inform your primary care physician what you are using as they may not be conducive with his/her prescribed therapy and medications.