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It's summertime again, and time to break out the sunscreen to help protect our skin and keep it happy and healthy. And although we apply the liberally, there may be spots we miss on ourselves or on our children; and its likely we won't remember to reapply each time we get out of the ocean or pool. Here's the perfect opportunity to nourish yourself and you skin with the fantastic skin care effects of essential oils. Much of the unpleasant effects from sun over exposure are due to the generation of free radicals in our dermal layers. Inflammation occurs on a cellular level, and long term sun damage can result if this occurs frequently. Luckily, we can apply antioxidant and anti-inflammatory formulas topically to keep our skin happy and healthy after sun exposure. Natural essential oils are highly effective antioxidants. Clove essential oil is one of the strongest natural antioxidants known, with and ORAC value of over 100,000 -- though it might be a little spicy to use on your face. There are a great many other essential oils with strong antioxidant action packed are known healers to the skin from which to choose. For example, a study just released by French scientists note that Myrrh essential oil has a profound oxygen quenching effect on free radicals produced by the interaction of UV rays and the skin's sebum. All essential oils used in skin care have the ability to absorb oxidative radicals, and they each have specific healing properties for the skin. It's simple to compound your own formula: Choose from a few readily available oils commonly used in skin care, add them to one or more nourishing carrier oils and voilà! -- your own personally-tailored recipe. The obvious first choice is lavender. Lavender reduces inflammation and has natural constituents which stimulate healthy skin cell regeneration. Lavender in fact began the modern aromatherapy revolution with its quick healing of burns. Really, when we come in from sun over-exposure, even without a sunburn, we do have a mild burn on a cellular level. Lavender can be used undiluted on burned his skin, and will be an effective addition to any recipe. For even greater anti-inflammatory effect, try Blue Tansy, also known as Moroccan chamomile. It's deep blue color is indicative of its natural cooling effect. It has an absolutely delicious aroma, smelling like a berry patch deep in the forest. Blue Tansy is included in many natural health skincare formulas for all sorts of dermatitis including itchy allergic reactions which often occur in the summer heat. If you or your child's skin is particularly sensitive, Blue Tansy will be a great addition to your recipe. Helichrysum may be the most dramatically anti-inflammatory and regenerative oil used in skin care. While expensive, just a small amount will have important healing effects. Helichrysum is used in wound healing and scar removal blends, and will do just as well for daily facial care. For folks with an eye toward really preventing any damage from the sun's rays, Helichrysum is a must. Like lavender Helichrysum can be used neat in emergencies, and at about 3% for a regular use skin recipes. And for be perhaps most profound protective effects, choose Sea Buckthorn. This essential oil has been studied by Russian scientists as a protective agent for cosmonauts in outer space. It's deep red color indicates a high concentration of vitamin A like compounds, highly regarded for their skin healing properties. Steam distilled from the berries found across Europe, it too has a sweet fruity aroma loved by many. Sea Buckthorn is useful in virtually any skincare application, and most certainly for an after-sun formula. Add at one to 3% in your carrier base. You also have the option of adding other active-ingredients like natural vitamin E and fat soluble vitamin C to your mixture. You can simply empty or two capsules into each ounce of blend that you make. All these ingredients will be based in natural 'carrier oils'. Carrier oils are common seed and nut oils like Avocado, Apricot Kernel, Evening Primrose, Jojoba, Hemp, and the specialty skincare oils Tamanu and Rosehip seed. Any of these oils alone will work wonderfully, though you can use two or more together to provide a synergy of healthy action for your skin. A general-purpose formula may include Avocado and Jojoba; a potent formula for extra skin health support might include Evening Primrose, Tamanu, and Rosehip seed. Once you've chosen which essential oils and carrier oils you'd like to use, just add 10 to 15 drops of each essential oil per ounce of carrier oil mixture. For example, you might use one-third parts each Jojoba, Tamanu and Rosehip seed, and to this add 10 drops each of Sea Buckthorn, Helichrysum and Blue Tansy. This is a very potent, effective (and nice smelling) formula for those with the most concern for the sun's effect on their skin. For a more simple formula, perhaps for your children, you might use just Lavender and Sea Buckthorn in a Jojoba base. These oils are particularly gentle, and should be suitable for even the most sensitive, youthful skin. Use your intuition as a guide, blending with lower concentrations for the young ones. Whatever formulation you choose, it is sure to have a positive effect on the long-term skin health for you and your family.
Article Source: http://www.articlecontentprovider.com/articlesubmit
The author is the co-owner of www.anandaapothecary.com - More aromatherapy resources are available on this site.
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