We all fall into our regular habits but perhaps it's time to incorporate an aromatherapy skin care product into our regular line of creams and lotions.
There are many easy aromatherapy recipes available out there for every type of skin. From aromatherapy bath product to creams and lotions, the selection is almost endless.
Some people refer to this as cosmetic aromatherapy since the aromas are included in your cosmetic line of products. Some specific essential oils are known for their rejuvenating effect on the skin. They help by stimulating the regeneration of new skin cells and regulating blood circulation. These oils include:
Before expanding on how these essential oils can be included in your aromatherapy skin care product, you should be familiar with the three layers that make up your skin:
Epidermis. This is the first, outer layer that is composed of old cells.
Dermis. This is the middle layer and it is thicker than the epidermis. The dermis contains new skin cells, blood vessels, hair follicles, sensory nerve endings, sweat glands and other important cells.
Subcutaneous Layer. The subcutaneous layer is home to muscles and fatty tissue.
The aromatherapy skin care product that you choose will act on your epidermis, the outer layer on your skin. Because of the dead cells that are present on this layer, it is important to exfoliate on a regular basis to allow the new cells from the dermis to make their way onto the epidermis. This will result in a smoother, softer and healthier-looking skin.What Type of Skin Do You Have?Most people classify skin types in three general categories. Before you can select your aromatherapy skin care product, you will need to define your skin type.
Normal. Normal skin is best described as children's skin. No blemishes, no wrinkles, not dry, not oily. It becomes quite rare for people to have normal skin after puberty.
Oily. Lots of teenagers have oily skin, sometimes accompanied by acne and blackheads.
Over production of sebum is the culprit for oily skin. Like the dermatalogist told me (during my adolescence), there is an upside to oily skin. It normally means that your skin will age more slowly than normal or dry skin. Turned out that I still have oily skin in my thirties. Thankfully there are products like Proactiv Solution 5-piece kit that make my oily skin and zits a thing of the past!
Dry and/or Sensitive. Dry skin lacks lubrification because of a lack of sebum production. At times, people also suffer from dehydrated skin, which is different in the sense that it lacks moisture. Dehydration of the skin can even affect people with oily skin. Identifying dry skin is easy. Pores are normally quite small, but dry spots, itchiness and wrinkles are common. Sensitive skin is delicate and normally dry. It requires a lot of moisture and additional protection from the elements.
You certainly realize that your skin can be a combination of two or more of these skin types. A lot of people have an oily T-zone (forehead, nose and chin) with dry skin on the rest of the face.
Your skin type may and probably will change as you age. It's why it's important to reassess your skin type each decade or so.
Choosing an Aromatherapy Skin Care Product
The selection of your aromatherapy skin care product will depend on your skin type.
Normal. Most essential oils would be suitable for normal skin, except for those that cause irritation.
Chamomile,lavender,neroli,
rose, rosewood and geranium are good choices.
Oily. To improve the appearance of your oily skin, you can try the following essential oils: tea tree,
ylang ylang,bergamot,lavender,
grapefruit, juniper berry and cypress.
If you have oily skin, you should resist using alcohol-based products or chemicals that are too harsh. You may think that they make your skin feel less oily just after applying them, but these products dry out the skin, which sends out a signal to produce more sebum to compensate for the dryness. In the end, you are really making things worse.
Dry and/or Sensitive. The essential oils recommended for normal skin are also recommended for dry skin, as well as
sandalwood
and jasmine. For sensitive skin, rose, melissa,
neroli
and
chamomile
are recommended. Frankincense can help reduce wrinkles.
It is important to note that for sensitive skin, you need to use low concentration of essential oils (e.g., 0.5% or 1%) and start by applying a small amount to an unexposed area and monitor for any reaction.
Because of the sensitivity of this type of skin, alcohol-based products and chemical products are not recommended. But dry and sensitive skin should be moisturized several times a day using a light creamy lotion instead of a heavy moisturizer.
Note: The information contained on this aromatherapy skin care page is for educational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a physician and/or other specialist. Precautions must be taken to ensure aromatherapy does not conflict with existing medical conditions.
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