Essential Oils and Blends for Broken Capillaries

As we age, especially for fair-skinned individuals we find more broken capillaries on our face, in particular our cheeks, nose and décolleté area. These happen for a variety of reasons, from thin skin, extreme weather, hot baths to sitting to long. As a result, the cells in the capillary walls become weak and lose their elasticity.

Roses for Anti-Aging, Rosehip Seed Oil

earthly gift | cadeau terrestre

Rosehip Seed Oil is a wonderful oil, rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, high in gamma linoliec acid (GLA) and vitamin C. I have been using this oil for several years, undiluted on my lips, face, hands, chest and neck as well as on my very, very dry feet.

If I don't have the time to let it absorb naturally on my skin, I just take a few drops of water and pat the area of skin to help the oil absorb more quickly. And, even though it is a fast-drying oil, I don't use it around my eyes. Lately, the eyebrows have become rather dry now that I'm dying them. What I do is lightly pat the left-over oil on my hands on my eyebrows. I don't do this every day because it is an oil high in fatty acid content. (If you already have your Rose Hip Oil and excited about getting started, please read the note below, first).

Rose Hip oil is extracted from the ripened fruit of a hybrid, thorny, wild rosebush native to Chile. It is said to be healing with properties that help to regenerate the skin and counteract the effects of aging and often used for products to help reduce stretch marks, scars and of course, mature, dry skin.

Anti-Aging Serum: Blend Rose Hip oil with carrot seed oil, a rejuvenating oils with a few drops of vitamin E to improve it’s shelf life. Store in a dark bottle and in a cool place, it should last for 2 years.

Anti-Aging Creme: Simply add a few drops of Rose Hip Oil to your favorite commercial facial moisturizer and you've got your very own custom blend moisturizer. Adjust as needed.

Hair Care: If you have dry hair, just before you go to bed, add a few drops to the ends of your hair. Put a towel on your cushion to protect it from the oil. Shower your hair the next morning as usual.  

Feet Care: Right after your shower, with your feet still a bit damp, add a few drops of Rose Hip Oil and massage thoroughly. Add socks for about 10 minutes to help the oil absorb into the dry skin as well as to keep the feet clean. Remove socks and enjoy your lovely, soft feet.

NOTE:  Rose Hip Oil is not recommended for acne or very oily skin due to it’s high fatty acid content. Even though it is a fast-drying oil, I would also keep it away from around the eyes. It is safe, inexpensive and effective but if you've never tried it, do a patch test first. Most natural food stores will have a tester. Best to test it on a small patch of skin, leave it for 24 hours and if all goes well, then purchase the Rosehip Oil. With anything new, go slow until you find what works for your skin. 

Top 5 Carrier Oils for Wrinkles, Aging and Dull Skin!

Many of us are aware that carrier oils are used in skin care preparations to improve conditions of the skin, hair and nails.  However, many of these fix oils offer us much more than as a carrier base for essential oils.  Here are our top 5 carrier oils for wrinkles, aging and dull skin.

Evening Primrose Seed Oil

One of the best carrier oils for wrinkles. Try it also on your nails, too. Evening Primrose Oil is anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and a blood vessel dilator. The main characteristics of Evening Primrose Oil increases skin resistance to ultraviolet rays and aids in blood circulation. Not only it is one of the best carrier oils for wrinkles, it helps to prevent aging of the skin!

* Base oil: Use a 10% dilution.
* Store in cool, dark location {away from sun}.
* For recipes and tips, read more.

Rosehip Seed Oil

How do I love thee? Let me count the way.

A wonderful oil for the treatment in reducing wrinkles! Rosehip oil is rich in EFA's, vitamins C and E. Use just a small percentage (low ratio) to treat many skin conditions, most notably dehydrated skin that has prematurely aged.  It is also reputed to help in preventing and reducing stretch marks and age spots because it is not just wrinkles that make us look weathered. 

* For recipes and how-to tips, visit here.
* Store in cool, dark location {away from sun}.

Carrot Seed Oil

This is actually an essential oil but it is often used in base oils. It is orange in colour.  Excellent for dry, dull and mature skin. Especially good when used as a skin rejuvenator.  The oil's high carotol content gives it regenerative properties, which helps with dull and aging skin.  It blends well with Rosehip Seed Oil.

* Base Oil: Use a 10% dilution
* Product clarification: Carrot seed essential oil is not the same as infused carrot oil,
   or carrot tissue oil, which comes from the edible carrot.

Avocado Oil

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.

* Base oil: Use as an addition to a base oil.  10% dilution

Borage Oil

Borage oil is a good skin rejuvenator and excellent for all skin types especially maturing skin and sun-damaged skin. This oil is high in GLA, an important fatty acid for maintaining healthy skin.

* Base Oil: Blend using 10% dilution with other carrier oils.
* Best to purchase in small amount as it goes rancid rather quickly.
* Store in cool, dark location {away from sun}

 

Application Use:
Remember to do a patch test on your skin first.  Do not apply directly on your skin without permission or discussion with your aromatherapist first.  If pregnant, use only under doctor's care. 

These are highly concentrated oils and may burn the skin.  For easiest use, blend your facial cream with a few drops of your favourite carrier oil, blend well and apply to your face, neck and hands.  Please read our disclosure policy. 

Plus
Don't forget our Spring Blog-Hop.  If you are looking to connect and discover other great blogs, please complete this form.

Cheers!
Cecilia
@aromaliving

Key Ingredients for Beautiful Skin at Any Age

Let's start with the basic list of ingredients that promote skin rejuvenation.

Look for products that incorporate added nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins to your favourite blend or face creme. In particular, look for antioxidant ingredients that help counter the deterioration of skin cells. These antioxidants include vitamins A, C, E and D, which can be found in plant oils such as avocado and sweet almond oil.  These vitamins are also rich in proteins as well as provide nourishing vitamins.

Vitamin A is particularly helpful for mature skin and dry hair.  It acts as an antioxidant, offers anti-inflammatory and toning properties and also provides regenerative property to the tissue. You can create your own anti-aging blend using carrot root or carrot seed oil with a carrier oil.  Carrot oil is stated to offer exceptional properties for stimulating and regenerating skin and follicle cells. Other herbal sources of carotene are:

• Peppermint,
• Dandelion greens as part of a salad,
• Sage, 
• Rose Hip Oil.

Vitamin C, of course provides a number of health benefits to our skin.  Recent reports discovered the antioxidants found in this vitamin is helpful in the production of collagen. Look for beauty products that offer vitamin C with rose hips as a primary ingredient.  Make your own blend here.

Vitamin E has been long reputed to help prevent cellular damage throughout our body by inhibiting the formation of free radicals. In essence, Vitamin E helps with circulation thus can slow down aging.  Some herbalists even suggest it can reduce age spots (remember do a patch test first if you are applying it directly on to your skin!).  Vitamin E is best used naturally.

Enjoy!