My new Pomegranate Primrose Summer Facial Serum is a fantastic way to lighten up your skin care routine for warmer days (I’m calling it my PrimPom Serum for short, ha!). It is silky and light, absorbing into your skin quickly and leaving it beautifully hydrated, and it smells amazing—like fresh air, light spice, and warm apples and hay. I am loving it as the humidity rises (ever so slightly, at least) and the sun stays out longer every day. I think you’ll love it, too.
It’s been about six months since I first added evening primrose oil to my skincare routine, and I am sold. This stuff is fantastic. I first gave it a go in my Magical Primrose Argan Serum and quickly fell in love as my complexion improved immensely over the first few weeks of use (and continues to improve!). Evening primrose oil is rich in two special fatty acids—linoleic (~72%) and gamma linoleic acid (~10%). Gamma linoleic acid “has been shown to be one of the most effective agents for the treatment of skin disorders and for the maintenance of healthy skin… based on the strong research showing that it is of benefit in the treatment of various skin conditions, including dry skin, eczema, inflammation, wounds, and dermatitis” (Source). After six months of using it, I’d agree. This stuff is fantastic. I recommend it to anybody with any kind of skin woes.
Evening primrose oil is pretty heavy, though, and it’s got a fairly distinct oily smell that’s not… awesome. I don’t hate it, but from what I’ve read my bottle might be less fragrant than some. That’s where the pomegranate oil comes in. Pomegranate oil is pressed from the seeds of the pomegranate, and it’s beautifully light oil that helps counter the heaviness of the evening primrose oil. I’d never used it before and picked up a bottle from New Directions on a whim back in December.
Pomegranate oil is said to help reverse skin damage and improve the texture of the skin. It’s rich in antioxidants and punicic acid (it’s about 78% punicic acid!), a fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also soothing and, of course, hydrating—all without feeling heavy or greasy. I’m really enjoying this oil, and since it’s relatively shelf stable (~2 years if stored well) I’m looking forward to working with it in other projects (perhaps hair things… it’s supposed to be great for hair!).
A blend of equal parts pomegranate and evening primrose oils is topped off with a fruity, warm blend of bright, spiced cardamom essential oil and apples-and-hay, calming South African chamomile oil. I find the South African chamomile is juicier smelling than other chamomiles, but unfortunately New Directions has stopped selling it, so I’m not sure where you’d go about finding a bottle. Roman or German chamomile would also be lovely alternatives—if you have a variety of chamomiles, choose the fruitiest one you have, otherwise whichever one you’ve got will be lovely. If you have neither of these essential oils you can definitely feel free to create your own blend that’ll suit your skin. This blend is a great all-purpose mix with calming and anti-microbial benefits, but you could look at adding cedarwood to help with eczema or carrot seed oil for mature skin (or whatever your favourite essential oils are—just be sure to avoid citrus).
And that’s it! Four simple ingredients, a wee shake in a bottle, and you’re off to the races. Enjoy!
Pomegranate Primrose Summer Facial Serum
15mL | 0.5 fl oz pomegranate oil
15mL | 0.5 fl oz evening primrose oil6 drops drops cardamom essential oil
10 drops drops South African chamomile essential oil
See note in pre-amble about alternatives if you don’t have these essential oilsMeasure all the ingredients out into a 30mL/1 fl oz glass bottle with a matching eye-dropper-top lid, cap, and shake to combine. That’s it!
To use, smooth a few drops over your face. I like to use the dropper to place a drop on each cheek and my forehead and massage that into my skin. Don’t forget to pair it with a good, safe sunscreen for SPF!
Because this serum is 100% oil based it should last for at least a year before the oils go rancid; we’re not concerned about bacterial spoilage since there’s no water.
Looking for an even simpler formula? My Favourite Argan Oil Serum is a staple of mine!
Marie, It is not my custom to comment on sites but I must compliment you on your continuous list of DIY recipes. I just can’t keep up. lol. I no sooner got my order in for supplies to make the Maple Syrup Soap and the Titanic soap recipes when you come up with another fantastic recipe for facial syrum. I love your site and await your weekly new-letters. Thanks so much.
Thank you so much, Betty! A big thank you for reading and happy DIYing 🙂
“Thank you” Marie …. I go to your site 1st now and usually find everything I am looking for. I rarely use any other site although I have read 100’s of them. Your recipes are clearly written, give optional ingredients, are well worded and easy to follow. I have only been at this a few months now so I am a newbie who needs all the help I can get. (smile)
Aww, you’re making me blush 😉 I’m always so thrilled to hear I am helping people get into this super awesome hobby! It’s so empowering and freeing to realize you don’t have to buy these things and just put up with whatever the manufacturer wants to include 😀
Isn’t the evening primrose oil very oily on the skin?
Wanted to make this serum for the summer but don’t want a shiny face ??
Nina,
I have very oily skin and have been using her Magical Primrose Argan Serum and it is simply incredible. My skin is no longer oily (even at the end of the day!). My skin also looks incredible. I have used it for a face moisturizer, razer burn, curling iron burn, heat rash, and everything else skin related and it clears everything up within a day or two. It truly is amazing. I can imagine this work similarly.
Yay!!! I loved reading this, thank you SO much for sharing! I cannot get over how happy my skin is with EPO added to my routine, and I’m so glad it’s working for you, too 😀
That’s the whole point of combining it with the pomegranate oil, which is much lighter 🙂 I just travelled all over Europe and NYC with this serum and was using it on crazy humid 32°C days with no shine!
Marie your recipes are awesome I wait every Monday and Thursday for your recipes
Please do give a recipe for a serum like Estée Lauders night repair ?
I want to make something natural like this serum
Hey Nina! To fight signs of aging this serum is awesome, as is this balm 🙂
Hi Marie,
Thank you very much your recipies! And your blog is fantastic!
I was wondering what are the properties of the cardamome EO that make you chose this EO?
Thank you!
Hey Chabela! I love cardamom for its bright, spicy scent that works well with the oily scent of evening primrose oil, but it’s also antiseptic and antimicrobial, so it can help keep acne at bay and boost healing 🙂 Thanks for reading!
Thank you so much for posting! My order from Mountain Rose Herbs came in today and I whipped up a batch of this just five minutes ago and have it soaking into my face right now. My skin feels plump and hydrated but not greasy. 🙂 I can’t wait to try this out for a while. I live in the Pacific Northwest where it’s dry in the summers and humid in the winters. Loving this for the dry day today!
Thanks so much for posting all of these recipes! I love them all, even just for entertaining/informative reading when I have a few spare minutes. I am also loving your videos too. 🙂
Awesome! I look forward to hearing what you think after some extended use—I sure know my skin is madly in love 😉 Thanks so much for reading, watching, and DIYing with me!
Soap Goods carries a lovely South African Chamomile: https://www.soapgoods.com/Chamomile-South-African-p-1120.html
I’m looking forward to trying this once my pomegranate oil comes!
Thanks, Diana! Happy making 😀
Do you keep this in the refrigerator? I know Evening Primrose needs to be refrigerated on its own, but didn’t know if the Pomegranate made it more resilient.
Hey Kerri! I don’t, but that’s because I’m making it in small quantities—it rarely lasts me a month before I use it all up. It would also solidify if I stored it in the fridge, so I don’t think I’d use it very often 😛
I love using pomegranate oil. I have both refined and unrefined here. For this recipe however, is this a refined or unrefined pomegranate oil in your recipe? You are a continual source of inspiration. Thanks! 🙂
This one is refined, though I suspect you could happily use either 🙂
Can you use this around eyes? I am wondering if I could use 1 serum to moisturize my entire face (including around eye ares)?
Did anyone use this serum in the morning under makeup? Eye makeup? How did it go?
I’d probably drop the essential oils if you intend to use this right around the eyes 🙂 I have worn this under makeup before, but I wouldn’t recommend putting in on the eyelids before makeup application as greasy eyelids = messy makeup 🙂
Just wanted to let you know that the link to your Magical Primrose Argan Serum (in the 2nd paragraph above) actually takes me to the page for a Mocha Face Mask 🙂