Esters are almost never used in pure form, and are mixed with the base - base oil. Carrier oils or so-called carrier oils have the amazing property of dissolving esters and facilitating their penetration into the upper layers of the skin.
The base oil for the regular use of essential oils is simply irreplaceable, and it also has whole line its own beneficial properties, which should not be forgotten when making a choice.
What are the benefits of carrier oils?
Base oils, unlike esters, can be used in their pure form, which is why it is an independent cosmetic product with its own characteristics and methods of use. This herbal product is used for daily special care not only for the skin of the face, but also for the décolleté area, curls and nails.
Choosing the best base oils, you can get a bottle of valuable liquid. It contains unsaturated fatty acids, a complex of vitamins and minerals, phosphatides and waxes. The rich chemical composition explains the use of base oils in cosmetology.
This herbal product ensures the elasticity of cell membranes, allows the restoration of skin cells, accelerates metabolism, and has an antioxidant effect.
A carrier oil, such as olive, retains moisture in the epidermis and can be used as natural remedy for makeup remover.
Composition, beneficial properties
The main components of such a plant product are saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. A large percentage of saturated acids ensures the hardening of this plant product at room temperature. If polyunsaturated acids predominate, the oil remains liquid even when room temperature.
Oleic acid is a valuable component of the herbal product, because it promotes better transportation of other components, so the oily liquid quickly penetrates the skin.
Base oil for essential oils is an excellent addition, because it is rich in essential acids - linoleic acid and its derivatives. It is this component that provides comprehensive care for dry, hypersensitive skin, as it fills it with moisture. In addition, essential acids perfectly relieve inflammation of the skin due to skin diseases and promote rapid healing.
The human body constantly needs fatty acids, since a lack of such substances causes flaking, a feeling of tightness, itching, and slight redness.
Where to buy base oil, which one is better?
This valuable herbal remedy is obtained from plant seeds, fruit seeds, as well as grains and nuts using cold pressing methods. Also, other methods (for example, the extraction method) can be used for its production.
Using the best base oils High Quality will allow you to prepare an excellent essential oil composition that is suitable for both skin care and hair care. That is why you should purchase base oils for essential oils only in those stores and pharmacies that sell products from trusted suppliers that do not contain synthetic impurities.
Which base oil to choose in the supermarket? You should only pay attention to a high-quality product without artificial additives. For home suitable for use unrefined base oil – extra virgin will be ideal option. It has a rich greenish tint and a characteristic olive aroma; its refined counterpart does not have such qualities.
How are base oils used in cosmetology?
Every woman wants to look attractive and young, so quite often the fair sex resorts to using expensive body care products. But it is not always possible to feel the effectiveness of such cosmetics, due to its complex composition with synthetic additives that are harmful to the skin.
Base oils are successfully used in cosmetology, so they have 100% natural composition. Thanks to the wide range of such herbal remedies, you can choose exactly what suits you. It is not difficult to select a base oil for essential oils, taking into account your skin type.
We select base oils for skin (according to type):
1. Oily skin.
For this type of skin, it is advisable to choose products that have a drying effect. This will tighten the pores, regulate the production of subcutaneous fat and eliminate unpleasant shine.
2. Dry skin.
In this case, moisturizers will come in handy. Unlike fatty type skin, dry skin needs constant nourishment. It is best to apply the herbal remedy to your face immediately after applying the hydrosol. A dense oily layer will allow you to save moisture on the surface of the skin and quickly penetrate the epidermis along with the nutritional components of the cosmetic product.
3. Normal skin.
It is common to meet a woman with normal type leather is rare. You can choose base oils for this type of face at your discretion. It is considered a universal care product.
4. Combination skin
To care for this type of skin, you will need a number of oils, since each area of the face will require its own oil. Forehead, nose and chin are suitable herbal remedies for oily skin types; the area around the eyes, cheeks, temples - products for dry skin.
5. Aging skin.
This type of skin needs special, careful care. Hormonal imbalance immediately reflected on the face - dryness, flabbiness and peeling of the skin.
For skin elasticity and firmness, oils that have an antioxidant effect are best suited: borage, avocado, and jojoba.
Basic oils are an excellent hair care product, as they quickly penetrate the hair shaft and the hair follicle, nourishing it with vitamins, macroelements and nutrients. Basic oils for hair are selected in almost the same way as for skin - according to type.
For oily hair, the following oils are perfect: almond, calendula flowers, pumpkin seeds, as well as St. John's wort.
For mild flaking and dandruff, it is worth using: argan, burdock or castor oil.
Ideal for dry hair: corn oil, peach pits or sea buckthorn.
For damaged, colored strands, use: macadamia oil, hemp oil, jojoba oil or corn oil.
Almond, coconut, and olive oil will help solve the problem of split ends.
Thanks to the correct selection and use of basic plant compositions, every girl and woman will look young and attractive. Select natural product for skin and hair care - this is the key to a beautiful appearance regardless of age.
Helpful – options for different types hair and problems.
Cosmetic oils are a treasure trove various vitamins and minerals and, unlike artificial oils, do not have harmful impurities: dyes, preservatives and flavors. For this reason, when they come into contact with the body, they do not provoke allergies.
Oils nourish and moisturize our skin, saturating it useful microelements, have rejuvenating and softening properties. They are also used to treat various dermatological diseases.
Base oils are the main ingredient home cosmetics. Unlike purchasing funds, you yourself choose the dosage of one or another component, depending on the desired result.
Solid oils used in soap making, creating creams and lip balms. Their properties are similar to human sebum, so they are easily accepted by the body and are necessary as a conductor for essential oils, which in turn have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects.
Liquid oils no less useful. They are used in the preparation of soap, cosmetics for face and hair, nail products, and also for massage oils.
Basic cosmetic oils can act as independent body care products for maximum nutrition and hydration. They help the skin produce collagen, become more elastic and soft.
Due to the high content of vitamin E, a natural preservative and antioxidant, oils slow down the aging process, help improve microcirculation and regeneration in the skin.
List of cosmetic oils and properties:
Avocado: moisturizes, nourishes, accelerates regeneration processes, protects against ultraviolet radiation
Apricot: nourishes the deep layers of the skin, slows down aging, promotes regeneration, increases elasticity, prevents pore enlargement, normalizes function sebaceous glands
Peanut: softens the skin, even the most sensitive.
Oil apricot kernels : smoothes wrinkles, restores microdamage to the skin
Oil grape seeds : tightens pores, relieves fatigue and inflammation
Cherry seed oil: relieves pain and inflammation, smoothes and restores damaged skin, has a whitening effect
Mustard: prevents gray hair, restores hair structure, has anti-inflammatory and anti-sclerotic effects
Jojoba: regulates sebum production, relieves irritation, moisturizes, prevents dandruff, treats burns
Wheat germ oil: powerful immunomodulatory effect, promotes regeneration, increases skin tightness
St. John's wort: anti-inflammatory, promotes hair growth, reduces acne, used for burns
Calendula: relieves inflammation, soothes and heals. Suitable for very sensitive skin, tightens pores, prevents acne
Cocoa: softens, nourishes, restores, protects skin from external influences
Castor: nourishes the skin, relieves inflammation, restores hair structure
Kedrovoe: prevents aging, nourishes and restores hair, improves skin elasticity
Coconut: heals skin infections, nourishes the skin, smoothes wrinkles.
Almond: stimulates hair growth, increases skin elasticity, prevents pore enlargement.
Peach: prevents skin aging, smoothes wrinkles.
Shea Butter: regenerates, protects against harmful effects sun.
Rosehip: has rejuvenating and anti-inflammatory effects, helps the skin with damage, dryness, dehydration, removes stretch marks.
Definitely a list cosmetic oils is huge, we have only indicated the most popular and accessible means.
Nourishment, moisturizing, softening and smoothing are the properties of each of the listed oils, but some of them stand out for their special targeted action. Therefore, some oils are used with enviable frequency and to solve very specific problems.
List of cosmetic hair oils
Every day, hair is exposed to various physical and chemical influences: streams of hot air from a hair dryer or a heated curling iron, severe frosts, caustic hair dyes, fixatives and much more. For this reason, they need our special attention.
There are many various reasons, according to which cosmetic oils are used for hair care. We list the main ones:
Hair structure restoration
Giving them extra shine
Preventing Split Ends
Stimulating hair growth - nourishing hair follicles and scalp
Dandruff treatment
Reducing oily scalp
Improvement of sebaceous gland secretions
Protection from thermal effects (hot hair dryer or curling iron, severe frosts)
There are a number of cosmetic oils to solve these problems. All of them, in addition to the general nourishing effect, provide special benefits to the hair, which makes them popular hair care products.
So, the list of cosmetic hair oils:
Pumpkin
Olive
Sunflower
Rizhikovoe
St. John's wort
tea tree
Hemp
Corn
Corn
Almond
Coconut
Grape seeds
Burdock
Castor
For normal hair it is better to use corn, olive, flaxseed and almond oil. Avocado, jojoba, shea and coconut will restore dry and damaged hair, give it volume and protect against dandruff and brittleness.
Oil tea tree, like grape seeds, normalize the level of oiliness in the scalp. Special attention It is worth paying attention to those products that prevent hair loss.
Basic hair oils in the table.
Basic hair oils are good both on their own and in combination with other ingredients. They are added to various hair care products, but their quantity leaves much to be desired. In addition, mass-used items may not bring the desired result.
For this reason, many resort to using homemade cosmetics. This allows you to make your hair care procedure as effective and individual as possible. Don't get too carried away with the amount of additives. Let it be from 2 to 5 ingredients, then the properties of the oil will not be lost in the total mass.
Table 1. Basic hair oils
| Oil | Action and application |
|---|---|
| Burdock | Helps strengthen hair roots and creates an excellent nutritional environment for them. Awakens hair follicles, promotes hair, eyebrows and eyelashes growth, protects against dandruff. |
| Coconut | For hair care, unrefined oil is used, which prevents loss of hair shine, protects against excess moisture, preventing it from being absorbed into the hair. Promotes easy combing. |
| Almond | Suitable for any oily scalp, nourishes it, stimulates hair growth and strengthens roots. Prevents hair loss. |
| Castor | Widely used for hair restoration after chemical influences, such as perming or dyeing. Nourishes the scalp, eliminates neoplasms. Gives hair a healthy shine. |
| Avocado | Nourishes hair and scalp, quite thick, but absorbs well. Opposes ultraviolet radiation. Works great as independent means, and can also be easily combined with other oils |
| Linen | Improves appearance and hair structure, gives it shine and volume. Contains in large quantities vitamin F. Used both as an independent remedy and in combination. |
| Jojoba | Improves the growth of eyelashes, scalp hair and eyebrows, increases their volume and improves hair structure, removing fragility and dullness. |
Cosmetic oils for face and body in the table
Natural oils are one of the the best means for skin care of the whole body. They contain a huge amount useful components, do not contain harmful substances, Unlike store supplies, and therefore do not cause allergies.
Cosmetic oils can act as independent care products.
Can be smeared on the body after a bath or as an assistant during massage. Oils are often added to various creams, serums and lotions.
The nutritional value of cosmetics is determined not only by the amount of oil, but also by its properties. To understand them, consider the table.
Table 2. Cosmetic oils and their properties
| Oil | Action and application |
|---|---|
| Apricot | Suitable for aging and dry skin, significantly stimulates cellular metabolism and nourishes the skin. Eliminates peeling, wrinkles and dehydration. |
| Avocado | Best suited for dry and damaged skin. Promotes collagen production and good blood circulation. Gives skin elasticity. |
| Almond | Suitable for all skin types except oily. Relieves irritation, eliminates hypovitaminosis and dryness. |
| Olive | Perfectly moisturizes and nourishes, smooths out wrinkles, not recommended for owners oily skin. |
| Sea buckthorn | The oil is suitable for sensitive and problem skin. Well nourishes, rejuvenates, rich in antioxidants |
| Peach | Ideal for facial skin, especially around the eyes. The oil reduces wrinkles, relieves inflammation and circles under the eyes, whitens and cleanses the skin. |
The choice of cosmetic oils is very large. All you have to do is choose the option that will help you get desired result. What homemade cosmetics recipes have you used? How do you evaluate the effectiveness of using oils?
Using essential oils in is a fantastic way to use it. healing power. In combination with essential oils, massage can have both a powerful calming and tonic effect - it all depends on the chosen oil and the method of massage (fast movements of the massage therapist stimulate, and slow ones relax).
As stated earlier, essential oils are very strong concentrates, and unless specifically indicated, they should not be applied directly to the skin, as this may cause irritation. Therefore, before applying essential oil to the skin, you should dissolve it in the base.
There are a wide variety of plant oils available that act as bases for essential oils:
- Almond oil - Easily absorbed into the skin. It has a smooth texture and low odor. Holds up well. Contains vitamin D. Has a beneficial effect on hair, dry skin and brittle nails.
- Apricot kernel oil — light, contains vitamin A. It is especially good for dry or aging facial skin.
- Avocado oil - heavy, rich in nutrients. Very good for dry, aging and sensitive skin.
- Evening primrose oil - useful for skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. But it has a short shelf life - about 2 months after opening the container.
- Grapeseed oil – light. Good for oily skin. One of the least expensive oils.
- Hazelnut oil – easily penetrates the skin, easily and deeply nourishes it.
- Jojoba oil — light, rich in vitamin E. Suitable for uneven skin– with spots, pimples. It is included in products for dry scalp and dandruff.
- Olive oil - is rarely used as a base, as it has strong smell, competing with the smell of essential oil.
- Peach oil – light color. Contains vitamins A and E. Good for all skin types.
- Soybean oil - easy to digest. Rich in vitamin E.
- Sunflower oil — contains essential fatty acids rich in vitamin E. It has a specific smell.
- Wheat germ oil — contains vitamins A, B, C and E. Tones the skin, promotes the disappearance of spots, scars and scars. Has a strong smell.
Preparation of oil for aroma massage.
When mixing oils used for massage, have the necessary containers on hand. Bottles made of dark glass (brown, blue, etc.) with a capacity of at least 60 ml are suitable here.
Using a small funnel, pour approximately 30ml of base into the bottle. Add 12-15 drops of essential oil to it and screw the lid on the bottle. Shake the contents well.
You can add one essential oil or combine a mixture consisting of a maximum of three, but the total should be the same 12 - 15 drops of essential oil. And here it is! Your own aroma massage oil is ready!
Final advice: make a small amount of massage oil as described above, otherwise you will not have time to use it, and the remainder will go rancid. The mixture can be stored for three months in a cool, dark place with the lid tightly closed. Trust your sense of smell, if you don't like the way the mixture smells, then you should make a new one!
But it’s simply impossible to do without them. The fact is that the use of essential oils in their pure form is strictly prohibited. For example, they cannot be applied undiluted to the skin, as this can cause allergies and burns. To avoid such reactions, base oils are used. For essential oils, they are a kind of solvent, thanks to which the final product becomes safe for humans.
Explanation of the term
Base oils for essential oils can be called by different names. In addition to the basic ones, you can hear about them as a fixed and herbal product. Such a solvent is also called a carrier oil. The latter option is used, as a rule, in aromatherapy. All other terms apply when the base oils for essential oils are intended for production various means intended for skin care.
However, it is worth keeping in mind that the product in question is not always of plant origin. For example, emu oil is used in the manufacture of some drugs. This product is of animal origin. It is obtained from the fat deposits of emu ostriches. Fish oil is often used as fixed oils. Only such products are not used in aromatherapy. The term “base oil” is used exclusively for a substance of plant origin. It is obtained from certain parts of plants rich in fats. As a rule, these are nuts, seeds or seeds.
Different carrier oils have different combinations of beneficial properties and characteristics, which ultimately determine the choice of a particular oil for healing purposes.
Application area
Base oils are used with therapeutic purpose. They are not only natural solvents for essential products, but also make it possible to obtain the necessary aromatic compositions, which then find their use in cosmetology and other branches of human activity.
Using a basic plant product, they make natural creams and lotions, bath and body oils, lip balms, as well as other moisturizing and nourishing products intended for skin care. And what ingredients are included in the formulation of cosmetic products will directly depend on their properties, aroma, color, as well as shelf life.
How important is the use of base oil? This becomes obvious based on simple example. So, applying just 1 or 2 drops of essential oils to the body is unlikely to work. This can only be done if the same volume is dissolved in a larger amount of another product.
The main, but far from the only purpose of using base oil is the production of a base intended for diluting organic esters. The latter are substances with a strong odor, and only their small concentrations are sufficient for the production of cosmetic and perfume compositions with unique and inimitable aromas.
But this is not the end of the scope of application of base oils. A herbal product with unique properties, sometimes used in cosmetology in its pure form. It is used as a product designed to moisturize and soften the skin, as well as nourish and restore hair.
Types of base oils
This herbal product, based on its chemical composition, are divided into two categories. So, there are:
Betters;
Fixed oils.
The chemical composition of the first of them is characterized by a predominance. Such active substances make this base oil very thick and not so fluid. Betters tend to be cheaper, but not as useful. The main advantage of such a product is long term its storage, as well as its resistance to microorganisms.
Among the main characteristics of fatty base oils, we can note them high degree fluidity. It manifests itself due to the predominance of polyunsaturated and unsaturated fatty acids in the product composition. These ingredients penetrate perfectly into skin, feeding their upper layers with useful substances. Their disadvantage is only a short shelf life. After all, the peculiarity of the chemical composition allows bacteria to colonize in such oils very quickly. This is what leads to rapid acidification of the product.
Main functions
Base oils are a kind of transport artery that delivers to the right place ethereal volatiles. At the same time, a cosmetic product created using them, when it comes into contact with the skin, saturates it with valuable substances, normalizing the condition of the epidermis, slowing down the aging process of tissues, improving their appearance, etc.
In addition, when applying base oils, the processes of loosening the stratum corneum of the skin begin. This significantly increases the possibility of penetration into it of those beneficial substances contained in the medicinal product.
In addition, base oils help normalize the lipid layer of the skin. And this, in turn, increases its protective characteristics. Regular use of cosmetics created using base oils significantly reduces the risk of septic pathologies. At the same time, the regenerative abilities of the epidermis increase.
Properties of base oils
Anyone who believes that the product that is the basis for the manufacture of products with essential components is only a pitiful shadow of expensive substances is mistaken. This is far from true. Base oils themselves have a wide range of beneficial properties. Their value is explained by their rich composition, which contains phytosterols and tocopherols, waxes and polyunsaturated fatty acids, phosphatides and triglycerides, all vitamins from A to D, as well as lipochromes.
All of the above micro- and macroelements are quite easily absorbed by the human body and are quickly included in the substances passing through it. metabolic processes. Thanks to their rich vitamin and mineral composition, these oils, after deep penetration into the tissue, have a beneficial effect on every skin cell, stimulating its metabolism, regeneration and increasing the ability to retain moisture. In addition, the base product has a biostimulating and antioxidant effect. It is able to dissolve dead epidermal cells and rejuvenate the skin by removing dust and dirt from its surface, as well as restoring lymph and blood circulation.
Main types of main product
Before using any essential oil in cosmetology or aromatherapy, it must be diluted with a base oil. This process can be compared to adding seasonings to a dish: just a small pinch of spices (essential oils) that add an unforgettable aroma and taste to an entire pot of food (plant base).
Let's look at the most basic base oils, which are used as the main product in most cases.
- Apricot. This oil is odorless, has a rich composition of vitamins, is perfectly absorbed into the skin, moisturizing, softening and nourishing it. The product is obtained from apricot kernels. Used for aging, fading, inflamed, sensitive and dry skin. The oil is hypoallergenic and has a regenerating effect.
- Avocado. This base oil is enriched with non-leaching fats. It is characterized by a greenish-yellow color. Oil made from avocado seeds nourishes, restores and moisturizes dry skin. It is able to penetrate deep into the tissues and have a bright positive effect on them.
- From grape seeds. This carrier oil is an ideal base for skin care products. It contains a large amount of vitamins B, C, A, E and PP. Thanks to the action of this product, pores are narrowed, the secretion of the sebaceous glands is normalized, keratinized areas are perfectly exfoliated, and areas of inflammation and redness are eliminated. At the same time, oil obtained from grape seeds successfully fights cellulite, even in the most short time strengthens hair and restores the structure of curls.
- Pomegranate. This oil contains a significant amount of vitamin E. Thanks to this, the product is able to work as a powerful antioxidant. The resulting product tightens tissue, reduces wrinkles, nourishes and restores the skin, eliminating its laxity and promoting rejuvenation.
- Made from walnut. This oil is obtained from dried fruits. It is quite light and does not foam much. Has remarkable moisturizing and softening properties.
- Jojoba. This oil is a liquid wax that can quickly be absorbed into the skin. The color of the product can range from golden to light yellow. After penetration into the skin, it moisturizes, soothes it, restores tissue elasticity, has an anti-inflammatory effect, without causing allergies.
- From wheat germ. This is a thick and viscous oil with a neutral odor. It contains a lot of vitamins F, D, F, E, D, B. Wheat germ oil is often used as an antioxidant and natural preservative. It is obtained from raw materials rich in protein. This base oil is perfect for products designed to improve the condition of mature, dry, oily and damaged skin. It is simply irreplaceable for eliminating cellulite and birth marks. The product is also used to stimulate hair growth.
- From rice germ. This oil has a pale yellow color and a slight odor. It contains a lot of vitamin E, as well as representatives of group B. Value base product contains a large number of natural antioxidants included in its composition. Using rice germ oil, you can perfectly moisturize, protect the skin, and also retain moisture in it. The product is easily absorbed and hypoallergenic. It is most often used in creams and soaps, sunscreens, as well as in decorative cosmetics.
- From ylang-ylang. This base oil is a tonic that gently disinfects the skin, nourishes every cell and stimulates blood circulation. It is great for restoring irritated, thin and damaged dermis. Wherein delicate aroma The product helps a person get out of depression.
- Cocoa. This oil has a chocolate aroma. It is extracted from cocoa beans and used to soften the skin and eliminate the processes of aging and fading. Cocoa butter also helps strengthen hair, making it shiny and voluminous. The product is an excellent nourishing agent for eyelashes and eyebrows.
- Castor. This oil is also called ricin oil. The product, which looks like a fatty transparent suspension, is extracted from castor beans. Its main properties are due to a large amount of saturated acids. It is thanks to them that the oil perfectly moisturizes the skin and retains liquid in it. It is used to improve the elasticity of the dermis and have a bactericidal effect on it.
Essential oils
One of the most important human senses is smell. After all, very often people make this or that choice not with their hearts, but with their noses. Aromatherapy, the main component of which is essential oils, helps us fully utilize this feeling. These are fragrant substances that people began to extract from plants as early as 5 thousand years BC. According to the most ancient written sources, already in those days there was a detailed method by which this product was obtained and used. Egyptian priestesses used fragrances in their beauty secrets. The Greeks invented recipes for an ointment that was a mixture olive oil and ether, etc.
Why did this product get this name? It was called essential for its volatility, and oil for its fat content. In addition, its consistency is similar to real fatty oils. All this led to such a similar name for the two products.
Properties of essential oils
Most of these substances are not soluble in water. However, they are characterized by easy mixing with ether, alcohol, wax and gasoline. And, of course, with fatty oils.
Application area
How to use essential oils to maintain and improve health? This issue is addressed by one of the areas of alternative medicine - aromatherapy. After all, the action of this natural product allows you to improve not only physical, but also mental condition patients.
Why are essential oils healthier than other plant oils? medicines? And the whole point is that they are obtained by distillation. This allows you to preserve special phytomolecules in it.
Various mixtures of essential oils are used in aromatherapy in a wide range, from resorts to hospitals and educational institutions. They allow you to relieve the patient from the following:
Psycho-emotional disorders;
Diseases of the digestive tract;
Various lesions on the skin.
How else to use essential oils? Alternative medicine effectively uses them for the treatment and prevention of fungal, bacterial and viral infections. What essential oils are best suited for these purposes? For example, a tea tree product is very effective in suppressing streptococci and staphylococci, gonococci, pneumococci and Escherichia coli. But essential oil from eucalyptus is used against pathogens of dysentery and typhoid bacillus.
Varieties
Today, people know several thousand types of essential oils. But this does not mean that when conducting aromatherapy sessions you will need to have a full arsenal of these substances on hand.
For effective disposal To solve this or that problem, it is enough to have only a few oils, which are used most often in such cases. For example, aromatherapists often use:
- Wormwood essential oil. Its action allows you to calm your nerves, relieve symptoms of fatigue, and improve your mood. The procedure should be carried out every day for 30 minutes. To do this, add 5 drops of essential oil to warm water(2 tbsp). The resulting mixture is poured into the aroma lamp bowl. Wormwood essential oil can be mixed with other oils. These can be products derived from lavender, tea tree or jasmine.
- Juniper essential oil. In concentrated form, it has a sharp pine smell. However, when mixed with water, the aroma of this product becomes very pleasant and fresh. What is the essential oil of this shrub plant made from? The medicinal substance is produced from its berries. How is juniper essential oil used? It is added to aroma lamps, inhalation solutions and bath water. Such procedures put you in a positive mood, eliminate tension, irritability, unfounded fears, and also relieve stress and apathy. Aromatherapy using juniper essential oil increases focus and performance, and improves attention. To obtain the greatest effect, the product can be mixed with essential oils of orange and bergamot, pine and cedar, lemon and grapefruit.
- Fir essential oil. It is used to provide positive influence on immune system and preventing the development of infections. In addition, fir essential oil has a stimulating effect on the body, increasing blood flow to upper layers skin. This helps relieve pain and speed up wound healing. If this essential oil is used during colds and respiratory diseases, recovery will occur much faster. Inhalation with such a substance will speed up the process of mucus discharge from the bronchi, as well as relieve sore throat.
- Jasmine essential oil. This medicinal substance eliminates inflammatory diseases of the female genital area. In addition, having the properties of a natural antidepressant, it is used in the fight against insomnia, the effects of stress, as well as to relieve physical and mental stress. With regular aromatherapy sessions, the patient inhales jasmine phytoncides, which stimulate his brain activity and reveal hidden talents, improve receptivity to mastering information on a general and intuitive level. In addition, the product affects endocrine system a person, which allows him to stabilize his hormonal levels.
Product selection
The modern buyer is faced with a large number of fakes. Essential oil is no exception. How to protect yourself from purchasing a low-quality product? The first thing you need to pay attention to in this case is the brand. Most well-known manufacturers essential oils are considered:
Swiss company Vivasan;
Karel Hadek - Czech manufacturer;
Austrian company Styx Naturcosmetics;
Russian companies "Iris" and "Aromarti".
In addition, it is important to pay attention to the price of essential oil in the pharmacy. It is worth keeping in mind that the cost of the product cannot be too low, since the methods for its production are insanely expensive.
So, on average, for 10 ml of essential oil the price in a pharmacy should be:
Woody and citrus fruits - 300-900 rubles;
Floral and herbal - 600-3000 rubles;
Exclusive products - 1200 rub. and higher.
When working with essential oils, you cannot do without so-called base oils. Whatever you want to do with essential oils, you need to remember that in their pure, undiluted form they should never be applied to the skin, as this can lead to burns and allergies. Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils before use, allowing them to be safely applied to the skin.
Let's understand the terms
Why do they say differently - vegetable oils, fixed oils, base oils, carrier oils?
The term "carrier oils" is usually used only when talking about aromatherapy. When it comes to making skin care products, terms like "vegetable oils", "fixed oils" and "base oils" are used. Not all fixed and base oils are vegetable. Emu oil (derived from the fat deposits of the emu ostrich) and fish oil are classified as fixed and carrier oils, but they, like any other animal oil, are not typically used in aromatherapy.
We will use the term “base oils” as the most neutral, and will not apply it to oils of non-vegetable origin.
Base oils are oils obtained from those parts of the plant that contain greatest number fats - usually seeds, bones or nuts.
All carrier oils have different combinations of beneficial properties and other characteristics, which determine the choice of oil. Natural lotions, creams, body oils, bath oils, lip balms and other nourishing and moisturizing products for the skin are produced using base oils. What essential and base oils are included in the product determines its beneficial features, color, aroma and shelf life.
Essential oils, absolutes, extracts and other concentrated aromatic substances, if applied undiluted to the skin, may cause severe irritation or, in some people, an allergic reaction. Very often the reaction will be violent and will remain with you forever - that is, if you again use the oil that caused the allergy, you will get a relapse. This is important to remember.
Essential and base oils, what's the difference?
Essential oils are usually obtained by distillation and extraction from leaves, bark, flowers, roots and other most aromatic parts of plants. Essential oils evaporate and have a concentrated aroma. Base oils are obtained by pressing their seeds, nuts, and seeds; they are greasy, do not evaporate and have significantly less strong aroma. Over time, carrier oils, unlike essential oils, can become rancid. Essential oils oxidize over time or if storage rules are violated and lose their beneficial properties.
Smell of base oils
Some carrier oils have no scent at all, and most have a faint sweet, nutty aroma. The strong, bitter aroma of the base oil is sure sign that it has gone rancid.
Some plant oils that are used in aromatherapy as carrier oils are:
- sweet almond oil
- Kukui oil
- apricot kernel oil
- macadamia oil
- avocado oil
- borage seed oil
- camellia oil
- olive oil
- peanut butter
- cranberry seed oil
- pecan butter
- evening primrose oil
- pomegranate seed oil
- Coconut oil
- rosehip seed oil
- grape seed oil
- sea buckthorn oil
- hazelnut oil
- Sesame oil
- hemp oil
- sunflower oil
- jojoba oil
- watermelon seed oil.
Properties of base oils
- Avocado oil: nourishes skin and hair
- Sweet Almond Oil: Natural moisturizer, great for massage
- Hazelnut oil: penetrates well into the skin, suitable for oily skin
- Jojoba oil: contains anti-inflammatory components
- Peanut Butter: Beneficial for Treating Arthritis
- Pomegranate seed oil: has anti-inflammatory properties, rich in antioxidants
- Sunflower oil: affordable, universal
- Watermelon Seed Oil: Nourishing, highly absorbable, good for all skin types
- Coconut oil: especially suitable for damaged hair, rich in vitamins and minerals
- Grapeseed oil: used for massage, suitable for all skin types
- Hemp oil: has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Solid vegetable oils
Solid vegetable oils (also called butters) - for example, cocoa butter and shea butter, can also be used in aromatherapy and are absolutely indispensable in the manufacture of home cosmetics. They are similar in properties to regular vegetable carrier oils, but are solid at room temperature. Butters most often pass through the production process different kinds processing, so when purchasing them, it is especially important to check the extraction method. The most useful, of course, are cold-pressed solid oils.