Keep your skin feeling great while looking great by embracing the aromatherapy nutrients needed before and after sun exposure.
Spring has arrived and we are enjoying the warmth and gardening season. Which means a lot of sun exposure! Caring for your skin during this time of year is absolutely a number one priority. Working in the garden can turn into hours when you least expect it. Including a safe SPF is a great start. Despite this, your skin will need nourishing after exposure. Remember your skin is your largest organ. Exposure to the sun, soil and dust can require some mending afterwards. You can create a cooling mist to have handy in your garden basket for those moments when you are experiencing intense heat, or a soothing spray for natural sunburn relief. Your hands will need mending as well, and you can make a hand salve infused with essential oils for this. These additions to your gardening are a great self-care practice.
In many ways, we forget to care for the rest of our bodies and only care for our face and hands. Some may not even think to apply something after you have been outdoors all day. This is where taking the time to make a mist or a salve comes into place. One of the wonderful experiences I have gotten to embark on is making my own skin care regimen. I have tried frankincense essential oil with lavender, and rose. All of these create a relaxing aroma that leaves my skin feeling fresh and smooth. You can jump to the next level and apply this regimen to your neck and shoulders. I can easily hide my face with a hat, or wear comfortable breezy pants in the garden, but my neck ends up exposed. I can only handle so much coverage during those hot summer days. My body is usually taking a beating from my love of the outdoors.
I have decided to make self-care easy to do, so that you can create this sort of routine. I believe you can simply add it to your current practice. Here is a recipe to revive your skin during the summer days.
Calendula and Peppermint Revitalizing Mist
Uplift and refresh your skin during the summer with this homemade skin soothing mist.
Ingredients:
- 2 oz (60ml) glass spray bottle
- 1 oz (60 ml) Calendula Hydrosol (Calendula officinalis)
- 8-10 drops Peppermint Oil (Mentha x piperita)
- 2 ml Soluble dispersant
Directions: Fill glass spray bottle with the directed amount. Shake before using. Spray around face and other body parts exposed to the sun.
Choosing essential oils for simple ailments is a lifestyle change that might require gradual assimilation. Essential oils have changed the way I approach common life events, from emotional health to seasonal allergies, and I’m always happy to learn about effective natural remedies that can replace over-the-counter medications.
Learning the power of plants is a beautiful journey. Our Earth has given us these magnificent herbs; It’s our job to re-introduce them to our modern lives.
If you are out in the sun all day, lavender is a great option, not only for your mind but also for your skin. If you are sore and have achy muscles try German chamomile, it has calming effects and reduces energetic heat, one of its therapeutic properties is the ability to provide pain relief due to it being an anti-inflammatory. These two can be combined and blended with one ounce of cream or carrier oil.
Freshening up is something you might want to do after a walk or while you are knee deep in the garden. You can create a mist with the hydrosols mentioned in the recipes above. Remember, hydrosols are a gentle alternative to essential oils; they are aromatic waters with many of the same properties.
A hand salve is necessary for me. It is an option at all hours of the day. A salve is great when you have washed your hands, worked outside, washed dishes, or if your feet are tired. Is your back is sore? Apply some of your homemade salve.
Finally, you want to remember everyone’s skin is different and what might work for you could create the opposite experience for someone else. Creating your own products is a personal experience and allows you to understand the intricacies of your own body. You can add or remove whatever you desire, while following a base. I hope you come to love and appreciate your skin, in a way you have never experienced. I recommend researching and getting comfortable with each plant to understand how these essential oils can become a part of your life.
