Essential oils are pure plant oils released from the flowers, berries, roots or other parts of a fragrant plant by steam distillation or expression. Essential oils are used in many different ways to support health--including in aromatherapy, added to bath water, and in skin lotions. Essential oils can aid in maintaining a bright, clear complexion. Choose essential oils that are good for the face for steaming facials and therapeutic treatments.
Neem Oil
The essential oil of the seed or fruit of the neem tree--Azadirachta indica--is used in traditional Indian medical practice for treating many skin conditions, including excema and acne. The Ayurvedic Insight newsletter recommends washing your face with soap containing neem essential oil if you have oily skin, and applying neem oil directly to dry or inflamed skin to soothe it. To diminish facial acne, the Ayurvedic Insight newsletter recommends creating a cleanser of colloidal oatmeal, arrowroot, neem oil, licorice and turmeric powder. Mix this milk and wash your face with it twice a day, rinsing well with pure water. Neem essential oil can also be added to your daily toner or moisturizer.
Lavender Oil
Essential oil of lavender--Lavendula angustifolia--has long been used to scent bed linens because of its relaxing, calming scent. This use alone has beneficial impacts on the face, as a good night's sleep and pleasant relaxation can banish frown lines and restore a glow to the complexion. Lavender's soothing, sedative effect has been documented by scientific research, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Lavender essential oil has antifungal properties, according to researchers M. Sugamaran and T. Vetrichelvan of the Adhiparasakihi College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Melmaruvathur, India, and it can be directly applied to the skin to treat insect bites and stings. Herbalists also use lavender essential oil to treat wounds, eczema and acne, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, but they recommend avoiding contact of lavender essential oil with the eyes or mucous membranes of the lips and nose unless it is diluted.
Frankincense Oil
Frankincense, or olibanum, is a resin from the Boswellia sacra tree that's native to the Middle East. Burning resin, or the essential oil distilled from the resin, creates the characteristic heady scent of church incense. Frankincense essential oil, diluted into a neutral, moisturizing carrier oil such as almond, tones and nourishes a mature complexion, according to researcher Tom Hildebrandt at the Vanderbilt University Department of Psychology. Frankincense was even used by the ancient Egyptians in rejuvenating facial masks, Hildebrandt says. Frankincense slows breathing, releasing tension and elevating mental focus--relaxing effects that can also help create a soft, more youthful facial expression.
References
- Ayurvedic Insight Newsletter: Auyrvedic Support for a Clear Complexion
- Vanderbilt University Psychology Department: What Do You Really Want to Know About Aromatherapy?
- Adhiparasakihi College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry: Aromatherapy--The Power of Scent
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lavender
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