Hello Everyone . . .
Today, as promised, I'll continue the discussion about the two fabulous all-natural facial oils that I've formulated for Healthy Harvest www.healthyharvests.com (yes, there is an "s" at the end of harvest in the web address - it's not a typo). In my last blog, I detailed the uses for and ingredients in Olive Essentials Facial Oil No. 2, and today, I'll discuss Olive Essentials Facial Oil No. 1. I love them both and use one blend in the morning and the other at night. Living up here in northern coastal Maine, my skin needs lots of oil, as the fall/winter seasons can be rather arid at times, plus the combined exposure to outdoor cold and indoor heat totally sucks the moisture right out of my skin. Not a pretty picture if I don't deeply moisturize! I use them in the spring/summer seasons, too, but just apply 3-4 drops, 2x per day, vs. 6-8 drops, 2x per day in the colder months.
So . . . let me recap that both of these facial oil blends contain pure, organic, unrefined, raw, unfiltered, enzyme-rich and polyphenol (antioxidant)-rich Tuscan olive oil as their base - that oil alone (without any added essential oils) will leave your skin incredibly velvety and soft, but when I add the key essential oils to the mix, the results are amazing! Both formulations tone and tighten the skin, diminish the visibility of wrinkles and fine lines, and add plumpness to mature skin - and that's definitely a good thing! To refresh your memory about Olive Essentials Facial Oil No. 2, see my previous blog posted in mid-October, 2016. Now, let's discuss its partner facial oil . . .
Olive Essentials Facial Oil No. 1
What type of skin is it best for? I like this oil for all skin types, really, as it seems to balance all complexions. Never fear oil if you have an oily skin . . . just use a lot less of it. A light application of oil (approx. 2 drops) after you've cleansed and while your skin is still damp, will seal in valuable moisture and prevent dehydration of skin tissue - which will preserve youthfulness for a long, long time. Imagine a prune and its plump counterpart . . . a plum. What's the difference in the two? Moisture aka water! Get the picture?
Here's the wording on the product label: This rejuvenative, gentle, protective, skin-nourishing treatment oil, when used consistently, will seal in moisture, balance, and tone most skin types, including combination, normal, dry, and mature. An especially soothing herbal remedy for inflamed, chapped, cracked, and environmentally damaged skin. Contains antiseptic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, emotionally uplifting, and anti-anxiety properties - a truly multi-purpose oil blend.
Ingredients: Tuscan olive oil, which I've already mentioned, plus the following essential oils:
- French Highland Lavender essential oil: Organically grown in France and steam distilled from fresh lavender buds. Lavender is considered a 'medicine chest in a bottle' and is the most versatile and widely used of all the essential oils, having calming, relaxing, soothing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiseptic properties. Its regenerative effect on the skin stimulates the growth of healthy new cells, promotes rapid healing, and helps prevent scarring. Perfect for all skin types, especially red,couperose (dilated capillaries with diffuse redness), rosacea, and inflamed conditions.
- Myrrh essential oil: Steam distilled from wild-harvested myrrh resin. Myrrh has a resinous, rich, heavy aroma, is highly antiseptic, antifungal, gently stimulating, and strengthening to skin tissues. Tones, lifts, and tightens skin and is an important anti-aging treatment that delays the appearance of wrinkles. Acts as an emollient, protective, healing balm for the skin. Recommended for dry, mature, environmentally damaged, chapped skin and open wounds.
- Geranium, Rose (Chinese) essential oil: Steam distilled from the wild-harvested leaves, flowers, and stems. Rose geranium has an earthy, flowery, rose-like scent and antiseptic, astringent, antiviral, and antifungal properties. Excellent for all skin types as it's quite balancing, but especially good for oily, congested, combination, and acne-prone; gently stimulates stagnant circulation; tones and tightens skin.
- Palmarosa essential oil: Steam distilled from the organic fresh and dried grassy-leaves. Same family as lemongrass. Palmarosa has a pleasant, sweet, slightly musty, floral-rosy smell. Best known for its balancing action upon the skin. Helps to rehydrate dry and mature skin or normalize the sebum (oil) secretion of oily skin. Also tones and revitalizes the appearance of tired or aging skin. Has antiviral, broadly antiseptic, and antifungal properties.
Don't these simple, but highly effective ingredients sound fabulous?? I put a lot of research and testing into my formulations, and I'm confident that you'll benefit from one of my blends. The price for either of these oils is $45 each or 2 for $80. Please give one or both a try . . . your skin will thank you for sure! They are created with love and the utmost purity - absolutely no useless ingredients or fillers . . . how often can you say that about your skin care products? To order, please visit www.healthyharvests.com
Hello Everyone . . . Spring Greetings! Today, I'm going to continue with Part 2 of my series, "Creating Herbal Facial Oils". I'll share with you how I discovered facial oils and why I decided to create them myself instead of shelling out big bucks at the department stores - for sub-par products. Plus, I'll share another DIY recipe - Healing Thyme Elixir - which you can find on page 201 of my best-selling "Organic Body Care Recipes" book - available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers everywhere!
But, before I get started, I'll like to tell you about a new facial oil that I've formulated that's now for sale at www.HealthyHarvests.com. I've partnered with Karl Burgart, owner of Healthy Harvest, LLC, and we've created, "Olive Essentials Facial Oil No. 2" (Facial Oil No. 1 will be launched shortly). It's a one-ounce blend of Karl's imported extra-virgin, super pure, unrefined, unheated, unfiltered, low-acid, organic Tuscan olive oil combined with my proprietary blend of wildcrafted frankincense CO2, organic French highland lavender, and organic Australian sandalwood essential oils. It's truly an exquisite, gently aromatic, pampering, and nourishing oil for your face and neck.
Karl also retails the absolute BEST olive oils that I've ever tasted, along with ripe olives, infused comfrey oil, oregano, Greek Mountain tea, etc. Please visit the site and give the products a try! Your skin and body will thank you!
Herbal Facial Elixirs
In the mid-1990's, I decided to see what all the hoopla was about concerning the highly touted "youthifying" commercial facial serums that many cosmetic companies were launching. These .5 - 1 ounce bottles of promise came at a hefty price, and after a bit of ingredient sleuthing on my part, I discovered that they consisted primarily of water, synthetic skin softeners, chemical exfoliating acids, a vitamin or two, humectants, artificial fragrance, and preservatives. Definitely not a "healthy cocktail" - for sure.
So, I decided to create my own natural, highly beneficial versions of these serums. The result: herbal facial elixirs that your skin will literally drink up! If used consistently, the elixirs here will definitely aid in prolonging the youthful qualities of your skin.
The prep time is quick, but plan on setting aside your elixir for one day. Have you ever heard the expression, "the sum is greater than its parts"? There's a scientific term for that, and it's synergy. During the 24 hours that you let your blend rest, you are letting it synergize, to become a more powerful conditioner for your skin.
Think of the recipe in the previous blog in this series, "Evening Luxe Elixir", the following recipe, "Healing Thyme Elixir", and the recipes to come in this series of blogs - as alternative moisturizing treatments for your face. Instead of applying a traditionally made cream or lotion, first moisten your skin with your favorite toner, hydrosol, or astringent, then apply one of these specialized blends of pure base and essential oils. They'll nourish on a cellular level, restore, soften, balance, seal in hydration, and assist in reparation of damaged skin. Expect visible results after regular use. As an added benefit, the aromatherapeutic properties of these elixirs will serve to calm, uplift, recharge, or soothe the mind and spirit.
Healing Thyme Elixir
This elixir helps to balance problem skin due to overactive sebaceous glands. The combination of essential oils produces an antiseptic, antibacterial formula that also calms the skin, counteracting redness from inflammation. It also aids in normalizing dry areas, improves sluggish circulation, and stimulates new cell formation. Do not be afraid of applying oil to an oily skin. The hazelnut base oil in this recipe is actually an astringent, tightening oil - wonderful for oily skin. You may substitute jojoba oil, if you wish. (The image above is a thyme plant from my garden - the essential oil is used in this recipe.)
Ingredients:
- 5 drops rosemary (chemotype verbenon) essential oil
- 5 drops thyme (chemotype linalol) essential oil
- 2 drops lemon essential oil
- 8 drops German chamomile essential oil
- 2 tablespoons hazelnut base oil
Recommended For: oily, acneic (with weeping acne), combination, or normal skin
Use: 2 times per day
Prep Time: approximately 15 minutes, plus 24 hours to synergize
Blending Tools: shake 1-ounce storage bottle prior to each use
Store In: dark glass bottle with glass dropper top
Yield: 2 tablespoons or 1-ounce
Directions: Add the essential oils, drop by drop, directly into a storage bottle. Next, add the base oil. Screw on the dropper bottle top, wrap your hand around the bottle, and shake the formula vigorously for 2 minutes to completely blend all ingredients and gently warm them to body temperature.
Set the bottle in a dark location that's between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for 24 hours so that the oils can synergize. No refrigeration is required, but for maximum freshness and potency, please use within 6 months - 1 year.
Application Tips: Morning and evening after cleansing, apply the appropriate toner, astringent, or hydrosol. While skin is still damp, lightly massage 4-8 drops of elixir into skin, beginning with decollete, throat, then face, using upward, outward, and circular strokes. Wait 5 minutes before applying sunscreen, additional moisturizer, or makeup.
NOTE: Portions of this blog were excerpted - with permission - from my book, "Organic Body Care Recipes" (Storey Publishing, c2007). The material in this blog is for informational or educational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your healthcare professional, physician/dermatologist.
