Essential Oil Skin Care Remedies

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.  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.

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 photo toxic, 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.  Following is a list of some of the more popular essential oils and how they can be used to care for the skin in various way.

·         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.

·         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.

·         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.  Nhould never apply essential oils directly into your eyes.

·         Tea Tree – Apply a cool tea tree compress to insect bites to relieve pain.

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.