Top 5 essential oils for beauty 

Essential oils have been used for millennia from Egypt, Persia and Greece to Chinese and Indian civilizations for beauty, health and vitality. In the early 19^th century its popularity took a down turn when scientists and the elites of modern medicine started discrediting traditional therapies in favor of ‘modern’ drugs.

Aromatherapy is making a very strong come back today thanks to increasing research and advanced testing that prove the therapeutic benefits of their active compounds.

Essential oils as elixirs for beauty have been documented since the time of the ancient Egyptians. Modern scientific studies show that the tiny molecular structures of essential oils have the ability to penetrate skin and work effectively on cell receptors and membranes.

Almost all pure essential oils have potent antibacterial, anti viral, antifungal and antioxidant properties. Incorporating essential oils into your daily facial routine not only helps improve your skin health but also boosts your overall health and wellbeing.

Here are some of the best essential oils for beauty that have stood the test of time.

Frankincense

Frankincense has been used since pre-biblical times and was considered more precious than gold. It is a natural toner, decreasing the appearance of pores and improving skin tone. It contains cytophylactic properties that encourage new cell production thus making it an excellent choice for reducing the appearance of wrinkles, scars and dry chapped skin.

Patchouli 

Patchouli has been used traditionally in China, Japan and South East Asia for skin and hair. It has wound healing and scar reducing properties that make in an ideal choice for skin health. Fun fact – Patchouli is a powerful insecticide and its scent is strongly associated with the trade of exotic oriental fabrics 200 years ago as it helped protect those fine fabrics from moths.

Geranium

Geranium helps regulate the production of the skin’s sebum; reducing breakouts and keeping it supple. The bio components of geranium improve blood circulation thereby increasing the efficiency of cell regeneration and promoting the distribution of melanin. Geranium is ideal for lightening scars and dark spots. 

Lavender

Lavender enhances cell regeneration and is a fantastic all rounder for skincare. The Greeks and Romans have been using lavender for burns since ancient times. The 19th century French chemist, Rene Maurice Gattefosse was severely burnt in a laboratory accident and used lavender to successfully treat the resulting wounds and scars. This led to more in depth laboratory research into lavender. It was found to be so high in antiseptic properties that it was used in the military during World War 1 to treat injured soldiers. Fun fact - Rene’s studies on lavender and other essential oils eventually earned him the title as the Father of Aromatherapy.

Tea Tree

Diluted tea tree oil is a natural and gentler option for treating acne compared to benzyl peroxide that can cause side effects like red, dry and peeling skin. Tea tree’s high antibacterial and microbial compounds makes it an ideal ingredient for cleansing and controlling skin breakouts.

It’s important to note that all most essential oils should be diluted to some degree and some have photosensitive qualities. Therefore it’s advisable to use them at night or to apply a natural sunscreen before any sun exposure if used during the daytime.

Incorporating essential oils into your daily facial routine is easy. Simply add 1 or 2 drops to your usual moisturizer, serum or masque to give it an extra boost. A more effective way is to dilute it with a carrier oil. Pure top quality carrier oils are themselves amazing for skin health as they are packed with essential fatty acids, proteins, vitamins and antioxidants. The best carrier oils for face are argan, jojoba, rosehip and sweet almond oil.

Orli.com.au 

Orli stocks Earth Yard’s range of Australian certified organic essential oils and carrier oils.