Copyright © 2007-2010 All rights reserved
Sedona Aromatherapie is an Oak Creek Enterprises Incorporated Company
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona Aromatherapie is an Oak Creek Enterprises Incorporated Company
Sedona, Arizona
Introduction
‘The beauty of a woman is like the beauty of flowers…There are many kinds, and yet each has unique beauty to offer.’ Author unknown
Today, the word ‘natural’ is applied to virtually anything from cosmetics to food to clothes, as we seek out the ‘perfect’ solutions to our lives. Skin care is no exception. Organic and natural made products have never been more popular. Aromatherapy has been used in skin care for centuries but it is only now we are beginning to see a return of it to ‘mainstream’ consumerism. However, not everything is as it seems and, you may not know it, but that ‘natural’ product you use in the belief that it is ‘pure’ and ‘natural’ may not be all that you think it is.
Historical use of aromatherapy in skincare
‘Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.’ Albert Einstein
‘True’ aromatherapy skincare began thousands of years ago. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used some form of ‘aromatherapy’ in their every day lives. Fragrant herbs were used in daily rituals. Papyrus manuscripts have been found which record the use of various plants, herbs, oils and perfumes. Fast forward through history, and it can be seen that the Greeks and Romans were avid users of ‘all things natural’ in their daily lives too. In fact, the Romans were famous for using lavender (lavandula angustifolia) whilst bathing, which is carried through to today’s bathing habits, lavender (lavandula angustifolia) being a frequent ingredient in almost every commercially produced bath product (although rarely is it ‘true’ lavender oil but a synthetic hybrid). Rose (rosa x damascena) was another popular ingredient of the Roman’s daily rituals.
The ancient city of Pompeii (a ‘discovery’ of ours on a recent trip to Italy) lay undisturbed, from 79 A.D. until the 1700’s, under the volcanic ash and lava of the eruption of Vesuvius, thus preserving centuries of ‘secrets’. In the course of the excavations, it was discovered that Pompeiians actually used a variety of plants and flowers, which were abundant in gardens and the surrounding countryside, in similar ways in which we do today. Common names such as rose (rosa x damascena), fennel (foeniculum vulgare), myrrh (commiphora myrrha), lily (lilium), laurel (laurus nobilis) and myrtle (myrtus communis), not forgetting well known herbs, were in common usage in both culinary and beauty uses. Ancient Pompeiian women had similar ‘beauty’ regimes to the modern woman of today. Classical authors record that women were obsessive about their ‘toilette’.
Marie Antoinette of France (1755 – 1793) is famous for her extravagant lifestyle of riches, dresses and scents and it is said that whilst preparing to flee France, her departure was delayed by her insistence on preparing and taking with her a full ‘toilette’ of scents and lotions, a fact that may have cost her life. The preparations aroused suspicions amongst those no longer loyal to the Queen and eventually led to her capture and subsequent guillotine.
Research on skincare products
‘Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought’ Albert Szent-Gyorgi, Hungarian Biochemist, 1937 Nobel Prize for Medicine
If you’re like me, you’ve probably been using the same old ‘beauty’ routine for years. But have you really stopped and thought about what you are actually putting on your face or skin every day?
Here’s an example. Before discovering aromatherapy, I used a well known brand of baby lotion on my face for years. I figured if it was gentle enough for baby’s bum, it was gentle enough for me! However, I discovered a report on www.cosmeticdatabase.com which analyzes this ‘baby’ lotion as being a ‘high hazard’ and the ingredients are linked to cancer and allergies, amongst other things. Although, I don’t believe that there is immediate cause for concern, as you have to be using a number of these products in large quantities for it to become a potential risk, it is still a concern. After all, this lotion is supposedly suitable for babies, our most precious of ‘consumers’.
There are a number of scientific reports, some available on www.safecosmetics.org , which highlight potential hazards, including carcinogenic chemicals which seem to be the ‘hot’ topic at the moment, in a lot of our beauty products including shampoo, lipsticks, fragrances and lotions. For example, it is reported that the levels of lead in lipstick are higher than they should be; a lot of well known lipstick brands are amongst these (report: A Poison Kiss: The problem of lead in lipstick October 2007 campaign for Safer Cosmetics). Another example cited is that of independent laboratory testing that finds in more than 70% of beauty and health products tested, phthalates was found. Phthalates, a group of chemical compounds used in plastics and many health and beauty products, have been known to cause liver or kidney damage and disrupt the endocrine system.
Natural skincare is an alternative to some of our better known high street brands. However, some ‘natural’ products also contain some of these chemicals, including some commercialized ‘aromatherapy’ brands. Therefore, if using aromatherapy products for skin care, it is essential to know what is actually in the product.
Using aromatherapy for skincare
Aromatherapy, in one form or another, has actually been used for centuries by our ancestors. Sometimes used as a ‘perfume’ to disguise the less desirable odours which availed, they were also useful for the therapeutic properties which they have. Today, aromatherapy skin care products carry some of the same ingredients that our ancestor’s ‘lotions and potions’ did. In contrast to synthetic substitutes and modern-day ‘brands’ by large cosmetic companies, true aromatherapy skin care products should not contain any artificial ingredients which may damage the skin.
Aromatherapy essential oils are absorbed by the skin and enter into the body’s fluids. Essential oils are made up of small molecules which are able to pass through the skin’s layers to cells, lymph ducts and capillaries. The essential oils absorbed by the skin do not normally pose a risk to a person, as the amount absorbed is minute.
Everyone’s skin is different, at different stages of their life too, so the following list of essential oils and their suitability for different skin types is only a guideline. As always, consult a qualified aromatherapist (or skin care specialist) for further advice on the use of aromatherapy products. Essential oils can be applied in a number of ways; they can simply be blended together in a base lotion or oil and applied to the skin, or used in ‘spritzer’ sprays, bubble baths or shower gels. Carrier oils themselves carry many therapeutic properties which can be used for different types of skin as well, so combining the ‘right’ carrier oil with the ‘right’ essential oil for your skin type can prove invaluable. Some essential oils can be used neat if you are experienced in doing so and know what you are doing with a particular oil.
However, some essential oils are more volatile than others as they are made up of more volatile chemicals (such as aldehydes) and may cause skin sensitisation in some individuals. Usually in dilution the risk is minimised. Examples of more volatile essential oils include lemongrass (cymbopogon citratus) and red thyme (thymus vulgaris).
Also note, other factors such as environment, stress, exercise, diet and lifestyle all play a part in our skin’s condition and overall health. Using aromatherapy for skin care can only be beneficial if the other areas of our lives maintain a healthy balance too.
Dry Skin – moisturizing is the key to reliving dry skin. As there may be some sensitivity with dry skin, gentle essential oils are recommended. These include rose (rosa x damascena), Roman Chamomile (chamaemelum nobile), lavender (lavandula angustifolia), patchouli (pogostemon cablin) and sandalwood (santalum album). If using a base oil to blend the essential oils in, carrier oils such as evening primrose, hazelnut and avocado are good nourishing, hydrating bases.
Mature Skin – although everyone tries to slow down the aging process, it is an inevitable fact of life! For natural solutions in helping to stimulate cell growth and help with wrinkles, try the essential oils of lavender (lavandula angustifolia), neroli (citrus aurantium var amara), frankincense (boswellia carteri), palmarosa (cymbopogon martinii) and clary sage (salvia sclarea). Vitamin E bases are beneficial for mature skin, including borage and wheatgerm.
Oily Skin – spots, congestion and other nuances are often the result of oily skin. To help balance the natural PH of oily skin, try using essential oils with antiseptic and astringent properties such as tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia), geranium (pelargonium graveolens), lemon (citrus limon) and Cedarwood (cedrus atlantica). Light and easily absorbed base oils such as apricot kernel and jojoba can be used for blending.
This is by no means a complete listing of all the essential oils which are useful in skin care. Others include, but are not exhaustive, petitgrain, myrrh, fennel, ylang ylang, rosemary and thyme.
Finally…
‘One day our descendents will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex beings.’
Franklin Thomas
There are hundreds of businesses selling aromatherapy skin care products today so it is essential to know your true aromatherapy ingredients of essential oils and carriers before buying to ensure you are, in fact, buying the ‘real’ thing. It is also relatively easy to make your own skin care products for aromatherapy. If in doubt, consult a qualified aromatherapist. And don’t forget to check out Sedona Aromatherapie’s range of skin care 'collections' too!
Have an aromatic day!
Copyright © Sharon Falsetto 2008 All rights reserved
References:
Davis, Patricia (2005) Aromatherapy An A-Z Vermilion London UK
Giordano Carlo, Casale Angelandrea (1992) Perfumes, ungents and hairstyles in Pompeii (Profumi, ungenti e acconciature in pompei antica’) 2nd edition bardi editore Roma, Italia
Price, Shirley (2000) Aromatherapy Workbook Thorsons London UK
‘The beauty of a woman is like the beauty of flowers…There are many kinds, and yet each has unique beauty to offer.’ Author unknown
Today, the word ‘natural’ is applied to virtually anything from cosmetics to food to clothes, as we seek out the ‘perfect’ solutions to our lives. Skin care is no exception. Organic and natural made products have never been more popular. Aromatherapy has been used in skin care for centuries but it is only now we are beginning to see a return of it to ‘mainstream’ consumerism. However, not everything is as it seems and, you may not know it, but that ‘natural’ product you use in the belief that it is ‘pure’ and ‘natural’ may not be all that you think it is.
Historical use of aromatherapy in skincare
‘Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.’ Albert Einstein
‘True’ aromatherapy skincare began thousands of years ago. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans all used some form of ‘aromatherapy’ in their every day lives. Fragrant herbs were used in daily rituals. Papyrus manuscripts have been found which record the use of various plants, herbs, oils and perfumes. Fast forward through history, and it can be seen that the Greeks and Romans were avid users of ‘all things natural’ in their daily lives too. In fact, the Romans were famous for using lavender (lavandula angustifolia) whilst bathing, which is carried through to today’s bathing habits, lavender (lavandula angustifolia) being a frequent ingredient in almost every commercially produced bath product (although rarely is it ‘true’ lavender oil but a synthetic hybrid). Rose (rosa x damascena) was another popular ingredient of the Roman’s daily rituals.
The ancient city of Pompeii (a ‘discovery’ of ours on a recent trip to Italy) lay undisturbed, from 79 A.D. until the 1700’s, under the volcanic ash and lava of the eruption of Vesuvius, thus preserving centuries of ‘secrets’. In the course of the excavations, it was discovered that Pompeiians actually used a variety of plants and flowers, which were abundant in gardens and the surrounding countryside, in similar ways in which we do today. Common names such as rose (rosa x damascena), fennel (foeniculum vulgare), myrrh (commiphora myrrha), lily (lilium), laurel (laurus nobilis) and myrtle (myrtus communis), not forgetting well known herbs, were in common usage in both culinary and beauty uses. Ancient Pompeiian women had similar ‘beauty’ regimes to the modern woman of today. Classical authors record that women were obsessive about their ‘toilette’.
Marie Antoinette of France (1755 – 1793) is famous for her extravagant lifestyle of riches, dresses and scents and it is said that whilst preparing to flee France, her departure was delayed by her insistence on preparing and taking with her a full ‘toilette’ of scents and lotions, a fact that may have cost her life. The preparations aroused suspicions amongst those no longer loyal to the Queen and eventually led to her capture and subsequent guillotine.
Research on skincare products
‘Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought’ Albert Szent-Gyorgi, Hungarian Biochemist, 1937 Nobel Prize for Medicine
If you’re like me, you’ve probably been using the same old ‘beauty’ routine for years. But have you really stopped and thought about what you are actually putting on your face or skin every day?
Here’s an example. Before discovering aromatherapy, I used a well known brand of baby lotion on my face for years. I figured if it was gentle enough for baby’s bum, it was gentle enough for me! However, I discovered a report on www.cosmeticdatabase.com which analyzes this ‘baby’ lotion as being a ‘high hazard’ and the ingredients are linked to cancer and allergies, amongst other things. Although, I don’t believe that there is immediate cause for concern, as you have to be using a number of these products in large quantities for it to become a potential risk, it is still a concern. After all, this lotion is supposedly suitable for babies, our most precious of ‘consumers’.
There are a number of scientific reports, some available on www.safecosmetics.org , which highlight potential hazards, including carcinogenic chemicals which seem to be the ‘hot’ topic at the moment, in a lot of our beauty products including shampoo, lipsticks, fragrances and lotions. For example, it is reported that the levels of lead in lipstick are higher than they should be; a lot of well known lipstick brands are amongst these (report: A Poison Kiss: The problem of lead in lipstick October 2007 campaign for Safer Cosmetics). Another example cited is that of independent laboratory testing that finds in more than 70% of beauty and health products tested, phthalates was found. Phthalates, a group of chemical compounds used in plastics and many health and beauty products, have been known to cause liver or kidney damage and disrupt the endocrine system.
Natural skincare is an alternative to some of our better known high street brands. However, some ‘natural’ products also contain some of these chemicals, including some commercialized ‘aromatherapy’ brands. Therefore, if using aromatherapy products for skin care, it is essential to know what is actually in the product.
Using aromatherapy for skincare
Aromatherapy, in one form or another, has actually been used for centuries by our ancestors. Sometimes used as a ‘perfume’ to disguise the less desirable odours which availed, they were also useful for the therapeutic properties which they have. Today, aromatherapy skin care products carry some of the same ingredients that our ancestor’s ‘lotions and potions’ did. In contrast to synthetic substitutes and modern-day ‘brands’ by large cosmetic companies, true aromatherapy skin care products should not contain any artificial ingredients which may damage the skin.
Aromatherapy essential oils are absorbed by the skin and enter into the body’s fluids. Essential oils are made up of small molecules which are able to pass through the skin’s layers to cells, lymph ducts and capillaries. The essential oils absorbed by the skin do not normally pose a risk to a person, as the amount absorbed is minute.
Everyone’s skin is different, at different stages of their life too, so the following list of essential oils and their suitability for different skin types is only a guideline. As always, consult a qualified aromatherapist (or skin care specialist) for further advice on the use of aromatherapy products. Essential oils can be applied in a number of ways; they can simply be blended together in a base lotion or oil and applied to the skin, or used in ‘spritzer’ sprays, bubble baths or shower gels. Carrier oils themselves carry many therapeutic properties which can be used for different types of skin as well, so combining the ‘right’ carrier oil with the ‘right’ essential oil for your skin type can prove invaluable. Some essential oils can be used neat if you are experienced in doing so and know what you are doing with a particular oil.
However, some essential oils are more volatile than others as they are made up of more volatile chemicals (such as aldehydes) and may cause skin sensitisation in some individuals. Usually in dilution the risk is minimised. Examples of more volatile essential oils include lemongrass (cymbopogon citratus) and red thyme (thymus vulgaris).
Also note, other factors such as environment, stress, exercise, diet and lifestyle all play a part in our skin’s condition and overall health. Using aromatherapy for skin care can only be beneficial if the other areas of our lives maintain a healthy balance too.
Dry Skin – moisturizing is the key to reliving dry skin. As there may be some sensitivity with dry skin, gentle essential oils are recommended. These include rose (rosa x damascena), Roman Chamomile (chamaemelum nobile), lavender (lavandula angustifolia), patchouli (pogostemon cablin) and sandalwood (santalum album). If using a base oil to blend the essential oils in, carrier oils such as evening primrose, hazelnut and avocado are good nourishing, hydrating bases.
Mature Skin – although everyone tries to slow down the aging process, it is an inevitable fact of life! For natural solutions in helping to stimulate cell growth and help with wrinkles, try the essential oils of lavender (lavandula angustifolia), neroli (citrus aurantium var amara), frankincense (boswellia carteri), palmarosa (cymbopogon martinii) and clary sage (salvia sclarea). Vitamin E bases are beneficial for mature skin, including borage and wheatgerm.
Oily Skin – spots, congestion and other nuances are often the result of oily skin. To help balance the natural PH of oily skin, try using essential oils with antiseptic and astringent properties such as tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia), geranium (pelargonium graveolens), lemon (citrus limon) and Cedarwood (cedrus atlantica). Light and easily absorbed base oils such as apricot kernel and jojoba can be used for blending.
This is by no means a complete listing of all the essential oils which are useful in skin care. Others include, but are not exhaustive, petitgrain, myrrh, fennel, ylang ylang, rosemary and thyme.
Finally…
‘One day our descendents will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex beings.’
Franklin Thomas
There are hundreds of businesses selling aromatherapy skin care products today so it is essential to know your true aromatherapy ingredients of essential oils and carriers before buying to ensure you are, in fact, buying the ‘real’ thing. It is also relatively easy to make your own skin care products for aromatherapy. If in doubt, consult a qualified aromatherapist. And don’t forget to check out Sedona Aromatherapie’s range of skin care 'collections' too!
Have an aromatic day!
Copyright © Sharon Falsetto 2008 All rights reserved
References:
Davis, Patricia (2005) Aromatherapy An A-Z Vermilion London UK
Giordano Carlo, Casale Angelandrea (1992) Perfumes, ungents and hairstyles in Pompeii (Profumi, ungenti e acconciature in pompei antica’) 2nd edition bardi editore Roma, Italia
Price, Shirley (2000) Aromatherapy Workbook Thorsons London UK
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