I am calling July Skin Month. We all have it and we all have to look after it. Men have to get over their hang-up that skin care is effeminate and start taking care - getting into the habit of protecting, cleansing and nourishing your skin benefits you and sets a good example for the children in your life.
Skin Cleansing
If you have sensitive skin, you can't beat Yarrow Hydrosol for cleansing and detoxifying - just spritz it on your face and gently wipe away make up or any grime that accumulates during the day. Like all essential oils and hydrosols it has many other uses in addition to a skin cleanser. Because Yarrow is an anti-inflammatory, it soothes most itchy skin conditions whether from eczema or insect bites. It is recommended for spiritual use as it has a high energy, and is great for cleansing crystals and the aura.
Skin Nourishment
Getting back to your skin care: now that you've cleansed, it's time to nourish with a good natural moisturizer. You can add essential oils chosen for your particular skin care needs.
Mature Skin
If you have mature skin then add anti-aging essential oils such as Rose, Carrot, Chamomile (German), Lemon, Orange and Geranium. Add one of these or a combination of them to your cream at least twice a day. At bedtime put plenty on as it will do its work while you sleep. Use a little less in the morning. I put mine on after my shower and then have breakfast so it has time to soak in before I put makeup on.
Oily Skin
To nourish and feed oily skin use a blend of Geranium essential oil and Grapefruit essential oil in a non-greasy carrier oil. Emu oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties, is non-greasy, does not clog the pores, is highly penetrating and does not promote the growth of bacteria.
Regular massage on the face will increase the circulation of the tiny blood vessels that feed the growing layer of skin. Add a few drops of Sandalwood essential oil and Geranium essential oil to a good cream and massage the face every night before bed. These particular essential oils have a balancing effect and will help to increase the amount of sebum secreted by the little glands beneath the skin. Also consider massaging the cheek areas with Shea butter at night occasionally.
New Kits
With all this thinking about skin, we have decided to create two skin kits: one for normal skin and one for teenagers.
For the teenage, sensitive or troubled skin we've included: Helichrysum Hydrosol for gently cleansing sensitive skin; Carrot Seed essential oil which is a great antiseptic and promotes the release of toxins; Grapefruit essential oil which is a diuretic and is a good decongestant for oily and acne prone skin; a good moisturizing base cream to add these oils to for healing and calming troubled skin; and Rosehip carrier oil which is said to reduce inflammation and regenerate scar tissue. Rosehip oil contains vitamins C and E and a derivative of vitamin A- trans-retinoic acid, a potent anti-inflammatory that helps to heal dermatitis, eczema, or psoriasis.
The kit for normal skin includes: Yarrow Hydrosol for cleansing and detoxifying; Geranium essential oil which is balancing, antiseptic and astringent; Lemon essential oil which is anti-bacterial, antiseptic and a great immuno-stimulant (it is also a lymph drainer that gets rid of the toxins that cause the eruptions and blemishes on your face); a moisturizing base cream which is a good carrier for the essential oils; and Evening Primrose oil which is high in gamma linoleic acid which rejuvenates skin cells and is thought to prevent premature aging.
Read further on to find out about our July promotion!
Aromatically yours,
Barb
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