DIY Essential Oil Gel to Reduce Appearance of Age Spots

What are age spots anyway?  Many of us, who are fair skinned, get them, and we all complain about having them - so what can we do about it?  

Sure, we’ve heard about different treatments under the care of your Dermatologist, like in-office procedures or prescriptions.  But what if you prefer using a more plant-based approach? Are there home DIY recipes we can use to support our skin looking more even toned and glow, while reinforcing its resiliency?

What are age spots?

Age spots are small flat dark spots, or discolorations, that appear on the skin in areas where there has been too much sun exposure.  In most fair skinned people, they usually appear after the age of 50, though younger people can develop them if, over the years, they have spent a lot of time in the sun.  They are also called sunspots, liver spots or solar lentigines.  

Our skin is made up of all sorts of different types of cells, and the cells that specifically cause this kind of discoloration are the cells responsible for giving our skin its natural pigment, or color; these cells are called melanocytes and they produce melanin.  

The UV light from the sun triggers our cells to make more melanin (to protect us), and depending how long we stay in the sun, the UV rays can also greatly speed up the process.  Which is why we get “tan”. 

But if you are a recovering sun worshiper and have spent long extended hours, over the course of many years, without protection in the sun, the melanin that had been produced by the cells, over the course of your lifetime, can concentrate, and pool together.  Leaving discoloration spots on certain areas of your skin, like shoulders, upper chest, arms, hands, and foreheads.

So how can we prevent them?

Probably the best protection is avoiding the sun at its peak hours, and always wearing sunscreen, and clothing cover ups.  

But, if you already have sun spots what can you do to reduce their appearance, and even out your skin tone while nourishing and restoring your skin?

DIY gels made with essential oils and aloe vera can be an effective and easy natural plant-based option. What essential oils are good for age spots?  See below!

Aromatherapy for Age Spots: Here is a list of 5 of the best essential oils to help reduce the appearance of age spots on your skin.

Lemon (Citrus limon) Essential Oil:

Squeezed from the peel of the lemon fruit.  This high-pressure squeezing is called “Expression” and it yields an essential oil that is loaded with a molecule that has been shown to lighten and brighten the skin. It’s never recommended to apply lemon essential directly to the skin, because of its powerful lightening properties so it’s best to blend it with a carrier oil or aloe vera gel to reap the benefits and not irritate your skin. Plus, the bright and fresh aroma is very uplifting and joyful, and can help brighten even the darkest mood.

Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Essential Oil:

This oil like lemon is expressed from the peel of the grapefruit fruit, and share many similar benefits of brightening and lightening the skin. It also shares a high percentage of the same molecule that makes lemon oil so effective in brightening and adding vibrance to our skin. And when combined with Lemon essential oil, this brightening power is increased, offering the skin a very powerful boost to even out skin tone and brighten dark spots and shadows on the skin. Its aroma is fresh and joyful, helping us improve our mood and feel more positive.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Essential Oil:

Steam distilled from the lavender flowers of the lavender bush-like herb.  Its healing benefits are many, but one its most powerful aroma therapeutic actions is to calm irritated and damaged skin.  It offers rejuvenation and restorative properties and can encourage skin cell regeneration. When blended with Lemon and Grapefruit it offers support in evening out skin tone and discoloration, while the aroma helps balance our emotions and makes us feel comforted and supported.

Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini) Essential Oil:

Steam distilled from the leaves of the grass like bush that grows in humid swampy geographical areas around the world. It’s a botanical relative of essential oils like lemongrass and citronella, so it contains within it molecules that are fortifying and protective to the skin, while offering an aroma that relaxes our mind and body.  It is cleansing and clearing and can help clear and brighten the skin.

Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) Essential Oil:

Steam distilled from the fragrant leaves of this herbaceous bush. Its rose-like floral aroma calms our mind and soothes our skin, and can be used to cleanse, rejuvenate and restore the skin’s vibrancy and health. Calming and restorative, Geranium oil offers balance to skin that feels out of whack and has been shown to support and encourage the skin’s innate ability to heal and rebalance. When combined with the above essential oils, it can offer an experience of lightening and brightening while smoothing out discoloration and skin blotchiness.

Let’s make a DIY Gel to reduce the appearance of age spots!

Here are the blending tools you’ll need to make it:

• 1 glass 1 oz bottle with a treatment pump, you can see what one looks like here.
• 1 small mixing bowl, glass or stainless steel
• Measuring Spoons
• 1 mixing spoon, or tiny spatula - don’t use plastic!
• 1 Blank Label

Ingredients:

• 2 ½ TBSP of Aloe Vera Gel
• 7 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
• 4 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
• 3 drops of Geranium Essential Oil
• 4 drops of Palmarosa Essential Oil
• 4 drops of Grapefruit Essential Oil

Steps to make DIY Gel for Age Spots

1. Add all your essential oils to your small mixing bowl and mix well with your metal spoon - don’t use plastic!!
2. Once the essential oils are well blended, add your 2 ½ TBSP of Aloe Gel and mix very well.
3. Carefully pour the mixture into your gel bottle.
4. Insert the treatment pump closure into the bottle and cap tightly.  Give your remedy a name and write your label and affix to the bottle and shake the gel vigorously before each use.

How to Use DIY Gel to Reduce the Appearance of Age Spots

The best and most effective way to use your DIY Gel to reduce the appearance of age spots, is to pump out a tiny amount after cleansing your skin and patting dry, and then gently rubbing it into the area. You can apply the gel up to 3 times a day. We recommend not spending time in the sun after applying the gel, as the combination of the lemon and grapefruit essential oils can make the skin more sensitive in the sun. 

After the gel is absorbed, you can apply your regular daily moisturizer or make up.

Let us know how you are enjoying this recipe!