href="#fb3_img_img_aea950db-e24c-537a-b79b-ac893ea0d71e.jpg" alt="heart"/> 5 drops bergamot Method
Dissolve the oils in the vodka, then add to the water, shaking well. Leave the mixture to mature for a month at least, then filter and bottle.
ORANGE PEEL
LEMON LEAF
Facial treatment
Used once a week, steaming can help to hydrate the skin, cleanse the pores, and eliminate deep-seated grime and toxins. It is possible to buy a special facial sauna or steamer, but the same result can be achieved by simply filling a basin with boiling water, covering your head with a towel, and letting the steam work for five minutes on your face.
To make the steam treatment even more effective, add to the water 6 to 10 drops of an essential oil (or a blend) suited to your skin type. Soaking in a steaming hot bathtub containing a few drops of aromatic oil can also help clear skin congestion.
After steaming, the skin should be cooled and balanced with a flower water to close the pores. This should be allowed to dry naturally. When the skin is completely dry, a light moisturizer should be applied.
WARNING
Avoid steam treatments if your skin is prone to thread veins. This type of skin reacts adversely to extremes of heat and cold and should be treated gently at all times.
Eau-de-Cologne and toilet waters should be decanted into decorative glass bottles and kept well stoppered.
Chamomile water soothes the skin.
Spray the face with fragrant flower waters to hydrate and freshen the skin.
Rose oil is one of the best skin treatments.
Face scrub or exfoliant
To remove dead cells from the surface of the skin and stimulate the circulation, moisten a little medium-ground oatmeal (or colloidal oatmeal—available from pharmacists) in the palm of your hand using a suitable aromatic flower water, and rub gently all over the face. For dry or sensitive skins, use ground almonds.
OATMEAL
Dry and wet body-brushing
Rub one or two drops of a chosen essential oil into a dry loofah or a natural-bristle brush to make it smell fragrant. Start by rubbing the feet firmly with the brush, then gradually work your way up the body, concentrating on any congested or fatty areas, such as the hips or thighs. Work up the arms, paying special attention to the backs of the upper arms, up the back from the waist, up over the abdomen, and down the front from the shoulders.
Popular in Scandinavia, this technique stimulates the circulation, helps break down fatty deposits, and brings a glow to the skin. Used in combination with other approaches, it is helpful for removing cellulite. For a milder effect, the same technique can also be used in the shower or bath, using a few drops of essential oil on a wet brush, loofah, or sponge.
A loofah or sponge can be used as a body brush, to give an invigorating tingle.
Body-brushing or an oatmeal scrub improves the circulation and acts as an exfoliant to remove dull-looking dead cells.
Aromatic scalp oil preparations
Local massage is very effective for conditions such as hair loss and brittle or dry hair, if it is carried out on a regular basis. Massage also stimulates scalp circulation and nourishes the deeper layers of the skin, bringing more nutrients to the follicles and improving the hair. To make a scalp massage oil, mix 8 tsp/40ml coconut oil and 2 tsp/10ml wheat germ oil with between 10 and 25 drops of essential oil depending on hair and skin type.
Hair conditioner
To make a good hair conditioner to encourage hair growth and improve the quality of the hair structure, mix 10 drops of essential oil with 5 tsp/25ml of slightly warmed jojoba oil, castor oil, or extra virgin olive oil, and rub this thoroughly into the scalp. Cover the hair with a layer of waxed paper, wrap in warm towels, and leave for an hour. Wash out, applying shampoo before the water; otherwise the hair will remain oily. Repeat weekly.
LAVENDER
Massage oil into the scalp to nourish the scalp. Lavender oil is good for dandruff.
Body powders
Aromatic body powders can be made by mixing about 4 tbsp/30g unperfumed talc or cornstarch with 5 to 6 drops essential oils. Seal the mixture in a closed container and let the base absorb the oils for at least 24 hours before use.
Hair tonic
Aromatic hair tonics are especially recommended for oily or thinning hair, because they can help to balance sebum levels (the oil produced at the base of the hair) and promote hair growth. Dissolve about 10 drops of essential oils suited to your hair type in one tablespoon of cider vinegar and add to 3½fl oz/100ml of lavender water. Shake well and massage into the scalp.
Quick scalp rub
A quick method to use for treating the scalp between washes, if required, is to rub about 10 drops of pure tea tree or lavender oil into the scalp using the fingertips. This is beneficial for the treatment of dandruff and as a general conditioner.
Dry shampoo
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