Aromatherapy Treatment for Congested Skin

Facial Sauna for Congested Skin

Most skins benefit from a deep-cleansing steam treatment once or twice a week, especially congested or oily skin that is prone to spots and blackheads.

Begin by cleansing your skin in the normal way To prepare the facial sauna, fill a heatproof mixing bowl with near boiling water, then add two or three drops of any of the following essential oils: lavender, tea tree, frankincense, juniper berry. lemon­ grass, rosemary.

Hold your head over the steam and cover your head and the bowl with a towel to trap the aromatic vapours. Stay there for about five minutes.
Splash your face with tepid water.

Aromatherapy Face Pack for Dry and Flaky Skin

1 teaspoon liquid honey
2 teaspoons mashed avocado

Mix together to form a smooth paste, then apply to your face and neck. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, before rinsing off with tepid water.

Aromatherapy Treatments for Chopped Lips

Aromatherapy Lip Balm for Chapped Lips

This deliciously flavored lip balm takes only a few minutes to make. It will moisturize, soften and protect your lips beautifully.

1 teaspoon beeswax granules (or grated beeswax if using a block)
3 teaspoons jojoba
1 teaspoon castor oil
½ teaspoon runny honey
1 drop rose essential oil

Put the beeswax, jojoba, castor oil and honey in a heatproof basin over a pan of simmering water. Stir continuously until the beeswax has completely dissolved. Remove from the heat, add the essential oil and stir thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a little glass pot with a tight-Fitting lid.

As these products do not contain water, they have a shelf-life of three to four months. However, it's important to check regularly for signs of mould. They freeze well if stored in plastic containers and you may wish to save time by making a double quantity for long term use.

Aromatherapy Treatments for Dry Flaky Skin

Special Aromatherapy Cream for Dry Flaky Skin

7 g beeswax granules (or grated beeswax if using a block)
25ml sweet almond oil
Contents of 3 x 500mg evening primrose oil capsules
30ml rosehip seed oil
30ml distilled water or rosewater
5 drops rose essential oil

Put the beeswax and vegetable oils into a heatproof bowl placed over a pan of simmering water. Warm the distilled water in another bowl placed over another pan of simmering water. Stir the beeswax and oil mixture continuously until the beeswax has dissolved. Remove the bowl from the heat and add the evening primrose oil (pierce the capsules with a pin and squeeze the contents into the mixture) and stir well. Add the distilled water, a teaspoonful at a time, while beating with a rotary whisk or electric mixer set at the lowest speed. Keep beating until the cream begins to thicken, then stir in the essential oil. Spoon the mixture into little glass pots with tight-fitting lids.

As these creams contain water, they are vulnerable to developing mould. However, they will usually keep for two or three months if stored in a refrigerator or cool larder. To ensure maximum shelf-life, avoid dipping your fingers in the cream; use a teaspoon or cosmetic spatula instead.

Aromatherapy Skin Cream for Dry Flaky Skin

7 g beeswax granules (or grated beeswax if using a block)
15g cocoa butter
45ml sweet almond oil
35ml distilled water or orange flower water
5 drops neroli essential oil

Put the beeswax, cocoa butter and sweet almond oil into a heatproof bowl placed over a pan of simmering water. Warm the distilled water in another bowl placed over another pan of simmering water. Stir the beeswax, cocoa butter and oil mixture continuously until the beeswax has completely dissolved. Remove the bowl from the heat and slowly add the warmed distilled water, a teaspoonful at a time, while beating with a rotary whisk or electric mixer set at the lowest speed. Keep beating until the cream begins to cool and thicken, then stir in the essential oil.

As these creams contain water, they are vulnerable to developing mould. However, they will usually keep for two or three months if stored in a refrigerator or cool larder. To ensure maximum shelf-life, avoid dipping your fingers in the cream; use a teaspoon or cosmetic spatula instead.

Aromatherapy Lip Salve for Chapped Lips

1 teaspoon beeswax granules
4 teaspoons macerated calendula oil
1 ½ teaspoon runny honey
1 drop Roman chamomile essential oil

Put the beeswax, calendula oil and honey in a heat­proof basin over a pan of simmering water. Stir the mixture continuously until the beeswax has completely dissolved. Remove from the heat, add the essential oil and stir thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a little glass pot with a tight-fitting lid.

As these products do not contain water, they have a shelf-life of three to four months. However, it's important to check regularly for signs of mould. They freeze well if stored in plastic containers and you may wish to save time by making a double quantity for long term use.

Aromatherapy Treatment for Spotty Skin

Special Aromatherapy Gel Recipes for Spotty Skin

25ml aloe vera gel
1 drop tea tree
1 drop lavender

Put the aloe vera gel into a spotlessly clean cosmetic jar, then stir in the essential oils until thoroughly mixed. To ensure that the essential oils retain their maximum potency, don't be tempted to make larger quantities. The amount suggested here should be enough to last for seven to 10 days. After this time, make a fresh batch if necessary. Apply the gel two or three times a day after cleansing, for as long as required.

Aromatherapy Treatment for Acne

Homemade Aromatherapy Acne Lotion
The full-srength lotion recipe is especially helpful if spots are oozing. Apply twice daily for 10 days, then, as the condition improves, reduce the quantity of essential oil by half and continue for a further 10 days. After this time, take a break from the oils and use a simple lotion such as distilled witch hazel or diluted cider vinegar (one part vinegar to eight parts water) for two to three weeks, before resuming with aromatherapy. Occasionally you may need to return to the full-strength blend for a few days to keep bacteria at bay. If you cannot obtain myrtle oil, tea tree may be substituted.

Full-Strength Lotion
10 ml cider vinegar
2 drops frankincense essential oil
4 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops myrtle essential oil
125ml distilled water

Reduced-Strength Lotion
10ml cider vinegar
1 drop frankincense essential oil
2 drops lavender essential oil
1 drop myrtle essential oil
125ml distilled water

Funnel the cider vinegar into a dark gloss bottle, then odd the essential oils and shake well to disperse the oil. Top up with distilled water and shake again. Remember to shake each time before use. Apply with damp cotton wool pods.