4 of 9

Write now Article Tools

Page 3 of 3

a risk to a person, as the amount absorbed is minute.

Everyone's skin is different, at different stages of their life too, so the following is only a guideline. Essential oils can be applied in a number of ways; they can simply be blended together in a base lotion or oil and applied to the skin, or used in spritzer' sprays, bubble baths or shower gels. Aromatherapy soap (made with true essential oils) is now also becoming a popular natural skincare product. Base lotions or oils in themselves carry many therapeutic properties which can be used for different types of skin so combining the right' base oil with the right' essential oil for your skin type can prove invaluable.

However, some essential oils are more volatile than others as they are made up of more volatile chemicals and may cause skin sensitisation in some individuals. Usually in dilution the risk is minimised. Examples of more volatile essential oils include lemongrass (cymbopogon citratus) and red thyme (thymus vulgaris).

Moisturizing is the key to reliving dry skin. As there may be some sensitivity with dry skin, gentle essential oils are recommended. These include rose (rosa damascena), roman chamomile (chamaemelum nobile), lavender (lavandula angustifolia), patchouli (pogostemon cablin) and sandalwood (santalum album). If using a base oil to blend the essential oils in, carrier oils such as evening primrose, hazelnut and avocado are good nourishing, hydrating bases.

Although everyone tries to slow down the aging process, it is an inevitable fact of life! For natural solutions for more mature skin and help to stimulate cell growth and minimise wrinkles, try the essential oils of lavender (lavandula angustifolia), neroli (citrus aurantium var amara), frankincense (boswellia carteri), palmarosa (cymbopogon martinii) and clary sage (salvia sclarea). Vitamin E bases are beneficial for mature skin, including borage and wheatgerm.

Spots, congestion and other nuances are often the result of oily skin. To help balance the natural PH of oily skin, try using essential oils with antiseptic and astringent properties such as tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia), geranium (pelargonium graveolens), lemon (citrus limon) and cedarwood (cedrus atlantica). Light and easily absorbed base oils such as apricot kernel and jojoba can be used for blending.

Other useful essential oils for skin care include petitgrain, myrrh, fennel, ylang ylang, rosemary and thyme.

There are hundreds of businesses selling aromatherapy skin care products today, as part of natural skin care products, so it is essential to know your facts about them to ensure what you are buying is, in fact, natural'. It is also relatively easy to make your own skin care products for aromatherapy for the bath, as a massage oil or lotion, scrubs, hand and body lotions and cleansers to name a few. Whether buying or making natural products, true natural products for skincare are surely more beneficial for the skin, than those that are by all accounts, more chemicals than natural'.

References:

De Feydeau, Elisabeth (2006) A Scented Palace' London, UK

Giordano Carlo, Casale Angelandrea (1992) Perfumes, ungents and hairstyles in Pompeii' (Profumi, ungenti e acconciature in pompei antica') 2nd edition bardi editore Roma, Italia

cosmeticdatabase.com

safe cosmetics.org

Learn more about this author, Sharon Falsetto.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3

Add your voice

Know something about Skin care with natural products?
We want to hear your view. Write now!