Thursday, November 03, 2005

How to make your own massage, body, and bath oil (Skin Care/Aromatherapy)

This post was editted slightly on Nov 9, 2007.


A skin product that I love using is aromatherapy body, massage, and bath oils. I like using them straight out of the shower or bath, or in bath water to seal in moisture and lightly sent the skin.

Aubrey Organics makes a couple of very nice massage body oils called 'Natural Spa Sea Wonders'. They are 100% natural and one of the few natural products that are also USDA certified organic. It comes in a relaxing scent (Geranium Oil, Sweet Orange Oil) and also an Invigorating scent (Rosemary Oil, Spearmint Oil)

But of course I like making my own! It is similar to making facial serums, but the concentration of essential oils is slightly higher.

First choose a good base/carrier oil, or make a blend of your favorites. For body and massage oils I like using lighter oils (oils typically used for oily or normal skin), and for bath oils I like using heavier oils (the ones typically used for dry skin).

Easy Instructions:

To 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of your chosen base/carrier oil add a total of 6-12 drops or less of essential oils* Lightly roll or shake gently to mix the ingredients together. You can also add vitamin E or grapefruit seed extract as antioxidants.

Good relaxing essential oils include:
lavender
blue or roman chamomile
neroli
marjoram
any citrus (though most are phototoxic, cause skin to tan. use only at night)

Stimulating oils:
peppermint (use only small amounts as some people are sensitive to this oil; avoid if you have heart conditions, as peppermint contains menthol).
rosemary (avoid if epileptic)
jasmine
ginger

Note, if you choose to use a combination of essential oils use only a total of 6-12 drops (and NOT 6-12 drops of each essential oil). Lavender combines well with any citrus, and I also like neroli mixed with roman chamomile. Ginger is wonderful with citrus also.

*As always use less than 6-12 drops of essential oils if you are pregnant or if this oil is for children. Use around 3-6 drops of essential oil only. Be sure to research the essential oil or consult a medical practitioner before use if you are pregnant or have any medical problems before use, as certain essential oils may interact with medication, or may not be safe to use during pregnancy. Certain essential oils also are not appropriate for children.



3 comments:

Unknown said...

Hey there Solarkat -

We'd like to make bar soap for Holiday gifts this year, but I'd rather avoid lye, if possible. I understand there's a way to this by buying a glycerin mixture? I'm *very* new to this. If you're familiar, would consider posting a recipe and where to get supplies?

Cheers,
Joey

Solarkat said...

Hi Joey,

Sure :). I'll dig into my notes and post it soon. The kind without lye is called the melt and pour method (basically you just melt the base, add herbals, and then pour it in a mold).


Cheers,
Solarkat

Solarkat said...

Hi all,
Just wanted to clarify this old, old comment. All real soap is made with lye in it, but the final product (soap) has no lye in it (once the chemical reaction occurs and changes the lye and oils/butters into soap and glycerin). Melt and pour was made with lye, but you do not have to handle the lye when dealing with melt and pour as the chemical conversion already occured.

Cheers,
Li