Essential and carrier oils are the main ingredient in most beauty products so before you get started with making cosmetics, it is best to familiarize yourself with the oils that will have the best impact on your skin.
When making your own beauty products, you don’t necessarily have to follow recipes in detail. You can easily substitute the carrier and/or essential oils from the recipe with the ones that are suitable for your skin type (or the ones that you like the most).
Essential oils not only treat psychological and emotional issues but they also enhance the beauty and health of your skin, nails and hair. They are also effective for treating blemishes, wrinkles, stretch marks, eczema, cellulite… Almost all essential oils have antiseptic properties, but many of them also have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Essential and carrier oils for different skin types:
Normal skin
- Essential oils: Geranium, Jasmine, Rose, Lavender, Clary Sage, Roman Chamomile
- Carrier oils: Jojoba, Apricot Kernel, Grapessed, Sweet Almond
Dry skin
- Essential oils: Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Frankincense, Geranium, Jasmine, Myrrh, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Neroli, Ylang Ylang
- Carrier oils: Argan, Avocado, Evening Primrose, Maracuja, Sweet Almond, Emu, Jojoba, Wheatgerm
Oily skin
- Essential oils: Cedarwood, Cypress, Geranium, Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin, Rosemary, Lavender, Tea Tree
- Carrier oils: Hazel Nut, Grape Seed, jojoba, Sweet Almond
Combination skin
- Essential oils: Geranium, Mandarin, Lavender, Frankincense, Rose, Chamomile, Rosewood, Sandalwood
- Carrier oils: Apricot Kernel, jojoba, Sweet Almond, Evening Primrose
Sensitive skin
- Essential oils: Geranium, Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Rose, Myrrh, Frankincense
- Carrier oils: Sweet Almond, Jojoba, Evening Primrose
Aging skin
- Essential oils: Chamomile, Carrot Seed, Clary sage, Lavender, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Geranium, Rose, Rosewood
- Carrier oils: Borage, Emu, Evening Primrose, Sweet Almond, Avocado, olive, Maracuja, Wheatgerm
Safety precautions and tips before using essential oils:
- Please use only 100% organic essential oils derived from plants and not synethetic oils.
- Considering that essential oils are very concentrated, please don’t put undiluted essential oils directly on your skin without a carrier oil (exceptions are lavender and tea tree oil).
- Don’t ingest essential oils!
- Don’t apply them on inflamed or broken skin
- Whilst using them avoid contact with mouth, eyes, nose…
- Small percent of people have allergic reactions on some essential oils. If you are using a certain essential oil for the first time, first apply a drop of oil diluted with a carrier oil on your arm. If the skin gets irritated wash it off and don’t use that essential oil.
- Some oils are phototoxic so you shouldn’t expose yourself to the sun 12 hours after using them. Those oils are citrus oils such as bergamot, lemon and orange.
- If you have a pre-existing medical condition such as asthma, epilepsy, serious hearth problems, then first do a research before using a essential oil or ask your doctor.
- Store your essential oils in a dark glass bottle in a cool, dry place. Otherwise its shelf life can decrease.
OK, now you can get to work 🙂
