The Complete Essential Oils Sourcebook: A Practical Approach to the Use of Essential Oils for Health and Well-Being. Julia Lawless
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      A basic skin-care routine

      Different skin types require individual treatment but a good basic skin-care routine, which takes very little time, involves cleaning, toning, and moisturizing every morning and evening, and giving the skin extra-special nourishing, cleansing, and revitalizing treatments once a week. Recipes for basic oils, gels, and creams are given here, recipes for masks and moisturizers are on, and recipes for simple fresheners and toner/cleansers.

      Every morning

      heart Cleanse with a light cream or oil, then remove any excess with a cloth or pad and warm water.

      heart Refresh the face and neck with a flower water or toner/cleanser suited to your skin type.

      heart Apply a light moisturizing oil or cream (with sun protection if wished). Let it be absorbed by the skin before applying make-up, if worn.

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      Sources of ingredients

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      COCONUT

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      APRICOT KERNEL

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      AVOCADO

      Oils derived from fruits are nourishing and beneficial to the skin in many ways. Research has shown that they encourage the formation of fresh cells.

      Once a week

      heart To remove dead cells and debris from the skin surface, use dry skin brushing, a skin scrub, or an exfoliant.

      heart Give the face a nourishing massage (or receive a professional facial treatment) using rich oils, such as evening primrose, avocado, or borage. Massage with upward strokes.

      heart Give your face a steam treatment or facial sauna as described here. This opens the pores and deep-cleans the skin, to get rid of accumulated grime or dirt as well as detoxifying and bringing fresh blood to the surface.

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      heart Apply a mask made from natural ingredients, as shown right. The ingredients of the mask should be chosen according to skin type. For instructions on making a mask and choosing ingredients see here.

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      BEAUTY, ESPECIALLY SKIN- and hair-care, is central to the practice of aromatherapy. But while receiving a full body massage from a professional aromatherapist or having an aromatic facial in a beauty clinic is certainly a treat, it is not essential for maintaining a clear and healthy complexion. Many aromatic recipes are simple to make, and regular treatment can easily be carried out at home.

      Facial oils

      Facial oils are made up in the same way as general massage or body oils, except that the base or carrier oil, as well as the essential oils, can be adapted to the type of skin which is to be treated. Suitable carrier oils include avocado, olive, wheat germ, hazelnut, apricot kernel, peach kernel, borage seed, carrot, and evening primrose, as well as the more basic carrier oils such as sweet almond, grapeseed, jojoba, or sunflower oil. Apart from nourishing and toning the skin, facial oils can also be used for facial massage and local self-massage.

      Facial oil recipe

      Mix two parts of a basic carrier oil and one part of a specific carrier oil suited to the skin type, with 0.5 to 1 percent of an essential oil (or a blend of oils).

Base Oil Percentage Drops
1 tsp/5ml 0.5–1% 1
1 tbsp/15ml 0.5–1% 1–3
1fl oz/25ml 0.5–1% 3–5
2fl oz/50ml 0.5–1% 5–10
3½fl oz/100ml 0.5–1% 10–20

      Tapioca gel recipe

      Use 3½fl oz/100ml water to 1½ tsp/7.5ml tapioca. Mix and simmer until the tapioca is dissolved. Strain off the liquid and let it cool to form a transparent gel. Stir in a few drops of essential oil just before it sets.

      Facial creams

      An aromatic facial cream should moisturize, heal, and nourish the skin, trapping the moisture in, but also letting the skin breathe. To make up a basic cream at home, use the instructions here, based on what is traditionally known as Galen’s cold cream recipe.

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      Apart from nourishing and toning the skin, facial oils can be used for massage.

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      GRAPES

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      AVOCADO

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      HAZELNUTS

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      Making your own beauty treatment oils and creams enables you to choose ingredients best suited to your skin, СКАЧАТЬ