Natures Fountain of Youth
Posted by Gravitate Master on 3/28/2012 to
Oils
Natural anti-aging products and practices are becoming increasingly popular with todays more health-conscious generation. The ever sought-after fountain of youth remains elusive, but there are many natural ways to combat wrinkles.
Starting with proper skincare practices, washing the face twice per day is important for clearing the pores from clogging debris and oil. Additionally, washing the face aids the process of cell shedding, revealing a fresher, younger-looking layer of skin underneath.
Using sunscreen, even a natural mineral-based sunscreen, can make a world of difference in the purity, brightness, and elasticity of skin.
If, in addition to these things, you use essential oils in the care of your skin, they can further improve the looks of your skin. Essential oils are concentrated hydrophobic liquids with volatile aroma compounds from the plants they are extracted from.
Buying natural products containing various essential oils can make a noticeable difference for an anti-aging skincare regimen. Are they natures fountain of youth? Thats for you to decide. But it is worth a try to see what changes you can make in the health of your skin using natural products and essential oils.
Lavender
Posted by Rain Shadow Labs on 3/22/2012 to
Oils
In an attempt to create larger plants that are easier to harvest, hybrids have been created called lavandins, which are used often in commercial manufacturing. But critics say that these plants produce lower quality oil with less of a true lavender aroma.
In the culinary world, lavender is used in the fresh form, or as dried buds to flavor foods. For example, lavender is used to flavor honey in the Mediterranean and is sold worldwide. It is used in baking desserts and as cake decorations.
The flowers can be candied or blended with green, herbal, or black tea. Lavender is added to goats milk cheese and sheeps milk cheese and, in the U.S., many people with a discerning taste enjoy lavender scones and marshmallows.
Lavender is perhaps best known for its relaxing and sleep-inducing capacity. As an essential oil, it also has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. One may be surprised to learn that it was used in World War I hospitals for disinfecting walls and floors.
Lavender is often used to treat various forms of inflammation including acne, bug bites, burns and headaches. Lavender remedies should be used with caution and proper education, however, as lavender can be highly allergenic and is cytotoxic for pregnancy.
How to Use Essential Oils
Posted by Rain Shadow Labs on 3/12/2012 to
Oils
If mixing essential oil with carrier oil, for diluted products like massage oil, the general recommendation is 2.5% essential oil content. In other words, to an ounce of carrier oil, you would add 15 drops of essential oil.
But not all mixtures call for 2.5%. It is thus important to know that an ounce of carrier oil contains about 600 drops of carrier oil. This will help with formulating percentages of essential oil. For example, a 1% ratio would mean 6 drops of essential oil are required for an ounce of carrier oil. Or, for a much stronger solution, 10% calls for 60 drops (3 ml) per ounce of carrier oil.
There are several other natural products that can be made with essential oils. A facial steam is a simple mixture of 5 or 6 drops of the desired essential oil in a pint of hot water or in a facial steamer. And adding just 3 to 5 drops to honey, clay, and/or mashed avocado makes an excellent facial mask.
Many people are not aware of this, but a tiny amount of oil (3-9 drops) can be added to the water of a humidifier, and depending on the essential oil used, it can help a sick child overnight. Menthol, eucalyptus, and peppermint are excellent choices for opening up the bronchial airways and the sinuses.
Essential Oils
Posted by RainShadow Labs on 3/1/2012 to
Oils