As I am approaching my big 3-0 birthday, I am noticing some signs of aging. My metabolism is slowing a bit, I am finding a few grey hairs, and I am noticing little lines around my eyes. I know that aging is a natural part of life, but that doesn’t mean I can’t try to keep my skin looking youthful, for as long as possible.
My daily skincare regimen consists of washing my face using the Oil Cleansing Method, exfoliating once a week, and applying a homemade facial mask once a week. I use olive oil or coconut oil as a moisturizer, due to my habitually dry skin.
One thing that I have been a bit negligent on is using a homemade eye cream. So I figured it was time to turn a new leaf, and make a homemade eye cream to help lighten up, tighten and rejuvenate the skin around my eyes.
Table of Contents
Homemade Eye Cream
Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp vitamin e oil
- 1 tbsp primrose oil
- 3-5 drops helichrysum, geranium, frankincense, carrot seed, rose, lavender, or German chamomile essential oil
Bring 2″ of water in a small saucepan to a boil. Add coconut oil, vitamin e oil and primrose oil to a clean mason jar.
Place mason jar in water (effectively creating a double boiler method) and warm until the oils are melted. Remove from heat and add in essential oils of choice. Pour into small, clean container to store.
The oil will stay at a liquid state until it has cooled below 76 degrees, but you can speed along the process by placing it in the refrigerator.
Apply around the eye in the evenings, being careful to avoid getting the homemade eye cream into the eye.
*I recommend frankincense, lavender, lemon or ylang ylang essential oils.
Note that the main ingredient is coconut oil, and if you have ever used coconut oil, you know it has a relatively low melting temperature. If you live a warm climate, you can keep your homemade eye cream in the refrigerator to keep it solid. Otherwise, refrigeration is not necessary.
Why does it work?
Coconut oil is all natural, and provides rich moisture to the skin, and has been rumored to strengthen underlying tissue. Vitamin E oil is packed with antioxidants that helps to protect and repair skin (source). Those same antioxidants help neutralize free radicals that can damage your skin, cause fine lines and dryness. (source) Primrose oil has long been known for its anti-aging qualities.
Before using essential oils, make sure you understand proper handling of each, and note that most essential oils should not be used on skin undiluted.
Homemade Eye Cream
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp vitamin E oil
- 1 tbsp primrose oil
- 3 - 5 drops essential oil Helichrysum, gernaium, or frankincense
Instructions
-
Bring 2" of water in a small saucepan to a boil. Add coconut oil, vitamin e oil and primrose oil to a clean mason jar.
-
Place mason jar in water (effectively creating a double boiler method) and warm until the oils are melted. Remove from heat and add in essential oils of choice. Pour into small, clean container to store.
hi, my mum have the most sensitive skin like no others, im trying to make her face cream/eye cream with frankincense and lavender, which carrier oil should i use for her? Shes almost 60, or what advice would u give me?
Thank you sooo sooo much!
Hello – sorry to hear about sensitive skin issues! It’s hard to say, since people have allergies to different types of products, but Sweet Almond Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil and Apricot Oil are usually best for sensitive skin. Hope that helps!
Hi Andrea! Does it need to be refrigerated? For how many months can I use it?
Hi Alex,
I do not refrigerate mine, but it is certainly okay to do so, and may extend the life. Additionally, this is made up largely of coconut oil, so if you live in a warmer climate, it can turn into a liquid — which would be another benefit to storing it in the fridge.
If I don’t use mine after 6 months, I’ll discard it.
I always was concerned in this topic and still am, appreciate it for posting.
Hi! I have recently developed rosacea which leaves my skin, itchy, blotchy, dry & flaky. I found this recipe while looking for a natural moisturiser. I started using the recipe with lavender as the essential oil of choice but decided to use it on my whole face rather than just as an eye cream. It’s fantastic! I’ve found it to be very soothing and it has reduced the skin dryness, flakiness and itching. I’ve passed on the recipe to others who are also struggling with rosacea. Just wanted to say a big thank you!
I am so glad it helped, and appreciate the feedback Julie! Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Andrea,
I would looove to try this, but my question is about the coconut oil. Can i use the virgin coconut oil? or any kinds of coconut oil that I can just simply grab in local store?
Thanks,
Hey Jem – Yes, you can use any kind of pure coconut oil in this recipe. Hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Hi Andrea! Just wondering if you could substitute the primrose oil for either rose hip or meadowfoam oil?
Hi Tobey – I haven’t personally made it with those oils, but I think either of those would work well in this recipe. If you try it out with the substitute, please let me know how you like it 🙂
Hey Andrea, this is an old post but I’m allergic to Coconut oil, I like olive oil but it’s obviously thicker. What other alternatives is there, or maybe the primrose oil and vitamin E oil can dilute the olive oil
With that said, olive oil is great on my skin.
Hi Vanessa,
Hmm… that is a tough one! If I couldn’t use coconut oil, I might try to sub in shea butter or cocoa butter, to make it solid. I’ll have to tweak my recipe next time I make it and see how it turns out — I’ll be sure to let you know!
Andrea
Hi ,
about the eye cream, can I omit vitamin E ? Thus, I will only mix evening primrose oil with coconut oil.
Hi Botanica,
Yes, you can omit the Vitamin E oil. Let me know how you like it!
Andrea
just want to clarify the essential oils… you said 3-5 drops and then listed frankincense, lavender, lemon, or ylang ylang as essential oil options for this recipe… so does that mean 3-5 drops of each oil so 12-20 drops total? or 3-5 drops total? so if you decide to use all four oils, then basically just one drop of each… Thanks for your help!
Hi Lindsey,
Good question! A safe 1% dilution ratio would allow for around 8 or 9 drops of essential oil, so if you want to add more than one essential oil, I would keep the total amount of drops to 9.
Enjoy!
Andrea
Do you dilute your essential oils before putting them into your mixture?
I read that they can be really harmful if not diluted when they come into contact with the skin
If you do dilute them – how do you do it and what carrier do you use?
Cant wait to try this!!
Hi Hilary,
Yes, you are absolutely right. Essential oils should always be diluted before using them directly on the skin. By adding the essential oils to the coconut oil, primrose oil and vitamin e oil, you are diluting it (those oils act as a carrier oil, if you will).
I like to keep my facial products around a 1 – 2% dilution ratio. Since this recipe calls for 3 tablespoons (approx 45ml) of coconut oil and primrose oil, a 1% dilution would allow for around 8 or 9 drops of essential oil. A 2% dilution would be around 16 drops, so the ratio here should be safe. (Here’s a good site on dilutions: http://www.learningabouteos.com/index.php/2013/08/07/properly-diluting-essential-oils/)
Hope you enjoy the eye cream!
Andrea
Elemi essential oil is great along with frankincense, add some lavender as well to the eye cream and you have an moisturizer all in one.
The Elemi oil supports collegian,firms skin, promotes cell turnover and normalizes skin oil. Frankincense is anti wrinkle and lavender is good for everything. I usually lay a clean hot cloth on my face and let it soak in about 30 seconds or so. I don’t rub it off ,I just warm my face with a wet cloth
Hi! I’m wondering if there is anything I can use instead of primrose oil?
Thanks,
Danielle
I am wondering the same since primrose oil needs to be refrigerated.
I’m definitely making it tonight, thanks Andrea 🙂
Can i use Vitamine E oil instead of capsules?
Yep!
This is cool. Have you had any negative effects when it comes into contact with your eyes?
Once again, I noticed you used coconut oil. Seems like that is a go to for you.
Thanks for sharing!
I am always careful to avoid getting any products in my eye, so I haven’t experienced any negative effects. It’s always important to be diligent to keep anything (natural or commercial) out of the eyes 🙂
Yes, we are huge fans of coconut oil in this house! I keep a stockpile, lol.
Thank you for the recipe. I was thinking about adding some beeswax to the mixture in order to solidify it since I think it gets too hard in the refrigerator. Do you think that would work?
Hi Ayten,
Yes, you can certainly add some beeswax to give the cream more density and creaminess. Beeswax has great benefits for the skin. Let me know how it works for you!
Hi Andrea
As a guy will these homemade creams and skin cares be as effective compared to females,
Warm Regards
Preston
Preston – yes, absolutely!
I am looking for a good home made recipe for a moisturiser for dry aging skin, can you help, regards hazel.
Hi Hazel,
I typically use olive oil as a moisturizer, but I know that doesn’t work for everyone.
Here is a great article on different oils that you can combine for a facial moisturizer, along with recommendations for each skin type:
http://www.crunchybetty.com/simple-homemade-3-ingredient-facial-oil-moisturizer-customize-it-for-your-own-gorgeous-skin
There are also incredibly talented people on Etsy who sell handcrafted moisturizer, with good wholesome ingredients, for a good price.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/117843696/wildly-clean-organic-facial-moisturizer?ref=sr_gallery_4&ga_search_query=facial+moisturizer&ga_ship_to=US&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery
Plenty of water, rest and a healthy diet can also help provide endless benefits for the skin. I hope that helps!
Thanks for sharing these wonderful ingredients. I ran out of my eye cream and didn’t feel like purchasing another one because it had no effect. When I made this homemade cream with frankincense and I felt happy and a bit healthier knowing what I was putting around my eye. I also put some on my forehead too and the fine lines and slowly fading away 🙂
So glad it is working for you, Ally! Frankinense is definitely one of my favorite EOs, and is great for wrinkles 🙂
I followed this recipe to a T but the eye cream will not solidify 🙁 I added extra coconut oil to see if that would do the job and it didn’t. Wonder where I went wrong. I used evening primrose oil from capsules, is that ok?
Hi Amber,
What type of climate do you live in? Coconut oil is liquid at 76 degrees, so warm temperatures could be your culprit. I would recommend storing it in the refrigerator when you’re not using it, and that should help solidify the mixture. Let me know if that works for you.
And yes, the capsules are fine, that is what I used, as well.
Hi, I am new to your site. Could you clarify what you mean by 2″? I am based in the UK and for me that means 2 inches. Do not want to get the measurements wrong in case it means something else. I love the simplicity of this recipe. Is it best to sterilise the container too? Thank you
Hi Saffy,
It means 2 inches, or just a small amount of water in the bottom, so it doesn’t boil into the bowl or mason jar, but it doesn’t evaporate as it is melting. If you’re using a small pot, it shouldn’t be more than 2 cups of water.