Obnoxiously priced, commercial face creams are designed to separate you from your money and your brain cells. We all know the brands I’m referring to #sexyswipe. They advertise in every glossy magazine, preying on your friends, your daughter, mother and sisters.
You want to stay young? The answer is not giving hundreds of your hard-earned dollars to some marketing head-f**ck who abuses our vulnerabilities (insert Big Brand here). Nor is it wearing lamé drainpipes and a sleeve of tattoos, like something Electric Picnic heaved up. (Although I have been very tempted). The secret to ageing gracefully my friends, is owning it. Wear those wrinkles like you made them! They are there to tell twenty-year-old twits not to mess with us. So go rock them.
I’ve taken to making my own beauty products from natural, cold-pressed oils. Yup. Green beauty is trending, not because it’s non-toxic and kinder to the environment. Green beauty is trending because it works.
Check out this deep, penetrating night serum. My skin drinks it up with gratitude. No amount of crème de la whatsies can achieve the same glow I get from one week on argan oil. Yes, argan can sometimes smell like a wet barnyard animal. But you will expertly highjump this nasal challenge by adding grapefruit essential oil and the spectacularly-perfumed tamanu oil.
Grapefruit essential oil is a brilliant astringent to help seduce large pores and zits. Tamanu delivers a consignment of protective antioxidants, and is traditionally associated with improving scar tissue. We like the sound of that.
Both tamanu and argan have vertiginous amounts of vitamin E, and 0% synthetic gunk. Vitamin E is important to our ageing skin because it helps protect against the chaos that free radicals unleash. We can’t stop ageing, but we can slow it down.
And if it all sounds like too much trouble, feast yourself on any of these face oils made by hand using a more subdued form of argan oil with less barnyard vibes, and more grassy sun-kissed hills. I have an obsession with Beauty Heroes. Theirs is an exceptional service, only supporting small artisans using the best quality ingredients with absolutely no added chemicals. It feels really empowering to vote with my wallet. Closer to home, Barechic Skincare is made locally and will have your cheeks doing somersaults.
Midnight Face Serum
6 months supply
I share the task of DIY cosmetics with friends to reduce the cost. It makes sense to do a large batch of face serum, and dole them out to a group of friends. Right? Maybe your pals will do the cacao body butter (last month’s S’Indo column), or other similar treat in return? Score! Another tip is to store the oils in the freezer when they are not in use, which will substantially extend their shelf life.
This midnight oil is non-comedogenic meaning it won’t clog your pores or cause spots even if you suffer from oily skin. Argan rates as ‘0’ on the comedogenic scale. Total lovebomb.
5 drops grapefruit essential oil
2 teaspoons cold pressed tamanu oil (tamanu from moogoo costs €13)
20ml cold pressed organic argan oil (you can order this one in Ireland for €16.)
Mix the oils into a 30ml bottle dropper (available online and at pharmacies). Shake. Store in a cool place, or refrigerator alongside rosewater or other toners to assist with its application.
Taking the hell out of healthy.
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6 Comments
Brilliant as always Susan! Love argan oil – softens mouth lines & yes it works along with acceptance and walking tall & proud (60 yr young female) xoxo
Hero on! Thanks for your lovely comment. xx
Just made a batch! How much do you usually put on? Never used a night serum before. My tamanu oil is bright green so it’s turned out a pleasing potion-like colour.
Excellent! I dampen my face first with rose water (or coconut water) and add a good few drops. My skin is very dry, so I would be part of the 5% who use way more than anyone else. But a few drops will do the trick!
What is the cacao body butter recipe (last month’s S’Indo column)? What is S’Indo?
Hi Alyce, I write for The Sunday Independent in Ireland (S’Indo is the nick name!). They have copyright over my column. Many of the recipes go online, but I’m afraid this one didn’t. I will try and upload a similar one this autumn for you 😉