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Blue isnt always the best color for people. Typically, unless you have makeup on, its an awful color for your face. BUT…when your face is blue from blue tansy? That’s the best color you can have! My friends call it the smurf facial.
Blue tansy is a flowering plant — also known as “Moroccan chamomile” — native to northern Africa, with beautiful bright yellow flowers. The steam distillation process of the plant produces a rich, cobalt blue oil, contrary to the color of the flowers. It’s really important to note that blue tansy is different from tansy, which is invasive in North American and can be toxic. Blue tansy goes by its botanical/Latin name, tanacetum annuum, anything else is not blue tansy.
The deep blue color of the oil is created from a chemical called chamazulene. Chamazulene is known mostly for its ability to support healthy inflammatory responses. This chemical does not naturally exist in the plant but is formed when a sesquiterpene called matricin is steam distilled. Matricin though, is naturally found in the flower heads of blue tansy, and also in chamomile [fun fact german chamomile EO is also blue!]. In fact, there’s so much chamazulene in blue tansy that the oil can stain skin and surfaces blue! So don’t get it on your nice new white shirt!
My ‘smurf’ facial recipe comes from a woman named Torie, and includes ALL amazing skin oils. I had to make a few tweaks to her recipe as I didn’t have rose hip oil for a carrier, and I was out of rose EO. Instead I used grapeseed oil carrier, and left out the rose oil.
Blue tansy is the heavy hitter in this serum, but has a great supporting cast of roman chamomile, elemi and manuka. Elemi can support the appearance of skin and has a bright balsamic scent. Its also known as the ‘poor man’s frankincense’ as it has almost identical properties as frank. Manuka is a great go to for hydrating hair masks and soothing massages. Have you heard of manuka healing honey? same flower.
Here’s my recipe for the blue glowing smurf facial:
13 drops of blue tansy
13 drops of elemi or frankincense
13 drops of geranium
7 drops of manuka or patchouli
3 drops of royal hawaiian sandalwood
(2 drops rose oil)
Put all the EO in a 2oz bottle and top with a carrier. Torie suggests rose hip oil, I used grapeseed. I really like this guide for helping me decide what carrier to use when I’m making face serums.
To purchase oils listed in the recipe, check out my new online ordering site: https://www.myyl.com/myoilyvillage You place the order direct with Young Living on their secure site.
Another tweak I did was to half the drops of oil and put into a 5ml roller bottle that I keep handy in my downstairs bathroom. When I’m washing my hands, I’ll roll this on my face and rub in the oils with my wet hands. As you can see the serum is REALLY blue.
A final quick tip about blue tansy, if you’re blonde or silver haired, blue tansy has been used to reduce the brassy tones in hair. Add a few drops to your hand, add your shampoo, mix and wash. If you love the way it works with your hair, mix it right into your shampoo bottle. Start with 20 drops for the bottle, and increase as needed. If blue tansy is unavailable, you can also try this with german chamomile, just know the blue-ness isnt as strong.
So – what do you think? Will you smurf yourself?
