During her session "Create You Own Blending Bar With Therapeutic Essential Oils," Kim Manely, founder of KM Herbals, shared with Face & Body Midwest attendees a variety of skin care applications that utilize essential oils.
Therapeutic Essential Oils for the Face
Carrot Seed
- Actions: Balancing, clarifying and rejuvenating
- Skin types and conditions: All, mature, sun damage, scarring and improves skin tone/texture
Chamomile, Roman
- Actions: Soothing, cleansing and balancing
- Skin types and conditions: All, sensitive, irritation, nausea, stress/anxiety and improves skin tone and texture
Frankincense
- Actions: Soothing, balancing and rejuvenating
- Skin types and conditions: All, mature, dry, sensitive, scarring, stress/anxiety and improves skin tone/texture
Geranium, Rose
- Actions: Rejuvenating, uplifting, balancing and clarifying
- Skin types and conditions: All, mature, oily/congested, sensitive, dehydrated, stress/anxiety and fatigue
Immortelle
- Actions: Soothing, clarifying and balancing
- Skin types and conditions: Mature, dry, oily/congested, sensitive, scarring, sun damage and improves skin tone/texture
Lavender
- Actions: Soothing, balancing and clarifying
- Skin types and conditions: All, mature, oily/congested, dry, sun damage, sensitive, stress/anxiety and improves skin tone/texture
Neroli
- Actions: Soothing, toning and aphrodisiac
- Skin types and conditions: All, mature, oily/congested, sensitive, dehydrated, stress/anxiety and improves skin tone/texture
Rose
- Actions: Soothing, hydrating, rejuvenating, toning, uplifting and aphrodisiac
- Skin types and conditions: Mature, dry, sensitive, irritation, dehydrated, stress/anxiety and improves skin tone/texture
Rosemary ct. Verbenone
- Actions: Stimulating, cleansing, clarifying and rejuvenating
- Skin types and conditions: All, dry, mature, sun damage, dull skin, stagnation, fatigue, respiratory support and improves skin tone/texture
Tea Tree
- Actions: Cleansing, stimulating and immune support
- Skin types and conditions: All, oily/congested, sun damage, broken skin and respiratory support
Manley explained that a majority of essential oils are too active to be applied neat. She recommended that sensitive areas like the face should require blending essential oils with carrier oils at a 1% dilution.
One drop of essential oil is equivalent to 25 mg. Manley stated that a 1% dilution would be five to six drops in a 1 oz. unscented base.
Carrier oils include:
- Apricot
- Avocado
- Borage
- Cocoa butter
- Virgin coconut
- Evening primrose
- Golden jojoba
- Extra virgin olive
- Pomegranate seed
- Rice bran
- Rosehip seed
- Safflower
- Fair trade shea butter
- Sunflower seed
- Sweet almond
- Tamanu/foraha
Applications of Therapeutic Essential Oils and Dilutions for the Face
- Facial cleansers: 20-25 drops per 4.oz unscented base
- Toners: 25-30 drops per 4 oz. herbal infusion/tea, aloe vera or spring water
- Masks: 5-6 drops per 1 oz. liquid/powder
- Steams: 5-6 drops into hot water
- Massage oils/cremes: 5-6 drops per 1 oz. unscented base
