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A basic skin-care routine
Different skin types require individual treatment but a good basic skin-care routine, which takes very little time, involves cleaning, toning, and moisturizing every morning and evening, and giving the skin extra-special nourishing, cleansing, and revitalizing treatments once a week. Recipes for basic oils, gels, and creams are given here, recipes for masks and moisturizers are on, and recipes for simple fresheners and toner/cleansers.
Every morning
Sources of ingredients
COCONUT
APRICOT KERNEL
AVOCADO
Oils derived from fruits are nourishing and beneficial to the skin in many ways. Research has shown that they encourage the formation of fresh cells.
Once a week
BEAUTY, ESPECIALLY SKIN- and hair-care, is central to the practice of aromatherapy. But while receiving a full body massage from a professional aromatherapist or having an aromatic facial in a beauty clinic is certainly a treat, it is not essential for maintaining a clear and healthy complexion. Many aromatic recipes are simple to make, and regular treatment can easily be carried out at home.
Facial oils
Facial oils are made up in the same way as general massage or body oils, except that the base or carrier oil, as well as the essential oils, can be adapted to the type of skin which is to be treated. Suitable carrier oils include avocado, olive, wheat germ, hazelnut, apricot kernel, peach kernel, borage seed, carrot, and evening primrose, as well as the more basic carrier oils such as sweet almond, grapeseed, jojoba, or sunflower oil. Apart from nourishing and toning the skin, facial oils can also be used for facial massage and local self-massage.
Facial oil recipe
Mix two parts of a basic carrier oil and one part of a specific carrier oil suited to the skin type, with 0.5 to 1 percent of an essential oil (or a blend of oils).
| Base Oil | Percentage | Drops |
| 1 tsp/5ml | 0.5–1% | 1 |
| 1 tbsp/15ml | 0.5–1% | 1–3 |
| 1fl oz/25ml | 0.5–1% | 3–5 |
| 2fl oz/50ml | 0.5–1% | 5–10 |
| 3½fl oz/100ml | 0.5–1% | 10–20 |
Tapioca gel recipe
Use 3½fl oz/100ml water to 1½ tsp/7.5ml tapioca. Mix and simmer until the tapioca is dissolved. Strain off the liquid and let it cool to form a transparent gel. Stir in a few drops of essential oil just before it sets.
Facial creams
An aromatic facial cream should moisturize, heal, and nourish the skin, trapping the moisture in, but also letting the skin breathe. To make up a basic cream at home, use the instructions here, based on what is traditionally known as Galen’s cold cream recipe.
Apart from nourishing and toning the skin, facial oils can be used for massage.
GRAPES
AVOCADO
HAZELNUTS
Making your own beauty treatment oils and creams enables you to choose ingredients best suited to your skin,
