AROMATHERAPY

Wrinkles and Ageing Skin - Cleansers

There is nothing better than a soft, pure bristle complexion brush for gently cleansing the face. This should be used with a good, gentle cleansing agent - soap, lotion or cream - which should be rinsed off with pure water. But unfortunately pure bristle brushes take some searching out, absolutely pure and effective cleansers are not as common as they might be, and the water we rinse our faces with has probably been recycled several times, including five journeys through someone else's kidneys!

There isn't a lot we can do about tap-water except make sure we use distilled or boiled water and filtered water to wash in, but we can do something about the cleansing agent we use,. Since the contents of shop-bought cleanser probably only costs a few pence and what you are paying for is the packaging, advertising and image, it makes sense to concoct your own.The nice thing about making your own cleansers is that you can adjust them to suit your own skin type exactly, and change them as your skin changes with the seasons . In this, we are no different to many types of animal.

As cleansing is concerned with the throwing off of toxins, itmakes a great deal of difference whether we are cleansing to get rid of the extra sweat and pollutants that attract to our faces on the muggy summer streets or concerned with the toxins that accumulate in the months of sedentary life spent indoors munching fattening winter foods while huddled up to the central-heating.

But cleanse your face according to its seasonal requirementsand you will have a skin that always looks good and ages more slowly.

all vegetable and nut oils can be used for cleansing as well as for nourishing the skin, and in ancient times and in Arabian countries today, oils provide the usual way of cleansing. The ancient Romans massaged oils into their skin and then scraped them off, along with all the dirt. Use any heavy oil for dry skin, such as avocado or wheatgerm, and a light oil such as almond or sunflower for oily skins.

The essential oils of clary-sage, lemon, lime, sage or thyme are rosemary, chamomile, lavender or geranium.

Here is a good oil-based cleansing paste which can be used for all skin types:

100 ml Almond oil - 120gms ground almonds - 50ml cider vinegar - 50ml spring water - 6 drops essential oil of your choice.

Place all the ingredients in a blender for a good two minutes until a smooth paste is obtained . store in a jar.

 

These are the ingredients for a multi-purpose cleansing oil:

50ml grapeseed oil - 20ml sunflower oil - 20ml sesame oil - 10ml wheatgerm oil

Blend these oils together and then add 5 drops of the essential oil of your choice, and blend again. This can be used as a make up-remover and cleanser.

Rich Cleansing Cream

This is good for dehydrated skins:

15gms beeswax - 30gms lanolin hydrous - 50mls almond oil - 25mls Avocado oil - 25mls grapeseed oil - 90mls pure spring water - Clary-sage 2 drops - Lemon 2 drops.

Using the bain-marie method, melt the bees wax, lano;in and vegetable oils and stir well. Then add the essential oils and take the pot off the heat and slowly add the water. Mix in a blender (or whisk) untill the mixture is cold.

Cocoa Butter Cleanser

100gms cocoa butter - 50mls grapeseed oil, warm - 50ml spring water, warm

using the bain-marie method, melt the cocoa butter then add in the mineral water and grapeseed oil. Mix in a blender (orwhisk) until cold. When the misture is cold, add: Rose Maroc 1 drop - Sandalwood 1 drop - Store in a jar.

Almond Face Rinse

This is suitable for all skin types:

100gms ground almonds- 100gms cornflower - 100gms grated pure vegetable soap.

Mix the ingredients in a blender and then add the following and blend again: Geranium 2 drops - lemon 2 drops - Hyssop 1 drop .

Store dry and use a small amount mixed with water in your habd to wash your face. Rinse well.

Soap Cleanser

50mls soap stew - 50ml liquid lecithin - 1 tablespoon cider vinegar - 10 drops essential oil of your choice.

Blend the ingredients together, preferably in a blender. Us an essential oil that suits your skin typw. Bottle the mixture and store. Each time you want to use it to cleanse your face, pour a small amount into the palm of your hand, massage into your face and rinse off well.

Reference: The Fragrant Pharmacy: Valerie Ann Worwood