Helichrysum Italicum - common garden name Immortelle or the Curry Plant.
Many of you will have this in flower in your garden at the moment, with bright vivid yellow flower heads and delicate silvery leaves. The essential oil extracted from this plant is one of my all time favourites - it helps with skin conditions of all kinds, including dryness, scars, anti-aging and healing of wounds. It's an expensive oil but makes a great addition to any body oil preparation as it will boost skin tone, and elminate dryness.
Boswellia carterii - common name Frankincense
Just an amazing oil for dry skin, and for smoothing aging skin types. This oil is extracted from the resin of the Frankincense tree, which grows in arrid and harsh desert dry climates. Nicks are made in the bark and the resin is collected and then steam distilled in order to extract the essential oil. The bark and hardiness of this tree under extreme dry conditions, lend the oil the same qualities and it is a beautiful one to include in any skin treatment that requires smoothing, protection or replenishment.
Lavandula angustifolia - common garden name Lavender
Like Helichrysum, many of you will have this in flower in your garden at the moment, with fragrant leaves and beautiful soft flower heads The essential oil extracted from this plant is one of the most popular and well known - and rightly so. It helps with a multitude of things, from nervous conditions (it encourages relaxation and reduces stress) to respiratory complaints (it is a natural antibacterial and helps sooth coughs and colds) to skin healing (great for scars and helping 'cleanse' open wounds or burns). But alongside wound healing it is also a great balancer and I love to include it in formulations where the skin is out of kilter and needs a helping hand. It's great for oily as well as dry skin and I recommend you include it in any body oil that you make as it will boost skin tone
