How to use essential oils for skin

The importance of using essential oils for skincare the right way cannot be overemphasised. Here are a few rules:

A little goes a long way

These are very concentrated plant materials. In almost all cases, a single drop is plenty, and in many cases, less than a drop is needed to nourish, soothe or protect your skin.

Always test for sensitivity

Everyone is different and what may be the most popular essential oil may actually be irritating to your particular skin. If you are using the highest quality available and still experiencing issues, try switching to another brand. The good thing about essential oils is that you can always find one with similar compounds and properties, so there is always a substitute.

Dilution is important

You may be able to use some oils undiluted, especially if they are pure, but doing so can increase your risk of skin sensitivity, both now and down the road. And dilution is actually extremely helpful. Because of the small molecules of essential oils, they have a tendency to evaporate quickly on the skin. Dilution helps diminish evaporation, and increase absorption, getting more benefit to your skin. At the same time, depending on the type of dilution you choose, it can also moisturise and nourish your skin. [Coconut oil, for instance, is great for the skin and works great as a carrier oil for your essential oils, too]

Choose the right carrier oil for you

Coconut oil, jojoba oil, and almond oil tend to be the favourites for diluting essential oils for skin, but everyone’s skin is different. You can also add your essential oil to your moisturiser, sunscreen, or aloe vera. Those last three may be tricky though. Basically you want a lipid [a fat] to mix with the essential oil and not all moisturisers and creams are lipids. This means that they may not mix well or protect your skin. You must experiment and be sure to only use fat solubles with “hot” oils.

Essential types for skincare

Let’s understand which essential oils are suited for different skincare needs.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is widely used to soothe minor skin irritations and redness. Because it has a calming effect on the emotions, it can be a good oil to use for any skin concerns that show up when we’re under stress. And its properties help keep the problem areas clean. You can try the following:

1. Add a drop of lavender to your mascara to encourage lash health
2. Dilute 1 drop in about a teaspoon of your favourite carrier oil or lipid-based moisturiser to dab on blemishes
3. Add to witch hazel (about a drop per ounce) to make your own toner.

Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense is a favourite of many, probably because of its ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and even older scars. This might be because of its monoterpene content and its ability to promote healthy cellular function. The best way to use frankincense is to add it to your daily moisturiser. You can pre-mix this in some moisturisers or add a small dab to your daily routine.

Helichrysum Essential Oil

Helichrysum is another essential oil renowned for its skincare properties. It helps to soothe your skin after a long day in the sun, improves complexion, and is known to reduce the appearance of both wrinkles and blemishes. Many people like apply a small dab of this on problem areas, but you can also mix a drop in aloe vera, coconut oil, or your favorite moisturiser, and apply where needed.

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Melaleuca, or tea tree, has a cleansing and rejuvenating effect on skin, and is especially popular for breakouts. It can also help to clean and promote healthy skin, especially with minor irritations. However, use caution with this oil. Tea Tree is most likely to be synthetic, adulterated, or contaminated, and because of this, many people may actually experience skin irritation from it. Try dabbing some high-quality tea tree oil directly on blemishes, or add it to your daily face wash regimen.

Sandalwood Essential Oil

Sandalwood is another precious [and also, expensive] essential oil for the skin. It’s calming, soothing, and often used in anti-aging blends. I love to apply a small dab over my forehead to help calm my mind before bed, since this is right over my “thinking lines,” too. If mixed with a carrier oil such as almond, jojoba, or coconut, it can make a great moisturiser for dry, itchy skin. You can also mix a small amount in lotion or aloe vera to make your own after-shave cream or gel.

Oregano Essential Oil

Oregano’s high levels of antioxidants are great for two things: keeping the skin clean and clearing up minor skin concerns and boosting the immune and digestive systems. You may have noticed that your immune and digestive systems often cause skin problems in the form of blemishes, complexion, lack of colour or vibrancy, and even minor irritations, dryness, or other concerns. Oregano is a very hot oil though and therefore you should never use it undiluted. Start by adding one drop to a teaspoon of carrier oil and working your way up from there as needed. Try dabbing the diluted mix onto blemishes on your feet, hands, or nails, or apply the dilution over skin irritation. Avoid the face though, as even in diluted form, it may still be too strong for sensitive areas [besides, you don’t’ want to come away smelling like an Italian restaurant!].

Lemon Essential Oil

Using lemon essential oil topically comes with a different precaution. Most citrus oils are known to be “photosensitive”. This means that going out into the sun after their application can cause irritation or even extreme sunburns, depending on various factors [even if you apply sunscreen]. That said, lemon makes a great astringent to take care of oily skin, improve complexion, and can even be dabbed on problem areas on the skin to help promote healthy tissue and cleansing. Try mixing several drops per ounce in something like witch hazel and using it on problem spots on your back.

As with all things, your unique skin and its needs will mean that certain oils will work great for you, while others won’t. Don’t be afraid to experiment, but don’t go crazy either. Be sure to follow the guidelines and precautions above and be a conscientious consumer by learning as much as you can about the oil you’re using.

The post The right way to use essential oils to boost your health and beauty appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

Here are a few home remedies that will help you get rid of that tan.

1. Multani mitti and lemon

Fuller’s Earth or multani mitti is a potent ingredient for every skin problem and lemon is rich in vitamin C and has natural bleaching properties. When these two ingredients come together, they make an excellent face mask for oily acne-prone skin. It will help in lightening the skin, deep cleanse pores and tighten the skin.

How to make

Take 1tbsp of multani mitti and add lemon juice to it to form the consistency of a cream. Apply all over the face and neck and keep it on for 30 mins. Once completely dry, wash it off with cold water and pat dry the skin. Apply aloe vera gel to moisturise and soothe the skin.

2. Yoghurt and honey

Yoghurt is loaded with zinc which is the best medicine for sun-scorched skin. It has natural bleaching properties that help lighten skin tan. Honey has moisturising properties. With regular usage, it adds a glow to the skin by restoring its deepest layers. It is loaded with anti-oxidants that slow down the signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines. Both honey and yoghurt together help to repair skin damage by sun. This face mask is the best option for those with normal to dry skin types.

How to make

Take 2tbsp of thick yoghurt and add 2tsp of honey to it. Stir the mixture well to form a creamy consistency. Apply the face mask and keep it on for 30 mins. Wash off with cold water and pat dry.

3. Milk cream and kesar [Saffron]

This face mask is the best choice for those with dry and sensitive skin. Milk cream helps in lightening the skin with its phenomenal brightening properties. Milk also soothes sunburn as it has cooling and skin-repairing properties. Saffron gives a healthy glow to the skin and helps in preventing acne and blemishes. Both together can lighten skin tan and pigmentation.

How to make

Take 5 – 6 strands of saffron and submerge it in 2tbsp of cold milk. In a clean bowl, add 1½ tbsp milk cream and add the saffron and milk. Stir the solution thoroughly to mix the goodness of saffron with the milk cream. With the help of a face pack brush, apply all over the face and neck. Keep it on for 30 min and rinse with water, then pat dry.

4. Potato, aloe vera and besan

Potato has certain elements that act as natural bleaching agents and hence is known for removing pigmentation from skin. An effective anti-ageing substance, potato also helps remove dead skin cells from the face.

Besan [gram flour] is a popular ingredient for its cleansing, lightening and moisturising properties. It is also a mild exfoliating agent, suitable for all skin types.

Aloe vera helps in soothing the sunburn. Together, these three ingredients can improve your complexion. This face pack is one of my favourites to remove sun tan.

How to make

Grate 1 potato and squeeze out the juice from it. Add 2tbsp of besan and 1 tbsp of aloe vera to it. Mix these thoroughly to form a cream like thick consistency; apply on the face. Keep it for around 30 mins and wash off with cold water.

5. Sandalwood powder and rose water

Sandalwood is a magical ingredient for skin lightening. The natural oils present in it effectively remove every layer of pigmentation, provided you use it regularly. It has several anti-ageing benefits for the skin as well. A face pack of sandalwood powder and rose water face is the epitome of goodness and makes the skin soft and supple.

How to make

In a clean bowl, add 2tbsp of sandalwood powder and rose water to form a thick paste. Apply all over the face and neck and keep it for around 40 mins. Once completely dry, wash it off with cold water and pat the skin dry. Apply aloe vera gel.

6. Tomato and honey

Tomato is super-rich in vitamin A, C and E, all of which are essential for healthy skin. Most of the skin damage is due to oxidation. Tomatoes and honey contain anti-oxidants, which help counter this effect. Apply this mask thrice a week and you’ll see the results within a month.

How to make

Take a juicy red tomato and cut it into half. Add 1tbsp of honey to the juicy flat surface and apply it on the face in circular motion. Keep doing it for around 5 – 10 mins. Once done, leave it like that for 15 – 20 mins and wash off with chilled water.

Tanning is a defence mechanism of our skin. When the skin is exposed to the UVB rays, it increases the production of melanin which, in turn, darkens our complexion in an uneven way, leading to various skin problems.

Skin glow juice

Here’s a recipe for a juice that will bring back that lost glow to your face. Have this juice daily, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and you will notice the difference within a month.

Ingredients

• 1 medium size carrot
• 1 medium size beet
• 1 tomato
• 2tbsp lemon juice
• 1tbsp honey
• 5 – 6 mint leaves
• 10 – 12 cilantro
• Salt [as per requirement]

Method

Put all the ingredients into a blender; blend thoroughly to form a pulpy juice. You can strain this if you want or have it as it is.

A few healthy diet choices and easy-to-make face masks is all it takes to keep your skin glowing this [and every!] summer.

The post 6 DIY face packs to lighten your skin tan appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.