Aromatherapy offers simple yet highly effective means of making your own skin care blends. Essential oils are found in many, if not most, of the world’s high end face-care formulas. The reason being is the diversity and potency of their therapeutic effects. When creating a skin care blend, it’s crucial to also consider the base or “carrier” oils into which the essential oils are mixed. There is a wide variety of carrier oils available as well, and several exotic ones with tremendous value in skin care. Here’s a look at a few of the more exotic, and highly therapeutic carrier oils available for your homemade creations.
Our first exotic oil is pressed from the seeds of rosehips, grown in the mountains of South America. While this may be the most common of our “exotic” carrier oils, many people are still a little vague on its origins. Rosehips are actually the fruit of the rose flower, and in this case the fruit of roses that, until recently, grew wild in a tough, mountainous environment. These small, red, round fruits are are full of antioxidants (there is a pure rosehip oil available as a CO2 extract, also excellent for skin care), and the seeds have an exceptionally fatty acid profile.
In the medical aromatherapy literature, you’ll see rosehip seed oil as a primary ingredient in formulas to reduce scar appearance and to enhance wound healing. The same features of supporting cellular regeneration of the dermis make it an excellent oil for anti-aging skin care as well. There is a significant body of published research indicating regular application of rosehip seed oil can reduce scar appearance, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It can be used to help with acne scars as well, the only caveat being than one needs to not be prone to breakouts any longer when using the oil. It is commonly used at about 1/5th of the total base oil formula.
The most broadly therapeutic of the exotic skin care oils, and perhaps one of the most broadly therapeutic carrier oil for nearly every purpose, is Tamanu. This thick, grainy, green and pungent oil is pressed from aged tamanu nuts. These grow wild on the South Pacific island of Vanuatu, and throughout the region.
Tamanu oil is considered a “wonder oil” in that it is thought to heal virtually every conceivable condition of the skin. It is an excellent choice for wound healing, scar reduction, and caring for mature skin, as tamanu can significantly increase the “turnover” rate of skin cells — increasing the speed of this process by up to 3 times. It is thought effective for treating fungal infections, acne and eczema as well. Tamanu can be used at 100% strength, but is most commonly blended with other base oils at 10-20% of the formula.
Recently, Argan nut oil has been getting a lot of “press”. It has been supported by the fashion and cosmetic industry, not only for its therapeutic actions, but because its production is effectively supporting indigenous people’s livelihood. Further, large amounts of land have been protected so that this wonderful natural resource continues to be available.
Argan nut oil is known for its relatively high amount of natural vitamin E, along with other polyphenol antioxidants. Polyphenols are highly effective antioxidants which generally have other important health effects as well. Consider that it’s the polyphenol “resveratrol” in red wine that has been found to extend the lifespan of many animals. Along with these micro-nutrients, argan is full of essential fatty acids — and the combination of these nutrients work together to create an oil with excellent anti-aging therapeutics.
If you’re really wanting to go all out in creating a formula, these oils can all be combined together for your base mixture. Use equal parts of each — and consider blending with a fourth oil such as coconut, evening primrose oil apricot kernel (as you’ll commonly find each of these oils recommended at twenty percent of the base oil recipe). Once you’ve got your base mixed, choose three essential oils to suit your skin’s needs, and add 7 drops of each per ounce of carrier oil blend. You’ll have a truly superior skin care preparation, perfectly tailored to your skin’s needs.
The Ananda Apothecary is a fully-stocked source of therapeutic grade aromatics, including an exquisite organic rose essential oil and pure wildcrafted premium grade sandalwood oil.