Aromatherapy Skin Care Products and Aromababy

What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy Skin Care Products Aromatherapy has been practiced for many centuries. It is the process of extracting essential oils from aromatic plant material and using these oils to promote healing and balance to the mind and body. It has become increasingly popular over the past few years and is used in all manners of aromatherapy products and aromatherapy skin care from creams, bath oils, shampoos, body washes and perfumes.

How does Aromatherapy work?

Essential oils can work in two ways: firstly through our skin when we apply aromatherapy skin care products to our body or we have a massage, and secondly, through our sense of smell.

When we apply aromatherapy products to our body the tiny molecules from these oils enter our skin and then travel through our bloodstream to be broken down and the therapeutic properties used as the body intended.

It can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 7 hours for the oils to be fully absorbed by the skin. The second way is through our sense of smell - when we smell the oil it travels through our nose to the olfactory area in the brain, and this area is closely linked with emotions which is why certain aromas can invoke emotional reactions - some positively and some negatively. For example some people will smell lavender and feel a sense of calm, but for some people it may remind them of a person or event that upset them, so every time they smell this they feel tense and irritable.

Aromatherapy and my baby - Aromababy

Aromababy for babies aged 0-3 months: it is best not to use essential oils as aromatherapy skin care as babies have extremely sensitive skin. Worldwide research has confirmed that regular infant massage with aromatherapy products assists relaxation, reduces colic, promotes bonding and helps baby sleep deeper and longer. The use of aromatherapy products such as essential oils after the age of 3 months can help alleviate pain in teething and colic, skin irritations such as eczema and cradle cap, and sleep issues such as restlessness and insomnia.

In saying this, you need to remember that essential oils used as aromatherapy skin care are very potent and you should always patch test before applying, as even the two gentlest oils used in aromatherapy skin care - chamomile and lavender - have caused reactions in extremely sensitive individuals.

For babies that are skin sensitive, you can still use aromababy essential oils in an oil burner or a spray to help with sleep issues, colds and flu, crankiness and irritability.

Aromababy essential oils for baby’s skin:

German and Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Neroli and Mandarin are the safest.

How much essential oil to use?

As essential oils are very potent less is always best. With babies over the age of 3 months, dilutions in 100ml of carrier oil eg: almond, apricot kernel, sunflower should be kept to ¼ - ½ percent which is 5-10 drops of essential oil.

Check the label

Some products claim to contain Lavender or Rose but it is really a synthetic fragrant oil. It has absolutely no benefit and is in fact irritating to the skin. Always ask whether it is an essential oil or a fragrant oil also look for the botanical name on the label eg: Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia)

baby products

baby skincare

eczema

infant massage

aromatherapy

organic

bamboo