Every person wants to look and feel good, irrespective of lifestyle or age. The burgeoning demand for beauty products has seen research into the industry skyrocket and each day there is a new breakthrough find that claims to transform your skin like never before.
Throughout the years of research, one thing has remained prevalent – that essential oils can make a big difference to your skin, hair and overall feel.
Natural oils are typically obtained by distillation and have been used for thousands of years for cosmetic purposes. Today they are referred to as “essential oils” and contrary to the term, they’re not actually very oily. Most essential oils are clear, having been distilled from leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots and other plant elements. Highly concentrated, a little essential oil goes a long way.Essential oils are usually sold in small bottles and can be used as part of a large range of cosmetic recipes. Most of these recipes consist of essential oils being added to carrier oils, jojoba oil, coconut oil or aloe vera. How much essential oil you add will depend on how strong you like it.
As for what you use, general rules of thumb include: The lighter and smaller the molecules, the thinner and more aromatic the oil will be. The heavier and larger the molecules, the more time it takes for the body to absorb and metabolise the oil. Blending both light (top note) and heavy molecules (base) will allow the oil to last longer and will create a better blend. For every 100ml of carrier oil, expect to use around 35-40 drops of essential oil.
Tips for mixing essential oils
Make sure you store your blends correctly Leave air space in the container or bottle to allow the oil to breathe. Add a little carrier oil, then essential oil, then a little more carrier oil. This will make blending easier. Use good quality carrier oils
Rosemary and Peppermint Shampoo
Essential oils are great for cleansing, nourishing and strengthening the hair follicle and rosemary and peppermint can help with an oily scalp. (If pregnant or suffering from high blood pressure, substitute with lavender and lemon).
Ingredients
- ½ cup castile soap
- ½ cup filtered water
- 16 drops of rosemary essential oil
- 2 drops of peppermint essential oil
Lavender Honey Lip Balm
Nourishing for dry, chapped lips, this easy-to-make lip balm will have your lips in top shape. Simply melt the ingredients and pour into 12 empty lip balm tubes.
Ingredients
- 2 tbs coconut oil
- 1 tsp shea butter
- ½ tsp raw honey
- 1 tbs sweet almond oil
- 2 tbsp beeswax
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
- 5 drops frankincense essential oil
Shaving Cream
This luscious homemade shaving cream contains no harmful chemicals and leaves skin feeling beautiful following a shave. Simply melt the butter and coconut oil using a double boiler and once cooled a little, add the remaining oils before placing in the fridge. When you’re ready to use it, you can whip it up to the consistency of whipped cream and it will keep in an airtight container for up to a month.
Ingredients
4 tbs solid shea butter
3 tbs coconut oil
2 tbs sweet almond oil
10-12 drops lavender essential oil
Caribbean Dream Scent
Use this masculine rum-like fragrance in your diffuser to perfume your home. It’s almost as good as a holiday!
Ingredients
4 drops bay essential oil
2 drops orange essential oil
1 drop clove essential oil
1 drop allspice essential oil
Scar Cream
Scar cream can help reduce the appearance of scars. Applied daily, it’s incredible the difference it can make. Simply add essential oils to melted (but not hot) coconut oil.
Ingredients
2 tbs coconut oil
10 drops geranium essential oil
8 drops lemongrass essential oil
6 drops lavender essential oil
3 drops frankincense essential oil
3 drops melrose essential oil
Note: this is not for therapeutic purposes
Facial moisturiser with SPF
An amazing daily face cream that compliments your spring/summer beauty regime perfectly, this facial moisturiser is super easy to make and contains a good level of SPF thanks to the carrot seed oil. Again, it’s simply a case of blending some essential oils with good oil like coconut oil.
Ingredients
¼ cup coconut oil
10 drops carrot seed essential oil
6 drops myrrh essential oil
4 drops lavender essential oil
4 drops frankincense essential oil
Note: this is not for therapeutic purposes
Mint Chocolate Whipped Body Butter
Taking advantage of the high melting point of cocoa butter, this homemade body butter keeps well in summer and offers an incredible cooling effect to combat hot summer days. The best bit however, is that once whipped, you’ll be smelling like dessert all day as the butter works its magic on your skin.
Ingredients
½ cup cocoa butter
½ cup coconut oil
30 drops peppermint essential oil
Christmas Spirit Blend
Warm up the atmosphere during the festive season and add a delicious blend of essential oils to your diffuser. This blend just screams Christmas and will set the mood for celebration.
Ingredients
5 drops patchouli essential oil
3 drops cinnamon essential oil
4 drops sweet orange essential oil
2 drops clove essential oil
1 drop ylang ylang essential oil
Insect Repellent Spritz
Help keep those nasty critters, such as mosquitoes and flies away in summer and spritz yourself with a combination of essential oils. Just ensure that you shake the bottle before each use, to dilute the oils before spraying.
Ingredients
½ cup distilled water
15 drops citronella essential oil
10 drops lavender oil
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
5 drops lemongrass essential oil
Exfoliating Sugar Scrub
Sugar can be fantastic for your skin and even better, sugar scrubs are inexpensive when made at home. There are countless variations for moisturising and exfoliating, but a favourite includes using lavender and vanilla.
Ingredients
1 cup white sugar
½ cup almond oil
10 drops vitamin E oil
½ tsp vanilla extract
15 drops lavender essential oil
Note: this is not for therapeutic purposes
Fresh and Clean Diffuser Blend
To create a welcoming atmosphere when expecting guests, create a blend for the diffuser that gives off a clean and fresh aroma.
Ingredients
2 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops lemon essential oil
2 drops rosemary essential oil
Cooling Peppermint Toner
Offering the cooling effect of peppermint essential oil, this toner recipe gives you a quick mental boost and leaves skin feeling fresh.
Ingredients
¾ cup filtered water
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
30 drops peppermint essential oil
Insect Repellent Oil
Instead of spritzing your skin and clothes, try creating an essential oil blend for the diffuser. This insect repelling blend will not only keep the creepy crawlies away, it will also help you cool down on a balmy summer evening.
Ingredients
4-6 drops spearmint essential oil
3-5 drops peppermint essential oil
3-5 drops citronella essential oil
1 drop lemongrass essential oil
Mood Setter Oil
If you’ve planned a romantic dinner at home, set up the diffuser and create a “mood setter” blend.
Ingredients
2 drops black pepper essential oil
2 drops grapefruit essential oil
2 drops jasmine essential oil
Brush-on Cuticle Oil
For strong, fast growing nails and soft, easy-to-manage cuticles, brush and massage all-natural cuticle oil over the cuticles and surrounding areas. One batch will last approximately two weeks.
Ingredients
1 tbsp cranberry seed oil
5-8 drops of tea tree or sandalwood essential oil
Need to stock up on essential oils to get going on these recipes? Take a look at our extensive range.