One of the fastest growing segments in the health and wellness industry is essential oils. These volatile oils in plants are widely known for the fragrance that they impart to some of our favorite flowers. But what you may not know is that those same compounds also have powerful healing properties. And because essential oils are lipid soluble, they can be applied to the skin as topical medications for skin and/or systemic health. Here are a few favorite recipes from my team at UpWellness that will help get you started with making your own health and beauty products using essential oils.
Enjoy,
-JL
Essential oils have been used since antiquity, and their therapeutic value is well known across time and cultures. Essential oils are compounds that are extracted from plants that capture the beautiful aroma and flavor of the plants which is also called the “essence.”
The most popular way to use essential oils is through the ancient practice of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses extracts from plants to bring about health and wellbeing of the body, mind, and spirit.
Aromatherapy works through skin absorption and smell and includes the following common practices:
- Diffusers
- Inhalers
- Bathing Salts
- Facial steamers
- Clay masks
- Spritzers
- Compresses
- Oils, creams, lotions
One of the easiest ways to incorporate the benefits of essential oils into your health regime is to create natural and non-toxic personal care products that contain oils.
Your skin will love the recipes below that not only have a rich aroma but also work to soothe your skin and promote healing.
Sweet Anti-aging Serum
Smooth a few drops of this concentrated serum over your face, neck, chest, and backs of the hands in the morning and at night. This will help keep the areas of the skin that are most often exposed to the sun looking fresh and nourished.
If you want to make a heavier serum for night time use, avocado oil could be substituted as a carrier. Other options include sea buckthorn berry oil, carrot seed oil, argan oil or apricot kernel oil. These are all excellent anti-aging oils.
If you don’t have the below essential oils on hand, other options include sandalwood oil and myrrh oil.
Ingredients and Equipment:
- 2 tbsp rosehip seed oil
- 2 tbsp sweet almond oil
- 10 drops cypress essential oil
- 10 drops geranium essential oil
- 7 drops frankincense essential oil
- 1 drop rosemary essential oil
- Small amber glass bottle
Instructions:
- Add 1 tbsp each of the rosehip seed oil and sweet almond oil to your amber glass bottle
- Add the essential oils.
- Add the remaining carrier oils and shake very gently to blend.
Soothing Moisturizer
Use this light, yet rich cream all over the body to keep skin looking and feeling great.
Ingredients and Equipment:
- ½ cup shea butter
- 2 tbsp oil of your choice (jojoba, avocado, apricot, sweet almond or coconut oil)
- 7 drops carrot seed oil
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops rosemary essential oil
- 3 drops tea tree (melaleuca) essential oil
- 1 drop peppermint essential oil
- Saucepan and bowl to make a double boiler
- Electric mixer
- Glass jar for storage
Instructions:
- Melt the shea butter in a double boiler, then add the 2 tbsp of oil and mix well.
- Let this mixture cool, either at room temperature or in the fridge. It will reach a soft solid state.
- Add in the essential oils and carrot seed oil.
- Carefully process the mixture with your electric mixer until it becomes whipped and rich-looking. Scoop it into a jar for storage.
Lavender Deodorant
Ditch the nasty ingredients in commercial deodorant and try making your own instead. The essential oils help you stay fresh and smell great without blocking the vital natural function of your sweat glands.
Ingredients and Equipment:
- 1 tbsp beeswax
- 2 tbsp shea butter
- 5 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp arrowroot powder
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops sandalwood essential oil
- 3 drops peppermint essential oil
- 3 drops tea tree essential oil
- Saucepan and bowl to make a double boiler
- Glass jar for storage
Instructions:
- Heat the beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil together in a double boiler and mix well. Allow cooling for about 10 minutes until the mixture starts to look somewhat white but has not solidified completely.
- Mix in the baking soda, arrowroot powder, and essential oils.
- Scoop into a jar for storage. Apply a scant fingertip-size amount to each armpit. If the mixture irritates the skin, the baking soda can be excluded.
Peppermint Lip balm
We’ve got your lips covered with this non-toxic lip balm. Let’s face it, a little bit of your lip balm ends up down the hatch. Make your own, so you know you’re not inadvertently eating toxins.
Ingredients and Equipment:
- 3 tbsp beeswax
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 1 tbsp shea butter
- 1 tbsp cocoa butter
- 20 drops peppermint essential oil
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- Saucepan and bowl to make a double boiler
- Jars or tubes to store lip balm
Instructions:
- Melt the beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter and cocoa butter in a double boiler. This works best if you use a bowl (or glass measuring cup) that has a spout so that you can pour the melted oils straight into the storage containers at the end.
- Allow the oils to cool until they are still liquid, but cool enough to touch.
- Add the essential oils and mix well.
- While the oils are still liquid, pour into your tubes or containers for storage.
-The Well Daily Team