All about the nourishing serum.
It’s scrub me’s best selling facial product, a lightweight & nutrient-rich facial oil called the ‘nourishing serum’. This product is a part of my personal daily skincare routine and also something that I use during every facial at scrub me skin care studio. I wanted to highlight this product in a blog post because it has become such a popular product with my clients/customers and has so many more uses than just a nighttime facial oil. Let’s learn a little more about the nourishing serum and how you can incorporate it into your beauty routine.
How the nourishing serum was born:
When I first created the nourishing serum I wanted it to be an item that you could put on after cleansing and toning that would provide healing and skin-softening nourishment plus anti-aging properties. When creating a new skincare item recipe I like to pick ingredients that have a purpose for the skin and I also try to keep the list of ingredients minimal to avoid skin irritation. I made an oil-based facial product instead of a water-based cream so I could avoid using some chemical-based ingredients like surfactants and preservatives. I wanted this oil to be a great product for healing, softening, and preserving a wide range of skin types. Non-pore clogging oils can be great for any skin type, even breakout-prone or congested skin. Jojoba oil is one of my favorite oils for the face because it is both non-comedogenic and mimic skin’s natural oils so I chose that as the main ingredient. Fractionated coconut oil is a less pore-clogging version of solid coconut that provides moisture (solid coconut oil is a NO for the face). I added a small amount of fractionated coconut oil to the jojoba and also mixed in argan oil. Argan oil is great because it’s non-comedogenic and it provides benefits for both acneic skin and aging skin. Acne prone skin types benefit from the linoleic acid in the argan oil and aging skin benefits from the rich antioxidants. To that mix of 3 skin loving oils, I added carrot seed essential oil because of its healing and antiaging benefits. Carrott seed essential oil on its own is very earthy and pungent-smelling so I felt it needed something with a pleasant aroma to balance it. Lavender was the perfect pair because it provides the anti-inflammatory properties the product needed and added a light floral aroma; together it creates a wonderful and unique smell! After a lot of personal testing, I got the balance of ingredients to where I wanted them and the nourishing serum was ready to go. I’ve been using it ever since.
scrub me secret: We want our skin to have a good balance of oils. If the skin is lacking in healthy oils it can either feel dry, tight and irritated or you might be having a problem with feeling overly oily a few hours after cleansing. Oily skin types that are stripped of oils via cleansers and astringents will end up feeling excess oil later in the day if you don’t nourish the skin in some type of way. Dry skin types can always benefit from a little extra antioxidant-rich oil.
Different ways to use nourishing serum:
Nighttime facial oil:
Going to bed with a fresh face treated with serums and moisturizers is the best feeling! Using the nourishing serum as the last step in your PM routine can balance, heal, and rejuvenate your skin. Dry and aging skin types will benefit from a layer of nourishing serum applied over their nighttime face lotion to help seal in the moisturizers from the lotion and nutrients from any other serums used. Congested and acneic skin types will benefit from a light layer of nourishing serum over their spot treatments or acne products. Cleanse and tone before applying these other products.
scrub me secret: the lavender essential oil in this facial oil will aid in relaxation and help you sleep more soundly. Another benefit of using it in the evening.
Massage oil (face or body):
Facial massage is an obsession of mine; I incorporate it into most of my facials at the skin care studio and make it a part of my at-home facial routine. The nourishing serum provides the perfect amount of slip for massage and will be sure to add to the benefits of the massage vs. clog pores or irritate the skin as a normal massage lotion would. The nourishing serum can also be used for massage on the body, let your skin soak it in post-massage.
scrub me secret: facial massage is extremely beneficial when it comes to antiaging and treating puffiness in the face. For radiant, youthful, healthy-looking skin I suggest regular facial massage. My blog posts “let’s all try facial gua sha”, “our ways of fighting aging”, “why I’m into buccal face massage”, and “the almighty power of massage” all talk about face massage.
Oil cleanser:
Using a facial oil as a pre-cleanse or makeup remover is one of my favorite beauty tricks. Applying a couple of pumps of nourishing serum to the face and manipulating it around like you would a cleanser helps break down debris like makeup, mascara, excess oils, and dirt. You can even rub this right over your eyes without irritation. After rubbing the nourishing serum around for a minute wipe off your face with a cotton pad, cloth, or tissue. Your skin has now been pre-cleansed properly and is ready for your facial soap.
scrub me secret: removing makeup with a facial oil is a much better way to take of makeup vs. using a makeup wipe. makeup wipes include skin-irritating fragrances and alcohols as well as cause stress to the delicate facial skin. facial oil is non-irritating and preserves the skin’s health.
Hair oil:
I got this idea from a client of mine! She said she uses the nourishing serum everywhere, even in her hair and I thought what a fabulous idea. Argan oil is known to be a great ingredient for hair and the fractionated coconut oil and jojoba provide moisture and nutrients. This makes a great hair treatment that softens hair and repairs follicles. Scrunch or brush a small amount into dry hair to add some shine or apply a larger amount of nourishing serum to damp hair and let it sit in 1+ hours. Wash and condition hair when you’re ready to remove the oil. Enjoy soft and shiny hair!
scrub me secret: massaging your scalp with firm pressure for about a minute once a day helps with hair growth. For longer, stronger hair use a small amount of nourishing serum to give yourself a scalp massage with your fingertips in the evening before bed every night.
After I finish this blog post I’m actually off to make more nourishing serums! All scrub me skincare is made in small batches to ensure freshness. Making facial and body care that helps your skin glow is my favorite thing! To try the nourishing serum, make it a part of your daily skincare routine, or restock on more click here.