Go Ahead, Rub It In: Anti-Aging Recipes That Work

Key Points

• Trying an anti-aging recipe is perfect for people who want more control over what they put on their skin.

• Beginners should start with an oil-based DIY anti-aging recipe because it is simple and effective.

• The term natural isn’t regulated in the beauty industry, making DIY recipes even more appealing.

• Use natural ingredients such as carrier oils to create DIY serums that have great anti-aging benefits.

There’s something special about making something yourself. Think about the sweet smell of grandma’s freshly baked apple pie or the delightful taste of homemade buttermilk pancakes. Things made from scratch usually outrank the same store-bought product any day. Homemade products provide warmth and a sense of love that can’t be replicated in mass-produced or commercially sold items. This connection to the home crafted is instinctive, so it makes perfect sense that you might be curious about making a homemade anti-aging recipe.

What people refer to as home remedies have been around since ancient times. It’s not like Cleopatra could have walked into a Sephora and asked for the best anti-aging serum. Thousands of years ago they used the resources around them in their anti-aging recipes.

These ancient homemade formulas are still relevant in 2023. Read on to learn about natural anti-aging recipes and ingredients and anti-aging tips that ward off wrinkles to keep you looking your best.

Is DIY Skincare for You?

Not sure if you’re the DIY skincare type? Below are three reasons making your own skincare might be appealing to you.

1. You’re conscious of what you put in your body and want more control over what you put on your body.

2. You like saving money.

3. DIY is already your thing, and you’ve been looking for a new project to try.

This article touches on two at-home solutions people use most: home remedies and DIY recipes. Here the focus is on remedies and natural ingredients specifically for anti-aging, but know that this is just a taste of some of the DIY skincare possibilities available.

What Is Considered Natural Skincare?

Natural skincare means that the product is made with ingredients that are minimally processed. Some people gravitate to natural skincare to avoid potentially harmful synthetic ingredients. Others might choose it because of allergies or skin sensitivities.

Many skincare products claim to be natural, but because the term is unregulated in the beauty and personal care industry, it means different things depending on the company. Making products yourself eliminates any confusion or ambiguity, allowing you to have complete confidence you are using all-natural ingredients.

When looking into home remedies online, one thing you’ll see repeatedly mentioned is that there isn’t sufficient scientific evidence to support the claims of these remedies. One reason for the insufficient data is the lack of experiments conducted on them. Because these remedies are created at home and not in a lab, there doesn’t seem to be an outpour of interest by scientists to test their validity.

Home remedies get their credibility by word of mouth. They are kept alive and passed along as people share their positive experiences with their friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers.

Ingredient Lists

Ingredients on products are most often listed using the International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient (INCI) name. INCI names are standard for cosmetic ingredient lists, especially those sold worldwide. The trade name or common name is also included on the ingredient list in parentheses when applicable.

The Personal Care Product Council, an influential trade association, warns “just because an ingredient has an INCI name does not mean that the ingredient has been approved for cosmetics. The assignment of an INCI name to an ingredient does not imply that the ingredient is safe…” Many brands take safety seriously, but consumers are ultimately responsible for their own well-being.

Ingredient lists are also not very straightforward and are often difficult for consumers to understand. Even the ingredient list for a company like Native, known for being transparent and using simple ingredients, reads like a scientific document. On their website, Native provides a breakdown of common names and specific functions for all the ingredients they use in each product.

This is the ingredient list for their Moisturizing Facial Serum: Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut), Fruit Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, 3-O Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Alcohol.

Health advocates advise against eating highly processed foods with unrecognizable ingredients, yet when it comes to skincare, most of the ingredients are unpronounceable INCI names that might not mean anything to you. Knowing which ingredients are natural, synthetic, or potentially harmful is much more difficult to do with skincare.

Beginner-Friendly DIY Products

Beginner-level DIY skincare often consists of oil-based ingredients that contain no water. These are suitable for anyone just getting started. Because they are a low risk for microbial contamination, preservatives aren’t necessary. Always use clean dry hands when using an oil-based product so you don’t contaminate your DIY skincare product.

Common oil-based ingredients used in DIY recipes, especially ones for anti-aging, are carrier oils (vegetable oils), essential oils, and butters such as shea or cocoa butter. Common products made with these are serums, balms (including lip balm), and cleansing oils.

Recipes with water or water-based ingredients are more complex. In her book, A to Z of Natural Cosmetic Formulation, author Gail Francombe explains that “water-based products are prone to microbial growth/contamination; therefore, it is necessary to add a broad-spectrum preservative to ensure their safety and shelf-life.” However, preservatives add additional ingredients and extra steps making the recipe more complex.

The article "Checklist: How to Make Sure the Skincare Products You Make are Safe and Stable" is a great resource for learning more about making safe skincare products yourself.

Preservatives

Preservatives have been villainized over the last several years, but they are needed even in products made at home. Some synthetic preservatives are suspected to be carcinogenic. The solution is the shift towards natural preservatives in the clean beauty space.

While you might avoid using preservatives for your anhydrous (oil only) DIY recipes, most products sold in the store have a preservative in their products even if it's water-free because companies want to increase the efficacy and safety of their products. They must sell you a safe product, so they create formulas that stay safe no matter how the consumer uses it.

Recipes Versus Formulas

Recipes for skincare products like an anti-aging serum take two forms. The first form shows ingredient measurements using tablespoons and teaspoons just like food recipes. That’s how you’ll find most DIY skincare recipes online. These measure the ingredients by volume.

Using this form of a recipe makes DIY anti-aging recipes accessible because you’re able to create them with measuring spoons you already have and don’t need additional equipment like scales, weighing trays, and beakers. They are also great for beginners.

The second form is often referred to as a formula or formulation. It measures ingredients by weight, not volume. This is how skincare products sold by skincare companies are created when they’re made in a lab. The quickest way to know if you’re looking at a recipe versus a formulation is that the ingredient amounts are listed in grams.

Best Anti-Aging Ingredients

At-home serums usually consist of a mix of carrier oils and essential oils. There are a lot of options for both types of oils when it comes to making your own skincare. The ones spotlighted below are the most effective at decreasing signs of aging.

Best Anti-Aging Carrier Oils

Carrier oils are also called vegetable oils or plant oils. Carrier oils contain vitamins and essential fatty acids. Many anti-aging serums currently being sold use these carrier oils:

1. Avocado oil: reduces the appearance of wrinkles and regenerates the skin

2. Evening primrose: reduces the appearance of wrinkles and regenerates the skin

3. Olive squalane: improves skin’s elasticity

4. Pomegranate: helps protect the skin from sun and free-radical damage and reduces the appearance of wrinkles

5. Rose hip oil: contains tretinoin, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and repairs damaged skin

Best Anti-Aging Essential Oils

Essential oils are fragrant, highly concentrated extracts from plants. They have many healing and regenerative properties when applied topically as well as when used in aromatherapy. Essential oils are irritating to the skin if applied in their undiluted form. These are added to carrier oils to allow for safe application to the skin.  

One way to make sure you’re not using an excessive amount of a particular essential oil in your DIY skincare is to follow the International Organization for Standards (ISO) recommended amount, which is around one percent for most product types except lip products. For lip products, a lower amount is advised.

The following is a list of common essential oils and their anti-aging benefits:

1. Frankincense: reduces the appearance of wrinkles and stimulates cell regeneration

   

   Myrrh Essential Oil

   $13.88

   by HIQILI 

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   We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

   03/08/2024 01:22 pm GMT

2. Myrrh: reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines

   

   Patchouli Oil

   $14.89 ($43.79 / Fl Oz)

   by Gya Labs 

   Buy Now on Amazon

   We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

   03/08/2024 02:38 pm GMT

3. Patchouli: reduces the appearance of wrinkles

   

   Pure Rosemary Oil

   $6.99 ($20.56 / Fl Oz)

   by Gya Labs 

   Buy Now on Amazon

   We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

   03/08/2024 04:10 pm GMT

4. Rosemary: smooths fine lines

   

   Lemon Essential Oil

   $15.19 ($3.80 / Fl Oz)

   by MAJESTIC PURE

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   03/08/2024 04:13 pm GMT

5. Lemon:  helps prevent sun damage and reduce the appearance of wrinkles

Do It Yourself: Anti-Aging Serum Recipe

Below is an easy beginner-friendly recipe. This serum recipe is listed as a formulation to ensure the essential oil amount is within the ISO recommended range. You need a scale that measures as low as half a gram. You can easily find one online.

These serum ingredients are available online or at a local health store. Before purchasing, double-check the ingredient label to make sure no other ingredients are added. For example, the olive squalane you purchase should only list olive squalane in its ingredient list. Paying attention to the ingredient list ensures you’re purchasing pure, natural versions of these ingredients.

You need a 50ml dropper bottle. A single dropper or a set can be purchased from a craft store or online retailer. These ingredients can also be kept in a small mason jar if you already have one and don’t want to purchase a dropper bottle.

Homemade Anti-Aging Serum Recipe

Ingredients

• 35 grams of Olive squalane

• 9 grams of Evening primrose oil

• 4.5 grams of Avocado oil

• 1 gram of vitamin E

• 0.5 gram of Frankincense Essential Oil

Instructions:

1. Weight each ingredient using a scale. It’s recommended to weigh each ingredient separately.

2. Combine all ingredients in a cup or bowl. Mix Well

3. Use a funnel to pour the mixture into the packaging. 

Yields: 50 grams

What Is the Best Home Remedy for Anti-Aging?

Nourishment for your skin is found in the kitchen, too. Start your DIY skincare journey with some easy recipes using ingredients found in most kitchens.

The Banana Face Mask

A banana mask is a one-ingredient wonder recipe that checks off all the boxes. It’s low cost, simple to prepare, and uses bananas, a fruit that is either already in most people’s households or is easy for you to pick up the next time you’re at the grocery store.

This mask has been around for a while and is an easy option for beginners. The banana paste dries on your skin, so you don’t have to worry about your face mask falling off before you make it to the couch to put your feet up.

Bananas are a very nutritious food containing potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and traces of vitamin A. The topical benefits of these nutrients could include stimulating the production of collagen, improving hydration, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and softening the skin.

This mask is recommended for banana lovers. It is not good for anyone with a banana, fruit, or latex allergy.

Banana Face Mask Recipe

Ingredients:

• ¼ ripe banana

Instructions:

1. Cut ¼ of the banana. Remove the skin and smash it with a fork or spoon until it becomes a paste.

2. Apply a thin layer of the banana paste to your clean face.

3. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. It’s normal to feel your skin tightening as the banana paste dries on your face.

4. Wash it off with warm water.

5. Apply moisturizer.

This recipe is meant for one-time use. Discard any leftover banana paste.

Alternate One Ingredient Food Mask

Interested in trying a home remedy, but not a fan of bananas? Consider trying the egg white face mask. It’s not as popular or widely praised as the banana mask, but still has positive anti-aging properties.

Egg White Face Mask Recipe

Eggs are a household staple that packs a punch of protein and is to be suitable for all skin types. They firm and tighten the skin.

Ingredient:

• 1 egg white

Instructions:

1. Crack an egg into a bowl and remove the yoke.

2. Apply a thin layer of egg white to your clean face.

3. Leave on for 15 minutes.

4. Rinse with warm water.

5. Apply moisturizer.

Do not use this mask if you have an egg allergy.

Top Clean Beauty Anti-Aging Serums

If creating your own anti-aging recipe from scratch seems daunting, look for natural or clean skincare brands. Credo is an online marketplace with a great reputation for high-quality clean products. Visit their website to check out the anti-aging products available. Below is a list of three top-rated anti-aging serums on Credobeauty.com.

Three Ships Boost 49% Rosehip Oil Serum

Rosehip oil and grape seed oils are the natural stars of this serum. It boasts high levels of provitamin A and C.

Key Ingredient:  Rosehip oil, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles.

When to use: Morning and night

Price: $35

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40

Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint has won many awards from magazines such as Allure, Glamour, and Shape. A unique trait of this serum is that it does many things at once. It’s makeup, an anti-aging serum, and sunscreen all in one.

Key Ingredients: Plant-based squalane which hydrates skin and improves elasticity and niacinamide which evens skin tone.

When to use: Day

Price: $48

BYBI Beauty 1% Bakuchiol + Olive Squalane Oil Booster

A nighttime serum that stimulates collagen and smooths the skin, BYBI claims to be gentle and non-irritating.

Key Ingredients: Bakuchiol which reduces wrinkles and firms skin — a natural alternative to retinol — and olive squalane which works to improve skin’s elasticity.

When to use: Night

Price: $10

Also, consider visiting your favorite health food store to look for natural anti-aging serums. Places like Whole Foods carry a selection of natural health and beauty products.

Getting In the Mix

When it comes to natural anti-aging recipes, you have many options. Use home remedies, mix your own serums, or look into purchasing truly clean beauty skincare. There are so many resources out there to increase your knowledge and skills.

Head into the kitchen and get hands-on with creating your own products. Nothing is more satisfying than saying “Thanks, I made it myself.”