There are three important things to understand when you are learning natural skin care.
The first is to recognize that the very best thing you can do for your skin is to drink more water. No matter how much magic you slather on, hydrating the new skin cells is going to do it the most good.
Next, recognize that when your body encounters stress, it draws energy away from any bodily system that does not help it to escape or fight. Skin plays no part in the Fight and Fight response, and so it is the first thing that the adrenals steal energy from. If you have a stressful life, your skin will suffer.
Finally, essential oils are magic, carrier oils are magicker! If there’s no such word there should be!
If you imagine the skin as if it were made up of bricks. The bricks are the skin cells and the mortar that fixes them together nicely is lipids. Lipids are fats, and carrier oils are lipids. By choosing the right bases you can hydrate and improve the lipid structure of the skin enhancing the texture and youthful appearance of the complexion.
Choosing Bases
There are some basic mistakes people always make when they manufacture their own skin care.
The first is they rely on too much lavender.
One of lavender’s best skills is how the constituents communicate with the sebaceous glands. These secrete the sebum that protects our skin from infections and keep our skin lovely and supple and flexible. Lavender tells the glands, “There is plenty of sebum now. Stop producing,” which is why it is such a great choice for teenage skin. If you use too much lavender, however, you will inadvertently dry your skin out. (At this applies to putting it in the bath to help you sleep, of course, not just in skin care. Think of how extensively essential oils work.)
In the same way, the glands have sensors that detect oiliness. What do you think will happen if you lather oil onto your skin every day? The sensors say “Oh, wait. We have enough oil”. They switch production down or off. If you put oil on your skin every day, it will dry it out.
If your skin is dry, it needs to be hydrated, not nourished. Thus, the best choice is going to be a hydrating base rather than an oil based one, so an aqueous cream is the answer here. You can buy it over the counter at the pharmacy for just a couple of dollars. If you’ve never tried aqueous cream before, you’re in for a treat. Your skin glugs it up like a refreshing drink.
Nourishing creams are a bit like what our grandmothers called “night creams”. They are a once a day treat for the skin. They have a very small amount of carrier oil to nourish the skin, but more importantly, they really improve the complexion’s surface texture and structure.
The ideal skin care regime then, looks like this:
Daily: Cleanse, tone and moisturize, both morning and at bedtime. Then, in the evening, end the regime with an additional nourishing cream as well as the moisturizer.
Remember they do different things.
Once weekly, do a steam to draw out deep seated impurities, a facial massage treatment with a serum and a natural masque.
These are a whole book in their own right, but the most beneficial face masque, for any skin is a little mashed up banana in some warmed honey (Mind you don’t scald yourself...)
It makes a dreadful mess, but feels and smells delicious and it leaves your skin looking radiant. If you struggle with it slipping off your face, simply add a little powdered wheat germ or ground almonds to solidify it a bit.
Making Bases
Cleanser
Cheat. Buy a cheap unscented one from your supermarket and add oils to it.
Toner
Don’t overcomplicate things. Use the original and best - hydrolats and floral waters. Rosewater is, in my opinion, a bit of luxury every woman should enjoy each day.
Moisturizer
Aqueous cream.
Nourishing Cream
Nourishing creams are a fiddle to make in small batches, so it makes far more sense to do one large one, then just scoop out a pot each time you need it. It’s your choice if you make one big set of several pots with oils in, or a blank batch and add different oils every time you need one. This is a good plan if you want to give pots away as gifts, because you can tailor each pot to match someone else's skin.
For that reason, I’ll give you the essential oils in two ways. Any we have chosen here will be a safe dilution at that level. If you choose a different oil, please check the safe dilutions for that specific essential oil.
Strictly speaking for large batches you should weigh your oils, but just in case people do not have the equipment, we have left these in fluid volume. If you do want to do it right though, 1ml = 1g in weight. If you don’t have a small enough measurement on your jug you can safely guess 1ml as being 20 drops, so 5ml is 100 drops.
If you decide to swap and change carrier oils, for some reason, perhaps you have a nut allergy, for example, that is fine. The total requirement for carrier oil in this recipe is 330ml or 12fl oz.
You do need to be pretty organized to make things work well. Read the directions carefully before you begin, for success.
To make a liter of face cream ( 20 x 50ml (2 fl oz) pots)
- 550 ml (19 fl oz) water
- 100 ml (3 ⅓ fl oz) Almond Carrier Oil (Prunus Dulcis)
- 100 ml (3 ⅓ fl oz) Rosehip Carrier Oil (Rosa Canina)
- 100 ml (3 ⅓ fl oz) Argan Carrier Oil (Argania Spinosa)
- 30 ml (2 fl oz) Wheatgerm Carrier Oil (Triticum vulgare)
- 20 ml (1 tbs) Glycerine
- 70 g (2 ½ oz) Emulsifying wax (E/W)
- 1ml Liquid preservative
- 30 ml (1 fl oz) essential oils (Approx 600 drops total is probably easier)
Start by washing your jars and then putting them onto a baking tray in a very low oven to dry for around 15 mins. Boil your jar lids in water for five minutes. When you have clean, lids and jars laid out to pour your creams into, then you are ready to start.
- Take your E/W and place it into a Bain Marie. Gently warm and melt it over a medium heat.
- Boil the kettle and measure your boiling water.
- Pour the melted E/W and water into a food processor.
- Add carrier oils and pulse. You want it well blended, but not full of air, or it will sink when it cools.
- Add essential oils now and give one more blitz to blend them.
- Use a jug to pour into sterilized jars
- Leave to cool thoroughly before you put the tops on. If you rush, we can absolutely guarantee it will go moldy on the top!
Essential Oils For Skin Care Recipes - Dry Skin
Cleanser
- 30 ml Blank Cleanser
- 2 drops Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena)
- 3 drops Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium roseum x asperum)
- 1 drop Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria zizanoides)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Rose.)
Toner
Rosewater
Method of Use: Apply after cleansing to close pores and tighten the skin.
Safety: No issues
Moisturizer
- 30ml Aqueous Cream
- 3 drops Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena)
- 3 drops Melissa Essential Oil (Melissa officinalis)
- 1 drop Sandalwood Essential Oil (Santalum album)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Rose.)
Nourishing Cream
Large Batch
- 10 ml Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium roseum x asperum)
- 2 ml Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena)
- 10 drops Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon cablin)
Method of Use: Apply in the evening after you have applied your moisturizer.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Rose.)
Per pot
- 3 drops Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium roseum x asperum)
- 5 drops Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena)
- 1 drop Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon cablin)
Method of Use: Apply in the evening after you have applied your moisturizer.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Rose.)
Essential Oils For Skin Care Recipes - Combination Skin
Cleanser
- 30 ml Blank Cleanser
- 2 drops Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena)
- 3 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil (Cananga odorata)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Rose and Ylang ylang.)
Toner
Rosewater
Method of Use: Apply after cleansing to close pores and tighten the skin.
Safety: No issues.
Moisturizer
- 30ml Aqueous Cream
- 3 drops Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena)
- 3 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil (Cananga odorata)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Rose and Ylang Ylang)
Nourishing Cream
Large Batch
- 5ml Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena)
- 7ml Ylang Ylang Essential Oil (Cananga odorata)
- 1ml Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria zizanioides)
Method of Use: Apply in the evening after you have applied your moisturizer.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Rose.)
Per Pot
- 2 drops Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena)
- 3 drops Ylang Ylang Essential Oil (Cananga odorata)
Method of Use: Apply in the evening after you have applied your moisturizer.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Rose.)
Essential Oils For Skin Care Recipes - Oily Skin
Cleanser
- 30 ml Blank Cleanser
- 2 drops Clary Sage Essential Oil (Salvia sclarea)
- 1 drop Cypress Essential Oil (Cupressus sempervirens)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Clary Sage.)
Toner
Orange Flower water.
Method of Use: Apply after cleansing to close pores and tighten the skin.
Safety: No issues.
Moisturizer
- 30ml Aqueous Cream
- 3 drops Clary Sage Essential Oil (Salvia sclarea)
- 2 drops Cypress Essential Oil (Cupressus sempervirens)
- 1 drop Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula angustifolia)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Clary Sage.)
Nourishing Cream
Not recommended for oily skins
Essential Oils For Skin Care Recipes - Sensitive Skin
Cleanser
- 30 ml Blank Cleanser
- 2 drops Neroli Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
- 1 drop German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla)
- 1 drop Yarrow Essential Oil (Achillea millefolium)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Toner
Rosewater
Method of Use: Apply after cleansing to close pores and tighten the skin.
Safety: No issues
Moisturizer
- 30ml Aqueous Cream
- 2 drop Rose Otto Essential Oil (Rosa damascena)
- 1 drop German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla)
- 1 drop Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria zizanioides)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Rose.)
Nourishing Cream
Large Batch
- 2ml Rose Otto Essential Oil (Rosa damascena)
- 1ml German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla)
- 1ml Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria zizanoides)
Method of Use: Apply in the evening after you have applied your moisturizer.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Rose.)
Per Pot
- 2 drop Rose Otto Essential Oil (Rosa damascena)
- 1 drop German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla)
- 1 drop Vetiver Essential Oil (Vetiveria zizanoides)
Method of Use: Apply in the evening after you have applied your moisturizer.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Rose.)
Essential Oils For Skin Care Recipes - Rosacea
Cleanser
- 30 ml Blank Cleanser
- 5 drops German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla)
- 2 drops Neroli Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
- 1 drop Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium roseum x asperum)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Toner
Rosewater
Method of Use: Apply after cleansing to close pores and tighten the skin.
Safety: No issues
Moisturizer
- 30ml Aqueous Cream
- 5 drops German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla)
- 2 drops Neroli Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
- 1 drop Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium roseum x asperum)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Nourishing Cream
Large Batch
- 5ml German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla)
- 2ml Neroli Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
- 1ml Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium roseum x asperum)
Method of Use: Apply in the evening after you have applied your moisturizer.
Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Per Pot
- 5 drops German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla)
- 2 drops Neroli Essential Oil (Citrus aurantium)
- 1 drop Rose Geranium Essential Oil (Pelargonium roseum x asperum)
Method of Use: Apply in the evening after you have applied your moisturizer.
Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
Essential Oils For Skin Care Recipes - Acne
Cleanser
- 30 ml Blank Cleanser
- 5 drops Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum grandiflorum)
- 2 drops Helichrysum Essential Oil (Helichrysum angustifolium)
- 1 drop Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Jasmine.)
Toner
Orange Flower Water
Method of Use: Apply after cleansing to close pores and tighten the skin.
Safety: No issues.
Moisturizer
- 30ml Aqueous Cream
- 5 drops German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria chamomilla)
- 2 drops Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum grandiflorum)
- 1 drop Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Method of Use: Apply morning and evening.
Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Jasmine.)
Nourishing Cream
Not recommended for acne.
Anti Aging Essential Oil Blend Recipe - Serum
- 1 tsp Almond Carrier Oil (Prunus amygdala)
- 3 drops Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia carterii)
- 1 drop Melissa Essential Oil (Melissa officinalis)
- 1 drop Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon cablin)
Method of Use: Massage into the skin thoroughly after cleansing and doing a steam.
Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.