Infusing herbs and flowers into oils is a DIY beauty secret that’s simple yet powerful. If you already make your own homemade skin care, then you know the benefits of using real, whole ingredients to make moisturizing and nourishing skin care that works.
Creating your own infused oil at home couldn’t be easier, and it adds nutrient-rich botanicals typically found in high-end skincare products to your favorite carrier oils.
How do you use infused oils? Simply mix them with your body butter, balm and recipes. You can also use them directly on the skin as a body, face or massage oil.
3 Easy DIY Body and Face Oils
I have developed three recipes using some of my favorite dried flowers and herbs that I have used in skin care products over the years. I love using them because they are gentle and effective. The three recipes are:
- Dynamic Peppermint Body Oil
- Calming Calendula Body Oil
- Refreshing lavender facial oil
Here is some more information about the ingredients in them:
Herbs and flowers
Mint: This widely loved herb is used in culinary and cosmetic recipes. It’s the familiar flavor of toothpaste, mouthwash, peppermint, bubblegum and more. It has astringent, cooling, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and beneficial properties. In the body oil recipe I’ve developed, you only need a little because of the power of dried mint. After using it you will smell wonderful and your skin will feel toned and firm.
Calendula: This flower (pronounced “Ca-LEN-dyu-la”), also known as pot marigold, is a member of the daisy family. It’s super soft and protective, so much so that it’s featured in many baby products. Calendula has a natural antihistamine (soothes the skin) and is full of antioxidants. In addition, it is moisturizing and has firming properties on the skin. If I had to pick one flower that really does it all, Calendula would be it.
Lavender: The antiseptic, astringent and anti-inflammatory properties of this flower make it an excellent choice for a facial toner. Lavender is great for topical use on the skin as it is also known to help wounds heal quickly. And of course, it balances your skin’s moisture levels to soothe and rejuvenate your skin.
Oil paintings
Almond oil: Pressed from the almonds we love to eat, almond oil is beneficial for all skin types. It doesn’t clog pores and the high levels of vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids help reduce discoloration and allow moisture to penetrate deep into the skin. If you are looking for a great oil for all levels, this is it.
Apricot Oil: it’s my personal favorite. Pressed from the pits of the apricot fruit, it is a fine, light and moisturizing oil. Apricot Oil does not clog pores and is especially great for mature and sensitive skin types. It makes the skin radiant by increasing circulation and strengthening the skin barrier.
Rosehip Oil: Pressed from the tiny seeds that remain after the petals are removed from roses, rosehip oil is a dry oil that has gained a reputation as somewhat of a beauty superstar. Its high vitamin A content promotes even skin tone and lightening of dark spots. It also encourages cell renewal to promote fresh-looking skin and helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
Jojoba Oil: This widely used beauty oil is a liquid wax, similar in structure to sebum, the moisturizing oil of our skin. Because of this, it helps balance our skin’s moisture levels and the high levels of vitamin E and minerals act as antioxidants to repair and soothe any stress or environmental damage our skin may have suffered during the day. It is excellent on all skin types due to its balancing properties and is non-reactive.
Herb and flower infused oil recipes
Dynamic Peppermint Body Oil
- ½ cup dried mint
- 8 oz apricot oil
Calming Calendula Body Oil
- 1 cup dried calendula
- 8 oz almond oil
Refreshing lavender facial oil
- ¼ cup dried flowers – mostly lavender, with a little calendula sprinkled in
- 1 ounce rosehip oil
- 3 oz jojoba oil
Note on essential oils: I didn’t use any in these recipes because the botanicals smell amazing on their own. But if you want to enhance the aroma of the finished product, use up to 6 drops of EOs per 1 ounce of finished oil product.
The instructions for creating each recipe above are as follows:
- Place your dried flowers in a glass jar with a lid
- Add the carrier oil to completely cover the flowers
- In a double boiler setup, place your sealed jar in a pot of water
- Simmer on low heat for 3 hours
- Allow the oil to cool
- Strain the flowers from the cold oil and the oil is ready to use
- Note: you can compost the drained flowers, they are great in the garden
The above is a quick technique to infuse your oil. Here are instructions for another more traditional way of doing it that takes a little longer.
Traditional Infusion: Place your herbs steeped in your chosen carrier oil in a glass jar with a lid. Place it in a cool and dark place for 4-8 weeks. Once done, you can strain the flowers and the oil is ready to use.
Recipe video
Your skin will feel beautiful and pampered with these recipes. You can also use them to make holiday gifts to treat your friends and family. Since nothing beats a homemade gift made with pure, rich materials, it’s sure to be loved.
I hope you enjoyed these recipes. Feel free to comment below with any questions or comments you may have.
