Anti Ageing

It's no surprise several of the world's finest formulas for beautifying mature skin contain natural essential oils.

Therapeutic grade essential oils used in aromatherapy are each selected for their distinctive healing action; many oils are specifically indicated for skin healing and healthy skin maintenance. Of greatest interest here are the oils known for their tissue regenerative effects and support of the skin's metabolic functions.

An effective personal blend using premium therapeutic grade oils is easily made by choosing a few oils corresponding to the needs of your skin type, and blending with easy-to-follow formulas.

What makes essential oils and their accompanying carrier oils so effective for natural skin care?
It happens that their chemical structures are highly-compatible with that of our skin cells. Essential oils are easily absorbed through the dermal layers and even through the skin's individual cell walls. This makes them extremely simple to create and use your own formulas.

Create your own skin care formula
Just mix each chosen essential oil into one or more carrier oils (which have their own therapeutic effects as well) at the recommended concentrations, then apply regularly for best results. The carrier oils will do just as the name implies - ‘carry' the essential oils more deeply into the skin, and prevent them from being quickly evaporated into the air (as a perfume might be). Essential oils for topical application in nearly every instance will be blended with what are known as carrier oils or ‘base' oils. These cold-pressed seed or nut oils make up the foundation of most natural skin care formulas. There are a many lovely carrier oils from which to choose - a few favourites for nourishing and healing mature skin

Basic formula blends
The formulas for therapeutic care for mature skin are fairly straightforward. Oftentimes, you can start with 10 drops of each essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. For example, if you have four total ounces of base oil, you could use 40 drops of each desired essential oil as a starting point. Much more essential oil than this is rarely better; in fact, many oils work best at low concentrations, and some can potentially irritate the skin at high doses.

Further, if you are combining several essential oils together in one blend, try not to go over a 5% total concentration of essential oils (approximately 30 drops per ounce) - the face and neck are relatively sensitive areas, and will respond best to small amounts of nature's "active" ingredients. If you are not working with a recipe, you can start with equal amounts of each essential oil, and adjust according to your perceived potency of each oil; some oils will have more powerful aromas than others, and you could likely do with slightly less in your overall blend. You can also adjust according to your aromatic preferences as well, creating a formula that not only supports your skin's health and metabolism, but smells lovely too.

Author: Tarah Michelle Cech ND, M,Ir, The author is a degreed naturopath, iridologist and herbologist trained at the Colorado School of Natural Medicine

RECIPE 1: Rich Massage Oil to help wrinkles

10 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
10 drops Neroli Essential Oil
5 drops Jojoba Carrier Oil

RECIPE 2: Deep Moisturising Cream to help wrinkles

10 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
10 drops Neroli Essential Oil
30ml thick cream base

RECIPE 3: Facial Massage for mature skin

10 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
10 drops Carrot Seed Essential Oil
30ml Jojoba Carrier Oil

RECIPE 4: Facial Massage for mature skin

4 drops Geranium Essential Oil
3 drops Palmarosa Essential Oil
3 drops Rose Essential Oil 30ml
Jojoba Carrier Oil

RECIPE 5: Face Pack for mature skin

2 teaspoons ground almonds
1 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons Lavender Flower Water
6 drops Rose (dilute) Essential Oil
2 drops Frankincense Essential Oil

Apply to the face for 15 minutes then wash off gently

RECIPE 6: Facial Steambath for mature skin

2 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
2 drops Carrot Seed Essential Oil
2 drops Neroli Essential Oil Boil
2 pints water and pour into a bowl.

Add the essential oils as listed here and then bend your head over the bowl covering your head with a towel. Steam your face for 10 minutes.

Related Products

Jojoba Carrier Aromatherapy Oil 50ml

Golden colour and the oil which is most rapidly absorbed into the skin and is not sticky. Good for hair care and all skin types and can be used on its own.

£6.00

Carrot Seed Essential Oil - Daucus Carota (10ml)

Use Carrot Seed oil is brilliant for skin care especially more mature skin where wrinkles occur or conditions such as eczema. It can help with digestive problems and accumulation of toxins, gout and arthritis.

£4.75

Frankincense 10% Dilute Essential Oil - Boswellia Carteri (10ml)

Offered here as a diluted oil Frankincense is wonderful for mature skin complexions to help with scars, wrinkles and wounds. It can help with coughs and bronchitis and is a generally calming oil for people suffering from stress.

£5.00

Frankincense Pure Essential Oil - Boswellia Carteri (10ml)

This is a non-diluted version of the oil. Frankincense is wonderful for mature skin complexions to help with scars, wrinkles and wounds. It can help with coughs and bronchitis and is a generally calming oil for people suffering from stress.

£9.50

Geranium Essential Oil - Pelargonium Graveolens (10ml)

Geranium is lovely floral oil which can help with a wide variety of skin conditions, poor circulation, cellulite and many menopausal problems as well as fluid retention and hormonal in-balance.

£8.50

Neroli 5% Dilute Essential Oil - Citrus Aurantium (10ml)

Neroli is antidepressant, antiseptic, antispasmodic and aphrodisiac as well as being a gentle sedative and is valuable for helping with problems of an emotional nature. It is reputed to be an aphrodisiac and helps with skin care. It can help with stomach spasms and diarrhoea.

£5.90

Palmarosa Essential Oil - Cymbopogon Martini (10ml)

Palmarosa is great in skin care and has antispetic qualities which make it valuable for acne and infection, scars and sores. Palmarosa oil is very active against bacteria responsible for intestinal infections such as Gastroenteritis.

£4.00

Rose Damascena 5% Dilute Essential Oil (10ml)

Rose is often referred to as the Queen of all essential oils not least because of its price. It can help with lack of confidence, depression or grief as it has uplifting qualities and is said to produce feelings of well-being and even happiness. It has strong connections with our sexuality and can aid menstual problems.

£8.70

Rose Otto (Centifolia) 5% Dilute Essential Oil (10ml)

Rose Otto is a wonderful oil which can help with skin care especially where the skin is more mature and is soothing for conditions such as asthma and hayfever.