Aromatherapy Skin Care

Aromatherapy – an ancient science dealing with application of essential oils extracted from flowers, trees, herbs and resins, is more than sixty centuries old. These oils have healing and cleansing properties and are also delightfully fragrant and mood-enhancing.

The ills of the modern life style – fast food, excessive pollution, stress, busy work schedule, lack of proper exercise – affect our physical and mental health adversely. Of late, wisely, a large number of people are reverting back to good old ways to regain equilibrium. Aromatherapy - using essential oils - is also being put into use as a remedy to various problems, skin care being one of them.

While practicing aromatherapy skin care the basic thing to be borne in mind is never to apply essential oils to any part of skin without diluting, even while inhaling. Further, the following aromatherapy skin care exercises will be helpful handy for cleansing and cellular renewal of skin, especially facial skin.

For deep cleansing of facial skin 3 to 5 drops of essential oil, mixed with a teaspoonful of milk or honey be poured in a pint of hot water. After putting this hot mixture in a stainless steel mixing bowl, the steam from this bowl should be taken on face and inhaled by leaning over the bowl and covering the head with a towel. This method is known as `Facial Steam’. In addition to deep cleansing the facial skin, breathing the steam in this manner also has relaxing effect.

Another aromatherapy skin care method, known as `Facial Masque’ is very helpful to keep the facial skin toned, fresh and hydrated. In this method 2-3 drops of essential oils are mixed with moistened clay, honey mashed avocado or egg white. This mixture is applied to lightly dampened face. When the masque starts drying and hardening (10-15 minutes) the masque is washed thoroughly.

To nourish and heal the facial skin about 10 drops of essential oil blend is added to carrier oil. Jojoba, Frankincense and German Chamomile oils are widely used, depending on the type of skin. This blend should be applied to problematic areas to have desired effects. This method is known as `Facial Oil Blend’.

Another aspect of aromatherapy skin care, to keep the skin refreshed and stimulate the lymphatic system, is `Skin Brushing’. A drop of essential oils with a tablespoonful of honey should be mixed and applied with the help of a natural bristle skin brush.

Selected suitably and used carefully, essential oils – being natural, safe and effective – can work wonder to the body and spirit even where other methods have not been fruitful. Aromatherapy has even been used successfully for treating traumatic cases. One should, however, ascertain the quality as a large number of cheap chemical copies of essential oils are also available in the market.