This Dr. Axe content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure factually accurate information.
With strict editorial sourcing guidelines, we only link to academic research institutions, reputable media sites and, when research is available, medically peer-reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.
This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by our trained editorial staff. Note that the numbers in parentheses (1, 2, etc.) are clickable links to medically peer-reviewed studies.
Our team includes licensed nutritionists and dietitians, certified health education specialists, as well as certified strength and conditioning specialists, personal trainers and corrective exercise specialists. Our team aims to be not only thorough with its research, but also objective and unbiased.
The information in our articles is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.
Rosehip Oil Eye Serum for Dark Circles + Puffiness
January 17, 2016
If you’re wondering how to get rid of dark circles under your eyes as well as general puffiness, then you’ll be relieved to know that natural solutions exist. In particular, I’ve created this Eye Serum for Dark Circles that relies on the combination of two essential oils, one special oil that rivals coconut oil for skin health and aloe vera gel.
What special oil am I talking about? Rosehip oil, which protects the skin and increases cell turnover because it contains vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin D and B-carotene, a form of vitamin A. It’s also rich in essential fatty acids, which convert to prostaglandins (PGE) and are involved in cellular membrane and tissue regeneration.
Meanwhile, this eye serum for dark circles and puffiness also uses lavender oil, an antioxidant-rich oil that happens to be the most popular essential oil in the world. Lemon essential oil also contains powerful antioxidants and helps nourish the skin.
Making this serum is a cinch, for you simply combine these three oils in a glass spray bottle along with one-half ounce of pure aloe vera gel, of which over 40 studies have shown it has far-ranging dermatological purposes. (1) Shake well.
Before you hit the sack, simply cleanse your face and remove any makeup. Spray this eye serum for dark circles on your face, making sure your eyes are shut. Then massage the serum under and around your eyes in particular, gently.
Within a few days, you should a noticeable reduction in your dark circles and eye puffiness.
Rosehip Oil Eye Serum for Dark Circles + Puffiness
Ingredients:
- 1/2 ounce rosehip seed oil
- 1/2 ounce pure aloe vera gel
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops lemon essential oil
Directions:
- In a glass spray bottle, combine all ingredients and shake well.
- Before bed, gently cleanse the face and remove all make-up.
- Spray the solution onto the face, making sure the eyes are closed.
- Gently massage the solution under and around your eyes.
- Allow it to dry.
- Sleep with your head well supported by quality pillows.
Comments
Please keep comments under 200 characters.
Can fresh aloe be used?
Very nice recipe.
do you carry this product already made?
I NEED THE SKIN/Wrinkles around my eyes to tighten and I was hoping wrinkles would soften? I ordered organic rosehip, jojoba, vitamin c and e oils. Also glass bottles that are UV protected. Is this an overkill or would you recommend anything else?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND STAY SAFE
Megan
Does this help with hooded/droopy eyelids?
Just wondering that how long for the life shelf?
Hello Dr. Axe & Staff:
Does this serum need refrigeration? At times I’ve read that rosehip seed oil should be refrigerated.
Thank you,
Alexandra
Thank for this article.
How many times should I do this in a week, is everyday ok?
Is it safe to use this spray on the eyelids since it will spray my eyes.
I used just rosehip oil on my legs one day during the winter for dry flaking skin. Within minutes my heart was racing and it raced for several hours. It wasn’t until another EO person told me to look up the side affects. I was shocked to see that there were several including rapid heart rate. I’m afraid to use it and gave it away with a warning…
Meanwhile, I would love to have had the facial skin healing benefits from it. Do you have another suggestion to replace the Rosehip carrier oil?
how many drops is a 1/2 oz
Thanks Dr. Axe. I really appreciate the information that you have provided. My main issue has to do with dark circles. I have been told that I needed to drink more than 8 glasses daily to eliminate the darkness under my eyes. Well, that didn’t work!!! Your solution is more doable. I have the necessary ingredients to create this serum.
You are the best!
J. Martin
Did this work?
Hello. Could you kindly tell if it is safe to use lavender essential oil diluted with almond oil around eyes and leave overnight?
How do I access the seminar? I registered but I could not locate it at 8pm. Please help.
Can I buy this oil already made so I don’t have to make it?
Hi Julie! I will be adding this recipe to my product line shortly. Contact me at [email protected] and I’ll give you the info.
Talk about maracuja oil
Can one use this during the day as well or will it be a danger because of the lemon oil?
I’ve read and heard to not use lemon essential oil during day time, it does more damage than good. Its better to use at night to avail all of its good qualities.
Can I substitute one drop of doTerra Rose Eo for rosehip?
rose essential oil is not the same thing as rose hip oil. I am a Doterra rep and we don’t carry rose hip. Mountain Rose Herbs is a great company and they carry it
Has anyone tried this and seen results? I’ve tried many other solutions and haven’t ever seen results. I don’t want to buy these ingredients if it isn’t going to do me any good.
Thanks!
Great recipes I’d like to try but you don’t carry all the essential oils needed. Why is that?
Example Rose hip for the eye serum or argan for the under eye formula
Is it possible using this serum can cause my eyes to become dry as I have noticed this is the case ?
I’d like to buy the solution for eye puffiness, How do I do that.
Hi Karen! I will be adding this recipe to my product line shortly. Contact me at [email protected] and I’ll give you the info.
How much is 1/2 oz. of rosehip oil (how many drops?) and aloe vera gel…how do you measure that?
1 OZ = 2 TABLESPOONS so 1/2 oz is 1 tablespoon
How many drops are in a 1/2 oz?
i NEED SOME GUIDANCE/DIRECTION. i AM STARTING TO GET DEEP BLACK HEADS IN MY SKIN (FACE PREDOMINANTLY) AND THEY LEAVE LIKE A HOLE IN MY SKIN–AFTER CLEANSING, IN A COUPLE DAY, THEY FILL AGAIN. iS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN TELL ME WHY THIS OCCURS AND, WHAT I NEED TO DO ABOUT IT.
Have you tried clay? Clay is great at extracting impurities and healing the skin. Make sure the clay is naturally sourced however and does not contain any added ingredients. Argital has polimineralic marine green clay.
Will the aloe vera gel be too thick to
spray or do the oils thin it enough for it not to be a problem? Can’t wait to try this…thanks so much for all the wonderful info!
This blend is a little thick using the aloe vera. I use a small roll on bottle for ease of application and it works great.
I just read Mark’s comment after making my serum. I found on Rose Mountain Herb site that they have a Lecithin product which is made from soy. It says that it can be an emulsifier and stabilizer for making body care products and is also used in baking. It is a bit pricey and I don’t know how much to use, but you can use it for multiple purposes. I’m going to get some and will post a comment on what I find.
Have you used the lecithin product yet and do you like it?
I made this serum and it feels so great around my eye area. I use Young Living and Mountain Rose Herb EO’s. MRH has so many products for making diy recipes and the prices are good and all of the products I’ve discovered are great so far.
As well, many people are sensitive to honey and coconut oil. As an Integrated Aromatic Sciences Practitioner, I make all my clients very aware that it is not a one size fits all. What works for one, may not work for another. Self discovery is the best and you become your own best judge of what works for you or not. In my practice, the client and i work very closely together to discover the whys and why nots for each client individually.
My clients are very aware of my motto which is as follows:
“I don’t sell stuff. I offer hope, health, excitement and freedom. I lock arms with people who want to do the same and have fun doing it. Feel free to connect with me.
How do I connect?
Lemon Oil is photo-sensitive to the skin and therefore as an Integrated Aromatic Sciences practitioner, I cannot recommend Lemon oil on the face.
Feel free to connect with me
Sylvia
I would like to connect with ‘you my email is [email protected]
Elizabeth Koshy
Mark what emulsifier should be used and what do you think would be a better safer amount of drops for the essential oils?
Rose hip oil is an essential fatty acid which without proper antioxidants will go rancid rapidly. The essential oils choosen are not rich in antioxidant value, they will however oxidise due to their high terpene content forming peroxides & other irritant breakdown products if not handled properly. There are no emulsifiers in this formula to dispers the lipids into the aloe vera gel (dont be tempted to scrape gel from an aloe leaf as that will grow mold in no time). As for the concentration 15 drops equals 900mg EO in 1 oz which is approx 30mls so thats a 27% concentration solution.. Hmm in clinical aromatherapy we use dosing like that for high dose topical applications, not around sensitive areas such as the eyes. This is unfortunately a formulation which will cause a whole lot of pain if used be careful and seek appropriate knowledge resources from within the industry.
Thanks for the info!
You can have up to 5% Essential oil volume within carrier oil. So, for a 1/2 ounce volume which is about 600 drops, 15 drops is correct. Of course I said up to 5%. That amount I guess will determine what your sensitivity to essential oils is.
I would like to connect with you for some consultation
Is there a substitute for Aloe Vera? I’m allergic to Aloe Vera! ? Can I use coconut oil instead?
I would use coconut oil or hemp oil. They say that the hemp oil does not clog your pores, while coconut is higher on the scale than hemp. Both have anti-bacterial properties.
doTerra has the highest quality essential oils available. doTerra is the industry leader in essential oils for a reason…they are the highest quality oils available. I sell doTerra and would be happy to send you some information. You can find me on Facebook Kelly Reinhardt-Enyart
doTerra is not the industry leader in essential oils available by any shot! Pricing something expensively does not always mean quality. I am an aromatherapist and cosmetic chemist and conducted a Peroxide Value test to test for oxidation (rancidity)on some doTerra essential oils in a independent lab to find that some of the oils had much higher Peroxide Value (started oxidation therefore not usable)compared to some of their competitors.
End of the day,rule of thumb is buy essential oils, preferably organic from a reputable well established company,ask for a certificate of analysis report of your oils and ensure the company has enough credentials to prove their ongoing commitment to quality.
Importantly buy oils from a company that has good turnover,no matter how great the company or initial quality of an oil,if it is sitting in some warehouse for a long time it is going to start oxidation.
This maybe what happened to the doTerra essential oils that I had received. I wonder if pricing the essential oils so much higher than their competitors is slowing their turnover & perhaps some of their stock may have been sitting in a warehouse much longer than it should. Just saying.
Remember more expensive does not always mean better quality!
I found Tisserand Essential oils & Neal’s Yard remedies essential oils in UK fared very well in tests and I am personally happy with their quality.
There are several other companies in America that also sell good quality Organic essential oils.
Do your research,buy from a company that has good credentials on their website, can give you certificate of analysis of their oils on request,can trace the origin of their oils, and have plenty of sales.
Price should not be the deciding factor for quality, having said that the very cheap essential oils that you see on eBay or Amazon mah often be synthetic substitutes.
Good luck!
My mother has dark patches under her eyes intermittently is this a specific illness indicator? What can cause darkness under the eyes other than sleep problems and will this product help?
I’ve read puffy & dark circles could be your liver needs detoxing. Also, I take 1 to 2 tsp of raw honey before bed. It helps me sleep.
Very thin skin and/or I’ve found that seasonal allergies are a big cause of dark circles under the eyes.
I recommend Young Living Oil for the purest. The only one that has the seed to seal guaranty. I have been using them for almost a year and love them. Be carful on cheap synthetic oils.
Where to buy organic or the purest of oils
I like Young Living as they own a great deal of their farms and only sell what meets their highest standards!! I am on Facebook and can offer you a lot more info. I started using YL a year ago and my skin looks great!
Highly agree!!!! I’ve been using Young Living for over two years now!!! It’s done amazing things for me and my family! Email me if you want more information [email protected].
Has anyone done any research on Gary and where his farms are located? You might want to do that before buying anything. Just saying………..
Argital have essential oils and base oils that are certified Demeter and Organic. They also have a Gold range of essential oils that are extracted using a method based on Anthroposophy to preserve the natural scent of the flower, leaf or root – you can really smell the difference!
Hi just a of questions. So we don’t use moisturizer on our face after or before we spray. Just the spray.
Thank you
It is my understanding that lemon essential oil is photosensitive. Is it, therefore, safe to use on the face which is exposed to the sun? I have seen other recipes calling for lemon essential oil to be used on the skin and I am quite hesitant to do so.
Lemon essential oil is only phototoxic in amounts greater than 2%. This is also being applied at night, so a safe amount of time will pass before you’re out in sunlight again the next day.
Can u use aloe Vera gel from my plant
yes true indeed Michelle , citrus essential oils are photo toxic when applied to the skin if the skin is exposed to the sun rays, sun light. However this serum is strictly for night time, in the morning wash your face well, then apply your moisturizer. I wouldn’t use any citrus oils on my face, during the day . I think this serum is great , my only concern is the shelve life because of the aloe Vera. Does the serum needs refrigeration ??
Though I worry more about Why I have dark circles and under eye puffs, I have to reiterate the question of where to purchase the rose oil?
It’s rosehips oil. Go to
[email protected] and someone will email you.
I do not see rosehip seed oil in the brands I prefer on amazon. What brand would you recommend for the rosehip seed oil as well as the aloe vera gel?
I found all the ingredients for this mixture on Vitacost.com. I always shop there!
You can make your own (in small amounts) by buying rosehip seeds. Put the seeds in a jar with coconut oil and place in the sun (on window sill is fine) for a few days, strain, then use as needed. I use Leucidal Liquid which is a natural alternative to synthetic preservativesfor anything I make for my face. .2% Leucidal Liquid in a your base is able to inhibit microbial growth ( the instruction says).
There are many excellent brands of Rosehip Seed Oil on Amazon. Pura D’Or, Radha, US Organic, Teddie Organics, Majestic Pure, Kate Blanc, Acure….
Where do you recommend purchasing Rosehip seed oil?
Kitty, I work for a company called Melaleuca, we have essential oils at lower prices than other companies with pure quality. My name is Anissia Balistreri, you can find me on face book
You can make your own (in small amounts) by buying rosehip seeds. Put the seeds in a jar with coconut oil and place in the sun (on window sill is fine) for a couple of days, strain, then use as needed. I use Leucidal Liquid which is a natural alternative to synthetic Preservativesfor aything I make for my face. .2% Leucidal Liquid in a your base is able to inhibit microbial growth the instruction says.
amazon
Should this solution be limited to only the under eye area or would it be good for the entire face?
I currently use rose hip oil on my face but am excited to try your mix for the under eyes!
Hi Dr. Axe,
Where can I find good quality rose hip oil? Thanks!!!
Where to find rose hip oil?
amazon
Try Mountain Rose Herbs – they have amazing & beautiful oils and so much more!
They only sell in US and Canada, unfortunately
Often Winners, Marshalls, or Homesense has good quality rose hip poi for a great price.
Piping rock