CHAPTER SEVEN
BODY CARE APPLICATIONS
PERHAPS THE MOST AMAZING THING about essential oils is that there are so many ways in which to use them. In this chapter, we will explore the most popular ways to integrate them into your life, wellness apothecary, and home. Let’s begin our exploration with body and facial oils.
Body and Facial Oils
Making your own body or facial oil is a great way to enjoy the benefits of aroma while also supporting the health of your skin and body! Body oils not only nourish the skin, they are also beneficial for relieving stress, providing pain relief, and relieving muscle spasms or cramps. You can also relieve tension in the neck and upper back from sitting at a computer all day by applying an aromatic body oil to that area. Body oils can also be used for massage. If you are planning a visit to a massage therapist, consider asking them to use a massage oil you made yourself.
Facial oils, on the other hand, are specifically designed to nourish the facial skin. Facial oils will often contain special carrier oils such as rosehip seed oil, sea buckthorn, and calendula herbal oil.
WHAT YOU NEED
• Essential oils
• Carrier oil(s)
• Herbal oil(s)
• Antioxidant, if using rosehip seed or other omega-3 rich vegetable oils
• Bottle; use either a glass bottle with phenolic cap or a PET bottle
For facial oils, we recommend making up 1 fluid ounce (30 ml) at a time
For body oils, we recommend 2 to 4 fluid ounces (60 to 120 ml) at a time
• Glass measuring cup
• Blank label
Shelf Life: Six to twelve months from time the product is made. However, we recommend using handmade products up within a three- to six-month period. We believe that once blended into a carrier oil, the aromatics begin to slowly age. As they age, they begin to lose their vitality.
PROCEDURE
1. Decide how much oil you will be making.
2. Select one to three essential oils to be used for a blend.
3. Select carrier oil(s).
4. Measure your ingredients depending on the dilution:
For body oils, you will need a total of 15 to 20 drops of essential oil per fluid ounce (30 ml).
For facial oils, you will need a total of 7 to14 drops per fluid ounce (30 ml).
5. Place all essential oil drops in the bottle. Swivel or shake the bottle.
6. Pour in carrier oil(s). Cap tightly and shake until well combined.
7. Name your oil blend and label the bottle with its name and ingredients. Be sure to put the date when the product was made!
Roll-On (aka Roller Balls)
We love these roll-on bottles! The roller ball is basically a 0.35 ounces (10 ml) bottle with a cap or lid that contains a ball. They’re not only useful for application, they make great holiday gifts for your friends.
Each roller bottle holds 0.3 ounces (9 ml) of base oil. Choose what you have in stock: jojoba, sesame, rosehip seed, calendula herbal oil, or the like. Base oils add nourishment and may add color (e.g., unrefined avocado oil makes the oil a rich green color) and/or an aroma (e.g., raspberry seed oil gives it a raspberry-like aroma). The possibilities are endless.
The average number of drops of essential oils to use is between 5 to 12, depending on which are being used and the goal of your roller ball formulation. For example, you could use less of essential oils such as sandalwood or rose or more of monoterpene-rich essential oils, like the conifers or citrus essential oils.
PROCEDURE
It helps to have small beakers, such as in 1.75 ounces (50 ml) or 3.5 ounces (100 ml) sizes, on hand, but a small measuring cup works too.
1. Fill beaker with the carrier oil of your choice.
2. Pour oil into the bottle, just to the lip (where the side begins to turn in and go up). You don’t want to fill it up to the very top!
3. Add in your drops of essential oil(s).
4. Holding a clean fingertip over the top, shake the bottle vigorously.
5. Smell the final blend to make sure it smells the way you would like it to. Adjust as necessary.
6. Place the ball and cap onto the inside lid.
7. Place the cap on the bottle.
8. Label the bottle. It’s ready to be used.
Roll-on Combinations
Compassion and Strength
• 0.3 ounce (9 ml) Jojoba oil
• 2 drops Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara) essential oil
• 3 drops Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium var. amara) essential oil
• 3 drops Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) essential oil
Forest Blend
• 0.3 ounce (9 ml) Jojoba oil
• 2 drops Pinyon Pine (Pinus edulis) essential oil
• 4 drops Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) essential oil
• 3 drops Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) essential oil
Calm and Nourish
• 0.3 ounce (9 ml) Jojoba oil
• 2 drops Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) essential oil
• 1 to 2 drops Neroli (Citrus aurantium var. amara) essential oil
• 1 drop Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) essential oil
• 2 drops Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil
Body Butters
Body butters provide a nutrient-dense product to help heal and soothe damaged, weakened, or stressed skin. They have the remarkable capacity to heal tissue, soften dry areas of skin such as the elbows, knees, or feet, and perhaps most importantly, protect the skin’s barrier function by preventing water loss. Body butters are most commonly used for dry, itchy skin conditions (where itchiness is caused by dryness) and to protect the skin from moisture loss, such as during the winter months when our skin is dealing with the cold and windy weather along with heat inside our living and working areas.
Body butters are made utilizing natural butters along with at least one carrier and/or herbal oil. Body butters do not contain water, so they do not need a preservative. However, depending on which vegetable oils you use in your formulation, you may want to consider adding in 1 percent antioxidant such as rosemary CO2 extract, vitamin E, or mixed tocopherols.
WHAT YOU NEED
• A butter (e.g., shea butter) that is not cocoa; cocoa butter is not used to make body butters except when added in a low percentage to avoid making the butter too hard.
• Essential oils
• Carrier oil(s)
• Herbal oil(s)
Shelf Life:
• Most butters are good for up to 6 to 12 months.
• Depending on which base oils you choose, you may consider adding in 1 percent vitamin E or 0.5 percent to1percent rosemary CO2 extract. We recommend adding one of these antioxidants to a body butter when using vegetable oils such as flax, rosehip seed, evening primrose, or borage.
Whipped Body Butter
A beautiful nourishing whipped body butter for the winter months.
Prep Time: 60 minutes
Yield: 8 ounces (225 g)
WHAT YOU NEED
• 8 ounces (225 g) shea butter
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) Calendula herbal oil
• 12 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil
• 10 drops Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) essential oil
• 7 drops Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium var. amara) essential oil
PROCEDURE
1. Place the shea butter in a glass mixing bowl (taller than it is wide with this small amount) and begin whipping it with a hand-held mixer (on the whipping or high setting).
2. Once slightly whipped (it will still be somewhat “solid” and not as fluffy as the final product), add in Calendula herbal oil and the essential oils.
3. Continue to whip for 10 to 20 minutes. The longer the better!
4. Scoop it into an 8- or 16-ounce (250 or 500 ml) jar. Let the whipped butter stay “fluffy” in the jar!
5. Apply to the body as needed. Great to apply after a shower to help moisturize the skin and prevent dehydration.
Aromatic Gels
Aromatic gels are used for insect bites, bruises, sunburns, small burns, and muscular aches and pains (e.g., shoulders and neck area), on the temples to soothe headaches, and to soothe inflamed or irritated skin. Gels are cooling by nature. The most commonly used gel for making aromatherapy products is aloe vera gel. Aloe vera gel has a long history of use in treating simple burns, including sunburn. Aloe vera gel may also be used to make homemade hand sanitizers.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Yield: Varies
Shelf Life: Store gels in a cool room or fridge. Unpreserved gels or gels made with commercial aloe vera gel or gelly (which do have a basic preservative system) can last up to 1 to 3 months. With gels, it is a good idea to make up only a small amount, approximately 2 to 4 ounces (60 to 120 ml) at a time.
WHAT YOU NEED
• Essential oils
• Aloe vera gel or gelly
• Hydrosols
PROCEDURE
1. Select one to three essential oils.
2. Measure out a total of 10 to 15 drops of essential oil per ounce (30 ml) of aloe vera gel into a small bowl.
3. Measure aloe vera gel into the bowl.
4. Stir with a stainless-steel spoon or fork until well combined.
5. Scoop gel out of the bowl into a clean jar.
6. Label, being sure to list the ingredients.
7. Use as needed. Store in a cool area.
Natural Hand Protective Gel
Making your own hand gel, which soothes the skin while also protecting one from potential germs or infections, is empowering.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 ounce (30 ml)
WHAT YOU NEED
• 1 fluid ounce (30 ml) aloe vera gel
• 7 drops Frankincense (Boswellia sacra) essential oil
• 3 drops Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil
• 3 drops Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) essential oil
• 7 drops Lemon (Citrus limon) essential oil
PROCEDURE
1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
2. Pour into a 1-ounce (30 ml) PET bottle with a flip top.
3. Use as needed or desired throughout the day.
Salves
If you have ever used Vicks VapoRub, then you have used a type of salve. Aromatic salves are made up of beeswax, vegetable and/or herbal oils (e.g., Calendula), and essential oils. You can make salves thicker by simply adding more beeswax or semisolid by adding less beeswax. It’s up to you!
Why use a salve? Salves are amazing for congestion and for small localized applications for such things as insect bites and dry patches of skin.
Prep Time: 60 minutes
Yield: Two 1 ounce (30 ml) jars and one 0.5 ounce (15 ml) jar
Safety: Salves should not be applied to poison ivy rashes, weepy eczema, pimples, boils, fresh sunburn, or fungal or bacterial skin infections.
WHAT YOU NEED
• Double boiler (stainless steel)
• Glass measuring cup
• Small scale to weigh beeswax
• Tins or glass jars
• Stainless steel fork or stirring rod
• Paper towels
INGREDIENTS
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) vegetable and/or herbal oil/s
• 1/4 ounce (7 g) beeswax or candelilla wax
• 30 to 50 drops essential oils
PROCEDURE
1. Clean the space where you will be making salve.
2. Clean all utensils, the double boiler, and the bowls or measuring cups.
3. Fill the bottom pot of the double boiler with 2 to 3 cups (500 to 700 ml) of water. Place the top pan on the bottom pot. Place the double boiler onto medium heat and heat water to just below boiling.
4. Add in wax. Allow it to begin melting, then add the carrier oils.
5. Stir ingredients together until well combined.
6. Once all the beeswax is melted, remove from heat and add in the essential oils.
7. Stir the essential oils quickly into the salve mixture.
8. Pour salve into jars or tins. If the salve begins to harden, place the pot back onto the double boiler (turn heat back on if necessary).
9. Place a cap on the jars or tins and allow the salve to harden.
10. Check salves to make sure you like the texture and that the aroma is of a desired strength based upon the goals of the salve.
11. Create labels for your salve jars and include all the ingredients.
12. Once salves are labeled, they are ready to use!
NOTE: Test the consistency of a salve before blending it with other essential oils by placing a spoonful of the salve in the refrigerator. Allow it to harden. If the salve comes out too hard or thick, you can melt the mixture down again and add more oil. If the salve is too fluid or thin, you can melt it down and mix in some more beeswax.
Dilution/dosage recommendation: The salve-making dosage may seem a bit high, but this is because a salve holds essential oils differently than other delivery systems do. Our recommended dosage is 30 to 40 drops per ounce (30 g) of salve.
Lip Balms
Lip balms are fun and easy to make using simple ingredients. The recipe provided below is our all-time favorite formulation much loved by all who use it.
Yield: 10 to 15 lip balm tubes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS
• 20 g beeswax
• 1.4 ounces (40 g) vanilla-infused jojoba oil (available to purchase from a variety of aromatherapy companies) or use regular jojoba oil or other vegetable oil of choice
• 25 g shea butter
• 15 g cocoa butter
WHAT YOU NEED
• 10 to15 lip balm tubes or other acceptable containers
• Two to three 1 to 2 ounces (30-50 ml) salve jars (for the lips and body)
• Stainless steel double boiler
• Scale that weighs in grams
• Stainless steel fork (for stirring)
• Paper towels
• Optional: tray that holds lip balm tubes steady
PROCEDURE
1. Weigh all ingredients carefully.
2. Prepare the double boiler by adding water to the bottom pot then place the top pot above it. Allow the water to come to a slow boil. Place beeswax in the top pot and allow it to melt.
3. Just as the beeswax is almost melted, add the vanilla-infused jojoba and shea butter. Gently melt them down. Just before the shea butter is completely melted, add in cocoa butter (this will melt very quickly). Be sure to stir well!
4. Fill the containers. You can use a lip balm tray to help fill them if you have one.
5. Let the balms sit to harden. Wipe off the outside of the tubes or gently clean the jar lips with a paper towel.
Alternative to Beeswax: Candelilla Lip Balm
For this recipe, use the above instructions with the following adjustment in ingredients.
Yield: 12 lip balm tubes (0.15 ounces or 4.5 g each), plus a little extra
INGREDIENTS
• 2 tablespoons (30 g) candelilla wax
• 0.55 ounce or the equivalent of 7 cocoa butter chips (approximately 11/2 tablespoons or 15 g)
• 2 tablespoons (30 g) shea butter
• 6 tablespoons (90 ml) vanilla jojoba oil
• 6 to 10 drops essential oils (e.g., peppermint, lavender, lime)
Salt Scrubs
We love salt scrubs. They stimulate circulation and remove dead skin cells while leaving the skin radiant. In creating a salt scrub, it is best to use a fine- to medium-sized sea salt. Epsom salt does not seem to work as well. Stay away from anything too coarse, as you don’t want to scratch or damage the skin.
Prep Time: 15 to 30 minutes
Yield: This recipe will fill an 8-ounce (250 ml) jar.
Safety: Never apply salt scrub to broken skin. Salt can irritate the skin if used right after shaving or waxing. It’s best to avoid salt scrubs for 24 to 48 hours after you do either.
WHAT YOU NEED
• 2 cups (540 g) sea salt
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) natural vegetable oil such as almond, apricot, or sunflower
• 7 to 25 drops essential oil(s), depending on the usage and strength desired
PROCEDURE
1. In a small bowl, mix sea salt and vegetable oil.
2. Add essential oils.
3. Stir until well combined.
TO USE:
1. Wet the skin, either in the shower (then turn off the water) or by using a hydrosol or aromatic spritzer.
2. Apply the salt glow treatment to the desired area. Use quick, vigorous strokes or make it more relaxing with longer, slower strokes. The important thing is to keep the mixture and circulation moving.
3. Remove or rinse the mixture from the body by taking a warm shower.
4. Avoid using salt scrubs on the face, as this skin is too delicate and prone to scratching.
5. Be sure to conclude your salt glow with a natural moisturizing oil or lotion to feed and replenish the newly exfoliated skin.
Variations on the traditional salt glow can be achieved by incorporating dried herbs, ground nuts, seaweeds, and other natural ingredients.
Aromatic Baths
Bathing is a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of the aromas of essential oils while relaxing in warm water. Bathing with essential oils can reduce stress, emotional tension, and anxiety, and it can relieve muscular tension. Have trouble sleeping? Consider taking an evening aromatic bath with essential oils by candlelight.
Prep Time: 5 to 15 minutes
Yield: 1 bath
Safety: Avoid placing essential oils into the bath prior to getting into the bath. Do not use skin-irritating essential oils such as thyme, oregano, lemongrass, cinnamon bark or leaf, or other phenol- or aldehyde-rich essential oils in the bath. Avoid using extra drops of essential oil. A few drops go a long way. Be cautious when using citrus or conifer essential oils. We recommend 2 to 3 drops for these essential oils.
WHAT YOU NEED
• Essential oil(s)
• Honey, liquid castile soap, solubol, glycerin, full-fat milk, vegetable oil, herbal oil, or another “dispersing” agent
• Small glass bowl (to blend in)
PROCEDURE
1. Add 3 to 7 drops of essential oil(s) into 1 tablespoon (30 ml) honey.
2. Once in the bath, gently pour the mixture into the bathwater. Use your fingers to remove any remaining product from the bowl.
Body and Facial Cleansers
Cleaning the skin is one of the most common rituals we have as humans. Who doesn’t love to take a nice warm shower, either at the beginning or end of the day? The ritual of cleansing seems to provide one with a sense of rejuvenation. Body and facial cleansers are designed to remove dead skin cells, grime, excess sebum, stale makeup, sweat, and bacteria from the skin.
The most common cleanser used to make aromatherapy cleansers is liquid castile soap, an all-natural, vegetable-based cleansing product.
Prep Time: 15 to 30 minutes
Yield: Varies
Shelf Life: 6 to12 months. However, we recommend using handmade products up within a 3- to 6-month period. We believe that once blended into a base, the aromatics will slowly begin to age and lose their vitality.
WHAT YOU NEED
• Essential oil(s)
• Unscented liquid castile soap (often available at a local natural health or grocery store). We recommend Dr. Bronner’s Baby Unscented Pure-Castile Liquid Soap
PROCEDURE
1. Select one to three essential oils.
2. Add a total of 10 to15 drops of essential oil per ounce (28 ml) of liquid castile soap.
3. Combine ingredients in a PET or glass bottle.
Aromatherapy Foaming Cleanser for Hands
Here’s how to make your own aromatic foaming cleanser.
WHAT YOU NEED
• Organic liquid castile soap
• Hydrosol of choice (German chamomile or lavender works well)
• Essential oil(s) of choice
• Organic aloe vera gel
• Organic vegetable glycerin
• Whisk
• Measuring cup
• PET container with a foamer pump
INGREDIENTS
• 3/4 cup (175 ml) castile soap
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) German chamomile hydrosol
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) organic vegetable glycerin
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) aloe vera gel
• 25 drops lavender essential oil
• 20 drops tea tree or eucalyptus radiata essential oil
PROCEDURE
1. Place castile soap into a glass measuring cup.
2. Add organic vegetable glycerin, aloe vera gel, and German chamomile hydrosol.
3. Add essential oil(s).
4. Gently whisk all ingredients together.
5. Pour mixture into a cleanser bottle and cap with a foamer top.
6. Label the bottle with the ingredients. Cleansing soap is now ready to use.
Creams and Lotions
Ever have dry skin? It’s quite common, and it becomes even more common as we age due to changes in the skin. Other contributing factors to dry skin include lack of water and healthy fats in the diet. Make sure to cultivate a healthy diet that includes healthy fats and ensure you have a good water intake throughout the day.
When it comes to aromatherapy and dry skin, creams and lotions are your best tools. They offer both oil and water to soften and soothe skin while supporting its ability to retain moisture. What’s the difference between a cream and a lotion? Creams tend to be thicker than lotions and are commonly used on the face or on localized dry spots on the body. Lotions, on the other hand, tend to be thinner in texture and can be applied to the whole body.
The easiest way to incorporate essential oils into creams and lotions is to start with a cream or lotion on the market that you like and that works for your skin.
Prep Time: 15 to 30 minutes
Yield: Varies
Shelf Life: Most unscented creams and lotions commonly available in health food stores will have some type of preservative system. We recommend using cream or lotion up within 6 to 12 months. If using an unpreserved cream or lotion, the shelf life tends to be 1 to 6 months depending on how it is stored and used.
WHAT YOU NEED
• Unscented cream or lotion
• Essential oil(s)
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Silicone spatula
PROCEDURE
1. Select 3 to 5 essential oils (use an equal number of drops of each for the total number of recommended drops).
2. Measure and place the cream or lotion in a clean bowl.
3. Add in appropriate drops of each essential oil:
Cream for face: 4 to 6 drops per ounce (30 ml); or
Lotion: 7 to 14 drops per ounce (30 ml).
4. Stir the essential oil(s) into the cream or lotion using a stainless steel spoon. Stir until well combined.
5. Scoop the cream or lotion into a clean container.
6. Name the product, create a label, and place the label on the jar. Be sure to list all the ingredients so you know what’s in it.
