Diy Acne Fighting Face Serum.

Ever since I’ve gotten old(er), I’ve been more and more concerned with what I’m putting on my face. It seems like every time I pick up a magazine, another study has come out revealing the toxic nature of ingredients in our skincare products and makeup.

And let’s be real: I’m 27 now and acne and wrinkles are no joke.

I wanted to take a break from my moisturizers and experiment with face serums because I’ve heard they do wonders for oily skin, which I definitely have. For reference—I have oily, mostly-clear skin, with occasional breakouts during certain times of the month. I also have scarring on the right side of my face from a horrible facial in my early twenties (to this day I steer clear from extractions).

I wanted to create a simple face serum that would a) make my face less oily, b) clear up my breakouts, and c) fight current and future wrinkles. After doing a loooooot of reading on the subject, and studying the uses of essential oils, here are the ingredients I chose for my acne fighting face serum:

Grape seed oil: lightweight, absorbs easily, full of antioxidants & fatty acids, used for: dermatitis, acne, wrinkles, dry and itchy skin, age spots, sun burns, chapped lips.

Jojoba oil: seals in moisture, hydrating, soothes damage caused by sun and wind, reduces wrinkles.

Tea tree oil: used to treat acne

Lemongrass oil: used to treat acne and oily skin

Lavender oil: used to treat acne, oily skin, and scars

(I bought all three essential oils in this sampler kit and also ordered a 10 pack of amber glass bottles with droppers.)

Here’s the recipe I created:

“Clear Me Up” Face Serum Recipe

-1/2 tablespoon grape seed oil
-1/2 tablespoon jojoba oil
-5 drops tea tree oil
-5 drops lemongrass oil
-10 drops lavender oil

Combine all ingredients in a 1/2 ounce amber bottle and shake for a few minutes. After cleansing face, use bottle dropper to squeeze 6-7 drops into the palm of your hand and then massage gently onto your face. Store bottle in a cool dark place and shake before each use.

I’ve been using this on my face every morning and night for one week. My forehead was super broken out and cleared up almost immediately, and I have noticed a huge difference in how oily my face is. Within 2-3 days I felt like my face was less oily all day. Crazy! I wash my face with St. Ives Apricot scrub (paraben free!) and use the Olay Pro-X cleansing brush (I don’t have the Clarisonic, but I LOVE the Olay Pro-X) before applying it. I wait about 5 minutes to put on makeup and my face isn’t greasy in the slightest.

I have also started adding the grape seed oil to my body lotion and I love how soft my skin feels. I had eczema as a kid and every once in a while it reappears on my calves, back, and under my wedding ring. I normally don’t like putting oil on my body because I feel greasy, but when I mix a tiny bit into my lotion, it’s the perfect addition. Another great use for grape seed oil? Makeup remover! I’ll never buy the store bought stuff again. Just pour a little bit on a cotton ball and your makeup glides right off, all the while smoothing your skin and eyes. Win-win.

Next on my experiment list: anti-aging serum, acne spot treatment, and eye serum. More recipes comin atcha soon!

What are your favorite natural skincare products and/or regimens?