It is well known that essential oils have an impact on our emotions and mental state of well-being. For the most part, that is what essential oils are intended to do. The plants, shrubs, herbs, trees, roots and resins that are harvested for making essential oils have their own life force energy. It is this energy that passes through our bodies that create the desired changes to our emotional state. What many people overlook are the benefits of essential oils in skin care.
Skin is the largest organ of the human body, accounting for approximately 15% of our total body weight. Therefore, it is important that we treat our skin with the utmost care, giving our skin its rightful attention and a bit of pampering along the way. Essential oil benefits to the skin range from relieving pain from minor sunburn to rejuvenating skin cells to help improve the tone of mature skin.
Following is a list of some of the more popular essential oils and how they can be used to treat the skin in various ways. It is important to remember that most essential oils must be diluted either in water or a carrier oil before applying to the skin. Also, some oils are phototoxic, especially citrus oils, meaning the chemical compound of the essential oil can become toxic when exposed to light; therefore avoid sun exposure as much as possible after applying oils to your skin.
Bay - Add a few drops to your shampoo to help control dandruff.
Bergamot - Add a few drops to an unscented mild lotion to moisturize dry chapped skin.
Carrot Seed Oil - To reduce visibility of spider veins, mix 2 drops with 1 tablespoon vegetable carrier oil and massage into affected area once a day, preferably at bed time.
Eucalyptus - Apply a few drops to cleanse minor cuts or scraps.
Frankincense - To help smooth wrinkles, mix several drops with a vegetable carrier oil and massage face and neck each night before bedtime.
Geranium - Get a massage that uses this essential oil. With its diuretic and stimulating properties, geranium helps to increase circulation and may be a beneficial treatment for cellulite.
German Chamomile - Place an undiluted drop on a cold sore at the first sign of an outbreak.
Juniper - Treat acne or eczema by diluting 4 drops with a carrier oil and apply to affected areas several times a day. Juniper is a stimulating essential oil so try to avoid use before bedtime.
Lavender - Treat mature, aging, dry, blotchy skin with Lavender floral water (2 - 3 drops lavender per ounce of filtered water). Lavender's astringent properties help to tone the skin.
Marjoram - Apply a cold compress made with several drops of marjoram diluted with a tablespoon of a carrier oil to bruised areas to speed healing.
Myrtle - Put mixture of 8 drops myrtle and a tablespoon carrier oil wash cloth and place over skin areas affected by shingles to relieve pain.
Neroli - Add a few drops to a mild fragrance free lotion and use as a facial moisturizer to rejuvenate mature skin.
Peppermint - Also good for relieving pain and itching from shingles, add a few drops to a mild lotion and apply to affected areas.
Rose - Relieve swollen tired eyes by mixing several drops rose with cool purified water. Soak a gauze pad in the floral water and place gauze pads on eyelids and under eyes. Be aware that you should never apply essential oils directly into your eyes.
Tea Tree - Apply a cool tea tree compress to insect bites to relieve pain.
Yarrow - The anti-inflammatory properties of yarrow can help relieve skin rashes. Either create a cool compress or massage diluted yarrow directly onto affected areas.
There are many more essential oils with many more uses for skin care than is listed above. Keep in mind that no matter which essential oil you are using for a particular skin issue, in addition to receiving the benefits to your skin, you will also receive the aromatic benefits to your emotions and psyche.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or licensed aromatherapist. All information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Please seek professional advice for any condition you may have.
Skin is the largest organ of the human body, accounting for approximately 15% of our total body weight. Therefore, it is important that we treat our skin with the utmost care, giving our skin its rightful attention and a bit of pampering along the way. Essential oil benefits to the skin range from relieving pain from minor sunburn to rejuvenating skin cells to help improve the tone of mature skin.
Following is a list of some of the more popular essential oils and how they can be used to treat the skin in various ways. It is important to remember that most essential oils must be diluted either in water or a carrier oil before applying to the skin. Also, some oils are phototoxic, especially citrus oils, meaning the chemical compound of the essential oil can become toxic when exposed to light; therefore avoid sun exposure as much as possible after applying oils to your skin.
Bay - Add a few drops to your shampoo to help control dandruff.
Bergamot - Add a few drops to an unscented mild lotion to moisturize dry chapped skin.
Carrot Seed Oil - To reduce visibility of spider veins, mix 2 drops with 1 tablespoon vegetable carrier oil and massage into affected area once a day, preferably at bed time.
Eucalyptus - Apply a few drops to cleanse minor cuts or scraps.
Frankincense - To help smooth wrinkles, mix several drops with a vegetable carrier oil and massage face and neck each night before bedtime.
Geranium - Get a massage that uses this essential oil. With its diuretic and stimulating properties, geranium helps to increase circulation and may be a beneficial treatment for cellulite.
German Chamomile - Place an undiluted drop on a cold sore at the first sign of an outbreak.
Juniper - Treat acne or eczema by diluting 4 drops with a carrier oil and apply to affected areas several times a day. Juniper is a stimulating essential oil so try to avoid use before bedtime.
Lavender - Treat mature, aging, dry, blotchy skin with Lavender floral water (2 - 3 drops lavender per ounce of filtered water). Lavender's astringent properties help to tone the skin.
Marjoram - Apply a cold compress made with several drops of marjoram diluted with a tablespoon of a carrier oil to bruised areas to speed healing.
Myrtle - Put mixture of 8 drops myrtle and a tablespoon carrier oil wash cloth and place over skin areas affected by shingles to relieve pain.
Neroli - Add a few drops to a mild fragrance free lotion and use as a facial moisturizer to rejuvenate mature skin.
Peppermint - Also good for relieving pain and itching from shingles, add a few drops to a mild lotion and apply to affected areas.
Rose - Relieve swollen tired eyes by mixing several drops rose with cool purified water. Soak a gauze pad in the floral water and place gauze pads on eyelids and under eyes. Be aware that you should never apply essential oils directly into your eyes.
Tea Tree - Apply a cool tea tree compress to insect bites to relieve pain.
Yarrow - The anti-inflammatory properties of yarrow can help relieve skin rashes. Either create a cool compress or massage diluted yarrow directly onto affected areas.
There are many more essential oils with many more uses for skin care than is listed above. Keep in mind that no matter which essential oil you are using for a particular skin issue, in addition to receiving the benefits to your skin, you will also receive the aromatic benefits to your emotions and psyche.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or licensed aromatherapist. All information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Please seek professional advice for any condition you may have.
The information provided here is of great use. Just wanted to drop a comment and say I am new to your blog and really like the information about aromatherapy essential oils and skin care. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOnce again thanks for all these skincare tips. I will have to check out Vitacost and get some of these products.
ReplyDeleteObtain Aromatherapy! It essential oil has a cooling, anesthetic quality because of its high menthol content. It can make your skin feel chilly or cool when applied during massage.
ReplyDelete