Why would anyone want to use an eye cream? There are a number of good reasons: to moisturize and nourish the skin beneath the eyes; to reduce puffiness or bags; to erase wrinkles and other signs of aging; to soothe sun/ ultra violet (uv) damage; to erase or lighten dark circles under the eyes (x). Make your own DIY eye cream with just 4 natural ingredients.
Why would anyone make their own eye cream? Commercial eye creams are expensive and many contain chemicals that can irritate the delicate skin under our eyes and/ or damage the eyes themselves. In a do it yourself (DIY) eye cream, you can cull your own natural ingredients in a simple DIY eye cream recipe, like the one being shared in this article.
It requires four natural ingredients. That’s it!
– Raw unrefined shea butter
– Beeswax
– Aloe Vera gel
How can these four ingredients help our eyes? What benefits do they offer our skin? Let’s take a look.
Raw Unrefined Shea Butter
What is shea butter? It is a common ingredient found in personal care products and cosmetics. The cream-colored fat is processed from the nuts or seeds of the shea tree. A member of the Sapotaceae plant family, the tree’s scientific name is Vitellaria paradoxa, formerly Butyrospermum parkii. Its origins can be traced to West Africa with subspecies cultivated throughout the continent (x). Once the nuts are deshelled, the fat is retrieved in a number of ways. From simply boiling the kernels in water and skimming it off to a more complex commercial enterprise, such as cold pressing. The latter ensures a raw, pure an unrefined product (x), (x).
The tree, including fruits and flowers, has been used in food as well as in traditional medicine. The role of the tree nuts in hair and skin care has been celebrated by African women for centuries. As time progressed, they saw profits in a global reach (x). What nutrients in shea butter makes it an appealing and useful ingredient in a DIY under eye cream?
Nutrients in (Raw Unrefined) Shea Butter
Shea butter is exceedingly rich in vitamins A, E and K, lipids, fatty acids such as the essential linoleic and alpha linoleic acids (also called vitamin F), catechin phenols such as gallic acid, other phytosterols such as cinnamic acid and campesterol, and a few trace minerals (x), (x). How do these nutrients benefit our eyes in a diy anti-aging cream?
Benefits of Shea Butter
First, be sure to get raw, unrefined shea butter. Research suggest that vitamins A, E, K, F and the phenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. As an antioxidant, they may help battle signs of aging under the eyes, smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines, and fighting/ preventing damage from the sun’s uv radiation, which can lead to free radical buildup and oxidative stress in the cells. Their anti-inflammatory property may help treat and prevent under eye inflammation, which causes puffy or baggy skin. Overall, these bioactive compounds seem to have the potential to heal and repair damaged skin (x), (x).
Additionally, vitamins A and E and the fatty acids may support the production of collagen, the protein necessary for elasticity and firmness of the skin. This also helps to lessen the fine lines and “crow’s feet” at the corner of the eyes (x). The fatty acids may also help to retain moisture, nourish, strengthen and soften the thin under-eye skin for a more youthful appearance (x), (x).
Beeswax
What is beeswax? Cera alba, that’s its scientific name (x). It is a natural substance produced by female worker honey bees. Bees are members of the genus Apis. The honey bee species is called Apis mellifera. Beeswax is one of the materials they use to secure the structural foundation of their hives or honeycombs. The substance is white when first produced. But like any surface in a home, it becomes browner or yellower after it’s been there for a while (x). It may also have an odor depending on the bees’ country of origin. Freshly harvested beeswax must be cleaned before use (x), (x), (x).
Nutrients in Beeswax
The nutrients in beeswax mostly consist of vitamin A, fatty acids, esters and hydrocarbons (x). How do they help our skin, especially under the eyes?
Benefits of Beeswax
Beeswax has been used in Asian, Egyptian and even European traditional antimicrobial remedies for centuries (x), (x). Research suggest nutrients may have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties as well as the potential to heal wounds (x). Vitamin A as we’ve learned, may reduce inflammation that cause under eye swelling and puffiness. The vitamin also supports the production of collagen, which may aid skin firmness and elasticity (x), (x). Beeswax nutrients also soothe our skin and lock in moisture for nourishment (x), (x).
Aloe Vera Gel
The aloe vera plant, known scientifically as Aloe barbadensis Miller, is a perennial succulent member of the former Liliaceae and now Aloaceae family. It is at least 5,000 years old and native to Northern Africa; Egypt, according to some historians. In fact, early Egyptians titled aloe vera “the plant of immortality” (x).
What is aloe vera gel? What part of the plant does it come from? The gel is part of the leaves that form a rosette around a short stem. Beneath the thick skin of the leaves, is the substance we call gel (x). This clear jelly look-alike has a few bioactive nutrients that may be beneficial in a natural eye cream diy recipe.
Nutrients in Aloe Vera Gel
What are the nutrients in aloe vera gel? It’s loaded with phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and tannins, essential and nonessential fatty acids, polysaccharides, vitamins such as B12, and over 98 percent water. It also contains smaller pools of vitamins A, C and E and trace minerals (x), (x).
Benefits of Aloe Vera Gel
Researchers found that the nutrients in aloe vera gel may offer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties (x), (x). How do they work in a diy under eye cream? Studies show that the anti-inflammatory activities of the fatty acids, sugars and enzymes may remove under eye swelling, puffiness and redness caused by inflammation, while the antioxidant properties may treat the signs of sun damage and aging, which are related to harmful free radicals. Aloe vera’s tub-load of water helps to keep the skin hydrated and fresh. The vitamins may assure skin firmness (x), (x).
Banana Powder
What is banana powder? Seems we have to thank reality star Kim Kardashian for popularizing this compound as a makeup product, according to numerous online postings, including the one cited (x). The powder is processed from green or unripe bananas, including the plantain variety (x).
Bananas are a crucial source of food for many countries, especially those in the tropical and subtropical regions. In parts of its native Southeast Asia and Africa, bananas are also used as medicine. The fruit, actually a berry, has worldwide popularity in both ripe and unripe forms (x). Its scientific name is Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana or Musa paradisiaca (plantain). It is a member of the plant genus Musa (x). Banana powder is used in the food, health and cosmetic/ skincare industries (x).
Nutrients in Banana Powder
Studies indicate that bananas are rich sources of vitamins B6, B12 and C, minerals magnesium, potassium, copper and biotin (vitamin B7/ H/ co-enzyme), the plant protein lectin and dietary fiber (x).
Benefits of Banana Powder
Banana nutrients may offer several benefits. As an ingredient in eye cream, its powerful antioxidant vitamin C may help to smooth fine lines, including “crow’s feet” and wrinkles, as well as strengthen the skin by boosting collagen production (x). Copper too may boost collagen and add firmness (x), (x). As an ingredient in a diy eye cream for dark circles, nutrients such as B12 and biotin help to reduce or erase discolorations, including sun spots, and even skin tone (x), (x). Potassium may hydrate the skin (x).
DIY Eye Cream Recipe
So, how do we make a natural eye cream diy?
Ingredients:
2 tsp raw unrefined shea butter
½ tsp beeswax (helps turn mixture into solid form)
1 ½ tsp aloe vera gel
½ tsp banana powder
Instructions:
In a small non-stick pan on low heat, melt shea butter and beeswax. While waiting for them to melt, add aloe vera gel to a 15ml container with banana powder. Once shea butter and beeswax are melted, let them cool by mixing with spatula. When cool (cream consistency), add mixture to the container with aloe vera gel and banana powder. Mix thoroughly with popsicle stick and let set. Keep away from heat and light.
This mixture is enough for one 15ml container. Apply cream with ring finger around your under eye at night before bed. Please note this DIY recipe is not FDA (United States: Food and Drug Administration) approved. Use at your own risk.
Bottom Line
The DIY eye cream recipe is inexpensive, simple and easy to follow, and uses all-natural ingredients! Research found that the shea butter naturally contains vitamins A, E, F and K along with other nutrients and softens the skin. Beeswax soothes irritated skin and is a natural anti-inflammatory. Aloe vera moisturizes dry skin and helps reduce puffiness and swelling. Banana powder contains B6, B12, magnesium, potassium, protein and fiber, and may help reduce dark circles and sun spots around the eyes. Again, please note this DIY recipe is not FDA (United States: Food and Drug Administration) approved. Some individuals may be allergic to the ingredients. Use at your own risk.