Back in my facial days I used Dermalogica.  Speaking of green washing…..  Anyway-that’s another post but while under the disguise of being natural, they had some really creative products that I enjoyed using in my treatments.  One that I clearly remember were their additives.  They came in these small (1 ounce) tin bottles and had somewhat of an oily consistency.   This product was used by adding them into other products.  These little tins smelled heavenly and I always added them into the mask and sometimes into the moisturizer at the end.  Dermalogica’s additives were highly concentrated so you only added a couple drops. I love this concept because it allows you to customize your skin care yourself so I’ve recreated this concept with my DIY antioxidant additive.

I thought it would be a fun DIY to make for ourselves so that we can add it into masks as well as our moisturizers.  You could even add it to an oil like rosehip seed oil for a treatment massage.  Not only would this help stimulate blood flow, you would also be giving your skin a hearty serving of antioxidants!

This recipe is jam-packed full of antioxidants.  It has a lot of essential oil, including clove which is a hot oil.  You will only want to use this additive by adding it into another product.  I don’t suggest you apply this straight to your skin without testing it on a small area first.  Keep reading to see why clove is such an important ingredient in this DIY.

Ingredients:

First off, let’s discuss the benefits of the botanical extract, goji berry.  Many of you are familiar with Young Living’s famous drink, Nhinja Red.  It contains a large amount of wolf berries, also known as goji berries.  Goji berries are little powerhouses that deliver energy and support to skin cells.  Skin cell metabolism is enhanced therefore improving the health of skin.  Goji berries are very high in antioxidants.  Antioxidants are like soldiers fighting against free radicals.   Free radicals wreak havoc on the health of your skin and are caused by pollution, sun damage and unhealthy habits such as processed foods, alcohol, pharmaceutical drugs and smoking.  When used topically, goji berry can stimulate collagen and elastin production.  It is high in minerals and amino acids as well as carotenoids which help protect the skin from sun damage.   Goji berries are also very high in vitamin C which helps to brighten the skin while reducing the signs of aging.

Clove essential oil has the highest ORAC value of basically everything.  ORAC stands for-Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.  The ORAC number measures the antioxidant capacity of a food.  The ORAC value of clove is over 1,000,000 while the 2nd highest ORAC value went to myrrh which came in at 380,000.  Clove is controversial when adding it to DIY skin care-I know this but the amount I have added when mixed with another product is safe with no skin discomfort.  As you can see, it’s just too good to not use!

I added Aloe Vera Gel due to it’s ability to soothe and hydrate.  It also is high in antioxidants.  It is antibacterial and a powerful anti inflammatory.  I found THIS article from Dr. Axe very thorough.  Only use pure aloe vera.   The most pure is straight from a plant, the 2nd best is found HERE.

My essential oil blend of lavender, geranium, carrot seed, ylang ylang are beneficial for the skin as well.  You can read more about Carrot Seed Essential Oil HERE and Geranium Essential Oil HERE.

Glycerin gives the product a more spreadable consistency.  Glycerin is a humectant and helps the skin retain it’s hydration.

To be safe, I’ve added Leucidal Liquid, a natural preservative for water based products.  To be upfront, since this DIY contains such a high amount of antioxidants and antibacterial/anti fungal essential oils. we are probably safe without the preservative-especially if it is used consistently and stored in a dropper bottle.  If you’re a better safe then sorry kind of person, use the preservative.

DIY Antioxidant Additive:

• 2 drop Clove Essential Oil (find it HERE)
• 15 drops Lavender Essential Oil (find it HERE)
• 5 drops Geranium Essential Oil (find it HERE)
• 4 drops Carrot Seed Essential Oil (find it HERE)
• 2 drop Ylang Ylang Essential Oil (find it HERE) *optional*
• 1/8 tsp. Glycerin (find it HERE)
• 1 heaping tsp. Gogi Berry Extract (find it HERE)
• 1/8 tsp. Leucidal Liquid (find it HERE) *optional*
• Top off with Aloe Vera Gel (find it HERE)

Directions:

1. Using a small funnel like THIS, add each product into your glass dropper bottle.
2. Top off with aloe vera gel and secure the dropper top.
3. Shake well.

This recipe makes 1/2 ounce.  I used a dropper bottle like THIS for my additive.  You could also use an empty 15ml essential oil bottle.  The dropper would be perfect and 15 ml=1/2 ounce.

How to Use:

• Shake well before each use.
• If using with a facial oil, drop 5-8 drops of facial oil in the palm of your hand.
• Add 2-4 drops of the additive to the facial oil and mix between your palms.
• Press into the skin and allow to penetrate.
• If used in a mask, add 5-8 drops into your mask of choice and proceed as usual.
• If adding to a lotion, add 2-4 drops to a dime sized amount of cream.

You might be asking yourself, why make an additive and not just a 1 stop product? Well, since the goji berry extract is a water based ingredient and won’t mix with oil based products, I had to figure out a way to get it into our routine without adding it to a lotion where it would get lost in all the water. I could’ve added it to a toner since toner ingredients are water based but I decided that using it inconjuction with a facial oil was much more effective since it’s the last product we apply before bedtime. Goji berry extract is a powerful ingredient and worth the cleverness!

Goji Berry Extract is very affordable.  My source is pesticide free and preserved with safe paraben free preservatives.

This DIY is quite the powerhouse product.  Antioxidants are so important to our health, especially when it regards to aging.  Eating foods rich in antioxidants is an absolute must and can actually support your skin from the inside out.  Applying this product will help deliver antioxidant power straight to your skin cells as well as leave your skin feeling hydrated and soothed.

xx, Jenni

Your DIY skin care is only as good as the ingredients you use.  I have linked high quality ingredients that I personally use in all my projects.  I can not guarantee results or consistencies when other brands are used.

PIN IT!!!