Essential oils are an excellent choice for those seeking an anti-aging treatment that truly works, is affordable and smells good. While there are a lot of under-eye creams available in the market, they are usually expensive and the artificial fragrances and chemicals in them don’t sit well with everybody.

That said, it’s very rare to find a product that covers all bases. In contrast, essential oils offer improved lymphatic drainage, astringent effects, hydration and antioxidant benefits. Plus, the mix of carrier and essential oils offers just the right blend of nutrients to improve dermal health.

In fact, essential oil blends offer multiple benefits and a complete solution for all your under-eye problems.

So, instead of telling you about just one or two under eye skin issues that you can tackle with these extracts, I am going to take things one step further and discuss all the cosmetic issues that can mar the beauty of your peepers.

My dear Olive Nation, continue reading to know how you can get your orbs to look as great as they did before age, stress and sleepless nights got to them.

Under Eye Wrinkles In A Nutshell

The skin under your eyes is not just thinner than that on the rest of your face, but also has less support from fatty tissue and muscles. So, this is the area of your face that’s quick to give an account of your excesses in life.

Be it sun exposure, frequent late nights, a drink too many, lack of moisture or simply the depletion of the minuscule fat coverage due to age/weight fluctuations, all of these can cause fine lines under the eyes.

Once the narrow and small creases make an appearance, you can be very sure that they will graduate to full blown wrinkles and usher in other under eye problems.

So, the sooner you start tending to this area, the better will be your chances of delaying if not completely preventing under eye wrinkles. Here are some essential oils that will help you to do just that.

Facts About Wrinkles

The two images below show 16 facts about wrinkles.

6 Best Essential Oils For Under Eye Wrinkles

1. Sandalwood

Sandalwood softens dry skin and can be used as a moisturizing agent to eliminate the fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

The extract also promotes the development of fresh skin cells. Loaded with sesquiterpene compounds, this oil increases blood circulation and offers a smoother look to the skin.

2. Myrrh

A powerful antioxidant that assists in repairing skin cell damage brought on by the free radicals, myrrh oil puts a stop to the breakdown of elastin and collagen in the under eye area.

This helps to enhance skin elasticity and moisture and prevents facial expression linked under eye wrinkles. So, once you have myrrh oil working on your side, you can smile away without worrying about leaving permanent creases under your peepers.

3. Neroli

This is another oil that helps to improve skin elasticity by slowing down the degradation of elastin and collagen. Above all, neroli is one of the best choices to soothe irritated and sensitive skin, which fits the description of the under eye area.

Moreover, this extract boosts cellular turnover and improves the health of existing skin cells. So it not only deals with the under eye wrinkles that you may already have but also prevents more from showing up.

4. Clary Sage

At first glance, this gently warming oil may not seem like the right choice for the under eye area. But, its tonic effect and its ability to stimulate the circulatory and lymphatic systems make it an ideal choice against under eye wrinkles.

Because clary sage oil also brings notable astringent properties to the blend, it helps to firm the under eye area, thus reducing the depth of under eye wrinkles and making them less apparent.

5. Geranium

This extract has been used as an ingredient in fine cosmetics for decades. It is one of those rare substances that works on all skin types; oily, dry as well as sensitive.

Geranium essential oil helps to increase skin elasticity and blood circulation. When used as an under eye massage oil, the extract reduces the skin sagging around the eyes by helping the dermal layers to retain moisture.

6. Tea tree

This extract is a powerful astringent that helps to tighten the skin. Furthermore, the oil helps to counter the breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers and improves the suppleness of the skin under the eyes.

Plus, its antioxidant effects help to stop free radicals before they create lasting and permanent damage.

The Best Essential Oils Recipes For Wrinkles Around The Eyes

1. Cypress Firming and Anti-Aging Serum Recipe

• 6 drops Frankincense
• 12 drops Geranium
• 9 drops Cypress
• 20ml Sweet Almond oil
• 20ml Rosehip Seed oil

Mix all ingredients in a 2-ounce glass bottle. This serum can be used at night and in the morning. Personally, I prefer to use it before I bedtime, so that I wake up with a smooth under eye area.

Like all serums, less is more in case of this blend. A drop under each eye is all you need. Remember to use your ring finger to gently massage the serum around the eyes, without getting too close to the waterline.

2. Essential Oil Eye Serum to stop the fine lines from turning into under eye wrinkles

Dilute 1 drop of lemon oil, 1 drop of rose oil and 2 drops of lavender oil in 1 tsp almond oil mixed with 1 cap of vitamin E. Apply a thin layer underneath the eyes.

This will help reduce wrinkles and prevent further skin damage in the area. Make sure that the blend doesn’t get into your eyes. In addition, do a patch test to check for allergies.

3. Best serum recipe for eliminating wrinkles under the eyes

A blend that can smooth the skin, stimulate collagen production and cell growth, choose this recipe when you are dealing with deep wrinkles that extend from under the eyes to the upper cheek area. You will need:

• 10 ml Borage oil
• 10 ml Rosehip Seed oil
• 5 ml Avocado oil
• 5 ml Wheat Germ oil
• 5 drops Carrot Seed
• 8 drops Frankincense
• 4 drops Coriander
• 3 drops Vetiver

Blend these oils and store in a glass dropper bottle, away from sunshine, heat and moisture. Apply two times a day for 10 days and after that, apply once a day. Once again, you will only need a drop under each eye and use your ring finger to massage the blend in. If applied daily over a period of 10 days, a noticeable difference can be seen in wrinkles and fine lines.

4. Under eye mask recipe that helps in cell regrowth

• 3 drops frankincense
• 1 drop tea tree
• 2 drops calendula
• 1 tablespoon orange peel powder

Method

Add enough yoghurt and whey to the orange peel powder to create a paste. Mix in the essential oils and apply evenly under the eyes, staying away from the lashes. Leave for 15 minutes and then rinse with cool water. Repeat twice a week.

Natural Product For Under Eye Wrinkles, Bags, Dark Circles & Crow’s Feet

Looking for an eye cream or eye serum for all skin types including one that suits the most sensitive skin. You have the choice of two L’orpur eye products, both of which contain a blend of essential and carrier oils.

Essential Oils For Under Eye Bags 

Under eye bags are a pesky problem that can add years to your face. No matter how perfect your features or how gorgeous your peppers, puffiness under those orbs can overshadow everything that is attractive about your mug.

The worst part is that they start of as a temporary problem but can quickly turn into a permanent issue if not tackled in time.

In fact, the notorious and dreaded under eye bulges are among the few cosmetic problems that bother men just as much as they do women. After all, not all of us can rock under eye circles and the grungy look like Benicio Del Torro.

That said, you will find store shelves teeming with products that promise to get rid of the obstinate problem. At best, these preparations offer a few hours of reprieve by diverting the blood flow away from the under-eye area.

In fact, the famed use of preparation H (yes the same preparation H that goes on the brown eye on the other end of your body) on under eye circles is based on this very principle.

However, vasoconstriction does not work for everybody and like I said, even when it does yield favorable results, it’s just a temporary fix. As opposed to this, essential oils offer a multipronged solution.

But before I discuss how these natural extracts can help to eliminate puffiness under the peepers, it is imperative to know what’s causing the bulging. The truth of the matter is that you can’t possibly defeat this enemy unless you know more about it.

What are under eye bags?

Soft puffiness under the eyes and just above the cheekbones often accompanied by dark circles are known as under eye bags. The mild swelling if allowed to persist does eventually lead to skin sagging.

Although a strictly cosmetic issue that does not and should not cause any discomfort, under eye bags can cause a lot of mental distress and can impact self-esteem due to their ungainly appearance.

What causes under eye bags?

The sagging and the puffiness are structural issues caused by the loss of muscle tone in the area. As the muscles get weak, they can no longer support the skin and the thin fatty layer below it.

This leads to the fatty layer, which normally surrounds the ocular orbit, to spill into the area under the eyes. The displaced adipose tissue creates the perfect environment for fluid accumulation, which leads to the puffy, swollen appearance. There can be scores of reasons for the loss of muscle tone and the fluid buildup. For instance:

1. Aging is one of the prime causes of under eye bags. As the skin loses its elasticity and gets little support from the weakening muscles, it sags, creating room for lymphatic fluids to buildup.
2. Fluid retention even without the loss of muscle tone can cause under eye puffiness. The fluid buildup can result from salty meals and overall unhealthy dietary choices.
3. Lack of sleep is another culprit as it irritates the muscles around the eyes, causing them to get inflamed and swell up.
4. Allergies are also responsible for under eye bags as they cause widespread inflammation and the buildup of toxins.
5. Smoking not only dehydrates the body and the skin but also pushes toxins into the system, which lead to a systemic inflammatory response. In turn, this inflammation causes the eye muscles to trap metabolic waste and appear puffy.
6. In some people, the muscle weakness and the excessive fatty deposits under the eyes are hereditary.

Additionally, sleeping face down, use of narcotics, hormonal imbalance (PCOS), stress and inflammatory dermal ailments can all cause under eye bags.

Can essential oils really help to fix under eye bags?

Essential oils not only help to tone down the inflammation at the dermal and the muscular level but also improve the movement of lymphatic fluids. Plus, the right oils can exert a vasoconstrictive effect, which helps to further reduce the buildup of fluids.

Because these oils help in the rapid removal of toxins from the area of application, they prevent or at the least minimize the risk of permanent damage to the skin cells and the collagen and elastin strands.

The antioxidant effects of these extracts help to limit the damaging effect of both internal and external free radicals on the muscles and the skin around the eyes.

Best 8 Essential Oils For Under Eye Bags

1. Frankincense

This oil is not only a soothing anti-inflammatory agent but also a powerful antioxidant that helps to tone and tighten the skin around the eyes, albeit gently.

2. Rose

The enticing aroma of this oil coupled with its polyphenolic content improves the health of the supporting structure of the skin (collagen) and enhances skin elasticity. Plus, rose oil gives the blend the ability to fight off free radicals.

3. Grapefruit

This astringent oil is chock full of antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory compounds. Plus, the limonene in it is a natural tyrosinase inhibitor that helps to keep a check on the dark circles that often come along with the under-eye bags.

4. Coffea Arabica

This oil is extracted from coffee beans and it smells utterly divine. However, it’s not the aroma of this extract but its polyphenol and caffeine content that has earned it a place in this list. Coffea Arabica oil helps to eliminate oxidative stress and tones the skin and muscles in the under eye area. The caffeine in the extract constricts the blood vessels thus limiting/preventing fluid retention.

5. Rosewood

An extremely powerful astringent and tonic agent, this is a rare oil that exerts notable anti-sagging effects on the skin. Its ability to improve structural integrity of the dermal layers, its supporting structures and the muscles is such that it can also be used on larger areas like the face and the breast to curb the effect of aging and gravity.

6. Cypress

Like other coniferous extracts, cypress essential oil boasts of astringent properties that can be used to tighten and tone sagging skin. Plus, it is a stimulatory agent that regulates lymphatic drainage and a vasoconstrictor that limits the flow of blood, (fluids) to the area. Together, these properties have a rapid deflating effect on under eye bags.

7. Peppermint

If the intense cooling of this oil is not enough to show those pesky under-eye bags their place in life, the anti-inflammatory properties will certainly send them packing. And if those properties don’t get the job done, this third one will be charm as it involves constricting the blood vessels just enough to stop the fluid flow and hence their accumulation in the under eye area.

8. Rosemary

The rosmarinic and caffeic acid in this essential oil not only help to down regulate the enzymes that destroy collagen and elastin but also have a similar effect on hyaluronidase, the enzyme that destroys the skin’s natural humectant and moisturizer. Plus, these phenols also limit the activity of tyrosinase, the enzyme that triggers the secretion of melanin.

Top 3 Essential Oil Recipes For Under Eye Bags

1. Under eye bags no more blend

• 1 cup milk (dairy/coconut/almond)
• A pinch of turmeric
• 2 tsp fine ground coffee
• 2 drops cypress
• 2 drops German chamomile
• 1 drop peppermint

Method

Warm the milk (no need to boil but should be quite hot) and add the turmeric and coffee powder to it. Mix well to ensure there are no lumps. Allow the mixture to cool and then add the essential oils to it. Pour into an ice cube tray and freeze.

To use, remove one cube and keep it in a small bowl under refrigeration through the night. This will give it enough time to go from solid to liquid state and keep it chilled; just the way you need it. In the morning, soak thin cotton pads or gauze strips in the milk/essential oil blend and place under your eyes.

Lay down with your head elevated above the level of your body, so that the liquid does not flow backwards and into your eyes. Treat the under eye area to this quick acting blend for 15 minutes then wash the area with cold water or simply dab the area with cotton wool soaked in ice-cold water. Apply any other skincare product or your makeup as you normally would.

2. The gel that makes under eye bags disappear

• ½ cup aloe vera gel (homemade or without preservatives and artificial colors and fragrances)
• 1 tsp camellia sinensis oil (this is a carrier oil and not the same as tea tree oil)
• 2 drops each frankincense, peppermint and grapefruit essential oils
• 3 drops rose geranium
• Rice/chickpea flour or arrow root powder (optional)

Method

Mix the essential oil with the carrier oil and set it aside. In a small bowl, remove the required quantity of aloe vera gel and add the oil blend to it. After this stage, there are two ways to proceed.

You can simply give the moisture a good whisk and apply under your eyes or if you have sensitive skin, you can add a few pinches of the powder ingredient, which will work as a binding agent that keeps the gel and the oils together.

Regardless of which way you go, do give the mixture about half an hour in the refrigerator so that it’s nice and cool. Do not let the gel dry on the skin. The idea is to keep the blend on those eye bags for 15 minutes.

So, apply the gel and leave it be for 5 minutes, then apply a second layer and finally go for a third layer. This way you get through the 15 minutes with 3 layers. Wash the treated area with cold water after 15 minutes and apply a serum/moisturizer.

3. Keep those under eye bags away essential oil serum

• 10 ml calendula infused oil
• 2 drops rosewood
• 4 drops Caffia Arabica
• 1 drop rose

Method

Mix the oils and store in a glass bottle with a roller ball head or one with a dropper. You will only use a drop of the blend under each eye.

Massage with your ring finger, starting at the inner corner of your eyes and working your way outward. Don’t get too close to the waterline. If using at night, soak cotton wool in rose/lavender hydrosol and dab the treated area gently with it before heading to bed.

Essential Oils For Under Eye Dark Circles

The infamous “panda eyes” can walk into your life all alone or accompany the notorious under eye bags. Again, this is not a gender specific problem and boys are just as much at risk of developing these dark shadows as girls.

Also, under eye dark circles are not an exclusively “old people” problem. You can have them regardless of your age and they can be brought on by a range of factors. Unfortunately, the skin that surrounds your peepers is too light to use any chemical bleaching product on it.

Moreover, this isn’t a strictly pigmentation related problem, so even if you were to risk the use of a skin whitening product, on its own, it would do little good.

Once again, essential oils have your back in more ways than one, when you go to war with these shadowy tormenters. But, before we discuss the use of essential oils to ward off under eye dark circles, let’s talk about what’s causing the skin in the area to take on the depressed look.

What causes under eye circles?

Those dark rings have been given a scientific a name – periorbital hyperpigmentation but the scientific community remains unaware of exactly what causes the condition. So, scores of factors are implicated in their appearance, such as:

• The skin is too thin and the blood vessels lie too close to it. So, the blue of the veins reflects through the translucent skin.
• These tiny blood vessels get easily inflamed and damaged, and leak red blood cells, much like a bruise.
• Allergies that lead to itching and inflammation cause damage to the skin and the blood vessels.
• Too much melanin secretion in the area.
• Hyperpigmentation due to swelling / edema.
• Skin laxness due to aging.
• Damage caused by UV rays exposure that leads to hyper melanin production.

In a nutshell, everything from rubbing your eyes to too much booze and from not wearing your sun glasses to your genes can give you panda eyes.

Because the condition is poorly understood, there are only a few ways to treat it.

1. Injecting fillers is one option as it offers greater support to the skin, at least temporarily. But the right mix of essential and carrier oils can also help to improve the health and integrity of the dermal layers in the area.

2. Another way is to use topical skin whitening agents to tone down the effects of too much melanin. Once again, you will find essential oils that can inhibit the activity of tyrosinase and reduce the amount of melanin.
3. Lasers are also being used to decrease vascularity and melanin. Although essential oils cannot reduce vascularity, they can strengthen the walls of the blood vessels. This helps to prevent the leakage of red blood cells.

4. Finally, you have the option of surgery that is used to eliminate darks circles caused by under eye bags and skin sagging. If used early, essential oil blends can help to limit and greatly delay skin sagging due to age and if the skin does not sag, you won’t have the eye bags that lead to under eye circles. 

The Best 4 Essential Oils For Under Eye Dark Circles

1. Lemon

Opt for steam distilled lemon oil and not the expressed version that can lead to photosensitivity.

Lemon essential oil is one of the richest sources of limonene, which is a natural inhibitor of tyrosinase. Plus, it is an excellent astringent that prevents and limits the loss of skin tone.

2. Lavender

This anti-inflammatory and antioxidant oil does not rein in the melanocytes, but it can help to control inflammation and skin damaging free radicals.

Once you tackle inflammation and oxidative stress, you prevent the degradation of the skin’s support structures, thus leading to a lower risk of skin sagging.

3. Fennel

This sweet and herbaceous smelling oil and the tiny green seeds that it’s derived from have long been used as skin whitening agents.

The bioactive compounds in the extract put a stop to tyrosinase activity, thus stopping the formation of melanin or at least slowing it down greatly. Plus, this oil exerts modest phytoestrogenic effects, which can be used to deal with under eye circles caused by hormonal imbalance and aging.

4. Vetiver

This is another calming oil that not only restores skin health but also curbs the activity of melanocytes. This again is achieved through the down regulation of tyrosinase. Furthermore, the oil helps to suppress oxidative stress and improves both skin health and thickness.

In addition to these, you can also use niaouli, sandalwood, turmeric and cassia essential oils for their anti-tyrosinase effects and their ability to stem the damage caused by free radicals.  

The Top Essential Oil Recipes For Under Eye Dark Circles

1. The under eye mask that banishes dark circles

• 2 tbsp yoghurt (unflavored)
• ½ tsp licorice root powder
• 2 drops vetiver
• 1 drop lemon

Method

This mask is best applied at night and remember to start on a clean face. Remove the yoghurt into a small bowl and whisk with a spoon till you get a creamy consistency. Add the licorice powder to it and mix well to make a lump-free mixture.

Finally, stir in the essential oils. Apply in a thick layer under the eyes; it’s ok if you get some on your cheeks.

Let the mask work its magic on those dreaded dark rings for 15 minutes. Then, wash off with cold/tepid water (not hot water). Don’t rub the skin when trying to get the mask off. Follow with a light moisturizer.

2. Complete under eye care blend to prevent and treat dark circles

• 5 ml Pomegranate Seed oil
• 5 ml Rosehip Seed oil
• 1 drop each fennel, turmeric and lavender essential oils
• Dip an inch of a toothpick in cassia essential oil and stir it in the blend. Repeat with a fresh toothpick, this time with clove essential oil.

Method

Mix the oils as recommended and store in a dark glass bottle. Apply the blend 1-2 times a day. If you intend to use it during the day, apply it below your makeup/moisturizer/sunscreen. 

How To Use Jojoba Oil For Dark Circles

What is known as jojoba oil is actually a liquid plant ester or wax. Since it is not in a solid state like other plant waxes or even butters and has a chemical structure that is strikingly close to that of sebum, this oil can do a lot for the health of your skin.

For starters, its likeness to sebum means that the skin is more accepting of this oil and allows it to get through the stratum corneum without a fuss. Now, this is the very first barrier faced by skincare products and one that often manages to keep out the active ingredients.

Because it protects the skin from oxidative stress and inflammation, jojoba oil helps to maintain and even improve the structural integrity of the dermal layers and the connective tissue.

Plus, the emollient properties of the oil protect the skin from external insults. The net effect is healthier and thicker skin in the under eye area, which stops the blood vessels from putting up their shadowy display.

Jojoba oil recipes for under eye circles

1. Mix 3 tsp jojoba oil with 1 tsp sweet almond oil and use the blend as an eye-makeup remover. Massage gently all around the eyes and wipe off with damp cotton wool.

2. Soak two gauze strips (small enough to just cover the undereye area) in jojoba oil. Wring out the excess oil and then lay out the strips on a plate and place the plate in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, place these strips on the under eye area.

3. Mix the contents of 1 vitamin E cap with 1 tsp jojoba oil and a drop each of sandalwood and turmeric essential oils. Use as you would any under eye serum to undo the damage caused by sun exposure.

4. Combine jojoba oil with extra virgin olive oil in equal amount and massage around the eyes to deal with extreme dryness and flaking. Keep it on the skin for 45 minutes and then wipe off with cotton wool soaked in warm water (winter) or cold water (summer). 

Essential Oils For Crow’s Feet 

Touch the point at which your upper and lower eyelids meet, and you will feel a bony ridge and a tiny bit of the ocular orbit covered by very thin skin that has practically no fatty tissue to support it.

So, it would be safe to say that this is the area of the face that does not get a whole lot of help from the inside plus it is massively overworked.

Every time you blink (about 30,000 times per day), this skin gets stretched and crumpled. Is it any wonder then that most people notice the emergence of crow’s feet by the time they hit their late twenties?

In fact, the dreaded horizontal fine lines and wrinkles that start at the junction of the eyelids and grow outward are among the very first signs of skin aging among men and women.

So, here is the question that I am sure you are yearning to ask:

Can essential oils really help with a problem that seems so inevitable?

Undoubtedly, the outer corner of your eyes are areas of your face that are constantly subjected to hard labor. But, who said that you can’t supply restorative help from the outside, and this is where essential oils can come to your aid.

Remember, the skin in this area has very little collagen and elastin, which means it is the first to sag and lose elasticity. The trick is to control enzymes and factors that will cause the degradation of whatever little amount of these proteins the skin in the area has.

The right mix of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant extracts can help you to achieve this goal. Moreover, essential oils improve blood circulation to the skin, thus providing added nourishments to the dermal cells.

And if that’s not enough, the carrier oils in the blend will offer extra protection from the outside, preventing the loss of moisture and exposure to environmental free radicals.

So, without further ado, let’s talk about the oils that can help to greatly delay and notably reduce the appearance of crow’s feet.

4 Best Essential Oils For Crow’s Feet

1. Spikenard

This oil is not only the best moisturizer in the aromatic universe but what it fails to offer in terms of hydration it makes up for with its tonic effect.

Jatamansi oil is one of the foremost anti-aging treatments for wrinkles and premature skin aging in Ayurveda. The extract boasts of both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties plus it’s a skin tonic.

2. Galbanum

You may not have heard about this oil before, but it happens to be an extremely potent skin restorative agent. The oil not only helps to improve circulation to the treated areas, but also works as a detox agent that brings about the rapid purging of metabolic wastes.

It rejuvenates the skin and increases cell turnover, hence it is particularly effective against skin sagging and wrinkles.

3. Turmeric

Another anti-aging mainstay, turmeric essential oil will help to smooth out the wrinkles and hyper-pigmentation.

Plus, its ability to fight off free radicals is simply marvelous. Add to this its anti-inflammatory properties and you have through and through winner on your hands.

4. Kaffir lime

Another rare oil, this one comes from the citrus family but think of it as a combination of lime and lemon on steroids.

The astringent properties of this extract are utterly impeccable, and you get antioxidant effects to go with them. It goes without saying that even deep wrinkles don’t stand a chance in front of this oil.

In addition to these, you may also want to consider the use of sweet basil, anise and thyme essential oils.

2 Essential Oil Recipes For Crow’s Feet

1. The blend plus mask treatment

For the blend

• 10 ml avocado or argan oil
• 2 drops sandalwood
• 1 drop each of turmeric and spikenard

Mix the oils and store the blend in a small, dark colored glass bottle. Do not expose the mixture to direct sunlight, heat or moisture.

For the mask

• 1 tbsp each spirulina, matcha and pomegranate peel powder
• 2 pinch each cinnamon and turmeric powders
• 1 tsp berry powder/extract (optional)
• Yoghurt/coconut cream as required

Mix the dry ingredients and store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. For use, remove the required amount of the powder mixture with a dry spoon. Add yoghurt/coconut cream to the powder and whisk to make a thick paste.

Method

Generously coat the outer corners of your eye with the oil blend. Wait for about 10 minutes and then apply the mask on the wrinkles/crow’s feet or just above and below the point from which the fine lines and wrinkles originate. You should not get the blend or the mask into your eyes. So, keep away from the lashes and the waterline.

The idea is to create a gentle tugging effect with the mask to work the underlying musculature, while the oils moisturize the skin to prevent micro tears.

Do not smile or otherwise move your face while you have the mask on. You just have to stay put for about 10 minutes and then you can wash it off with luke warm/room temperature water.

2. Wipe away dem crow’s feet!

• 50 ml witch hazel hydrosol (this is available online and it is gentler than witch hazel extract that can be too much for the under eye skin)
• 1 tsp blend of flaxseed and rosehip seed oils (1:1)
• 2 drops each of galbanum and kafir lime essential oils

Method

Pour the witch hazel hydrosol in a glass bottle. Mix the oils in a small bowl and add this blend to the hydrosol in the bottle. Of course, the oils and the hydrosols will not mix together. So, give the bottle a good shake before each use.

All you have to do is soak two small cotton pads in the blend and place them at the outer corners of your eyes, right on top the wrinkled area.

Once again, stay away from the lashes and the water line. In fact, I would recommend that you lie down with your head propped up with a pillow underneath. Give the blend about 10 minutes to handle the wrinkles.

Then, simply discard the liquid soaked cotton pads and cover the treated area with a rich moisturizer. You can use a blend made by combining argan/avocado oil with rosehip seed oil (10 ml) and 2 drops of rose geranium and a drop of neroli essential oils.                          

Rosehip Oil For Under Eye Bags, Dark Circles And Eye Lashes

Rosehip seed has been quite the rage for a while now. Everybody from Gwyneth Paltrow to the Wives of Windsor and many a super model have attributed their flawless complexions and age-defying skin tone to this humble carrier oil.

In fact, the popularity of this oil begs the question – Is rosehip seed really all that effective or is it just another hype? To answer that question, you will need to look at both the history and the chemistry of this oil.

How did rosehip seed oil come to be?

Derived from the bright colored fruits of the dog rose plants through cold pressing, the oil was a favorite among Mayans, Ancient Egyptians and Native Indians for its wound healing and skin soothing properties.  

The active ingredients of rosehip seed oil and what they can do for your skin

As far as the active constituents go, this dry oil has the usual medley of essential fatty acids (EFA), with linoleic acid or Omega 6 taking the lead at 35%-55%.

Alpha linolenic acid, which is an Omega 3 EFA, is next in line with 16-26% of the composition and Omega 9 or oleic acid comes in last with 14%-22% of the composition.

Even if you were to exclusively consider the EFA mix of this oil, you still get a product that is fabulous for the skin. For example:

Omega 6 or linoleic acid: This EFA offers a healing and soothing touch to this oil along with potent anti-inflammatory properties. Linoleic acid helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier, thereby limiting TWL (Transepidermal Water Loss) and provides additional protection against external free radicals.

Omega 3 or alpha linolenic acid: This triglyceride is known to attenuate photo damage and photo aging by modulating the inflammatory response and the generation of free radicals in response to sun exposure.

Omega 9 or oleic acid: This EFA brings about rapid healing of micro tears and improves skin permeability.

In addition to these, rosehip seed oil also contains tocopherols or vitamin E in its various forms. This micronutrient is a potent antioxidant that helps to curb the impact of environmental stressors. Plus, it tightens and tones the skin.

But, that’s not all! Rosehip seed oil derives many of its unique therapeutic properties from the high concentration of carotenoids and phenolic acids in it.

1. Beta carotene:

This is the antioxidant that gives the oil its distinctive orange hue. It’s also a vitamin A (retinol) precursor, and we all know how effective retinol is against wrinkles.

Additionally, the oil has trace amounts of all-trans retinoic acid or tretinoin, which is another anti-aging form of vitamin A/retinol. Vitamin A is one of the few substances that have been proven to increase the rate of dermal cell regeneration.

2. Phenolic compounds:

Rosehip seed oil also contains several phenolic acids such as vanillic acid, coumaric acid, vanillin and methyl ester. All of these work in multiple ways to heal and protect the skin.

For starters, they neutralize free radicals generated on the inside and those that attack from the outside.

They also help in increasing the pace of skin healing and fortify the skin’s natural defense system. Furthermore, these compounds exert an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin.

In a nutshell, they treat existing skin damage and stop factors that can cause further damage.

To add to all of this, the lipid profile of rosehip seed oil allows it to get through the skin’s barrier more easily and rapidly than viscous oils. So, if you are whipping up a blend to deal with any problem around the eye area, this is the carrier to consider. 

Rosehip seed oil for under eye bags, dark circles and eye lashes: Easy recipes that offer superlative results!       

For gorgeous eyebrows

Mix rosehip seed oil with black seed oil in equal quantity. You will need a teaspoon of this blend.

Add a drop each of rosemary and curry leaves essential oil to the carrier mix and store the blend in a dark colored glass bottle.

To apply, soak a Q tip in the blend and run it over your eyebrows. Use the blend every day, at least once for best results.

For lush lashes

Mix rosehip seed oil and castor oil in equal quantity. Apply the blend to your eye lashes with a clean mascara brush.

For under eye bags

Add 2 drops coffee bean oil and 1 drop grapefruit oil to 10 ml rosehip seed oil. Use the blend twice a day to treat under eye bags.

For dark circles

Add a drop each of sandalwood, turmeric and vetiver essential oils to 10 ml rosehip seed oil and gently massage the blend under the eyes to treat dark circles.