Essential Oils and Herbs
by Complete Skin Care Therapy

Essential oils and herbs offer so many benefits. Essential oils and herbs are used in skin care products, massage therapy and aromatherapy. Below are oils and herbs commonly found in skin care products and their properties.

Sweet Almond Oil is great vegetable oil to nourish dry skin. This oil is carrier oil and can be used alone or mixed with other ingredients. Sweet almond oil is easily absorbed into the skin and is an excellent emollient with nourishing and hydrating properties and is good for all skin types. Additionally it will soften and soothe the skin. Safety Precautions: People with nut allergies should avoid almonds and almond oil. This is one of the most useful, practical, and commonly used oils.

Apricot Kernel is a carrier oil and good oil for face, and beauty treatments. This oil can be used in massage therapy too because of its absorption properties. Additionally it is good for all skin types, especially sensitive, dry and maturing skin. Safety Precautions: People with nut allergies should avoid this oil and all oils made from nuts.

Jojoba Oil makes a great scalp cleanser and hair conditioner. Additionally, because of its absorption properties it is commonly used in skin care products as a cleaning agent, makeup remover and moisturizer. It has a great effect on fighting wrinkles, as well as having an anti-bacterial effect on the skin. Jojoba oil can be used as base carrier oil into which other essential oils can be diluted before applying it to the skin.
Safety Precautions: No reports of toxicity

Aloe Vera is used externally for skin irritation, burns, sunburn, wounds, eczema, psoriasis, acne, and dermatitis. Aloe Vera has good astringent qualities. When used with other ingredients it soothes the skin and stimulates cell regeneration. The oil is combined in massage therapy for its healing and rejuvenating properties. Safety Precautions: When used topically, some individuals may have an allergic reaction and a skin patch test (behind the ear or on the forearm) is advised before use.

Anise - Cooled down tea made from anise can be sponged on the face to help lighten the complexion. Safety Precautions: On the whole, anise is a safe herb to use but due to its trans-anethole estrogen-like action, it may be best avoided during pregnancy or when suffering from endometriosis or any estrogen dependant cancers.

Avocado moisturizes, reduces appearance of age spots, heals sun damage and scars. Additionally, avocado regenerates and rejuvenates the skin. Avocado increases collagen in the skin and therefore is an anti-aging ingredient in skin care. Avocado oil has superior moisturizing qualities and is wonderful carrier oil.

Carrot is a superb skin-nourishing essential oil, carrot seed helps balance both oily and dry complexions, heals damaged skin, and helps aged skin by reducing age spots and wrinkles. Safety Precautions: Carrot seeds and carrot seed oil should not be used excessively during pregnancy.

Chamomile will tone all types of complexions. The anti-inflammatory effect of this essential oil applied topically improves skin regeneration, and a cold compress does wonders for puffy eyes. Chamomile is used in facial steams to reduce puffiness and cleanse the pores of the skin. Safety Precautions: Handling fresh chamomile plants may cause dermatitis in some individuals. It should not to be used when using anti-coagulant drugs. Please note that the essential oil is said to stimulate the uterus and should be used with care in pregnancy. Allergic reactions may occur for those that are allergic to daisies.

Eucalyptus used in skin care to clear congested skin. Also works well on the repiratory track soothing inflamation and easing mucus in aromatherapy. Safety Precautions: avoid if you have high blood pressure or suffer from epilepsy.

Emu Oil is a natural skin moisturizer and softener and has rejuvenating properties. Emu Oil has been shown to reduce the depth of fine lines and wrinkles. A highly absorbent oil and non-greasy oil making it perfect ingredient for skin care. Good for all skin types and it is non-toxic, hypo-allergenic and non-comedogenic. Safety Precautions: None that I am aware of as of this date.

Grapeseed is carrier oil and is good for acne and oily skin. Good oil for those whose skin does not seem to absorb oils easily. This is one of the most common oils used for massage. If it is used in skin care products it is usually blended with other more nutrient rich carrier oils. . It absorbs well without feeling greasy. It contains vitamins, minerals, protein, GLA and some vitamin E.

Green Tea has an antioxidant effect that helps to keep wrinkles at bay. External use: Green tea is often included in anti-aging skin care products for the antioxidant properties contained in the herb. Green tea is a powerful antioxidant, a potent anti-inflammatory agent thereby reducing inflammation in the skin, and having a inhibitory action on collagen - an enzymatic action in the skin where the collagen is broken down, resulting in more firm and elastic skin. In hair care, it can be used with great success to improve the gloss and shine of the hair. Safety Precautions: When pregnant or nursing only limited amounts of green tea should be used, and it can also interfere with MAO inhibitors and blood thinning medication. It should not be consumed together with other medication, as it may interfere with the absorption of such medicine.

Geranium a wonderful oil for mature and troubled skin and brings a radiant glow and promotes circulation. Safety Precautions: Geranium essential oil is well tolerated by most individuals, but since it helps in balancing the hormonal system, care must be taken during pregnancy.

Ginseng is used in cosmetics for its rejuvenating properties. The vast amount of properties gives Ginseng an almost unlimited use in cosmetics. Its activity makes it useful in nourishing creams, in treating wrinkled and aged skin and in all cosmetic products used to retard the onset of age. Ginseng may be used in products for weak hair and lotions for preventing hair loss as it stimulates growth and gives strength. Safety Precautions: May worsen the side effects of stimulants such as coffee, and should best be avoided when consuming alcohol. Not normally used by pregnant women and is not indicated for use by young children, people suffering from depression, high blood pressure, anxiety or any acute inflammatory disease. Excess may cause headaches, restlessness, high blood pressure, and nausea.

Honey - Refines pores; tightens skin; moisturizes; retards wrinkles; anti-blemish

Jasmine is used with great effect to treat dry, stressed and sensitive skins and also helps to increase elasticity. Safety Precautions: Although well tolerated, this heavy scented essential oil should be used sparingly, and specially so during pregnancy.

Lavender is ideal for oily and combination skin. It has antiseptic and stimulant properties. Lavender is useful in treating skin conditions such as abscesses, acne, allergies, athlete's foot, boils, bruises, burns, dandruff, dermatitis, earache, eczema, inflammations, insect bites and stings, insect repellent, lice, psoriasis, ringworm, scabies, sores, spots, all skin types, sunburn and wounds. Safety Precautions: Although the essential oil is well tolerated by all skin types, it must be, like all essential oils, used with care - remember essential oils are powerful and very concentrated.

Clay (including clay, fuller's earth) reduced large pores; absorb excess grease in oily skin; improves circulation. Safety Precautions: No Toxicity Reported. You can read more about the benefits of a facial clay mask.

Olive Oil can be used as carrier oil or alone. It has excellent moisturizing qualities and provides antioxidant benefits.

Patchouli - It can be used for inflamed and itching skin. The oil promotes cell rejuvenation, tightening of loose skin and heals wounds and sores, while sorting out rough, cracked skin. Safety Precautions: The essential oil of patchouli is well tolerated, but its heavy fragrance indicates use in low dosage.

Rose Oils and rose waters are welcome additions to almost any skin care formulation. As an astringent effect on oily skin, reducing puffiness, edema and has a slight tightening effect. The oil most effective for moisturizing and hydrating the skin while having a general stimulant and antiseptic action which is good for all skin types, but especially so for dry, mature and irritated skin. It is used to repair broken capillaries, inflammation, as well as skin redness and is useful in eczema Safety Precautions: None noted.

Rosemary has antioxidant properties, and secondly has a remarkable stimulating effect on the skin. Traditionally used for hair and scalp stimulation, as well as anti-aging products. Safety Precautions: Rosemary essential oil has a highly stimulating action and may not be suitable for people with epilepsy or high blood pressure. The essential oil should also not be used during pregnancy.

Shea Butter is a white or yellowish fat obtained from the nut of the SheaTree (Butyrospermum parkii) which grows in Africa. Used by African healers over thousands of years as an exotic luxury emollient, reported to benefit dry, damaged and maturing skin. Shea Butter is known for its natural healthy and healing attributes which works in partnership with your skin and body chemistry as a substitute for cocoa butter. Can be used as a food, soap, and candles and reputed to be used on the skins of African drums. Note: Suitable for use in lotions and creams

Tea Tree Oil an antibiotic and antispectic. Very cleansing and seems to clear spots. Also helpful for dry conditions of the scalp and dandruff. Safety Precautions: may cause skin irritation for those with sensitive skin.

Essential oils are powerful and care should be taken when used. Always understand the properties of essential oils and as with any new skin care or hair product, a patch test is recommended.

Get your oils at:

Herbs for Natural Beauty

One of America's foremost herbalists provides concise, simple-to-understand, and practical information for using herbs for health and well-being. Each book contains profiles of specific herbs, cautions, contraindications, and easy-to-make recipes to for natural beauty.

Green Tea Facial Cream

Green Tea, Aloe Vera and Argireline® restore skin's youthful appearance, fights free radicals that cause pre-mature skin aging. A strong anti-oxidant and skin firming moisturizer.

Classic Essential Oils

An excellent beginner's kit that features the world's most renowned and popularly used essential oils. This beautifully packaged kit includes printed usage guidelines on the back of the liner tray, and an extra bottle with a glass dropper for experimentation. Contains all certified organic oils of: Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary and Tea Tree.