There are a multitude of ways to extract and produce essential oils. All of these ways require equipment that is somewhat elaborate, as well as a significant amount of knowledge of the chemistry involved. The idea behind most extraction techniques is that essential oils are mixed differently with different materials, such as solvents, alcohol, oils and fats, but not with plain water. Because of this particular peculiarity, extracting essential oils has much to do with its inability to mix with water. The variety of methods are generally suited to different plants, depending on the chemical makeup of each particular type of plant that is being used to produce the essential oils at hand.
Steam distillation is the most popular method of extracting essential oils from plant. By suspending plants over boiling water, essential oils are pulled out of the plant with heat and steam, rising into a set of tubes where the steam is collected and deposited into a reservoir. Once the steam turns back into a liquid, the water and oil separate, making it easy to collect the oil and recycle the water to be utilized again in the steaming process, or kept for its aromatic properties. The water that is used in the distillation process generally has some new properties that are valued amongst aromatherapists. The fragrant compounds that remain in the water cause them to give off an aromatic scent. This aromatic water is frequently used in cosmetics and for skin moisturizing purposes.
The fastest and easiest method of producing these types of essential oils is to put them in a press in a process called expression, similar to the manufacturing of olive oil. In the case of plants, utilizing a press is somewhat difficult, but for citrus peels and other types of oily products, the press is fairly successful and effective at squeezing out all of the oils. Naturally, without the necessity for water and solvents, this is the least expensive method of producing the essential oils.
Enfleurage is an ancient method that is very rarely used in the modern day outside of France. The process is very long and involved and has become quite expensive over the years. Utilizing animal fat or lard, plant blossoms were set up on warm fat that would absorb the essence from the flowers and become incorporated into the fat. Once the fat has absorbed plenty of aromatic scent, the fat is separated from the essential oils with solvent. This process is generally considered too difficult and costly to be utilized in the modern-day, despite its centuries old traditional use.
The least popular method of extracting essential oils is to use solvents. This is unpopular due to the fact that there is a chance that traces of solvent may remain even though they are supposedly completely removed from the essential oils. Basically, the aromatic product is dissolved in the solvent and then the solvent is boiled away, sometimes assisted by a centrifuge or a vacuum to separate the solvent from the essential oils. This process is very expensive and is reserved for very specific types of essential oils that cannot be distilled.
Essential oils are important for a sense of relaxation. By using the purest products, such as organic soaps, the necessary vitamins and minerals can be consumed. As the tissues around the eye are very delicate, night creams are highly recommended to achieve flawless skin.
Women are always on the lookout for something that will make them feel beautiful on the outside as well as on the inside. There are many women out there who spend a lot of money on this pursuit, and while it may be quite effective, many women are now-a-days forgoing the homemade remedies that are perfectly fine. It’s much better if they are helped by Spa place.
Most women have learned the art of the homemade facial mask, but there are a surprising number who do not have the best recipes. The homemade facial mask is truly a lost art, but it is something that is making somewhat of a combat, especially considering the state of the economy worldwide. The homemade facial mask is probably one of the oldest beauty secrets, so instead of just giving this out step by step, it’s probably best that we get right into perfecting the technique.
Tips and Tricks. Preparing for the facial mask is something that has probably has to be the most important thing, because we all want this to go over as best as it possibly can. Firstly, make sure the face is thoroughly cleansed before the process starts. By doing this, you are removing much of the dirt that may be on your face, which can actually have something of an adverse effect on your face.
Afterwards, cleanse with warm water and apply your favorite moisturizer. Once the mask is on, you remember that it should be left there from 3-10 minutes, depending on the type of facial masks. Also, if a woman has what they would call ‘combination skin,’ there is nothing wrong with using two different types of masks. This is something that should be taken to heart, as some women feel as if it will damage the skin.
In most cases, it is perfectly fine. There is also nothing wrong than adding an extra ingredient in there for good measure. For instance, if you’re one prone to oily skin, add in a ripe tomato and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. This also works with oatmeal, as it is a great way to remove some of the oil from the face.
There is really no going wrong in using facials masks that are homemade, as at one point every facial mask was a homemade facial mask. The best thing about using this particular method, regardless of your approach, is that you do not have to worry about some of the chemicals causing an allergic reaction on the face.
Additionally, many of the ingredients in the homemade facial mask are already in the kitchen, making this a genuinely cost effective way of beautifying the skin. Whether it is the famed milk or egg masks, implementing these tips in your homemade masks are a great way for you to get the results that you deserve. With the homemade face masks, it’s genuinely hard to go wrong. Not only are you saving a few extra dollars, you’re also producing an effect comparable to one of the expensive spas out there.
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Pure essential oils are found in many of the world’s finest beauty care preparations for mature skin, with very good reason. Known effects of essential oils include stimulation of cellular metabolism, tissue regeneration, antioxidant action, anti-inflammatory effects, and hormone-like activity. These benefits form the therapeutic foundation for topical support of the health and beauty of aging skin. And while essential oils used in natural skin care many not sound as exclusive as some fancy laboratory-made concoctions from Europe, their results can certainly be as profound. The added plus being you can make a blend precisely suited to your skin’s needs at a fraction of the cost of the high-end European imports. All the ingredients you’ll require are often available at your local health food store, with the more exotic items found on the internet from providers of therapeutic-grade aromatherapy supplies.
The Chemistry of Therapeutic Skin Care
You may ask, “What makes essential oils and their complementary carrier oils so effective for natural skin care?” The answer is found in nature herself. It happens that the elemental structures of plant oils are beautifully and decidedly compatible with that of our skin. Essential oils are easily absorbed through the skin’s various layers, and even through the skin’s individual cell walls. And the essential oils offer a myriad of healthful effects: they supply important nutrients and, they detoxify the skin, and they even signal skin cells to heal themselves! This compatibility makes the process of creating and using your own formulas extremely simple. One only need blend together a few ingredients to create a state-of-the-art healing and nourishing formula for better looking and feeling skin.
Carrier Oils: The Base of Your Formula
Let’s have a look at the carrier oils, also aptly named ‘base’ oils. These are oils cold-pressed from seeds, nuts and fruit that will make up the foundation of any formula. There are several to choose from that support the health and beauty of mature skin. These natural oils will form 95-98% of your blend, with the essential oils being added as the ‘active ingredients’. Avocado is first on the list, being included in many recipes for its hydrating and nutritive properties. Avocado is especially suited to dry skin, and should make up about one-fifth of the ‘base’ for dry-to-normal skin. Next is Apricot Kernel, also highly recommended for dry-to-normal skin, or for irritated and damaged skin. Apricot can make up the entire base if you so desire. Evening Primrose is a highly nutritive oil with a significant amount of essential fatty acids - important for building healthy tissues. Evening Primrose can make up to one quarter of the base. Hazelnut oil is very common in skin care blends, as it is well tolerated by all skin types. It can be especially useful for those with a tendency toward oily skin, as it has mildly astringent properties. Despite the seeming contradiction to applying ‘oil’ to an already ‘oily’ complexion, Hazelnut is recommended in the most advanced medical aromatherapy texts for this use - it can make up to 100% of the base. Perhaps the most important carrier oil to consider for mature skin is Rosehip seed - pressed from the seeds of a wild rose from South America, it contains research-validated vitamin A compounds that act like natural ‘Retin-A’, enhancing the skin’s natural regeneration, lessening the appearance of fine lines, supporting healthy skin that may have endured sun-damage, and unifying skin coloration. Rosehip seed can, and should, make up to one quarter of your base recipe. For example, a four-ounce base formula specific for dry-to-normal skin may be one ounce Avocado, one ounce Rosehip seed and two ounces of Apricot Kernel - other oils should be substituted according to your skin type.
Therapeutic and Aromatic Magic: The Essential Oils
And now for the magic ingredients, the essential oils: Carrot Seed essential oil is distilled from the seeds of Wild Carrot, Daucus carota. It is considered one of the most potent revitalizing essential oils for the skin where one’s lifestyle and/or environment may have taken their toll on the skin’s vibrancy. Also for revitalizing the skin, Rosemary Verbenone can be highly effective - this is a type of rosemary essential oil containing a higher amount of regenerative ketones than common rosemary. The essential oil ‘displays its main activity in the dermis (the middle layer of the skin), where it stimulates the metabolic functions, circulation, and elimination of waste products’ according to Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, one of America’s leading medical aromatherapists, in his ‘Advanced Aromatherapy’. And perhaps the most revered essential oil of all for women’s skin is Rose Otto. This really belongs in every women’s skin care recipe — despite its high cost, its value cannot be underestimated. Only the tiniest amounts are needed; even 1/2% (4 drops per ounce) will have an excellent therapeutic result (and the aroma is absolutely heavenly!)
Estrogen Balancing at the Cellular Level
Clary Sage essential oil is considered to be particularly suited to natural beauty care. It contains sclareol, which mimics the effects of estrogen; this is noted by one expert author as the primary reason it helps with skin aging. It may also be the reason Clary Sage is said to regulate the skin’s secretions, bringing balance to both over-dry and over-oily skin. Elsewhere, it is noted as relaxing - even mildly euphoric - which may also contribute to its positive effects for wrinkles. Sweet Fennel is another ‘estrogenic’ essential oil, called for by Valerie Worwood in ‘The Complete Book of Essential Oils’ as an ingredient in wrinkle-preventative blends for all ages.
The Nutritive Oils
A couple of lesser known yet highly effective skin care specialty oils are Cistus and Sea Buckthorn. Cistus is distilled from the Rock Rose flower, with astringent qualities used for firming the skin. Some Cistus varieties tend to have a rather medicinal aroma, but truly fine ones are sweet and alluring. Sea Buckthorn is pleasingly sweet, and should be considered for blends for all skin types. Found as a CO2 distillation (not to be confused with the cold-pressed Sea Buckthorn carrier oil) the essential oil is a deep red color, indicating the high concentration of carotenes, vitamin A precursors so important to skin health. The virtues of Sea Buckthorn have been hailed by users with a wide variety of skin conditions and types at every age - it is useful in very small amounts, and need only make up 1% of your recipe to enjoy its benefits.
Balancing and Regeneration
Of course no discussion of skin care and aromatherapy would be complete without Lavender. True lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) can be included in aromatherapy blends for skin at any age. It may be especially supportive of aging skin through its combination of anti-inflammatory, balancing, and regenerative actions. Lavender is also well-known for its relaxing effects, and its support for stress reduction may quickly result in improving your skin’s appearance. For those whom enjoy its floral aroma, Lavender may be added in whatever concentration one chooses to impart its aromatic quality to the formula. For an even stronger anti-inflammatory and regenerative effect, use Helichrysum essential oil (also known as Everlasting or Immortelle). Helichrysum may be the most profoundly healing essential oil for damaged skin, often called for in blends for healing wounds or reducing the appearance of scars. If you are combining aromatherapy with other treatments such as microdermabrasion, Helichrysum would be an important ingredient in your blend.
Putting It All Together
The recipes for natural skin for mature skin are quite simple. A good starting place is the following ratio: ten drops of each essential oil to every one ounce of carrier oil. For example, if you have four total ounces of carrier oil, use forty drops of each essential oil. More essential oil is rarely better when blending a formula for the skin - many essential oils work best at low concentrations with some oils potentially irritating the skin at high doses. A good rule of thumb is to keep your overall concentration of essential oils below five percent of the total concentration. This ratio works out to about thirty drops per ounce of carrier. If you are designing your own recipe, you can start with equal amounts of essential oil in your blend. Some oils will have more powerful aromas than others; most of these very potent aromas will be oils that you will want to use in smaller quantities. You can also adjust according to your aromatic preferences as well, thus creating a formula that not only supports your skin’s health and metabolism, but smells lovely too.
And for the Man in the House?
Though many of these ingredients are preferred for women’s beauty care, comparable recipes are also used by men. A more masculine formula can be created using essential oils from woods - Cedarwood and Sandalwood are both good examples, having excellent therapeutic properties. Both Frankincense and Myrrh essential oils both have warm earthy aromas and are also noted for their positive effects on aging skin. Including oils purely for their aromas is always an option, too! Please note, there are a there are a few oils that should not be applied to the face: Cinnamon, Oregano, Clove and Red Thyme; pressed citrus as well as Angelica Root oil are ‘phototoxic’ (make the skin more sensitive to UV rays) and should not be applied to skin that will be exposed to sunlight in the following 72 hours. If you’re not sure about a particular essential oil, check with a reliable resource.
You Too Can Make Your Own High End Skin Care!
Creating your own personal therapeutic skin care blend is a wonderful aromatherapy project for beginning and advanced practitioners alike. You’ll have an effective mixture made just for your skin type, and that you can adjust according to your needs in the future. Plus it’s fun to do, and easier on the pocket book than high-end commercial formulations. As always when starting out with these medicines from nature, be aware of you’re body’s responses to the oils, respect their potency, and most of all, have fun!
The author regularly employs pure aromatherapy essential oils and Bach flower essence therapy in her practice.