Making your own natural massage oils and balms by using aromatic plants is very fun, and at the same time fulfilling; and you can be assured that you are applying on your skin, something that you have prepared and know well what it contains. Here in this comprehensive article, we have provided the advantages, demerits, procedure and recipes for making natural massage oil and balm at home. At the end of this course, you will be fully ready and prepared to make your own exquisite natural skincare products on your own.
Advantages of Incorporating Aromatic Plants in the Massage Oils and Balms
1. Natural Healing Properties:
The aromatic plants had been, from early days used to cure various ailments. Oils extracted from such plants can also have positive effects that include cutting down inflammation, stress and anxiety. For instance, lavender oil has soothing properties, whereas eucalyptus oil has a benefit of the upper respiratory tract.
2. Customizable:
That is why when producing your massage oils and balms you get to choose the correct ingredients for yourself. It could be preparation of a relaxing tea to be consumed at the end of the day or a stimulating tea to get your senses going round in circles, the potential combinations are endless.
3. Chemical-Free:
Most store bought creams and lotions have been developed using synthetic scents and chemicals that are likely to cause skin challenges such as irritation or skin allergy. Self-production of your products gives you a guarantee that your products have no extra additives and preservatives.
4. Cost-Effective:
While purchasing the basic oils and carrier oils may slightly heavily on your pocket, in the long run, it is cheaper to make your own massage oils and balm than relying on commercial quality brands.
Potential Disadvantages
1. Allergic Reactions:
Some people might have allergic reactions to specific essential oils used or the carrier oils. Before applying any new oil on your face, it is recommended to carry out a patch test to avoid the breakout of skin reaction.
2. Shelf Life:
Full homemade products are not preserved as those of the commercial market hence do not have the same extended shelf life as commercial products. This makes it require that amount of preparation and storage for the solutions to be operational and safe for use.
3. Time and Effort:
It is also important to note that creating your own massage oils and balms may take sometime particularly if this is the first time you are engaged in this. It is not very easy to find good ingredients, to properly weigh them and to mix them properly.
Essential Ingredients and Measurements
Before we dive into the recipes, let’s take a look at some essential ingredients you’ll need:Before we dive into the recipes, let’s take a look at some essential ingredients you’ll need:
Carrier Oils
Carrier oils are substances which when added to the essential oils help in penetrating the skin. Some popular carrier oils include:Some popular carrier oils include:
Sweet Almond Oil: Remedial and very easy to apply due to its light weight. Suitable for all skin types in most cases.
Coconut Oil: Good at room temperature but is described to cause melting when it gets in contact with the skin. Great for dry skin.
Jojoba Oil: Just like the skin’s own oils, sebum, they can be described as suitable for all skin types.
Grapeseed Oil: This lotion is gentle and non-oily, hence appropriate for the facial skin especially for oily or acne prone skin.
Olive Oil: MOISTURIZING CLEANSING CREAM: For dry or mature skin, best of the best nourishing cleanser.
Essential Oils
Generally, essentials oils are refers to as extracted sources from aromatic plants. Here are a few popular ones:Here are a few popular ones:
Lavender: Calming and soothing. Good to take when you want to relax and free your mind from stress.
Peppermint: Cooling and invigorating. Reduces muscle pain and can be used to cure a headache.
Eucalyptus: Refreshing and decongestant. Beneficial for respiratory issues.
Tea Tree: Anti bacterial and anti fungal. Applied at the site of acne or any infection that is affecting the skin.
Chamomile: Gentle and calming. Soothing for the skin and particularly helpful if one is trying to get to sleep.
Other Ingredients
Beeswax: Employed in balms to make it have a solid consistency.
Shea Butter: Hydrating and emollient. Adds richness to balms.
Vitamin E Oil: Antimicrobial and anti-bacterial that is still nutrient to the skin.
What is the Methodology for Inclusion of Aromatic plants in Massage Oils as well as Balms?
Basic Instructions
Choose Your Carrier Oil:
Choose a carrier oil depending on the skin type of the end user of the product and depending on the thickness that is preferred. When desiring an oil with a fair penetration and lightweight, sweet almond or grapeseed oil should do the trick.
Select Your Essential Oils:
Once you have determined the therapeutic benefits you want, then it will be much easier to decide on the essential oils. It seems that, when working with an adult, one should dilute the essential oil at about 2%, in other words, twelve drops of the oil to thirty millilitres of carrier essential oil.
Mixing:
Stir the carrier oil and aroma therapeutic oils together in a new, sterilized glass bottle or jar. Shake well to mix.
Storage:
Locate your homemade oils in darkened bottles in order to avoid the effects of exposure to light that demeans the quality of the oils. , Store them in a cool, dry place.
- Basic Massage Oil Recipe
Ingredients:
Sweet almond oil 1/2 cup
1/4 cup jojoba oil
¼ cup Coconut oil, (fractionated)
To continue completing the pampering session; 12 drops lavender essential oil
8 drops of eucalyptus oil
8 drops of peppermint essential oil
Instructions:
In a 250 ml glass measuring cup, pour sweet almond oil, jojoba oil and coconut oil.
Slowly and carefully measure the addition of the essential oils by adding one drop at a time.
Give the mixture a few folds to mix well.
After this transfer the blend into a dark glass bottle with help of a funnel.
You should use a marker and write on the bottle what is inside it and at which date it was bottled.
- Basic Balm Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 cup beeswax pellets
1/2 cup shea butter
1/2 cup coconut oil
They kissed her on the forehead, twenty drops of the lavender essential oil later.
Put 10 drops of chamomile essential oil.
Instructions:
At this point, in a double boiler, melt the beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil together.
When it has melted take it off the heat and let it cool slightly.
Finally, stir in the essential oils to the mixture.
The next step is to pour this mixture into small tins or jars and leave the mixture to cool so that it will solidify.
Facilitate writing of the contents and date on the containers.
The use of specific recipes depending on the needs of the consumers.
- Relaxing Lavender Massage Oil
Ingredients:
1/2 cup sweet almond oil
1/4 cup jojoba oil
Put 20 drops of lavender essential oil.
10 drops bergamot oil
5 drops ylang-ylang oil
Instructions:
Fill a glass bottle with sweet almond oil and jojoba oil.
Finally, pour the essential oils and shake the container well till the two are mixed uniformly.
Keep in a dry and cool location and consume it within the next six months.
Benefits:
This blend is especially good oil for a full body massage before going to sleep. Lavender and bergamot for removing the feelings of anxiousness and stress, and ylang-ylang for a flowery tone.
- Energizing Peppermint and Citrus Massage Oil
Ingredients:
1/2 cup grapeseed oil
Sweet almond oil, 1/4 of a cup
Add 10 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops of orange essential oil.
Lemon essential oil- 5 drops
Instructions:
Mix the grapeseed oil and sweet almond oil in a glass container that has a spray cap on it.
Finally, add the essential oils and give the jar a good mix by shaking it.
Customer requirement: Then the product should be stored in cool and dry place and it should be used within six months.
Benefits:
This is a perfect mixture if you want to receive a massage in the morning and feel fresh the whole day. Peppermint offers cooling on the muscles to give a relief on any ached muscles and also the citrus oils have a way of improving one’s mood.
- The chamomile eye cream for sensitive skin and awakening Chamomile Wish body lotion
Ingredients:
1/4 cup beeswax pellets
1/4 cup shea butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
15 drops chamomile essential oil
Here you are, dear: 10 drops lavender essential oil
5 drops rosehip oil
Instructions:
These three ingredients; beeswax, shea butter, and coconut oil can be melted using double boiler.
After that, transfer it to another bowl allowing it to cool down for a short while.
Finally put the essential oils and rosehip oils into the mixture with proper stirring.
After that transfer it in small tins or jars and let to cool for some time until it comes to form a bar.
When packing the containers, just ensure you write the contents that the container has and the date too.
Benefits:
If you have extremely sensitive skin then this would be a great balm that you could try out. Chamomile and lavender are mostly associated with relaxation and anti-inflammation and rosehip oil rids the skin of any dryness.
- Their Muscle Relief Balm with Eucalyptus and PeppermintOil.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup beeswax pellets
1/2 cup shea butter
1/2 cup coconut oil
Take 20 drops of the eucalyptus essential oil.
15 drops of peppermint essential oil
A blend is made by ten drops of rosemary essential oil.
Instructions:
Over low heat, using a double boiler, melt the beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil.
Once it has reached the right temperature to melt candies, take the mixture off the heat and allow it to cool a bit.
Stir in the essential oils.
After that, transfer the mixture into small tins or small jars and allow it to cool down until it becomes solid.
This can be done by typing the content and date and stick the labels on the containers.
Benefits:
Sore muscles and joints should be treated with this balm. Eucalyptus clears the mind and has an invigorating action, and peppermint is calming, cooling and aids in easing headaches and muscle tension, rosemary promotes circulation and is anti-inflammatory.
Instructions and Tips
Patch Test:
It is advised to do a patch test especially when using a new essential oil or when using a new blend on the skin. Take a small amount and apply it at the bend of your elbow then wash it off; do not rinse and leave it for 24 hours to note the outcome.
Dilution:
Essential oils are very potent and should always be mixed with a base oil before topical use. The 2% dilution is normal and fine for almost all adults with normal skin but then you can adjust it according to your liking to how spicy you want it or how sensitive your skin is.
Proper Storage:
Keep the oils and balms at your home made for massage in dark glasses or any other dark container to help you in preserving the life of massage oils and balms. Ideally they should be stored someplace dry and preferably in a cool origin if not in a cold dark place.
Hygiene:
Wash your pots, bottles, jars or any utensils you will be using for your fermentation process, as well as the measuring spoons prior to use to avoid contamination.
Labeling:
It also indicates that you should label all home made products properly with what is contained in them, and when it was prepared. This makes it easier for you to determine the duration of the products and when best to discard or use them.
Conclusion
It is a very relaxing procedure and at the same time very effective to prepare your own natural massage oils and balms with the plants you like. It is worth noting that explaining the benefits of aromatherapy, it is necessary to focus on the fact that the use of carrier and essential oils allows to avoid the negative effects of chemicals contained in the majority of commercial body products.
However, there are some possible drawbacks: for instance, allergy and short product’s shelf life, but they can be decreased to the minimum. As we can see the advantages achieving your own products overpower the disadvantages, it suggests making products without using chemicals at reasonable price and without adjusting to somebody’s terms.
Here within this chapter you now hold the recipe practices and advice that will allow you to create your own natural massage oils and balms. No matter if you intend to chill or energize, for delicate skin or to help with stiff muscles.