How To: Rich Winter Facial Serum


If you're new to the blog, you may not be aware that I am Scandinavian.

Well, I am.

My roots are a mix of Danish and Norwegian, which places me squarely in the Scandinavian category. We Nordic folks tend to both love and hate our part of the world. Our summers are gloriously light and filled with non-stop celebration of the sun and warmth. In summer, it stays light until 11:00 pm in my neck of the woods, dims briefly to twilight, then starts getting light again at 2:00 am. (seriously - how cool is that?!)

But on the other hand, there is winter.

Scandinavian Winter is as Dark as Mordor

Scandinavians endure seemingly endless months of deep dark blackness in winter. Copenhagen is pretty much pitch black by 2:00 pm when it's worst, and if it's a cloudy day (which it often is), then it doesn't get much brighter than twilight during what is mockingly referred to as 'daytime'.

That's where this serum comes in. 

Warmth, Coziness and Glow

This serum has warmth, feels luxurious, and has a hint of spiciness to it. Just sniffing it brings a warm and comforting feeling.

A couple of the ingredients are infused oils (one is pictured in this post). If you don't infuse oils, don't fret. You can use oils right out of the bottle and even exchange the oils I am using for your own favorites. I'm just showing you how I make my own winter serum.

This amount will last you all through the winter. It's 50 grams (a little more than 50 ml).

LisaLise’s Rich Winter Serum

Ingredient Grams Ounces
Sweet Almond Oil (coriander infused) 30.0 1.06
Nigella Seed Oil 10.0 0.35
Castor Oil (rose infused) 4.5 0.16
Plum Kernel Oil 4.0 0.14
Sea Buckthorn Oil 1.0 0.035
Vitamin E Antioxidant 0.5 0.018

Method

  1. Weigh and mix all ingredients in a clean container
  2. Stir to combine thoroughly
  3. Transfer to final container (dark glass is ideal)
  4. Enjoy your fabulous creation

About Vitamin E

This is not a vitamin e capsule meant for consumption but a cosmetic ingredient sold under the INCI name is mixed tocopherols or tocopherols.  Although I admittedly formulate with food, I don’t recommend using vitamin e capsules as cosmetic ingredients. There's a reason for that. The filler/carrier/base in vitamin capsules sold for consumption consists of one or more 'mystery' ingredients. I'm not a fan of working with unknowns, and since vitamin capsules don't come with an INCI list, I don't use them.


Oil Infusions and Substitutions

If you don't infuse oils (or are a little hesitant about giving them a try), then use any carrier oil you like and add 1-4 drops of essential oil to the mix. To approximate the scent of my serum, you could add 1 drop of diluted rose essential oil and 2 drops of coriander essential oil.

But you can also just leave the essential oils out and use the carrier oils listed. The nigella seed and plum kernel oil have a built-in glorious scent that is fabulous.

To Use

A few drops are all that is needed for the face and neck area. Apply after washing while the skin is still damp for optimal effect.

Do Tell

If you decide to give this serum a try, I'd love to hear your feedback - please feel free to drop a comment below and let me know what you used and how you liked it.


Psst: there's a few books about making your own infusions and extracts in the shop and if you aren't sure where to start, maybe this is for you


Comments

Shirin said…
Thank you for sharing. I think I should send my daughter to Scandinavia during winter months, she loves winter.
About the infused oil, do you use the coriander seeds or leaves to infuse the oil?
LisaLise said…
HI Shirin - There's a link in the post to the infusion of the coriander seeds if you want to take a look. Be sure and warn your daughter about the inky blackness of Scandinavian winter if she decides to visit :)
Kathy Wilcox said…
Hi, and thank you for sharing this lovely formulation! If I do not have Plum Kernel oil, can you recommend a substitute? I have dry and mature skin.
ByOly Cosmetics said…
Gorageous combination! I must make this coriander oil myself at last!
LisaLise said…
HI Kathy - I suppose you could simply use more nigella seed oil in this instance - it's a bit of a miracle oil all around so go for it!

Hi ByOly - thank you my friend - you're going to looove the coriander seed oil -- it's absolutely divine :)
I heard that Scandinavians looove liquorice, maybe that's the reason you describe the scent of nigella oils so positively ;-) I wouldn't like to have that smell on my face, LOL :-D
LisaLise said…
Hi Elaine — I know what you mean about the nigella scent — it’s one you either love or hate. I’m in the love side on that one 😃