DAILY SKINCARE

The sooner a woman begins a good skincare routine, the more she will reap the benefits as she gets older. A good moisturizer is arguably the most important item in a woman's wardrobe - you can replace your clothes, but not your skin. It is well worth investing in an efficient, quality moisturizer that you like to use.

There is a vast array of commercial products available, designed for every skin permutation imaginable: teenage, normal, dry, oily, mature, sensitive and allergy-prone skins. Although well-formulated cosmetics without essential oils may benefit the skin, a natural, quality range with added essential oils will increase the benefits.

Choosing Products
With aromatherapy, you should only have to choose between two basic product types because all essential oils are normalizing, giving exceptional care to the skin. If the skin is normal to oily, then look for a cleansing milk and moisturizing lotion.

Always pat your face dry with a soft towel after rinsing. The skin on the face needs careful handling, whatever our age.

Choose cleansing and moisturizing creams when the skin is more dry and in need of nourishment. Look for products which have good quality bases and which don't contain alcohol, lanolin or other animals. Night creams containing lanolin make your skin greasy, as the molecules are actually too big to penetrate the skin, and the cream will "sit" on top of your face all night, rubbing off on the pillow. Prepare your products with well chosen essential oils in a concentration of 0.5 per cent.

Tips For Healthy Skin
If you wear make-up, it is important to cleanse your skin thoroughly before bed. In the morning, toner on cotton wool (cotton ball) is usually sufficient. Give yourself a treatment mask once a week. After a mask, you should moisturize twice, as masks draw out moisture as well as toxins. If you don't wear any make-up, a mask once a fortnight is usually sufficient.

If you don't wear make-up, use a mild toner only at night-time after cleansing. Moisturize first thing in the morning, after cleansing and toning.

Creating Your Own Products
To make your own skincare products, use unperfumed bases, adding the appropriate essential oils, 1 drop for each 10ml (2 tsp) of carrier. Cold spring water is an excellent basic toner.

Oily Skin Or Acne
daytime base lotion with 10 per cent spring water added slowly while stirring.
night time base lotion with 10 per cent hazelnut oil added slowly while stirring.

Spring water can be used as a basic toner for all types of skin. Add your chosen essential oils.

Dry Or Mature Skin
daytime base lotion with 25 per cent rose hip or jojoba oils added slowly while stirring .
night-time base cream with 50 per cent rose hip or jojoba, or the macerated oils of lime blossom or melissa added while stirring.

At The Menopause
Try using hormone-like essential oils such as clary sage and niaouli which both have oestrogen-like properties.

Skin Disorders
A skin problem can arise from many causes, some of which may be more obvious, than others. It may stem from an internal physical problem, such as poor digestion or painful periods, or from a mental problem, such as deep-rooted anxiety or grief. The effects of on-going mental and emotional stress can also cause skin problems, which in turn may aggravate the condition as we become worried, anxious and embarrassed about how others see us.

Roman chamomile is excellent for soothing dry, irritable and inflammed skin. Try adding a few drops to your moisturizer and apply daily.

Aromatherapy Treatment
Aromatherapy can play an important part in the treatment of skin disorders. The oils are not only able to treat the physical symptoms but, through their aromas, can also affect the mental state of the sufferer. For example, many people suffering chronic, painful skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, may have high stress levels because of the impact of the disease on their physical appearance.

Essential oils are able to break this cycle effectively, lightening the mind as well as tackling the physical symptoms. Where the skin is already being moisturized, whether on the face, hands and/or body, it is easy enough to combine appropriate essential oils with the existing treatment for a two-in-one effect. For example, arthritis oils added to a hand and body lotion base reduce pain and inflammation at the same time as making the skin less dry and scaly.

For severe eczema it is very beneficial to change your diet to one that is dairy-free, eliminating cow's milk and related products from what you eat. This is usually enough to cure the condition, although it can take a few months for the results to be evident. Meanwhile, correct use of the appropriate oils will bring relief from the symptoms.

Acne rosacea, a form of acne which usually attacks women over 30, has similar symptoms to Acne Vulgaris (see The Teenage Years).

It seems to affect women who like highly seasoned foods and drink large amounts of tea and coffee. Dietary changes will be highly beneficial in all cases, while the use of aromatherapy treatments will improve the condition of the skin.

Blending Essential Oils With A Moisturizer
For customized skincare, select the appropriate essential oils and add them to a good quality, bland base cream. Add a little rose hip carrier oil if your skin is particularly dry.

Ingredients

• 40ml (8 tsp) unperfumed base cream
• rose hip oil (optional)
• blend of appropriate essential oils

Equipment

• small jar
• swizzle stick or teaspoon
• spatula (optional)

Tip
Always apply creams to the face with clean hands, and best of all using a spatula, to avoid transmitting germs from your fingernails to the cream, and possibly to your skin.


For dry skin, add 5ml (1 tsp) rose hip oil to a jar containing 40ml (8 tsp) base moisturizing cream.

After blending your own selection of appropriate essential oils, add 5 drops to the moisturizing cream.

Stir thoroughly with a swizzle stick or the handle of a clean teaspoon to blend the mixture.