Peppermint oil can be an indispensable aid in maintaining the beauty and youth of the skin of the face. To do this, you need to know the features of its use in cosmetology. The mint aroma is very pleasant and loved by many, because it gives a feeling of freshness, helps to calm the nervous system, restores good mood and brings irreplaceable health benefits. Esters obtained from peppermint leaves are widely used not only in medicine, but also in perfumery and cosmetology for many decades. Before you start using this unique and invaluable product, you need to familiarize yourself with some of the rules and existing contraindications.
Benefits of peppermint essential oil
Many years of experience in using peppermint essential oil has made it popular in the fields of traditional medicine, aromatherapy and cosmetology. This natural product is widely used in maintaining health and youth, to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, eliminate depression and other psychological disorders. Bioenergetics believe that peppermint oil is an excellent aura purifier, helps to open chakras, improves not only health, but also a person's destiny.
Mint essential oil has a multicomponent composition and contains more than 2000 active substances, the most valuable of which are menthol, vetiverol, thymol, limonene, pinene and terpinene.
Mint is often used in cosmetology, as it perfectly cares for the skin of the face and body, it also helps to significantly improve the condition of the hair and strengthen the nails. This oil has the following effects:
- the process of skin regeneration is accelerated when a burn occurs;
- there is a stimulating effect of the protective function of the epidermis;
- a defect such as pigmentation is eliminated;
- pale and tired skin is toned;
- the damaged structure of the hair shaft is restored;
- dandruff is cured;
- the oily shine of the hair is eliminated;
- helps with fungal infections, psoriasis and eczema;
- relieves itching and irritation of the inflamed skin;
- helps with herpes, furunculosis and acne.
Depending on the concentration of peppermint oil used, its effect on the skin will vary:
- undiluted oil has a tonic effect - a blush appears, blood accelerates, pores narrow;
- diluted oil has a calming effect on the skin - the capillary network narrows, the skin is refreshed.
Contraindications for peppermint essential oil
When using peppermint essential oil, you need to constantly remember to observe the dosages and not exceed the permissible rate. If you ignore this advice, there is a risk of unwanted allergic reactions or other side effects.
For example, during aromatherapy, in case of abuse of peppermint oil, a severe headache begins, vomiting opens. If the dosage is violated during inhalation, an asthma attack (if there is this disease) or bronchospasm is provoked. Applying peppermint oil to the skin in undiluted form causes a severe allergic reaction, which manifests itself in the form of flushing or rash.
If peppermint essential oil is to be used for facial skin care, you must be extremely careful not to let the product get into your eyes. If oil gets on the cornea, there is a risk of severe burns.
A strict contraindication to the use of peppermint oil is:
- hypotension (low blood pressure);
- age under 6 years old;
- breastfeeding, gestation;
- the presence of a predisposition to allergies.
After applying peppermint oil to the skin, there is a slight feeling of coolness, tingling and numbness, subtle redness of the treated area. If any other signs appear, you should refuse to use this product.
Features of using peppermint essential oil
Peppermint essential oil in the field of cosmetology is used externally in a diluted form. You can add a few drops of the product to compresses, masks, creams and lotions. Also, shampoo, soap, nourishing ice cubes are made from the oil. Mint oil can be diluted with almost any base oil - for example, peach, sesame, jojoba are perfect. It is recommended to add a face cream, which is selected taking into account the type of skin.
To take peppermint oil orally, it is allowed in a strictly limited amount. This remedy helps with indigestion, severe nausea and abdominal pain. In this case, you need to dissolve 1 drop of oil in 200 ml of warm water - the finished product is drunk at a time.
Depending on the procedure, the amount of mint oil used is also determined:
- for application - 10 drops of mint oil are taken for 10 drops of base oil;
- for a bath or sauna - 1 sq. m. 3-5 drops of oil;
- for an aroma lamp - 15 sq. m. 2-3 drops of oil;
- for masks or other home cosmetics - for 20 g of base 4-6 drops of oil;
- for a compress - 10-12 drops of peppermint oil for 20 ml of alcohol.
It is not recommended to add peppermint essential oil to the bath, as the product has a strong cooling effect, which, in combination with hot water, has a negative effect on the state of blood vessels.
Peppermint essential oil for hair care
Hair needs constant care. Often the strands begin to break, become dry and lifeless, lose their beautiful shine and color, and the problem of falling out begins. As a result of a disturbance in the blood circulation of the scalp, the hair becomes very fragile, tangled, quickly turns greasy, and dandruff may appear. To get rid of these troubles will help the simple essential oil of mint.
This product is ideal for care of hair prone to oily and mixed hair types - dry at the ends and oily at the roots. If this oil will be used to care for very dry curls, it is recommended to combine it with additional moisturizing ingredients - for example, vitamin E, egg yolk or burdock oil.
Burdock and mint oil mask
This product is recommended for the care of weakened, damaged and dry hair:
- Burdock oil (100 ml) is mixed with mint (4 drops).
- The finished composition is applied to the scalp, after which it is evenly distributed over the entire length of the strands.
- Cover your head with plastic and a warm towel.
- The mask is washed off after 4-6 hours.
Mask with yolk and mint oil
The composition perfectly moisturizes the hair and helps to get rid of the problem of hair loss:
- First you need to beat 3 egg yolks, then add 1 tbsp. l. fresh citrus juice, 4 drops of essential peppermint oil are introduced.
- All components are thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous composition is obtained.
- The area at the hair roots is abundantly lubricated with the resulting product, after which the mask is evenly distributed over the entire length of the curls.
- To enhance the beneficial effect, you need to wrap your hair in a layer of polyethylene and wrap your head with a towel.
- The mask is washed off after 1-1, 5 hours.
To revive weakened and dull hair, it is recommended to add a few drops of peppermint oil to the shampoo while washing your hair - 1 drop of oil is taken per 100 ml of the product.
Peppermint essential oil for skin care
This unique natural product helps in the care of oily skin, quickly removes such cosmetic defects as enlarged pores, acne, uneven pigmentation. You can get rid of these problems in a few days. Peppermint essential oil is used to make masks, cosmetic ice, tonic, lotion, etc.
Anti-wrinkle oatmeal and peppermint oil mask
To rejuvenate and heal the skin of the face, as well as remove small mimic wrinkles and peeling, it is recommended to use the following remedy:
- You will need to take oat flour (40 g), you can grind oatmeal in a coffee grinder.
- Add 100 ml of boiling water.
- After the mixture swells, 10 g of liquid honey and 2 drops of peppermint essential oil are introduced.
- The finished mask is applied warm to the previously cleansed skin.
- After 20 minutes, the remnants of the product are washed off, any moisturizer is applied to the skin.
Cleansing cosmetic honey
To restore skin tone, unclog pores and remove oily shine, restoring matte and natural glow to the skin, it is recommended to wipe your face with cosmetic ice cubes every day. You can do it yourself at home:
- Take warm water (150 ml) and add natural flower honey (0.5 tsp), eucalyptus oil (1 drop) and peppermint oil (1 drop).
- The components mix well until a uniform consistency is obtained.
- It is important to ensure that the honey is completely dissolved.
- If acne appears on the skin of the face, you can additionally add aloe juice (1 tsp) to the composition.
- The resulting composition is poured into ice molds and placed in the freezer.
- Ice cubes are used every day to rub the skin on the face, neck and décolleté.
Mask with kaolin and peppermint oil for acne
To relieve inflammation and disinfect the skin, it is recommended to use the following mask:
- Red clay (2 tablespoons) is mixed with lemon juice (1 tsp), linseed oil (15 g), mint oil (2 drops).
- Herbal decoction of chamomile, sage or calendula (20–40 ml) is added.
- The composition should acquire the consistency of thick sour cream.
- The finished mask is applied to cleansed face skin, excluding the area around the eyes.
- After 15-19 minutes, the mask is washed off with warm water.
Peppermint essential oil for lip care
This product has the ability to destroy the herpes virus, disperses the blood and increases the volume of the lips. To get this result, you can add a few drops of peppermint oil to a simple lip gloss or balm.
You can also make your own homemade mint oil balm. The main advantage of this cosmetic product is that it does not contain harmful chemicals.
Homemade balm is prepared according to the following scheme:
- You will need to take 4 tbsp. l. beeswax, 1 tbsp. l. tocopherol, 10 ml of almond oil, 5 tsp. Shea butter, 15 ml of cranberry juice (can be replaced with beetroot), 6-8 drops of peppermint oil and 3 tsp. solid cocoa butter.
- First, the solid butter and wax are melted in a steam bath.
- Liquid oils are added.
- The composition is mixed and heated to 65 ° C.
- Finally, tocopherol and cranberry juice are added.
- The resulting mixture is poured into pre-prepared jars and left in the refrigerator until it cools completely.
The consistency of the balm may vary depending on the season. For example, in the summer you need to make it harder so that it does not blur from the heat. For this purpose, the amount of wax is increased by 10–20%. In winter, the balm should be made softer by adding more liquid oils to its composition.
Peppermint essential oil can be a great help in maintaining beauty, youth and health. But to achieve this result, it must be applied correctly so as not to provoke an allergic reaction.
For more information on how to use peppermint essential oil for face and hair, see below:
