Almost everyone has heard of essential oils, as they have been used for thousands of years for medicinal and therapeutic uses. A more recent modern-day example would be in the simple form of air freshener or scented candle. There are hundreds of different kinds of essential oils. The natural varieties are found in skin care products and are more expensive, while the synthetic oils are usually used in candles, perfumes and skin care on occasion. While the oils each have their own characteristics, they all have a common action: purifying.
The Name:
First of all, I feel that the name essential oil, which was given by Mr. Rene Gattefosse in the 1930, is not really appropriate. I think they should be called aromatic essence because they are more volatile than oil, which means they evaporate in the atmosphere. An aromatic essence is heart and soul of a plant or flower that is extracted by a process called distillation, which pulls out all the benefits of a plant or flower extract by conserving all the molecules and making them very powerful.
Uses:
Essential oils are part of the natural science of aromatherapy, another name that was coined by Dr. Gattefosse. How can we use them everyday? In my childhood my mom used to give me a couple drops of essential oil of orange blossom in a glass of water to help me to sleep, but I have never seen this kind of essence in the USA. The most common way is in skin care products; how do they work?
The Science:
Essential oils are the heart and soul of the plant and they have a capability to be absorbed by the skin into the deepest part of the epidermis and it has been said that they can even be found in the blood stream within 24 hours. They get into the inter-cellular fluid and work within the skin cell metabolism. All essential oils are purifying, which means they will clean the cell environment and help the cell regenerate better. Imagine that you were living in a polluted area, where you could not get any food or receive any of the essential elements necessary for survival. The area would need to be cleared in order for the food to arrive to the destination. Well, in our skin it is the same. You can apply all sorts of skin treatments, but if the environment of the skin cell is not clean, the ingredient that you are sending will not go into action. Using an essential oil daily before a treatment cream will do just that, while boosting the effect of your treatment products.
Essential Oils for Healthy Skin:
Each essential oil has a secondary action that is determined by the molecular structure of the plant. Each oil has a specific action to assist with the nutrition of the skin, whether you’re oily, mature, lackluster and much more. With that being said, it is very important to choose the right essential oil for each skin type or skin need. Skin needs vary each season, so be sure to have your skin assessed regularly to re-evaluate your essential oil.
Here are some of the skin care brands I believe put a lot of research and time into their essential oil formulations.
- Decleor Aromessence: My all time favorites probably because they offer a triple guaranty to their essential oils and also because I have visited their lab in Paris and seen the way they make their blend
- Sundari: They are one of the most authentic Ayurvedic skin care line and their essential oil blend are lovely
- Naturopathica, Yonka, Jurlique and Thalgo are also very good
This information explains a localized way to purify your skin, but it is very important to purify or detox our body by eating the elements that will help bind toxins and flush them out…Read our post from July 6th 2010.
