a star is born..

The serum i made a few weeks ago has been flying out of the shop. Ive sold out 4 times now. I have seen noticeable differences in the tone, texture, and overall skin health of the customers who have been using it.  so , i guess right now im going to call it a success. without patting myself on the back too hard, i will say, that formula is just the perfect consistency. it soaks completely in as soon as its applied, and leaves behind a perfect canvas for whatever else you wish to use on your face, if you do. Its everything you need in a healthy general moisturizer. vitamins, fatty acids, a deep moisture forming barrier– without a surface greasy residue. - its really good stuff.. buuuuuuut…..

but if anyone knows me knows me.. they know i had more than that up my sleeve, i just needed to find the time to get back in the lab and get cracking on my personal agenda - to help my 36yr old face battle the laws of gravity, the loss of elastin, etc etc..  i do love having some expression lines…. i smile a lot, i laugh a lot, thats a good thing for the soul and says a little bit about my personality just from a first glance ;)  but for the skin?? lol…. well.. lets just say my expression lines are expressing a little more expression than i care for lately.. like, where i scrunch my nose when i laugh, and laugh a lot lines, and the i probably need to wear my glasses  more often line in my forehead.. oh hush.

Today i went to the shop on a mission, to get this next serum perfected. I mentioned the ingredients a few posts back. The super seed oils, pomegranate, black currant, meadowfoam seed.  I have some sea buckthorn on the backburner, but im going to be testing out that oil for a while before i put it in a product just yet. The others i am more familiar and comfortable with :) So, in a base of hemp, jojoba and castor, ive incorporated the previously mentioned oils. Then i added in some essentials which were carefully selected to further enhance what these oils are intended to do. the essentials ive chosen are - vetiver, orange, patchouli and lavender.

yes, it smells super yummy. formulating this one however, was going to be a little bit tricky compared to the other. pomegranate oil is pretty thick, but its also oily, really oily. black currant is very thin, and very oily….. and meadowfoam is ……….. wow. i love meadowfoam. Its really soft. its a perfect texture. not greasy, not too thick, not too thin. its just ace. If i had to pick a list of my top five fav oils for skin, meadowfoam is in that list.  i cant think of another oil out there that compares in texture and absorption like meadowfoam. in my opinion it stands alone. in a really nice place in the oil world. the softness it leaves behind is hands down the best of any oil ive messed with.   ok before i get too excited talking about it… im gonna finish where i was headed.

there are a lot of really awesome botanicals that are really beneficial to skin health. this is true. however a few key botanicals is all you really need. Picking the oils which will work together to achieve a goal is critical when making a formula. …….the right combination of the right ones will have some petty top notch results. Im trying really hard to learn how to make my blog posts shorter, but ive got so freaking much to say i really struggle with the length! i want to sit here and tell you all about all of the oils and botanicals and why ive chosen the ones i have, over some of the others out there, or why something that is super good for skin as well as what ive chosen .. isnt in here.. but then id be rambling? *innocent look*

to make it short? just because something is good for skin doesnt mean it all needs to go into the same bottle! you can over-do it. and not only that, but it leaves more room for error. Ive put hours and hours of research into choosing what i believe to be a perfect combination of oils to do everything i want a super serum to do for me. Its going to give me my vitamins, b vitamins, c, e, a ,d - its going to soften the texture of my skin, its going to hydrate and form a barrier low, and a surface barrier - both! its got the best fatty acids, omegas, yadda yadda…  its going to fight signs of aging by improving my elastin and collagen, its going to fight free radicals and microbes. Its going to give me even tone, its going to firm and tighten, while soften! its going to soothe any possible irritation, clear clogged pores, shrink pore size, help repair dna damage, sun damage, give me a natural SPF, reduce fine lines, heal scarring, shall i continue?? yes, in 10 ingredients, i have found the ability to do all of these wonderful things for my skin, in one simple step. - apply ONE DROP per side of my face with my new magic stellar elixir. hence, stelixir.

ok ok ok .. im going to stop rambling——— (cough)

as soon as i list the ingredients and why they rock!  ha.. you didnt really think i was ready to shaddup yet did you??

right .. so here are the superstars, in no particular order -  and please forgive my choppy descriptions, i just swiped them from my list of  references stored on my pc ;) and if you arent interested in the nitty gritty bits of the ingredients, then just skip to the bottom and check out the eye candy instead.

hemp seed oil:

It contains 50 - 60 % linoleic (LA) and 19% linolenic (LNA) acids, as well as antioxidants in the form of vitamin E and carotene. Phytosterols, phospholipids, as well as a number of minerals, including calcium, magnesium, sulfur, potassium and phosphorus are also present.The profile of the essential fatty acids found in it closely resembles the skin’s natural lipids, and it therefore neutralizes the effects of dehydration, and protects against a dry skin.The essential fatty acid - linoleic - found in this oil, as well as its metabolite, gamma-linolenic acid, have proven to have very beneficial therapeutic effects on the skin. These fatty acids contain glycerides, sterols and phospholipids.Fatty acids occur naturally in the skin and are helpful in protection against oxidative damage. Fatty acids can help with supplementation of the skin’s intercellular matrix.

Properly functioning, skin contains ceramides, but with age the level of ceramides decreases and the polyunsaturated fatty acids that make the ceramides flexible are replaced by less saturated fatty acids. This action, coupled to the slower metabolism of the skin, aids inwrinkle formation and skin aging. Apart from all of this, hemp also contains around 23% protein and all nine essential amino acids, as well as two sulfur-containing amino acids. Some studies have also shown that topically applied omega-6 gamma-linolenic acid and omega-6 linoleic acid, both found in good quantities in hemp seed oil, are effective in the therapeutic treatment of acne skin, since it helps in inhibiting the inflammation and thereby preventing or alleviating “breakouts”.

Lavender Oil - This essential oil has multiple properties that make it important for overall general health and well-being. In the skin care world, Lavender stimulates cell growth; reduces inflammation; balances oil production and tones skin. It has antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Lavender oli contains linalool, which also promotes healing. It is good for all skin types even that with scarring, acne or excess oil.

Jojoba Oil - The structure of Jojoba oil closely resembles that of your own skin oil. Jojoba is readily absorbed into the skin, is non-pore clogging and helps balance production of your natural sebum.   It contains linoleic acid, which account for its anti-inflammatory, acne reduction and moisture retention properties.It also contains myristic acid which is anti-inflammatory. Anti-inflammatory agents help prevent loss of tone and elasticity which can lead to fine line, wrinkles and general signs of aging.

Meadowfoam Seed Oil - This oil is an amazing addition to skin care products. It is highly moisturizing and rejuevenating helping to reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging. Meadowfoam helps prevent moisture loss by forming a rich, non-greasy moisture barrier on the skin’s surface. rich in vitamin c and e , natural uv protection. meadowfoam seed oils skin feel is distinct from many other natural oils. This is due to the novel chemistry of its fatty acids, which contain more carbon atoms than fatty acids common in edible oils such as soy, almond, sunflower and olive. it is the fully refined, unusually high amounts of  triglyceride…. composed of over 98% fatty acids with chain lengths of 20 carbons or more! As a result this it provides good emolliency without being overly greasy or unctuous. It is absorbed quickly and leaves a lighter skin feel than many other oils. meadowfoam is one of the most stable lipids known with naturally occurring tocopherols and the absence of oxidatively susceptible polyunsaturated fatty acids common in other oils.

Patchouli Oil - ( this is one of my fav favs) This oil was traditionally used by the Oriental and Indian cultures as a moth repellant and aphrodisiac. However, Patchouli has other known benefits: anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal. Additonally, it has been shown to have cell-regenerating abilities and tones and tightens the skin and smoothes rough, dry skin. LOVE this oil.. it soooo healing. i think its also my fav because it comes with a warning that it can be so relaxing, it can actually make you sleepy lol…anywho, ok.. so the astringent action of patchouli tones andrevitalizes the skin, while its diuretic action removes any excess fluids from the tissue. Its antiseptic action not only helps to cool down inflamed skin, but  also helps to sort out the source of the inflammation. Apart from this, it also has great success in helping to repair cracked, sensitive and dehydrated skin.It is a non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing ingredient, which helps to soothe even the most sensitive skin, while stimulating skin growth and healing sore, distressed and inflamed skin. patchouli has been known to ease a number of skin conditions such as eczema, acne and dermatitis. It also reduces the appearance of scars and fine wrinkles.

Pomegranate Oil - Pomegranate oil is high in linoleic acids and high in anti-oxidants. It is moisturizing and anti-aging.This oil stimulates cell regeneration, increases elasticity and decreases wrinkles. Pomegranate oil is a savior for mature, irritated, and dry, cracked skin!  Pomegranate Oil  has an extended shelf life because of its high level of anti-oxidants. It has also been shown to work as an anti-inflammatory agent. part of what makes pomegranate oil so beneficial is its high antioxidant load (such as polyphenol) which fights free radicals and promotes skin regeneration.It is also high in lipids, including the rare Pucinic Acid, which help heal inflammation and reduce swelling. It has been found to nourish and moisturize the skin, improving elasticity, reducing wrinkles and preventing aging.  It has also been shown to help sunburned and ultraviolet damaged skin.

Vetiver:  next to patchouli, this is probably my favorite essential oil in existence. ………this essential oil is cicatrisant, which means it has a property that can help to eliminate the scars or marks on skin. When applied on the skin, the oil helps in development of new cells on the affected skin. Thus, this oil is used to treat skin problems like acne, burns, stretch marks … Applying the oil externally allows it to be absorbed by the mucous membranes and given its anti-septic properties; it can protect the body from all sorts of infection. This oil is used a lot in creams and deodorants, as it retards the growth of bacteria and viruses. It is also known to balance the activity of the sebaceous oil glands. Thus, it can help rejuvenate dry skin but also absorb excess oil from greasy skin. Therefore, it is effective against skin blemishes and any acne problems. it really has a fantastic scent too… in aromatherapy its actually used to treat add, because of its  amazing mood balancing effect.

sweet orange oil :  Wherever there is a cut or abrasion, there is the fear of the wound getting septic bacterial infection.  essential oil of orange helps reduce that possibility as it inhibits microbial growth and disinfects the wounds, along with its ability to improve tone. its rich in vitamin c and antioxidants.

black currant seed oil . Black Currant Seed Oil is unique due to its properties …omega -6  plus omega-3 Alpha-Linolenic Acid and Stearidonic Acid and high antioxidant level. This combination of fatty acids is what makes it a highly effective anti-inflammatory agent. This oil is said to increase elasticity in the skin, and can be used to protect and nourish skin tissues preventing chronic skin conditions. this seed oil is a tremendous source of essential fatty acids, not only that it contains antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals it also contains large amounts of Vitamin C (stimulates collagen synthesis and potentates immunity against infection) as well.

there you have it guys! I hope to have these available for sale really soon. Ive got a few bottles going out for testing, as well as the master test bottle ( mine) - and over the next couple of weeks i will assess the results and feedback and see if any final adjustments need made before launching the product for sale. keep an eye out!

oh wait.. its not over yet…. ive got some really loooong sleeves… here’s a sneak peek at the scrub coming soon! shhh…

Tagged as: 1. Soap, 2. Serums, 2011, 3. Pucks, bodygoodies, heidi