Do you desire a luminous complexion and smooth, soft skin? This homemade skin brightening serum is just for you! Dulse flakes, rosehips and orange combine with oil-free, hydrating ingredients for this DIY vitamin c serum.  In partnership with Mountain Rose Herbs, I am excited to share this amazing radiance serum recipe!

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It feels odd that I so often write on matters of beauty and skincare these days.  Nearly 19 years of motherhood, life on the homestead, and working from home have left me with very little vanity.  I am rounding the proverbial bend on the big 4-0 and I am pretty secure in my own skin these days.  Days can go by without me caring much for the notions of lip gloss or doing my hair.

I left the beauty industry by my mid-20’s because life was “about more than lipstick and lotion”- I would say.  It is.  But the culture of beauty standards remains and it would be a lie for me to say that when the checker at my favorite grocery store tells me I look tired — it stings.  When my husband or mother ask me what I have done for myself lately, and I don’t have an answer – it hurts.  In fact, my most basic self care habits are rather fair weather and the first thing I throw out the window in times of stress.

I know it.  And it shows.

For me, and – I would hazard a guess – a lot of women, I am not sure that we think “beauty” is something that we deserve.  It is a luxury that we can’t afford — monetarily or otherwise.  Taking the time to concentrate on our face and hair feels selfish and indulgent.  That we are somehow depriving others if we are nourishing ourselves.

And that is nonsense

Self sacrifice isn’t really noble or generous. In fact, self deprivation often leaves us flustered, sometimes bitter and resentful.

So while there are more important aspects to self care — such as eating a nourishing diet, getting adequate sleep, breathing fresh clean air — heck, paying your bills on time –, I am hear to say it loud and clear: it is okay to take care of yourself.  It is okay to want to be pretty. It is okay to want to be radiant.

It’s okay.

What is in Brightening Serum?

I created this brightening serum to encourage radiance and hydrate the skin.  A mixture of oil-free ingredients makes this radiance serum perfect from practically all skin types.  Department store vitamin C serums can cost well over $50 or more for a small amount of product, making this homemade version super economical.  The process of making this radiance serum is super simple and results in a wonderful product that will become a favorite of your DIY skincare routine!

• Water: It is best to use distilled water to ensure that you avoid potential contaminants such as chlorine.
• Dulse Flakes: This red seaweed creates a viscous gel when simmered in water.  The gel created by the dulse flakes not only serves as one of the main bases of this homemade brightening serum, but also imparts many radiance boosting benefits. Not only is this resulting gel  quite hydrating, it is also a source of minerals such as magnesium, calcium, and iodine, as well as vitamins A, C, and E.  Vitamin E is considered an antioxidant, and vitamins A (sometimes referred to as retinol) and C, which reduce the appearance of fine lines and discoloration by speeding up the cellular renewal rate of the skin.
• Rosehips: The autumnal fruit of the rose, rosehips are a favorite ingredient in all natural skin care.  Another source of vitamin C, rosehips help to brighten and smooth the skin surface.  The addition of rosehips to this vitamin C serum also contributes a rosy hue as it is used in both the water and glycerine extraction processes.
• Orange Peel Powder: yet another source of vitamin C, orange peel contributes a citrus-y fragrance and skin renewal benefits in this radiance serum.
• Aloe: A little bit of aloe goes a long way to adding hydrating benefits to this brightening serum.
• Vegetable Glycerin: The second base of this vitamin C serum is the natural humectant (draws moisture to the skin) vegetable glycerin.  I use this opportunity to increase the radiance boosting benefits of this brightening serum by first infusing the vegetable glycerin with rose hips in the heated extraction method mentioned in this post.  This step can be skipped if preferred.
• Rose Hydrosol: The inclusion of rose or any hydrosol of your choice helps to offset the somewhat brine-y, seaside aroma imparted by the dulse flakes.  It is important to use hyrdosols instead of essential oils in here as this is an oil-free facial treatment.  Essential oils do not disperse well in water based solutions (see more on essential oil safety here).

How to use this botanical vitamin C serum?

This radiance serum should be applied to freshly cleansed and towel dry skin in the evenings and followed with your regular moisturizer like this lotion or cream, avoiding the eye area.  Due to the vitamin A and C content, this brightening serum should not be used during the day as it may make the skin more sensitive to UV light.  Please take proper sun protection precautions daily.

I packaged this vitamin C serum in these nifty treatment pump bottles, and store any unused bottles in the refrigerator before use to extend its shelf life.  Use generously and discard any used serum after three months.

Radiance Serum Recipe

Print Recipe

Homemade Skin Brightening Serum

Department store vitamin C serums can cost well over $50 or more for a small amount of product, making this homemade version super economical.  The process of making this radiance serum is super simple and results in a wonderful product that will become a favorite of your DIY skincare routine! Makes approximate three 2 ounce bottles.  Store unused bottles in the refrigerator before use.

Please note: This recipe, as written, does not contain a chemical preservation agent. Although the relative salinity of the serum does create an environment that is fairly inhospitable to microbial growth, discard if signs of spoilage appear.  You can learn about preservation options from this post.

Author: Devon Young

Ingredients

• 2 cups distilled water
• 1/4 cup dulse flakes
• 1/4 cup rose hips
• 1 tablespoon orange peel powder
• 2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
• 1.5 tablespoons hyrdosol of your choice
• 1/4 cup vegetable glycerin
• optional preservation agent of your choice (follow manufacturers guidelines

Instructions

• In a small suace pan combine the water, dulse flakes, rose hips, and orange powder and simmer over medium low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Skim off any foamy "skum" that surfaces. Remove from heat when mixture is reduced by half.
• Pour mixture through a fine mesh sieve.  The mixture will look kind of muddy at this point.  Discard or compost the "sludge" contained in the sieve.  Wash and rinse well, then line with several layers of moistened cheescloth, and filter the mixture through for a second time.  This should result in a more translucent liquid, measuring roughly 1/4 cup (you "lose" a far amount of water during both the simmering and filtering stages).  Add your aloe, hydrosol, and vegetable glycerin to the cooling liquid and mix well.
• When the mixture is cool, using a small funnel, pour into treatment pump bottles.  Store unused bottles in the refrigerator before use.

To Use:

• Apply to clean face avoiding eye area and follow with your regular moisturizer.  Use this brightening serum in the evening only as it may increase sun sensitivity.  Take proper sun protection precaution during the day to avoid UV damage.

Resources:
https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/difference-between-dulse-kelp-2872.html