I recently got this email from a reader, and because I still am not able to get comments on the most popular post I have ever written, I am continuing to respond to them via blog post so I can get them answered, and so other people can see my answers:
I just discovered your site recently and finally finished reading through all the comments! Your explanations are very clear. I think it’s the most informative site on essential oils that I’ve come across. The only oil I’ve ever used is tea tree but I’d really like to try more. I have an oily T-Zone and reeeeeeeeeeally tiny bumps all over my face and jaw. I’m thinking of making my own blend of grapeseed, tea tree, either cedarwood or clary sage. Can you recommend me something for the bumps?
Thanks!
Okay, this is my first thought, and I’m being honest: I don’t know if essential oils can address the tiny bumps. My first reaction is, “Are those tiny bumps an allergic reaction to something? How long have you had them?” The reason I ask is, I once woke up with tiny bumps all over my face that lasted for a week (this was in college, and it freaked me out). My doctor asked me if I had changed the laundry detergent, and it turned out that I had. Once I switched back to the one I was using, the tiny bumps went away completely. So I would ask if you’ve changed something recently, or if you’ve always had the tiny bumps, or do you get them at certain times only, i.e., around your period or during times of extreme stress? Can you see the tiny bumps, or can you just feel them? Have you ever gone to a dermatologist and gotten a diagnosis as to what they are? If you tell an aromatherapist an actual diagnosis that you received from a doctor, chances are, they can recommend essential oils to help support that diagnosis.
You do say that you have an oily T-zone, and essential oils CAN help with that. You’ve already chosen a good one for yourself, which is Tea Tree. Grapeseed is also a good choice of carrier oil for oily skin, because it’s not too heavy. I also like your choice of Cedarwood, which is good for acneic skin, as well as Clary Sage, which is good for hormonal balancing. Other ones to consider are Spike Lavender (for acne), Immortelle (for any scarring), Petitgrain (for oily/acneic skin), Rosemary (for oily/acneic skin), Juniper Berry (for oily/acneic skin), or basically any essential oil which lists “astringent” as one of its properties.
I would strongly recommend that you test the oils via skin patch test, then only use the ones to which you do NOT have a reaction. Once you have 4 oils that meet this criteria, blend 4 oils together, using 6 drops of each. Then add 1 ounce of carrier oil to your essential oil mixture, and put maybe a teaspoon in your palm and massage into your face at night and in the morning (after cleansing).
Hope this helps, and let me know how it goes!
