How to Get Glowing Skin Naturally | DIY Oil Serum

How to get glowing skin naturally using a holistic approach including nutrition, natural skincare and essential oils. Four things you can do to boost your skin health, and my DIY oil serum with 100% pure essential oils to nourish and protect the skin.

It's no secret that I love essential oils - I usually walk around smelling like a cloud of lavender and peppermint essential oil! I've been using oils for the past 6+ years to swap out toxic products - everything from cleaners, to air fresheners, sleep support, headache relief, immune support... and more. I have seen so many benefits to using essential oils, which is why I love sharing about them.

One of my favourite ways to use essential oils every day, is in my DIY oil serum that I use for cleansing, toning and moisturizing my skin. I have found that this simple addition into my natural skincare routine is the secret ingredient for glowing skin. I'm going to share how to make a DIY oil serum for glowing skin, but before I do let's talk a little bit about other things you can do to get glowing skin naturally!

Wear Sunscreen

Ask any skin expert what their number one tip is when it comes to skincare, and they will tell you to "always wear your sunscreen"! I have to admit, I was really bad at this when I was younger... but these days SPF is always part of my skincare routine. I opt for a natural sunscreen that is free from oxybenzone, formaldehyde, and nano particles.

My favourite brand of natural sunscreen is called Coola, and you can get it at Well.ca. This is not an affiliate link, but you can use my code NOURISHMINT for $10 off your first order of $40 or more at Well! I love the Coola Face Sunscreen, and the Body Sunscreen Spray.

Hydrate

Hydrating with adequate water is so important for helping with detoxification, liver health, digestive health, and overall promoting clear and healthy skin.

Do you know how much water you should be drinking in a day? Take your body weight in pounds (lbs), and divide it by 2. That number is how many ounces of water you should aim to drink in a day! If you have trouble getting enough water, try flavouring your water with some fresh lemon juice, or adding a scoop of flavoured collagen (which also promotes healthy skin)!

Remove Toxins

I'm looking at YOU, toxic makeup! The skin is the largest organ of your body, and it absorbs many substances that it comes in contact with. From scented dryer sheets, to laundry detergent, plug-in and spray air fresheners, to deodorant, antiperspirant, and makeup - we are exposed to many chemicals everyday. Toxic overload in the body over time can cause many underlying issues and irritation to the skin. When I ditched toxic conventional makeup and switched to natural alternatives, I noticed such a big difference in my skin - no more dryness, irritation, or sensitivity! Slowly making the transition over to natural makeup and personal care products will help you on your journey too getting glowing skin naturally.

Nutrition for Skin Health

Let's talk about whole food ingredients and nutrition that can support radiant, glowing skin!

• Vitamin C - is essential for the production of collagen! Collagen is a protein that is found in your hair, skin and nails - and gives your skin it's elasticity and youthful look. Include Vitamin C rich foods such as red bell peppers, oranges, spinach, strawberries, broccoli, kiwi, papaya, tomatoes and kale to help boost collagen production. Read more about the health benefits of collagen on this blog post! Vitamin C is also an antioxidant that is used to fight free radical damage and slow down aging.

• Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to prevent acne and reduce inflammation, and have myriad of other benefits including regulating oil production and slowing aging. The form of Omega-3 fatty acids that the body uses most readily, are EPA and DHA - long chain fatty acids. Other omega-3 sources including ALA and ETA, which are found in plant based foods (chia seeds, flax seeds, leafy greens, walnuts). Short chain fatty acids such as ALA and ETA but must be converted in the body to EPA and DHA before they can be efficiently used. Only a very small percentage of ALA is converted into EPA and DHA - making this an inefficient source of omega-3. In addition, some individuals have the ability to convert short-chain fatty acids into long-chain fatty acids, but not everyone has the same ability to make this conversion. Your best bet to get sufficient amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, is to include wild caught salmon, cod, sardines, anchovies, and egg yolks in your diet - or supplement with a high quality fish oil that is rich in EPA and DHA.

• Astaxanthin - An antioxidant found in fish such as wild salmon and marine algae. Astaxanthin helps to protect our cells from oxidative stress, and is one of the most powerful antioxidants found in nature. Astaxanthin also helps to protect us from UV damage, calms inflammation from eczema, and is amazing for calming sensitive skin and redness. Get glowing skin naturally by adding Astaxanthin rich foods to your diet every week! For a vegan source of astaxanthin, look for supplements derived from freshwater microalgae called Haematococcus Pluvialis. Listen to this episode of the Genius Life Podcast with Dr. William Sears to learn more about astaxanthin and all of the benefits it provides for the skin, eyes and brain.

• Beta Carotene - Get glowing skin naturally by adding beta carotene rich foods to your diet! Beta carotene is provitamin A, and can be converted to Vitamin A in the body. Beta carotene has a bright red / orange pigment, and is found in sweet potato, carrots, squash, kale, mango, papaya and apricots. This phytonutrient helps to fight free radical damage caused by UV exposure. Eating a diet high in beta carotene rich foods can truly give the skin a warm, glow-y colour!

DIY Oil Serum for Glowing Skin

• Fill a 100 ml bottle nearly to the top with jojoba oil, or your choice of carrier oil. Check out my Guide to Carrier Oils here.
• 20 drops lavender essential oil
• 15 drops frankincense essential oil
• 10 drop carrot seed essential oil
• 1 - 2 drops blue tansy essential oil
• Gently shake to blend and use on your face and body daily

This blend replaces other facial moisturizers for me, and I also use it to cleanse my face. To do this: wet your face with a warm cloth, then massage the oil into your skin. Rinse with a cloth, and after your skin is dry, apply it again as a moisturizer! The oils will remove your makeup just as well as a store-bought makeup remover.

The oil will help your skin retain the water and keep your skin hydrated – giving you that radiant and luminous glow! Read on to learn more about the benefits of these essential oils, and how they are going to help you get glowing skin naturally.

Benefits and Uses of Carrot Seed Essential Oil

Carrot Seed essential oil is distilled from the seeds of wild carrot - Daucus carota sativa, which is commonly known as  Queen Anne's Lace. You may have seen this delicate white flower growing in fields or even on the roadside.

• Moisturizes the skin - try infusing your sunscreen with 1-2 drops.
• Can be used to experience relief from eczema and dermatitis.
• Soothe irritated skin after being in the sun - add a drop to aloe vera gel.
• Soothing for the skin and scalp - combine with honey, oatmeal and almond oil and gently massage into hair for relief of an itchy scalp.
• Can be used to help reduce the symptoms of acne or boils.
• Balancing for oily skin.

Carrot seed essential oil has a rich, woodsy aroma which I quite like. However, some may want to neutralize or "tone down" the scent. You can do this by adding a few drops of citrus oil such as as orange, tangerine, or lemon to and blend with carrot seed essential oil.

Benefits and Uses of Blue Tansy Essential Oil

Blue Tansy essential oil is harvested from tiny yellow flowers of Tanacetum annuum - a flower in the chamomile family. The naturally occurring constituent chamazulene is what gives blue tansy it's vibrant blue colour!

• Enhance your favourite moisturizer by adding Blue Tansy and applying it topically to help soothe and moisturize the skin.
• Helps to soothe and moisturize the skin.
• Reduces redness and irritation.

A little bit goes a long way - so you only need 1-2 drops of this potent essential oil. It is on the pricier side, so I highly recommend saving up your Essential Rewards points from Young Living to score a bottle of this for free! That's what I did, and it's lasted me a very long time.

To learn more about essential oils, check out my oils class here, and learn all about why essential oils are safe and effective here. I hope you enjoyed these tips on how to get glowing skin naturally. Be sure to follow me @nourishmintkitchen on Instagram for more daily essential oils tips, inspiration and healthy food!