Rosehip & Honey Anti-Aging Eye Treatment

This easy to make anti-aging eye treatment is perfect for dabbing around your eyes, on laugh lines, or other wrinkle prone spots. It also makes a great nighttime hand cream!

jar of natural anti-aging eye treatment surrounded by rosehips, rose leaves, and a calendula flower

This creamy salve features rosehip seed oil, one of the best treatments for scars, wrinkles, and damaged, weathered skin.

The rosehip seed oil is combined with apricot kernel oil (or sweet almond, or your favorite skin-softening oil) and beeswax (a binder to hold everything together).

A small touch of honey is added to nourish and moisturize your skin.

You can dab around your eyes at night, or apply as a full face, neck, and hand cream, but since it tends to start out feeling slightly sticky on the skin – I suggest only applying it at night. When you wake up in the morning, it will have left your skin soft, smooth, and silky!

This recipe is best for dry to normal skin types. It will be too rich for oily or acne-prone skin.

bowl of rosehips

Some links on this site are affiliate links. I may earn a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase.

Ingredients:

For the recipe shown, I used calendula infused oil, for an extra herbal boost. You can pre-infuse your oil with calendula flowers, violet leaves, rose petals, or another favorite herb for extra enrichment!

What about a preservative?

If you’d like to add a preservative to this product, I suggest Phytocide Elderberry OS – an ECOCERT & COSMOS approved preservative that’s derived from elderberries and can be used in oil soluble natural and organic cosmetics. (Salves, balms, scrubs, etc.) For this recipe: add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon elderberry preservative to the melted oils and wax, after removing from the heat. (More info on natural and organic preservatives can be found in my article: 10 Natural Preservative for Homemade Skin Care.)

FREE RESOURCE

Line

HERBAL SALVES & BALMS

Subscribe to the Monthly Maker and receive:

  • Build Your Own Salve eGuide
  • 18 Herbs & Flowers for Salves Chart
  • Salve Building Printable Worksheet
  • A Monthly Email with Natural Project Ideas

By subscribing to our newsletter, you agree to the terms of our privacy policy.

Directions to Make:

Combine the beeswax and apricot kernel oil (or your favorite oil) in a heatproof jar (or upcycled tin can for easier cleanup). Set the jar, or can, down into a small saucepan containing a couple inches of water, to form a makeshift double boiler. You don’t want to melt beeswax in a container over direct heat, since it can be flammable that way.

Once the beeswax has melted, remove from heat and allow to cool briefly. Add the honey and stir for one full minute. When adding honey to an otherwise oil based recipe, a lot of stirring is required, to keep it from beading out of your finished product.

Next, add the rosehip seed oil. This should be added last because it’s a delicate oil and we don’t want to overheat it. You can also add lavender essential oil at this time, if you’d like. Stir thoroughly again and allow the mixture to sit until it starts to slightly thicken. Then, stir, stir, stir some more as it cools! The mixture will turn creamy and opaque. (You must stir briskly & frequently as it cools to make sure the honey incorporates fully.) Spoon it into a glass jar.

This recipe makes about 3 ounces. Cap and store in a cool, dry place. Shelf life is around 3 months, though you’ll probably use it up before then. Be sure not to get in your eyes as you apply.

Original recipe written in December, 2014; updated for January, 2022.

jar of anti-aging eye treatment surrounded by multiflora rosehips
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Rosehip & Honey Anti-Aging Eye Treatment

This easy to make anti-aging eye treatment is perfect for dabbing around your eyes, on laugh lines, or other wrinkle prone spots. It also makes a great nighttime hand cream!
Keyword anti-aging, creamy salve, honey, rosehip
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 3 ounces

Equipment

  • heatproof jar, or empty tin can, for melting
  • small saucepan with several inches of water
  • small 4-ounce jar for storing
  • fork, for stirring

Instructions

  • Combine the beeswax and apricot kernel oil in the heatproof jar or empty tin can.
  • Set the jar, or can, down into a saucepan containing several inches of water.
  • Place the pan over a medium burner to indirectly melt the beeswax. Keep a close eye while the oil/wax heats.
  • Once melted, remove from heat and cool briefly.
  • If adding a preservative (Phytocide Elderberry OS), do so now.
  • Add the honey and stir briskly for one full minute.
  • Add the rosehip seed oil, and lavender essential oil, if using.
  • Stir thoroughly, and allow the mixture to sit until it starts to thicken.
  • Stir, stir, stir some more as it cools! The mixture will turn creamy and opaque. You must stir the honey in thoroughly, to keep it from beading out.
  • Spoon into a glass jar. Store in a cool place and use within 3 months.

Notes

If you’d like to add a preservative to this product, I suggest Phytocide Elderberry OS – an ECOCERT & COSMOS approved preservative that’s derived from elderberries & can be used in oil soluble natural and organic cosmetics. (Salves, balms, scrubs, etc.) For this recipe: add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon elderberry preservative to the melted oils and wax, after removing from the heat. (More info on natural and organic preservatives can be found in my article: 10 Natural Preservative for Homemade Skin Care.)
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

57 Comments

  1. Hello!

    I’m new to the field of making your own DIY lotion, but excited to start!
    Question, how thick is the cream? Would I be able to put it into a wider mouth air pump bottle?
    Can I also add Vit E or a Vit C serum?

    Many thanks!

    1. Hi Shannon! This cream is pretty thick so I’m not sure it would work well in a pump bottle. You could try decreasing the beeswax though and may get a thinner product. Adding vitamin E or C serum (if it’s oil based) sounds great! Happy experimenting! :)

  2. Does this set up enough to put in chapstick tubes? It was just a thought. By the way, I love your website full of recipes and helpful hints. Looking forward to what you have for 2015.

    1. That is a really wonderful idea! You may have to add a little more beeswax, but if you don’t press too hard, it might just work in a tube. Thanks for sharing that great thought and for the kind words too!

    1. Hi Sally! You can use candelilla wax instead of beeswax, only use half as much. So if a recipe calls for 2 ounces of beeswax, just use 1 ounce of candelilla instead. You can buy that from BrambleBerry.com. :)

  3. Hello,

    I’m loving your blog, the ingredients for your carrot and honey soap are in the mail to me now and I plan to make a batch next weekend.

    Just wondering, could I substitute meadowfoam seed oil for the sweet almond oil in this recipe?

    Cheers
    Deborah

    1. Hi Deborah, I’m so happy that you like the blog! I love how meadowfoam seed oil works in creams and such, so I suspect it will work well in this recipe too. I hope you have a happy time making your soap and other goodies! :)

    1. Hi Gail! Usually local farmer’s markets has some or you can call your county extension agency and they might have a list of beekeepers you could check with. Some health or grocery stores might have some too.

    1. Hi Joy! You could test out a little bit and see. Probably dropping the amount of honey would help the most, but I just love how smooth honey makes my skin feel once it has all absorbed in.

  4. Would u be so kind to let me know if this cream is sticky since there is honey in it.
    I used creams with honey before and they tend to be a bit sticky… huge thank you..

  5. I purchased some Hip seed oil a few months ago and its kept in a dark cool place.Will it go bad or loose its potency. This is the first time I’ve heard of refrigerating it.
    Thanks for recipe can’t wait to try it.

    1. Hi Rosalind! You can usually tell if an oil has gone bad by sniffing it. If it smells old and rancid, then it’s time to replace. Since you kept it in a cool, dark place it’s probably good to go! My house stays extra warm, so I have to refrigerate some of my more delicate oils to be sure they last as long as they should.

  6. how do you measure the 2T of beeswax? Melt it first? My beeswax is in a large block. I suppose I could shave off 2T worth of flakes . . .

    1. Hi Sue! I grate my beeswax and then pack the flakes very firmly into the measuring spoon, so that it compacts together and forms a dome that you can just slip out. (Oil the measuring spoon first or spray it with baking spray for easy release.)

  7. Hi Jan! I’m enjoying your website and recipes so much! Thank you do your time you put into this website.
    Could jojoba oil work as a substitute for sweet almond oil?

  8. Hi Jan, love your site and all your recipes! Question: I have purchased some dried rosehips and am wondering if I can make an infused oil with them to then be used in facial recipes (infuse them into almond oil or jojoba, like you do with other herbs)? Would that work? Any other ideas as to what to do with dried rosehips? Thank you!

    1. Hi Cathy B! I tried making an infused oil with rosehips and they just sat there, like lumps. I did some reading and discovered that the hip itself is water soluble and won’t have the benefits that the oil pressed from the seeds will.
      (I was quite disappointed to learn this!)
      Rosehips can be used in teas and I’ve also made a soap from them that I liked a lot. (I soaked the rosehips, then pureed them. Turns soap a dusky brownish pink color.)
      I thought about using rosehip tea in a lotion too, but haven’t tried that yet.
      Rosehips can be tinctured too.
      I have a bunch of rosehips myself, so hopefully will come up with more ideas for them eventually! :)

  9. Hello Jan! I tried this recipe today for the first time. I followed your recipe above except I used 4 tbsp. sweet almond oil and 2 tbsp. jojoba oil in place of the 6 tbsp. sweet almond oil because I did not have enough on hand. Mine came out very greasy. I only put a dab on each eye and 15 minutes later it still hadn’t soaked in. I don’t mind that at night before bed but I need something that absorbs quicker in the mornings. Any ideas on why mine is taking so long to absorb or how to tweak it to absorb quicker? Thanks so much :)

    1. Hi Kay! You’ll definitely want to use this eye treatment at night, since it’s oil based it does take some time to soak in. You also want to apply very very lightly, just a thin layer will do.
      You might be happier with a water-based lotion or cream that will absorb in much quicker.
      These recipes are lighter and also include anti-aging ingredients:
      https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/basil-anti-aging-face-cream/
      https://thenerdyfarmwife.com/rosehip-ginseng-face-cream-recipe/

      1. Apparently I didn’t set up notifications for my comment and missed your reply. Thanks for the suggestions! I’m still using this at night and I do really like it. I have been eyeing up the other recipes you posted but I haven’t delved into emulsifying wax and preservatives yet. The preservatives are a bit intimidating with having to be a specific percentage of the product. But I really want to make my own magnesium body butter so I’m going to have to get over the preservative fear. I made some a few months ago that I loved and then I read your post on preservatives and how quickly they had growth. Since I made up my own recipe, I have no idea how to figure out how much preservative to put in it, so I haven’t bought any.

        1. Hi Kay! The preservatives are kind of intimidating at first; they were for me too. It makes it a lot easier if you convert your recipe from ounces to grams too.
          So, if your recipe totals 3.5 oz, you can use an online converter (I just type into google something like: 3.5 oz = how many grams and it will give you the answer)
          and then see what percent your preservative should be used at.
          Example, if it needs to be used at 4% (same as .04) you can take the amount of grams in your recipe and multiply it by .04.
          If your recipe totals 100 grams that would be 4 grams of preservative needed.
          If it’s an odd number like 124 grams of lotion, you would go 124 g x .04 = 4.96 which you would round to 5 grams of preservative needed.

  10. This is absolutely my favorite thing I make for my skin… I not only use it for a face & hand lotion, but I use it as a lip balm & for my dry elbows as well! I’ve been using it now for about two months on my face… There is a transition period (just like switching to any different facial cleansing regimen), but I’m finally at the other side, and this, along with a coconut oil face wash & an ACV toner, is finally making my skin clear and fading my scars after YEARS of acne. Thank you so much for sharing!!!

    1. Hi Erin! It should firm fairly quickly, though it’ll stay on the slightly soft side – almost ointment-like. It’s been really hot weather here, so if that’s the case where you are too, it may just be the heat keeping it extra soft. You could try storing it in a cooler place and see if that helps!

  11. Hi Jan, I just made this wonderful eye serum, but have few questions: the mixture did not turn opaque and as thick as you described. I followed your exact instructions. Would you have any suggestions on this? This is the first time I made eye treatment cream, so not quite sure how to proceed. The mixture is quite yellow and quite soupy on a thicker side..:-).. Thanks

    1. Hi Regina! It sounds like it’s a little light on the amount of beeswax. How tightly in the tablespoon did you pack the beeswax? It shouldn’t be soupy. If you try it again, I would add more beeswax (really press the beeswax into the spoon to measure) and then make sure you stir, stir, stir, stir so the honey mixes in well. :)

  12. hey Jan! i made the recipe and i love it! i put it all over my face at night. i have breakouts here and there and this really helps. i only made one batch so far and everything is good except it seems like an ingredient did “bead out” as you say. probably the honey? if i hold it in my fingers a little longer it melts out. you think there is any way to remedy this with the finished product? i’m reluctant to melt it down again cause the rosehip oil

    1. Hi Kelly! I’m so glad that you enjoy the recipe! The only way I’ve found to help with that is a LOT of vigorous stirring. It’s best done while the mixture is cooling, but if it’s still stirrable texture, you could try vigorously stirring it again to see if that helps.

  13. Hi Jan!

    Thank you so much for posting this-I can’t wait to try it!

    Question about the beeswax. I am working from a block. How many ounces are needed to equal two table spoons? Would it be roughly 1oz?

    Thanks much and all the best!

  14. Hi Jan,
    I love your eye cream recipe, but can I use soy wax instead of beeswax? I recently made some therapeutic candles using soy wax, and I have plenty of leftovers. Thanks for sharing!

  15. I made this with local honey. I didn’t use raw honey as it has pollen granules in it that can irritate sensitive tissue under the eyes. It’s a fabulous recipe. I whipped it with a few drops of aloe juice…fabulous.

  16. I would leave out the beeswax as it makes it too hard for the sensitive eye area. Just make an eye oil…use the ring or little finger to apply without too much pressure. Dragging the skin, especially on younger skin, will make it VERY wrinkly when older…Replace the lavender essential oil with either: frankincense, geranium or helichrysum oils…all of which are great for lines, wrinkles and older skin. I’d also reverse the rosehip seed oil and apricot kernel oils…Rosehips is wonderful for the skin, but spendy, so if you can’t afford it, don’t reverse.
    And if no beeswax, no need to heat it up. I use a similar recipe for my face, and eye area. Under any makeup (I don’t use foundation as it makes wrinkles show up more) and at night. I’m 68 and people tell me I look at least 15 years younger. I’ve been using oils around my eyes since my 20’s….then, it was just breaking up vitamin E capsules and applying…carefully. Now, my anti-aging serum for my face.
    Thanks for the recipe.

    1. Hi Carol, Thanks for sharing your tips on making an eye serum! I too used vitamin E oil around my eyes when I was younger!
      My mom used it on EVERYTHING for our skin – it’s good stuff! :)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating