Naturally packed with vitamin C and caffeic acid, this homemade cucumber eye cream recipe is made with cucumber seed oil and cucumber hydrosol to target inflammation and help soothe skin irritation as well as reduce swelling. Additional ingredients, including tea seed oil, baobab oil and carrot seed essential oil, work together to help skin look and feel more youthful.
We all age. And unfortunately, if you’re like me, you fight it every step of the way. Perhaps not kicking and screaming, but with an arsenal of anti-aging beauty products and your inner voice screaming at the top of your lungs “I am still 23 at heart!” I’m determined that at 80 I’ll still be dancing to the new big local band in downtown Roanoke, dressed completely inappropriately with a mass of colors and a bar tab boasting too many glasses of wine.
I can’t think of a better way to spend the last half of my life than really living it. Hopefully I’ll still have all of my favorite people around also enjoying their retirement years. While there won’t be cats (because I’m terribly allergic) we’ll all be living with too many dogs and still crafting til our fingers bleed. Hopefully you’re envisioning your own future life in much the same way.
In the meantime however, before those wrinkles become so deep set there’s no point in fussing over them anymore, we can fight to keep our youth (or rather youthful appearance) just a little bit longer.
I created this cucumber eye cream recipe for one of my dear friends who is just a few years older than my own 42 years. She’s had more than her fair share of trials over the past year or so. From the death of her mother and a diagnosis of uterine cancer she has braved the harsh realities of those tumultuous challenges that come with age and with life.
Having recently had both her uterus and ovaries removed, she was looking for natural anti-aging products to help combat the rush of changes that occur with the ensuing menopause. My cucumber eye cream recipe with cucumber and tea seed oil is the result of her request.
Skin Care Benefits of Cucumber Seed Oil + Cucumber Hydrosol in My Cucumber Eye Cream Recipe
As we age our eyes naturally develop bags under them for hereditary reasons. While a cucumber eye cream isn’t going to magically make those bags disappear, it can help to reduce the additional inflammation caused by other stressors. For my cucumber eye cream recipe I used two ingredients from cucumbers – cucumber seed oil and cucumber hydrosol.
Benefits of Cucumber Seed Oil in Skin Care
Cucumber seed oil is a fast absorbing, non-greasy carrier oil with a long shelf life. It has a low comedogenic rating, meaning it won’t clog pores, and is rich in nutrients. These nutrients include phytosterols, tocopherols, vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. It’s antioxidant and moisturizing properties make it especially suited for use in anti-aging creams and lotions.
However, you’ll also find that this natural carrier oil is also commonly used in products meant for hair, lips, nails and even massage. Because of cucumber seed oil’s anti-inflammatory properties, it’s also a recommended ingredient in products that target acne, sunburns, dry scalp, eczema and psoriasis.
Benefits of Cucumber Hydrosol in Skin Care
While cucumber seed oil is derived from cold pressed cucumber seeds, cucumber hydrosol comes from the steam distillation of chopped up cucumbers. Essentially it is a pure extract of cucumber water. Cucumber hydrosol has wonderful cooling properties as well as anti-inflammatory properties much like cucumber seed oil.
Cucumber hydrosol is also an astringent. This makes it especially suited to be used as a toner to help tighten, tone and firm skin as well as reduce excess oil. When used as a facial toner, cucumber hydrosol can help to belay the effects of aging including wrinkles and fine lines.
Skin Care Benefits of Additional Carrier Oils Used in My Cucumber Eye Cream Recipe
In addition to the cucumber based ingredients, my cucumber eye cream recipe also contains some of my favorite anti-aging carrier oils.
All of the carrier oils included in my cucumber eye cream recipe – cucumber seed oil, camellia seed oil, baobab oil and rosehip seed oil – have low comedogenic ratings, meaning they won’t clog pores. Camellia seed, cucumber seed and rosehip seed oils all have a rating of 1, while baobab oil has a rating of 2.
Benefits of Camellia Seed Oil in Skin Care
Camellia seed oil, also known as tea seed oil, is similar in nature to fractionated coconut oil. Like both coconut oil and cucumber seed oil, camellia (tea) seed oil has a long shelf life. It’s often been referred to as one of the best kept secrets in the cosmetic and hair care industry as it’s been shown to improve the tone and texture of skin as well as reduce the appearance of aging. Additionally, this highly hydrating oil is non-greasy and is quickly and easily absorbed by skin.
Camellia seed oil won’t dry out skin or clog pores, yet it contains more oleic acid than olive oil. It also contains vitamins, A, B, and E, various minerals and squalene. As it’s been shown that a deficiency of squalene can lead to dry skin and premature aging, this constituent makes camellia seed oil a valuable ingredient in anti-aging skin care recipes. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, this oil soothes and calms easily irritated skin and helps to smooth dry, flaky skin.
Regular use of camellia oil can help to protect skin from age spots as well as soften wrinkles and fine lines around your eyes and mouth. It also offers some protection from UV rays.
Benefits of Baobab Oil in Skin Care
Baobab oil is another non-greasy, shelf stable carrier oil famed for its emollient and moisturizing skin care properties. Rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, it also possesses skin protectant and anti-inflammatory properties when used in skin care applications.
Baobab oil makes an excellent addition to skin care products for those who suffer from skin conditions such as eczema, dry psoriasis and actinic keratosis. It can also help to relieve itching associated with dry skin and other problem skin conditions.
Benefits of Rosehip Seed Oil in Skin Care
Rosehip seed oil is extremely high in essential fatty acids and has the reputation for counteracting dry, weathered and dehydrated skin. Not only is rosehip seed oil moisturizing, but it can also help to reduce hyperpigmentation, fight aging and sun damage and help to improve skin’s texture.
A common ingredient in anti-aging beauty products, rosehip seed oil helps to diminish the appearance of scars, wrinkles and other signs of premature aging. It leaves skin looking not only revitalized, but also noticeably softer.
Ready to give this homemade anti-aging eye cream a try? You can find my cucumber eye cream recipe below!
Cucumber Eye Cream Recipe
Ingredients:
.6 oz. cucumber seed oil
.6 oz. camellia (tea) seed oil
.5 oz. emulsifying wax
.5 oz. baobab oil
.5 oz. rosehip seed oil
.5 oz. refined shea butter
.25 oz. cucumber hydrosol
vitamin E oil, several drops
12 drops carrot seed essential oil
6 drops lavender essential oil
6 drops bergamot essential oil
broad spectrum preservative, of choice
Instructions:
It is extremely helpful for to have experience making lotions when attempting my cucumber eye cream recipe as it requires an emulsion. If you aren’t experienced with making homemade lotion from scratch, I’ve tried to simplify this recipe as much as possible to avoid having the cucumber hydrosol separate from the oils if you struggle with the temperatures.
Anne L. Watson’s book, Smart Lotionmaking, is a great introduction to making homemade lotion from scratch. It covers everything from tools of the trade and definitions of ingredients, to sanitizing and filling your lotion containers. In addition she also offers an in depth tutorial on how to make and test your homemade lotions for safety and provides a variety of recipes to get you started. The kindle version of Smart Lotionmaking is available instantly here. (If you don’t have a kindle you can use Amazon’s free kindle reading app.)
As my cucumber eye cream recipe contains water, you will need to use a broad spectrum preservative to prevent the growth of mold, fungus and bacteria. While storing this eye cream in the refrigerator without a preservative will slow down the growth of bacteria, it won’t prevent it from occurring.
You can use any broad spectrum preservative (suitable for lotion) of your choice for this recipe at the manufacturer’s recommended usage rate. Keep in mind that different preservatives need to be incorporated into your cucumber eye cream at or below specific temperatures. So you will need to have a kitchen thermometer handy. Germaben II for example, should be mixed in at 140°F or less and has a usage rate of .3% – 1.0%. Optiphen Plus, a paraben free preservative, has a usage rate of .75% – 1.5% and should be added at temperatures no higher than 176°F.
Begin by sanitizing your tools, lotion container and workspace with rubbing alcohol.
Next, use a digital scale to weigh out the emulsifying wax, shea butter and carrier oils into a scientific glass beaker. Place in a double boiler and heat until melted. Once the wax melts, bring the temperature of the oils and wax to 158°F (70°C) and hold for 20 minutes.
While the oils, shea butter and wax are melting weigh out the cucumber hydrosol into a small glass beaker. Bring the temperature of the hydrosol to 158°F (70°C) and hold.
Now slowly pour the cucumber hydrosol into the melted oils, butter and wax. Mix with a few bursts of a stick blender.
Once your cucumber eye cream cools enough to add your preservative, mix in the vitamin E, essential oils and the preservative of your choice. Hand mix for about two minutes with a skinny spatula or long spoon, then pour into your container of your choice. (I used 2 oz. glass amber glass jars from SKS Bottle & Packaging.)
Allow your cucumber eye cream to finish cooling then screw the lids onto your jars. Your cream should be ready for use 12-24 hours later.
Once ready, you can label your cucumber eye cream as desired for personal use or gifting.
If you want to make this cucumber eye cream to sell, you’ll need to follow good manufacturing practices (GMP) when making your product as well as test your final product for safety. You’ll find that the book, Good Manufacturing Practices for Soap and Cosmetic Handcrafters by Marie Gale, is a valuable resource if you’re just getting started making your own homemade soaps, skin care products and cosmetics.
In addition to GMP, you’ll also need to follow FDA guidelines for labeling your products. If you’re unsure about the rules and regulations regarding labeling cosmetics, the book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English by Marie Gale, spells out everything you need to know to legally label your products.
Like My Cucumber Eye Cream Recipe?
If you like my cucumber eye cream recipe, then you may also enjoy some of my other natural beauty and skin care recipes.
My anti-aging night cream recipe helps to reduce the signs of aging naturally with ingredients like coconut water, cocoa butter, evening primrose and rosehip seed oil. It’s another great option for those wanting natural alternative beauty products.
Like my cucumber eye cream recipe, my cucumber mint sugar scrub recipe is made using cucumber seed oil in addition to aloe vera. Because it’s emulsified it doesn’t feel oily on skin. Not only is it a treat for your own skin, but this sugar scrub also makes a wonderful homemade gift idea.
Additionally, you may also enjoy my recipes for making a coffee & black tea under eye cream, a green tea eye cream and a lavender body butter. Or check out my DIY Bath & Body Pinterest board.
For more great bath, body and skin care recipes be sure to check out my other boards on Pinterest. You can also follow me via all of your favorite social media platforms including G+, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Blog Lovin’, and Instagram. Or subscribe to Soap Deli News via email for future updates, DIY projects and recipes.
