Aromatherapy Chat

Cinnamon Leaf (cinnamomun verum)

In my last entry I wrote about Hydrosols and how they are made (o5/11/2008). In this  entry I will briefly describe aromatic waters and how they are different from hydrosols. Aromatic waters are simply essential oils mixed with distilled water, put into a spray bottle, shaken well and sprayed into the air or on your skin. You need to shake the bottle because the essential oils rise to the surface and need to be mixed with the water with each use. With hydrosols the fragrance remains mixed with the water, and, therefore the oil does not rise to the surface. The Hydrosols are considered to moisturize better that aromatic waters. However, aromatic waters are less expensive to buy, and if you make your own it is even less costly.

Aromatic oils are used for the same purposes as hydrosols. (05/11/2008). Hydrosols and aromatic waters are excellent for use in facial toners.

Facial Toner (hydrosol) 

A hydrosol is the by-product of steam distillation. Usually the essential oils resulting from steam distillation separates from the water but some of the molecules that are water soluble stay with the water and result in an aromatic compound called a hydrosol. The hydrosol is very fragrant and therapeutic. It has many of the same properties as the essential oil in lower concentrations. The water with the aromatic molecules can then be used for many purposes. And, unlike essential oils, the hydrosol can be put directly on the skin. The hydrosol is usually dispensed into the air or on your skin via a spray bottle.

Some common uses of hydrosols include face moisturizer, facial toner, room freshener, sore throat spray, breath freshener, spray disinfectant, fruit wash, and even animal flea spray.

Rose water is the most common hydrosol spray along with orange water. More hydrosols sold in spray bottles, among others, are chamomile, Lavender, Sandalwood,  Lemon Verbana, and Geranium.

On the next blog I will introduce another way to produce fragrant waters.

Thanks to RelaxYrself for the blog entries while I was away.

Carrot Seed (Daucus carota)

Dry skin is one of the main causes of developing wrinkles and a bad complexion. Even when we are young we can develop dry skin, although young skin normally contains naturally moisturizing factors such as healthy oil glands. As we get older it becomes more necessary to treat our skins with moisturizing assistance. Using essential oils and aromatherapy products are a good way to do this.

Some other factors that take their toll on our skin and causes dryness and wrinkles are lack of exercise, alcohol consumption, poor diet, faulty digestion, sluggish liver, smoking, fair skin (burns easily in the sun and dries more quickly in the wind), and stress.

So it makes sense to do all you can to stay healthy which, among other things, results in good looking skin. And good skin care products used regularly is also important.

Some essential oils blended with organic carrier oils that are especially helpful for skin care are Carrot seed, Frankincense, Geranium, Rosemary, Neroli, and Lavender.

Aromatherapy Terminology and Properties for the Day.

Essential Oil Property:

Hepatic - Stimulates and promotes the well being of the liver and gall bladder.

Essential Oils that can be used as a Hepatic:

Angelica, Grapefruit, Helichrysum, Lemon, Peppermint, Verbana, Carrot Seed, Chamomile, Cypress, Rose, Violet leaf.

I’m always looking for unique ways to use essential oils. Browsing through the book Aromatherapy for Dummies by Kathi Keville I came across this easy to make Oatmeal scrub. All of these ingredients may already be in your kitchen.

• Grind 2 tablespoons of oatmeal in an electric coffee grinder.
• Add 5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
• Add 1/4 cup distilled water
• You can also add 1 teaspoon of cornmeal (optional)
• Mix ingredients together to make a paste.

Gently massage your face for 2 or 3 minutes.

Try it and see how wonderful your skin feels.

Aromatherapy Terminology and Properties for the Day.

Term:

Antitoxic - Neutralizes poisons

Property:

Antisudorific -  Reduces perspiration.

Essential Oils that can be used as an antisudorific:

Clary Sage, Cypress

If you’ve been using bar soap to wash your face, you might have realized that this soap can irritate your skin. Soap that is not designed specifically for the face can simply be too harsh for this more sensitive skin. For that reason, facial cleansers are a great way to remove the grime and dirt of every day without damaging or drying out your face.

When using a facial cleanser, remember that you should wash twice a day—once in the morning and once at night. Give the facial cleanser time to work. Rub it into the skin in a circular motion, and then let it sit for about half a minute before removing.

When washing and drying your face, be careful not to pull at the skin. Especially the skin around the eyes is sensitive and can stretch over time if pulled. Know the benefits of your specific facial cleanser. If it contains moisturizers, you could be done after the initial face wash. If your skin feels dry, however, apply a basic, face-specific moisturizer.

On my first blog on the topic of facial toner I mentioned dry weather as a reason to use a facial toner. However, we expose our skin to many other circumstances in our daily lives. Depending on where we live, these could be heavy sun exposure, air pollution, wind, extreme cold, recycled air in airplanes, air conditioning in cars and forced air coming out of air vents in homes and offices in cold climates.

In cases where your skin is damaged the use of a restorative facial oil can also be very helpful. The facial oil will improve elasticity, regulate sebum production, and stimulate circulation. Our facial oil contains Sweet Almond Oil, Jojoba, Hazelnut, Evening Primrose Oil, certified Organic Hempseed and Calendula Oils, as well as vitamin E, Lavender, Chamomile, Carrot and Rose oils.

And remember, as well as toning the skin, facial toners can also be used to remove makeup, soap residue and surface bacteria.

Even if your skin is healthy, regular use of toners and facial oils can keep your complexion healthy and radiant.

If you live in a place where the weather is extremely dry a quality facial toner could be used. A moisturizer that contains pure essential oils is a plus when using a facial toner.