Rosehips, from which the whole CO2 oil and seed oil are pressed.
Soviet cosmonauts once considered sea buckthorn berry oil as a protectant for the skin from powerful sun rays in outer space. Thankfully we don’t need rockets for the tests! It’s really easy to make yourself an after-sun, strongly anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and hydrating blend that will prevent the damage that UV rays can do.
The important oils are the CO2 extracts of whole Sea Buckthorn Berry, Carrot Root, Calendula, German Chamomile, Rosemary antioxidant and Rose Hip (not the carrier, but that’s good too!) The reason these CO2 extract oils are so great is that they’re very easy on the skin, and more complex with compounds that can help the skin stop, or at least slow the aging process that excessive sun exposure can cause.
Their gentleness allows them to be used in high concentrations in your formulas without irritation that many steam distilled oils can. (Though you can still add these — just at much lower amounts).
We’ve added an “After Sun” skin care blend to our blends page, should you not feel like mixing one of these up yourself!
Sea buckthorn berries are rich in antioxidants.
Each of these CO2 oils has a complex mixture of nutrients that limit the two major skin aging processes: oxidation and inflammation. Oxidation occurs when a photon knocks an electron from its orbit in a molecule. That molecule then becomes an “oxidative radical”, and tries to steal electrons from other molecules (a simplified explanation, yes, but pretty well sums it up).
The bioflavinoids in these CO2 oils stop this process by donating an electron to the oxidative radical. There are several “classes” of oxidative radicals, and that’s one reason a blend of antioxidant oils can be useful.
Rosemary CO2 is an oil with profound antioxidant properties.
Inflammation is the other aspect of sun-damage we’d like to prevent. German chamomile CO2, and carrier oils such as Virgin Coconut and Tamanu are also known for their anti-inflammatory activity (as are, actually, all the oils listed above, but the Chamomile may be the strongest, and it’s important to consider not just ANY carrier oil, but ones with known anti-inflammatory activity as well.
We use a couple of different blends here ourselves just for this purpose, and really you can mix 3 of any of these CO2 oils in simply Virgin Coconut oil for a great formula.
Apply these after sun exposure, and perhaps again later in the day for best results. You may find your skin turns a little red while the antioxidants absorb, but it won’t take too long. ALSO, you can use these BEFORE sun exposure, as well as after, for even better protection.
After-Sun Blend #1 – to make each 1 fluid ounce
In a base of 1/3rd each Virgin Coconut, Tamanu and Rosehip Seed Carrier Oils, add the following (there are about 35 drops per one milliliter – this changes depending on the oil, but this is close enough — also, you can use a pipette with 1/2ml marks on it to help you measure):
1ml (35 drops) Sea Buckthorn Berry CO2
1ml Carrot Root CO2
7 drops Rosemary Antioxidant (it’s really potent!)
11 drops German Chamomile CO2
After-Sun Blend #2 – to make each 1 fluid ounce
In a base of 1/3rd each Virgin Coconut, Tamanu and Rosehip Seed Carrier Oils, add the following:
1ml (35 drops) Sea Buckthorn Berry CO2
1ml Rosehip CO2
12 drops Sandalwood essential oil
7 drops Rosemary Antioxidant
11 drops German Chamomile CO2
In this blend, the sandalwood has been added as it research has shown it to specifically prevent certain skin cancers from UV radiation.
For those with acne-prone skin, are both the rosehip seed carrier oil and the rosehip CO2 contraindicated?
Thanks!
Yes, you are correct. Either use hempseed or argan nut instead in the base, and carrot root, sea buckthorn, and rosemary CO2 oils. Thanks for pointing that out!
Thanks for providing an alternative blend. Your excellence is truly a pleasure. :)
Can we further dilute this blend in another carrier oil say either avocado or almond oil or can it be used as is on face?
Hi Radha,
We kept oils that would be sensitizing out of the formulas so it could be directly applied to the face. It’s the way I use it — but if in fact you find any sensitivity, don’t hesitate to dilute further if this is most appropriate for your skin condition.
Cheers! ~ Eric
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Nice post at Healthy Skin In Summer Sun: Blends for Skin Aging Prevention | Essential Oils and Aroma-Therapeutics For Everyone: The Ananda Apothecary Blog. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Extremely helpful info specifically the last part :) I care for such info a lot. I was looking for this particular information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
I have used Sun Radiance for nearly one year. I had small, actinic keratoses on my face and in a matter of months they disappeared! Moreover, my skin looks fabulous.
This is a powerful blend and I am exceedingly grateful to all of you.
Wow – nice…glad to hear it. Yes, there’s great research available on the ingredients in that blend, and we certainly intend for it to make a difference :)