For a long time, the skin around the corners of my mouth was chapped. Nothing seemed to help. The chemical moisturizers I used didn’t seem to touch the problem. The flaking and redness was especially bad in winter.

What Essential Oils Are Good for Dry Skin?

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Then, my skin suddenly cleared up. This happened immediately after I started using only plant-based substances, such as natural shea butter and palmarosa essential oil on my skin.

I like to think this was a happy side effect. I had gotten rid of my chemical cosmetics for health reasons. But one unexpected outcome was a big improvement in my complexion. The skin around my mouth is no longer dry and irritated. My entire skin tone has changed, thanks to my new beauty routine. I no longer need to wear foundation.

I only wish I’d known the benefits of going chemical free years ago. I’m seeing much better results by not putting potentially toxic compounds on my face, which seemed to be triggering my skin problems, instead of healing them.

Essential Oils For Chapped Skin

I tossed my chemical-made beauty products because I had runaway inflammation. This affects my nerves. Many holistic health experts believe that reducing your overall toxic burden can help with chronic inflammation, implicated in a wide range of health conditions, including cancer, heart disease and fibromyalgia. (Whatever I’m doing seems to be working for me, because my symptoms have receded.)

In addition to getting rid of my chemical-based makeup, under eye cover up, mascara and moisturizer, I started eating organic food and making an effort to drink more spring water. I’m convinced that getting healthier also helped my skin.

Natural Cosmetics For Your Skin

However, please don’t let me scare you. If you’re used to wearing makeup, there’s no need to give it up, if you don’t want to. Natural, healthier cosmetics are now available. So you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for safety.

Please understand that I’m not a doctor, so I can’t give medical advice or make a diagnosis. All I can do is share my own experience of using natural oils and other remedies on my own skin. So please consult a medical professional for stubborn skin conditions that don’t clear up.

Which Essential Oils Are Good For Dry Skin

Certain essential oils, such as lavender, palmarosa and chamomile, are considered very soothing. So they’re often recommended for dry, chapped skin. I regularly use lavender and palmarosa essential oil on my own skin. Both of these aromatics are also believed to be good for fighting wrinkles, sun damage, inflammation and other problems, such as eczema.

The essential oils I recommend most often on this site are sold by Plant Therapy. Its oils are excellent, and are not sold through multilevel marketing channels. Part of the company’s mission is to make high-quality oils that everyone is able to own.

I use Plant Therapy oils with complete confidence that no chemicals are added, and they are thoroughly tested for purity and potency. I ignore anyone who says you need to use an MLM oil in order to see any benefits.

Plant Therapy Lavender OilPlant Therapy Roman ChamomilePlant Therapy Palmarosa Oil

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Which Carrier Oils Are Good For Dry Skin

Essential oils are too strong to be put directly on your skin. So before using them, you need to mix them with a carrier oil. But this is a double bonus for chapped skin. Carrier oils are oily. So they can also potentially help heal chapped skin, and also help deliver, or “carry” the aromatic compounds to where they’re needed.

Also, essential oils evaporate quickly. So the carrier also serves to stabilize the aromatic oil, so it can do its job.

Virtually any non-toxic oil can be used as a carrier. I’ve used olive, coconut and grapeseed oil, which I have in my kitchen cupboard. But some carriers are believed to be extra good for the skin, so they’re often recommended for problem spots.

For instance, rosehip seed oil, sweet almond oil and avocado oil are often recommended for extreme dryness. I’ve used rosehip seed oil on my own face. I find I get the best results when I rotate both my carrier oils and my essential oils.

Sweet Almond Carrier OilOrganic Rosehip Seed OilPure Avocado Oil

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Essential Oils for Cracked Skin

One of the most luxurious ways to treat dry, cracked skin is with homemade body butter. I wondered how difficult it would be to make my own. As it turns out, it was incredibly easy. I only needed two ingredients, plus the essential oils of my choice.

It took only about a half hour, from start to finish. I used shea butter and coconut oil, which I already had in the house. I decided to add palmarosa essential oil for scent and additional potential healing properties, since it’s believed this essential oil has an affinity for the skin.

Body butter will last for about six months. So it’s easy to use, and doesn’t require mixing a new batch of essential oil/carrier oil each time you need to apply it. Body butter made with pure shea butter is exquisite. So it makes a great DIY gift, especially if you put it in a decorative jar.

 Body Butter For Chapped Skin

Shea butter comes from the nut of a tree that grows in Africa. It’s now gained a worldwide reputation as a superior skin conditioner and moisturizer. It works so well. However, the only drawback with using it out of the jar is that it’s a little difficult to spread on your skin.

Mixing it with coconut oil solves that problem. If you whip these two emollients together, the end result is a creamy texture, almost whipped butter, or body butter.

There are different ways to make body butter. But I think I’ve found one of the easiest. Here’s my recipe.

1 cup of organic coconut oil (You can order it here)

1/2 cup of organic shea butter (You can order it here)

Essential oils of your choice (If you don’t already own aromatic oils, you can order them here)

• On low heat, gently melt the shea butter and coconut oil until they become liquid.
• Set the pan aside and let it cool for 15 minutes.
• Put these oils in the freezer for 10 minutes. When you remove them, you’ll see them begin to harden around the edges.
• Whip them with an egg beater for about 11 minutes, or until they reach the desired consistency.
• Just before you’re finished mixing, add about 10 drops of essential oil. (I used palmarosa oil, but you can also use another soothing oil, such as chamomile or lavender. You can also mix two or more of these oils together for a DIY synergy blend.

Disclaimer

These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.