The many benefits of adding lavender oil to your skin, face and hair health and beauty routine are oh-so worth it…
Hands up anyone who’s ever had a problem with their face, skin or hair. Most of you? Yup - it’s pretty much guaranteed that we’ve all had some sort of issue we’ve had to deal with…
From the angst of teenage acne and pimples to the dry skin drought and wrinkles that sneak up on you later on. It could even have been a more serious skin concern like hyperpigmentation, eczema or psoriasis.
And the hair? From dull, lackluster locks that have been over styled and heat damaged to the horror of dandruff - and even worse – hair loss. And it’s almost a given that if you’ve ever been pregnant, you’ve got that very unwelcome ‘gift’ of stretch marks. The list goes on and on…
Time for the multitasking magic of lavender essential oil. It can kill off things like acne-causing bacteria; replenish those nutrients your skin and hair are crying out for; help repair dry, wrinkled or distressed skin plus any unwanted scars or dark spots; soothe sunburn, cuts and scrapes – and much, much more.
The big plus is that lavender is renowned for helping you sleep better. And better sleep means better skin and hair – because that’s when your body does its all-important regenerating and repair work. It’s not called ‘beauty sleep’ for nothing.
Good for clear, glowing skin and gorgeous, healthy hair – and of course, a good night’s sleep – the benefits of lavender essential oil are endless. Maybe it’s time to add it to your beauty routine…
BENEFITS OF LAVENDER OIL FOR BEAUTY SLEEP
Not getting enough shut-eye? You may think that this means you just feel tired and grumpy the next day (or every day if you’re seriously deprived). But lack of sleep not only has grave implications for your overall health (like depression, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity) - but also wreaks havoc on both your skin and hair. So, if you’re not getting a good night’s sleep, your path to healthy hair and skin must start here…
First off, your skin gets seriously stressed out when you’re not sleeping well. Your stress hormone, cortisol, naturally goes down when you are asleep which allows your skin - and body - to regenerate. Missing out on sleep means you miss out on this vital renewal process too. Higher than normal cortisol levels also break down skin plumping collagen so accelerating the appearance of wrinkles – and, if you’re prone to pimples, lead to more acne breakouts as well...
What’s more, lack of sleep causes the weakening of your natural skin barrier. Combine this with fewer of those wonderful protective antioxidants, and you have a recipe for seriously dehydrated, defenseless - and ageing - skin.
A good night's sleep also activates growth hormones and enzymes to build proteins needed for strong, healthy hair and proper growth. Lack of sleep stunts hair growth and renewal, as well as weakening your immune system and its ability to absorb the essential nutrients needed for healthy hair. The result is that hair volume, shine and condition all deteriorate. In fact, poor sleep quality can even lead to hair loss.
So, if you thought your beauty routine starts with what you put on your face, hair and body – time to think again. Looking after your skin and hair health starts with more high-quality downtime in dreamland. There’s a good reason why it’s called beauty sleep…
How to use lavender oil to help you sleep
Enter the Queen of Sleep. Best known for its calming and sedative effects, lavender essential oil is everyone’s go-to remedy for a great night’s sleep…
Start with a warm bath or shower: Switch to lavender shower gel to wash off the cares of the day. Or toss some lavender bath salts into a warm tub and feel the calm.
Turn your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary: Light a lavender candle to create a peaceful atmosphere with its light floral scent. Spritz your pillows and sheets with a calming lavender linen spray. Tuck a soothing lavender sachet under your pillow to enjoy a deep slumber all-night long.
Add some final calming touches: Just before you hop into bed, take a quick whiff of lavender essential oil straight out of the bottle, and slip on a lavender eye mask to cut out any sleep-interrupting light. Sweet dreams…
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BENEFITS OF LAVENDER OIL FOR SKIN
Lavender essential oil is capable of some powerful multitasking magic when it comes to your face. The list of how good it is for the skin - as an antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory - is impressive. But how does this help you to get - and keep - healthy, glowing skin?
Lavender oil is a potent source of antioxidants which are well known anti-agers. Antioxidants fight against free radical damage caused by environmental stressors like UV rays and pollution. Adding lavender essential oil to your facial skin care routine helps reduce signs of premature aging – protecting against wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation and dark age spots.
When your skin produces too much oil that collects in clogged pores, this is the perfect recipe for the acne p. bacteria to strike, resulting in a large inflamed pimple. As an antibacterial, lavender oil works to kill off the bacteria and stop them from spreading. And no bacteria means no acne…
Inflammation is the body’s immune system’s response to an irritant, infection or pain. When a pimple becomes red and inflamed, it means that your body is working hard to fight off the bacteria. Lavender oil’s anti-inflammatory qualities are not only great for helping heal acne but also other inflammatory skin conditions - like reducing pigmentation and dark age spots; lessening redness; and repairing acne scars.
Pretty much everything that goes wrong with your skin can be traced back to an impaired skin barrier. So if you have a tight, dry, flaky and sensitive skin, it’s highly likely that your skin barrier has been damaged in some way. Lavender is one of the safest and mildest oils that gently moisturizes the skin and rebalances your skin’s moisture barrier back to health, so that it isn’t too oily or dry, even if it’s sensitive.
Even better, it does all this while bringing a natural healthy glow to your skin. As a powerful natural anti-inflammatory, lavender is good not only for getting rid of pimples, uneven skin tone, dark marks, dryness and wrinkles, but also adding a beautiful glow to your skin.
Maybe it’s time to rethink all those lotions and potions you have in your bathroom…
How to use lavender oil to help your facial skin
Mixing about 5 drops of lavender essential oil with 2 tablespoons of carrier oil is the best way to apply it to your skin. That way, you double up on the benefits both oils deliver. But you can also add a few drops of lavender oil to an unscented moisturizing or cleansing cream, and it’s even gentle enough to directly spot treat certain skin conditions (just make sure you do an allergy test first).
Lavender oil for dry, ageing skin and wrinkles: Some carrier oils, like jojoba or avocado, are great moisturizers. These oils absorb easily into the skin and help trap moisture that’s already there, guaranteeing glowing skin. Mixing lavender oil with the high fatty acid content of avocado oil makes it an excellent choice for dry, mature, and ageing skins.
Lavender oil for an oily, acne prone skin: Grapeseed oil is an antiseptic and mild astringent that is light and non-greasy so is a great carrier oil for oily skins. Use with lavender oil to strengthen the bacteria fighting powers and together you have a powerful oil control and anti-acne solution.
And don’t be scared of adding oil to an oily skin. It sounds illogical, but in fact can help keep your skin barrier perfectly in balance. Lavender oil is also great to spot treat cystic acne, helping the cysts to gradually surface and heal.
Lavender oil for sensitive skin and rosacea: The high concentrations of both oleic and linoleic acids in sweet almond carrier oil help soothe and relieve inflamed, irritated skin, and even help with rosacea. Pairing lavender oil with sweet almond oil also makes for a great team to nourish dry skin, support the production of collagen and regenerate new skin cells.
Lavender oil for pimples and acne spot treatment: If you are struggling with angry red pimples, argan carrier oil can help reduce inflammation. Mix one drop of lavender oil with a drop of argan oil and using a cotton ball, dab it directly onto your pimples twice a day. Mixing 2 drops of lavender oil with 1 teaspoon of witch hazel can also be a very effective toner for oily and acne prone skins.
Lavender oil for age spots and pigmentation: Combining the powerful antioxidant effects of both lavender and rosehip oil helps fight sun damage caused by free radicals. Mix together one drop of each oil and dab onto the affected areas daily to help regenerate your skin cells and lighten your dark spots naturally.
These Powerful Benefits Are Why You Need Lavender Essential Oil For Skin – Read More
BENEFITS OF LAVENDER OIL FOR HAIR
Let’s face it - when your hair looks good, you feel great. But when it’s constantly being dyed, straightened or heat styled, it can quickly deteriorate into a dry, damaged mess. Or perhaps you suffer from dry scalp or dandruff - or even hair loss? If you’ve tried to restore your crowning glory with a whole bunch of hair treatments with no success, maybe it’s time to try lavender essential oil…
As a proven broad-spectrum antimicrobial and antiseptic, lavender oil helps keep the hair shafts and follicles clear of the fungus and bacteria that can lead to dandruff. In fact, it has even been found to be effective in preventing head lice.
But perhaps the most compelling reason to use lavender oil on your hair is that some early animal studies have shown that it not only helps treat (and even reverse) hair loss, but also speeds up hair growth - and promotes thickness - mainly by reducing stress and improved blood circulation. This, together with lavender’s antiseptic qualities, and the fact that it also nourishes the hair and lubricates the scalp, can naturally restore your hair back to good health.
More growth, more nourishment and more strength. What more could your hair want?
How to use lavender oil to help your hair
Carrier oils are a good vehicle to deliver lavender essential oil to your hair and scalp, plus they can add a few extra benefits as well. Try these recipes to help restore your hair health and growth…
Lavender oil to treat dandruff: To kill off the dandruff causing fungus and bacteria, mix 15 drops of lavender oil with 1 tablespoon of castor oil and 1 tablespoon of moisturizing olive oil. Massage it into your scalp (rubbing it into the roots) and leave for 30 minutes. Use a natural shampoo to rinse out. Repeat once a week.
Lavender oil to relieve a dry scalp: Rub a mix of lavender oil and rosehip oil into your scalp to nourish your roots. Leave for an at least an hour and rinse off. The fatty acids in rosehip oil help ease itching and nourish a dry scalp.
Lavender oil to promote hair growth: Add a few drops of lavender oil to an equal ratio of black seed oil and cold-pressed high-quality olive oil and gently massage into the roots of the hair. Leave for at least an hour before rinsing off.
Lavender oil as a natural hair conditioning mask: Using argan oil that is rich in Vitamin E and fatty acids brings back the natural glow and shine, prevents split ends, reduces frizz and promotes healthy hair growth. Blend together 1 to 3 drops each of argan oil and lavender oil depending upon the length of your hair. Massage into your scalp while running your hands through your hair, ensuring you rub it in well at the tips. Leave in for as long as possible - even overnight - before washing off. Repeat once a week.
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BENEFITS OF LAVENDER OIL FOR ALL-OVER BODY SKIN
It soothes angry skin. It heals wounds. It’s a pain reliever. It regenerates skin cells. Just think of a condition, and you’ll probably turn to lavender essential oil every time you need a quick fix for your skin conditions, not only for your face, but all over your body.
Dry skin can be bad enough to deal with, but when it turns red, itchy and scaly with flare-ups of eczema or psoriasis, it’s definitely not-so-fun. As a natural antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, lavender oil can help reduce redness, and calm and soothe your irritated skin. It can even ease the painful after-effects of sunburn, as well as small burns, cuts and grazes.
And because it helps regenerate new skin cells, lavender oil is also perfect for reducing the appearance of stretch marks - and any other scars you may have. It not only supplies the essential nutrients required for skin repair, but is also a powerful moisturizer for the skin, tackling tough spots like cracked heels and dry, calloused hands with ease.
If lavender essential oil is good for all these wonderfully healthy things for your skin, do you really need anything else?
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How To Use Lavender Oil For All-Over Body Care
Yes - you can mix lavender essential oil with any carrier oil to use to use on your body as you would on your face. But there are also many ready-made lavender lotions and creams for body care.
A quick word of caution. Be aware that many body products only include a lavender scent that will not give you the benefits of the essential oil. Be sure to get the real deal…
Lavender oil for eczema and psoriasis: Blending an essential fatty acid rich moringa carrier oil and lavender can help strengthen cell membranes and repair damaged cells, which is especially beneficial for eczema and psoriasis. Using other lavender infused body products such as a coconut oil enriched bubble bath and body lotion will only enhance the benefits and speed up healing.
Lavender oil to reduce stretch marks: Mix a couple drops each of warm argan oil and lavender oil and gently rub into the affected area. This will give you a double dose of antioxidant vitamins A and E to rejuvenate and nourish the skin. Or grab yourself a lavender massage oil made with grapeseed and jojoba oils to get the same results.
Lavender oil to treat a burn: Combine 1 to 3 drops of lavender oil and 1 to 2 teaspoons of moringa or coconut oil. Apply the mixture three times a day to reduce inflammation.
Lavender oil to help heal scars: The essential fatty acids in rosehip oil help regenerate the skin and lessen the appearance of scars, while Vitamin A improves skin tone and texture. Combined with lavender oil make this mix highly effective in helping heal scars. Daily use of an antioxidant rich lavender body lotion will also help with ongoing care.
Lavender oil for wound healing: Both jojoba and grape seed oils are antioxidant-rich, known for their wound healing properties and are best to pair with lavender for treating minor cuts and scrapes, as well as bug bites.
Mix 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil with one ounce (6 teaspoons) of either of these oils to help reduce inflammation and promote healing. Avoid applying to open wounds.
Lavender oil to soothe sunburn: In a spray bottle, combine a quarter cup of aloe vera juice, 2 tablespoons of distilled water and 10 to 12 drops of lavender oil and jojoba oil. Use the spray two or three times a day to soothe away pain and inflammation, and help heal the skin.
Lavender oil for flaky, dry and cracked feet and hands: Soak hands and feet in warm water for 10 minutes, towel off, and then gently massage in the ultra-rich moisturizing and healing benefits of a luxurious lavender foot balm with nourishing mango butter. Finish off with a deluxe lavender hand crème and feel the softness all day long.
If you prefer a DIY recipe, mix together 18-30 drops of lavender oil with 1 ounce of coconut or avocado oil, both of which are rich in nutrients and excellent at penetrating the skin. Massage well into skin.
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IMPORTANT NOTES
Please check with your doctor before using essential oils to treat any medical concerns.
There are a few safety rules that you need to keep in mind while using essential oils. Since they are highly concentrated, they should be diluted with a moisturizer or a carrier oil before use. Most essential oils should be used at a two percent dilution level for adults, unless otherwise specified.
Although lavender is one of the gentlest essential oils, please use caution when applying directly on the skin because this can cause irritation. Be sure to patch test on the inside of your forearm for 24 hours beforehand.
There's a difference between lavender essential oil or lavender oil, which is simply a perfume. If a label does not clearly state that it is an 'essential oil,' then it is not a pure oil and should not be used as suggested. Ensure that you always use top quality essential oils such as Sonoma Lavender’s lavender essential oil.
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