Our skin creates an astounding barrier that protects our body from external influences. At the same time, it acts as a mirror on our inner health.
Lavender greatly contributes to our skin thanks to its soothing anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects. Its use in the cosmetics industry is very diverse.
Lavender Infused Oil
Infusion Lavender oil soothes minor skin irritations and eczema. It is also suitable for mild burns, yeast infections or for insect bites.
Making your own lavender infusion oil is fun. It can be used later in facial care, body or massage oil, on scars or scrapes. It’s also an excellent make-up remover. Lavender oil is present In various forms of home remedies such as salves, lip balms, massage oil . When mixed with water you can use infusion oil to fight sunburn.
All you need is Lavender and any carrier oil. For this particular recipe, you will need a 500 ml jar filled with dry lavender.
Carrier oil
Pay attention to the carrier oil. There are many criteria which need to be taken into account. Composition, contraindications, aroma, shelf life, price, and most importantly its benefits. Don’t forget to check its absorption rate. Depending on your desired effect you can use fast absorbing infused oils which are quickly absorbed by skin and do not leave a greasy residue. Or carrier oils with slow absorbing speed which tend to leave skin with a slight oily residue. Find detailed information about carrier oils here
I have selected Grape seed oil for the following reasons:
- fast absorbsion rate
- unscented, ecologic oil that is rich in antioxidants
- fights free radical damage, the signs of aging and heal skin exposed to natural elements.
- contains vitamins E, C, A, and resveratrol
- rich in polyphenols, which have been linked to cancer prevention and anti-aging treatments in medical research.
- light, nutrient-rich composition; an ideal choice for all skin types
There are several ways you can infuse your oil. I prefer the old school infusion where you place the mixture (dry herb + carrier oil) in a warm place for two weeks ( heat is the main factor helping to infuse the oil but not on direct sunlight). However if you are in a hurry you can use the double boiler method, which is described here
Ingredients
jar 500 ml
full of dried lavender
250 ml of grape seed oil
after filtration => 160 ml of lavender infused oil
Instructions
Fill a jar (500 ml) full of dried lavender
After your herbs are in, fill the jar with carrier oil of your choice, in our case grape seed oil.
cover it with canvas so it can breath and keep it in the warm place for 2 weeks.
After 2 weeks, thoroughly grind the oil with a soft cloth to get rid of all the petals and get only pure oil with herbaceous substances.
