Essential Oils For Beautiful Skin

The natural healing properties of essential oils make them highly effective in treating a range of skin conditions from acne and dry, aging skin to cellulite, stretchmarks and dermatitis.

What are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are extracted from the aromatic essences of plants, flowers, trees, herbs, fruit and spices. Each oil is composed of at least 100 different constituents and the dominant ingredients determine its therapeutic properties.

All essential oils are antiseptic, but they all contain their own individual properties, which are beneficial for different conditions.

Although considered by some to be a "new age" phenomenon, essential oils have been used therapeutically for centuries to prevent and treat physical and emotional disorders.

How Do Essential Oils Benefit The Skin?

Treating the skin with essential oils benefits the skin in many ways, including:

" Penetrating the skin to moisturize and accelerate healing
" Reducing inflammation
" Soothing sensitive, painful or injured skin
" Stimulating and regenerating the skin cells, which benefits mature, wrinkled skin or skin that has been damaged by sun exposure, burns or injury
" Destroying bacteria, fungi and viruses that are responsible for acne and other skin disorders
" Balancing sebum production to help symptoms of oily or dry skin conditions
" Encouraging removal of toxins

How to Use Essential Oils For Skin Care

Essential oils are very potent and should never be used undiluted on the skin. They can be blended with a carrier oil, a cream base, a gel base or a lotion base, all of which are available from good health stores, both on the high street and online. They can also be used in shampoos and conditioners. Carrier oils are vegetable, nut or seed oils and include sweet almond, grapeseed, apricot kernel, sunflower, jojoba, evening primrose, hazelnut and avocado.

Blended oils should be stored upright in dark, glass bottles in a cool, dark place for maximum shelf life. They should never be stored in plastic bottles, since this can destroy the oil and cause the bottle to erode. When correctly stored, some oils will last for up to a year, but as a general guide, most oils should be disposed of after about three months.

Even when diluted, the oils are still very powerful, so before embarking on an essential oil skincare program, the following is advised:

" Consult a doctor or aromatherapy expert before using any essential oils if you are suffering from any sort of medical condition. Certain oils should never be used if, for example, you are an epilepsy or asthma sufferer
" Do not use any oils if you are pregnant without first consulting your doctor. Again, some essential oils should never be used during pregnancy or if you have a history of miscarriage
" Essential oils should be used with caution on children. Some oils are not advised for children beneath a certain age and should always be used in moderation, even on older children
" Never use oils in large doses without permission of a doctor

Oils For Dry Skin, Eczema, Dermatitis and Psoriasis

Chamomile
Frankincense
Geranium
Lavender
Myrrh
Patchouli
Palmarosa
Juniper
Rosemary
Sandalwood
Tea Tree
Ylang Ylang

Oils For Mature and Wrinkled Skin

Frankincense
Jasmine
Neroli (Orange Blossom)
Patchouli
Palmarosa
Rose
Rosewood
Vetiver

Oils For Acne and Oily Skin Conditions

Bergamot
Cedarwood
Cypress
Geranium
Grapefruit
Lemon
Lime
Mandarin
Patchouli
Palmarosa
Petitgrain
Vetiver
Ylang Ylang

Oils For Skin Infections, Cold Sores, Chickenpox Spots, Shingles, Insect Bites and Cuts

Bergamot
Blue Gum Eucalyptus
Cinnamon
Frankincense
Geranium
Hyssop
Lavender
Calendula

Oils For Cellulite

Angelica
Fennel
Grapefruit
Patchouli
Juniper

Oils For Stretchmarks and Scars

Frankincense
Neroli (Orange Blossom)
Rosewood

Skincare Recipes

Antiwrinkle Night Treatment

" 10ml Hazelnut or Sweet Almond Oil
" 2 drops Patchouli
" 2 drops Evening Primrose Oil
" 3 drops Lemon
" 5 drops Rose

Blend all ingredients well and apply to face and neck at night time after cleansing

Calendula Soothing Cream

" Pot of pure plant cream (available from most essential oil stockists or health food stores)
" Calendula oil (obtained from pot marigolds)

Add the calendula oil drop by drop to the cream until it has reached a soft, easily absorbable consistency.

Anti Dandruff Oil

" 50ml Olive Oil
" 6 drops Rosemary
" 6 drops Cedarwood
" 4 drops Cypress

Mix ingredients well before massaging into the scalp. For best results leave overnight before shampooing thoroughly.

Stretchmark Prevention Oil

" 25ml Sweet Almond Oil
" 5ml Wheatgerm Oil
" 4 drops Mandarin
" 3 drops Lavender
" 3 drops Neroli

During pregnancy massage into the abdomen twice daily from the time that the abdomen begins to expand, usually from about the fourth month onwards.

Chapped Skin Treatment

" 30g unperfumed, lanolin-free cream
" 5 drops Myrrh
" 4 drops Geranium
" 4 drops Frankincense

Blend well and apply to affected parts of the skin

Cellulite Treatment

" 25ml Sweet Almond Oil
" 5 drops Jojoba Oil
" 8 drops Juniper
" 8 drops Fennel
" 10 drops Grapefruit Oil

Mix ingredients together and apply to affected areas daily after showering or bathing.

Acne Treatment

" 10ml Jojoba Oil
" 4 drops Tea Tree
" 3 drops Lavender
" 3 drops Bergamot

Blend ingredients well and apply sparingly to affected areas.

Aftershave Balm

" 20ml Hazelnut Oil
" 4 drops Sandalwood
" 4 drops Chamomile
" 4 drops Frankincense

Blend ingredients well. Warm a small amount in your hands before applying to shaven areas of the skin.

Skin Rejuvenating Oils

" 20ml Sweet Almond Oil
" 4 drops Frankincense
" 3 drops Rosewood
" 3 drops Sandalwood

Shake well before smoothing over face and neck, or any areas of dry skin.

" 15ml Apricot Kernel Oil
" 6 drops Palmarosa
" 5 drops Evening Primrose Oil
" 3 drops Frankincense
" 3 drops Rose

Shake well and gently massage into the face at night.

Since there are many different combinations of oils that can be used, you can tailor recipes to meet your specific needs. You can even create all-round blends that treat several conditions. There are many resources that give comprehensive information on the properties of each oil, the conditions they treat and the other oils that blend well with them.

Recommended Suppliers

Cotswold Aromatherapy
http://www.aromatherapy.uk.com/

Essential Aura Aromatics
http://www.essentialaura.com/

New Directions UK
http://www.newdirectionsuk.com/

Nature's Gift
http://www.naturesgift.com/

ItsElixir
http://www.itselixir.com/

 

Home : Natural Skin Care Guide