Summer is coming around and many of us are spending more time out in the sun. And though we may always apply sunscreen liberally, at the end of long hot days our skin will still feel the effect of the sun's rays. Friends in that natural health sciences tell us that most damage from sun exposure to our skin is our result of ultra violet rays creating free radicals within our skins cells. Our skin becomes inflamed as a result. Fortunately, topically applied antioxidants can quench these free radicals, reduce inflammation, and leave our skin with a happy healthy glow. Application of the proper formula can have a marked effect in reducing premature aging for yourself and everyone in your family.

Natural essential oils are highly effective antioxidants. Clove essential oil is one of the strongest natural antioxidants known, with and ORAC value of over 100,000 -- though it might be a little spicy to use on your face. There are a great many other essential oils with strong antioxidant action packed are known healers to the skin from which to choose. For example, a study just released by French scientists note that Myrrh essential oil has a profound oxygen quenching effect on free radicals produced by the interaction of UV rays and the skin's sebum. All essential oils used in skin care have the ability to absorb oxidative radicals, and they each have specific healing properties for the skin.

Making your own formula can be fun, and it's really easy to do. You only need to select a few essential oils that will be best for your skin type (or the skin of your children or other loved ones) and blend them into a natural carrier oil base. The oils absorb particularly well into the skin within a few minutes, without any 'oily' feeling -- leaving the skin with a healthy glow. The essential oils are easy to choose: Lavender essential oil, particularly Lavendula angustifolia, may be your first choice when blending for your kids. Lavender has a great many healing properties for the skin; it is syngergistically anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and soothing at the same time. It is perfect for general skincare and after-sun use, and is called for by many aromatherapists in cases of sunburn.

Blue Tansy is a somewhat more rare essential oil with profound anti-inflammatory action. Blue Tansy can be used in very dilute amounts; it is often called for in recipes at only a one or 2% concentration. Blue tansy's wonderful aroma will have you bathing in your lotion just for its sweet berry-like scent. Blue tansy is especially effective for sensitive skin that may be prone to irritation. It is included in many eczema and allergy blends for its naturally-calming action. So if your skin is gentle, and the Sun treats it a little harshly, a little blue tansy can really help.

Everlasting essential oil, better known as Helichrysum Italicum, is a wonderful and profoundly healing oil called for when the most potent anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects are needed. If you're looking for one of the secret ingredients in natural skincare, Helichrysum is it. You'll find Helichrysum in blends for scar reduction, wound healing, hair growth, and maintenance of mature skin. Its gentle nature belies its profound effects; it can be used at 100% strength if necessary, but is most often used at 3-5 % in skincare recipes.

Finally, a lovely essential oil that should be perhaps be in every aromatherapy formula is Sea Buckthorn. This CO2 essential oil is extracted from tiny red berries from a bush wildly grown across Europe. This fruity smelling, deep red oil is dense with vitamin A - like nutrients for the skin which dramatically increase healing and regeneration rates. You'll see this oil recommended in nearly every skincare formula these days -- it can help in conditions ranging from acne to dermatitis, from general skincare to improving the appearance of healthy mature skin. Sea Buckthorn has even been studied for the protection of astronauts’ skin from the powerful raise beyond the Earth's atmosphere -- how's that for a recommendation? Use this oil with confidence at a 1-3 % concentration.

You also have the option of adding other active-ingredients like natural vitamin E and fat soluble vitamin C to your mixture. You can simply empty or two capsules into each ounce of blend that you make. All these ingredients will be based in natural 'carrier oils'. Carrier oils are common seed and nut oils like Avocado, Apricot Kernel, Evening Primrose, Jojoba, Hemp, and the specialty skincare oils Tamanu and Rosehip seed. Any of these oils alone will work wonderfully, though you can use two or more together to provide a synergy of healthy action for your skin. A general-purpose formula may include Avocado and Jojoba; a potent formula for extra skin health support might include Evening Primrose, Tamanu, and Rosehip seed.

Once you've chosen which essential oils and carrier oils you'd like to use, just add 10 to 15 drops of each essential oil per ounce of carrier oil mixture. For example, you might use one-third parts each Jojoba, Tamanu and Rosehip seed, and to this add 10 drops each of Sea Buckthorn, Helichrysum and Blue Tansy. This is a very potent, effective (and nice smelling) formula for those with the most concern for the sun's effect on their skin. For a more simple formula, perhaps for your children, you might use just Lavender and Sea Buckthorn in a Jojoba base. These oils are particularly gentle, and should be suitable for even the most sensitive, youthful skin. Use your intuition as a guide, blending with lower concentrations for the young ones. Whatever formulation you choose, it is sure to have a positive effect on the long-term skin health for you and your family.