Essential oils have so many profound and healing effects it is hard to know where to start. Skin health is one area that oils offer incredible benefits as they can both heal and nourish our skin, reducing wrinkles and blemishes, healing scars and promoting a healthy glow.
I’ve included a few oils you may want to have on hand all summer as well as a quick and easy recipe you can use to help relieve a sunburn.
SUNBURN BODY OIL RELIEF
Ingredients:
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5 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil or Coconut Oil (melted)
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2 tablespoons Almond Oil
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15 drops Lavender Oil
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4 drops Chamomile Oil (you can also switch this out for Frankincense)
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2 drops Geranium Oil
Directions:
Combine carrier oil to a dark-colored bottle.
Add essential oils and shake well before each use.
Apply 2-4x a day as needed
Lavender Essential Oil
Extracts from the lavender plant (Lavandula officinalis) have at least seven active ingredients known to promote skin regeneration and boost immune function.
Lavender essential oil is also known to have properties that are:
- antibacterial
- anti-inflammatory
- antifungal
Peppermint Essential Oil
Though peppermint (Mentha piperita) contains several active ingredients with known health benefits, the most powerful by far is menthol. It offers a cooling sensation and reduces pain.
Studied health benefits of menthol include:
- anti-inflammatory
- antibacterial
- antifungal
- antiseptic (able to kill or discourage the growth of infectious agents)
- vasoconstrictor, narrowing inflamed blood vessels
Tea Tree Essential Oil
Extract from the needle-like leaves of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) plant has been used as an herbal remedy for a variety of health problems including most skin conditions. It helps to soothe irritated skin, reduce fungal infections and help treat acne. It is a great oil to prevent infection when used in low doses.
The active ingredients in tea tree oil give it properties that are:
- anti-inflammatory
- immune boosting
- antibacterial
- antifungal
- antiviral
Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium is not a commonly considered oil, but it should be. It has so many incredible properties from hormonal balance to skin support.
Extracts from the shrub geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) contains at least 12 active ingredients that have properties that are:
- antibacterial
- anti-microbial
- anti-cancer
- anti-inflammatory
Geranium oil has also been proven useful as a sedative and nerve tonic, so may provide even more powerful pain relief from sunburn.
Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) has been used for centuries, potentially even thousands of years, as a multi-use herbal remedy because of its soothing and calming properties.
With more than 10 active ingredients that have known health benefits, chamomile oil has established anti-inflammatory properties. It has also been shown to promote or increase wound healing.
Chamomile essential oil is considered a staple herbal remedy and used for a wide array of skin conditions, including acne, eczema sunburn, and psoriasis.
*Chamomile essential oil is currently only available for purchase in clinic or can be ordered by phone and shipped to you, please contact the clinic to order.