Sunday 22 December 2013

HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS ON THE SKIN

I'm personally a fan of utilising essential oils not just for aromatherapy but for skin care as well. I wanted to share with you some easy methods on how I use them. Essential oils, the right ones anyway are truly multi-functional serums. 

In future posts, I will go though how I use individual essential oils and what they're good for. In the meantime, I hope you will try these methods out with the essential oils you are already using.



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In Face Cream
We like to keep it simple - Place the amount of face cream you would normally use in the palm of your clean hand. Add 1/2 pump or 1/4 pump (if your skin is sensitive) to your face cream. Rub your hands together, throughly mixing the essential oil to your face cream. Do not rub in, but pat formula gently onto face. Do this quickly to prevent the essential oil from evaporating.

In Body Moisturiser
Method 1:
Add 1/2 pump to oil-based body moisturiser (the amount you would use on your whole body) or 1 pump to water-based body moisturiser into a small mixing bowl and stir well. Smother generously onto the body. 
Water based body moisturisers are viscous and thin in texture. Oil based moisturisers are usually sold in tubs and are thick and creamy. Oil-based moisturisers make a better base when mixed with essential oils. So, less is required.
Method 2:
This method is appropriate for target treatment. For example, if you were treating cellulite on just your upper thigh : use 1/4 pump of lemongrass oil to the amount of moisturiser you would use on just your thighs. Mix in the palms of your hands by rubbing it together and applying quickly onto target area.

In a Hot Bath
Add 3-4 pumps into a fully drawn warm or hot bath with bath salts. The bath salts will break up the oils. If you are having a luxurious milk bath, bath salts are not necessary. The milk will break up the oils.
Alternatively, if you don't enjoy using bath salts, you can pre-mix the essential oils with 1/2 a glass of milk. This will also break-up the essential oils. Pour the milk-oil mixture into the bath.
Remember - Do not add the essential oils while the bath is being drawn as the essential oils will evaporate. Only add the oils just before you step into the bath.

As A Warm Compress
Add 1 pump of essential oil to a small bowl of warm water. Soak your hand towel into it and place onto forehead or infected cut.

Directly Onto Skin
Not all essential oils can be used directly onto skin as they can cause hypersensitivity. Carrier oils like Argan, Rosehip and Sweet Almond Oil are safe to use pure, directly onto skin or hair.
Lavender is the only essential oil that many essential oil encyclopaedias mention as safe to use directly onto skin. 
Rarely would we suggest using even small amounts dabbed directly onto skin. The exception would be Tea Tree onto acne and Lemongrass onto a cold-sore. Simply use a very small amount onto the tip of a cotton bud and dab (not rub) onto a stubborn pimple or cold-sore. It will kill the bacteria without drying out the surrounding skin like pharmacy bought pimple creams. Lemongrass oil is safe if accidentally ingested in small amounts. However, you need to be extra careful with Eucalyptus oil. It has been known to be toxic when ingested. This is one of the reasons we do not recommend its use on the face. Tea-tree is a better alternative.

In A Spritz Bottle
Add 2 pumps to 500ml of water in a spritz/spray bottle. Shake well before use. Use to scent your body or hair. Use Eucalyptus which is high in anti-bacterial qualities as a body spray to keep pimples, insects and other infections at bay.


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There are so many recipes for great massage oils. But we try and keep it simple. Simply add 1/2 pump of essential oil (tea tree, lmongrass, eucalyptus) to 3 pumps of carrier oil (rosehip, argan). About the house - olive oil can also be used as a carrier base. Please do not use baby oil as a base. It will defeat the purpose of using our certified organic, chemical free oils.
Baby oils are mineral oils (petroleum products) usually containing aloe vera extract, Vit E, acetate and fragrance. Mineral oils clog pores causing pimples, and contain chemicals which may be harmful to your skin.

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