My FAVORITE Facial Oil
Okay so let’s do the math on how I decided this product was my absolute favorite facial oil…I have been an esthetician for 13 years, a skincare/beauty enthusiast for almost 2 decades, and I’ve been on this earth for 33 years. That’s quite a bit of time for me to shop for, test, and try ALL of the facial oils. I’ve come to the decision that the ‘nourishing serum’ is truly my favorite facial oil. This product is a part of my personal daily skincare routine and also something that I use during every facial at my skin care studio. Over the past few years the nourishing serum has become scrub me’s best-selling product, so I think it deserves a highlight on the blog 🥰.
The nourishing serum recipe:
When I first created the nourishing serum I wanted it to be an item that you could put on after cleansing, toners, and serum that would provide healing and skin-softening nourishment PLUS anti-aging properties. When I create a recipe for a new skincare item I like to pick ingredients that have a purpose for the skin and I also try to keep the list of ingredients minimal. 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. Jojoba oil is one of my favorite oils for the face because it is both non-comedogenic and mimics skin’s natural oils. So I chose jojoba as the main ingredient. After trying so many different facial oil products I decided that grape seed oil was a MUST for a facial oil. Grape seed has antioxidant, anti-aging, and skin-protecting properties, I also love the texture and feel of this oil. I also decided to add argan oil to this blend. 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. Lastly, I added carrot seed essential oil and Bulgarian lavender because of their healing and anti-aging benefits. Carrot 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 adds a light floral aroma; together it creates a wonderful and unique smell! After much 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 feel dry, tight, and irritated. you might also have 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. This is where the nourishing serum comes in
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.
scrub me secret: the lavender essential oil in this facial oil can aid in relaxation and help you sleep more soundly. Another benefit of using it in the evening.
Massage oil (face or body):
This is the perfect facial oil for gua sha and other face massage. The nourishing serum provides the right amount of slip for massage and gives your skin extra benefits from the antioxidants and nutrients. The nourishing serum can also be used for massage on the body, let your skin soak it in post-massage. I’ve found that it’s helpful for reducing the small breakouts I sometimes get on my body.
Oil cleanser:
Using 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 facial oil is a much better way to take off 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 barrier.
Hair oil:
I got this idea from a friend 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 little to the ends of your hair and brush it out. 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 or castor oil to give yourself a scalp massage with your fingertips in the evening before bed every night.
This is a facial oil made by a skincare lover for all my other skincare lovers 🧡