During this unique time, why not take advantage of self-isolation and give your skin the nourishment it needs? These tips can be used during quarantine and once social gatherings are resumed, your skin will be glowing!

Eating a healthy diet free from processed foods, keeping well hydrated, avoiding excessive sun exposure (which causes photo-aging), exercising regularly (to enhance circulation and detoxification) and avoiding smoking, are key to healthy skin. Using safe and clean cosmetics can go a long way as well, towards preserving and protecting your precious exterior. A great way to customize skin care to match your skin type is to simply combine a few suitable carrier oils with various essential oils.

As a general rule, a 1-2% dilution is safe for most people: that is, 6-12 drops of combined essential oils in 30 ml of a carrier oil.  

CARRIER OILS FOR DRY SKIN

Dry skin can appear leathery, dull and raw. It may crack, flake and appear tight or inflamed. It also usually worsens under extreme conditions of cold and wind.  Oils that help with moisture retention (called emollients) or those providing a protective barrier from moisture loss, can help encourage softness and pliability and reduce cracking.

For dry skin, sesame oil, Argan, avocado, coconut, rosehip seed and sweet almond oil are good choices.

For extreme dryness and cracking, consider shea butter, pure vitamin E oil, castor oil or the most “heavy duty” emollient, lanolin, for a period of time. However, these may not be appropriate for the face, because of their thick texture.

If your skin is both dry and sensitive consider Tamanu, fractionated coconut oil, apricot kernel oil, evening primrose oil or jojoba oil.

CARRIER OILS FOR OILY SKIN

Oily skin appears shiny, sometimes greasy, and is prone to acne and clogged pores. Hormones and a highly processed diet can often play a role. People with this skin type may benefit from cleansing, exfoliation treatments and clay masks. However, over drying can sometimes result in a reactionary production of excessive oils.

For oily skin, consider a light application of carrier oils such as Argan, apricot kernel, grapeseed and jojoba. These oils are appropriate for oily and sensitive skin as well, although you might consider adding evening primrose oil to the mix.

CARRIER OILS FOR AGED SKIN

As we age our skin regenerates less efficiently and levels of melanin (skin pigment), collagen and elastin drop. This results in thinner, looser and more wrinkled skin, accompanied by age spots. Apart from genetics, our lifestyles, including dietary habits, can either exacerbate or temper the effects. Consider a combination of rosehip seed oil (one of the most popular choices) with one or more of the following:  Argan, jojoba and/or sweet almond oil.

MORE ABOUT THE OILS

Argan: Good for dry skin (and hair) with added anti-aging benefits.

Avocado: Great for very dry and chapped skin as well as scar tissue and stretch marks.

Castor: Protects skin from extreme wind or cold.

Fractionated Coconut: Reputed to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties; good for dry skin that is also sensitive.

Sesame: Helpful for dry skin especially attributed to chlorine and windburn.

Rosehip seed: Best for dry skin that is inflamed and/or aged.

Sweet almond: A good emollient and skin conditioner ideal for dry, chapped and scaly skin

Apricot kernel: Light texture oil; good for dry skin that is also sensitive.

Evening Primrose: High in GLA fats; great for dry and inflamed skin (eczema, psoriasis).

Jojoba: A wax considered to mimic our own sebum; used for inflammation and acne as well as dryness.

Shea Nut butter: Helpful for dry skin, especially when wound-healing and/or skin repair is necessary.

Tamanu: Great regenerative for damaged, dry, inflamed or infected skin.

Vitamin E: Great for dry, cracked, damaged and/or peeling skin.

About the Author: NOW Foods

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