Mixing your own essential-oil face pack has a lot of benefits. They are more effective as essential oils are more in touch with the skin. A small preparation with the combinations to use our specific requirements is the added advantages. Not to mention the glow the skin gets after this beautifying aromatic experience.

The best oils to fix to the skin surface for a deep facial treatment are:
Frankincense (for mature/dry skin)
Jasmine (for normal/combination skin)
Geranium (for oily/blemished skin)

1. Facemasks should be used as occasional cleansing or nourishing treatments to improve your complexion. If you overuse them, they make skin drier or oilier by over stimulating it.
2. A deep-cleansing facemask should be used no more than once a week and a moisturizing pack at most twice a week.
3. It is best to use them at night and, since you have to lay back and rest while the mask does its work, include relaxing or energizing aromatic oil in the recipe to work on your mind at the same time.
4. As soon as you have mixed up an essential-oil facemask, apply it to well-cleansed skin by smoothing it evenly on in upward strokes.
5. Avoid the eye area, nostrils and lips, as skin here is very sensitive, but apply it to the neck right down to the collarbone. Then relax for 10-15 minutes until the mask has dried.
6. For a deep-cleansing facial, use your fingertips to rub the dried mask off your skin so you exfoliate it at the same time, and then wash any residue off.
7. For a moisturizing facial, rinse the mask off with warm water until skin is clean. Only mix enough masks for one application, since it won`t keep for more than an hour or two. Any leftovers can be spread on elbows, knees or upper back.
8. To mix an Essential oil mask, place all ingredients in a small bowl and stir well with a teaspoon. You will need a powdery ingredient to give the right paste-like consistency.

a) For Moisturizing the Face Masks
The ingredients are Oatmeal, Ground almonds, Rice flour and an addition of warm honey will add to the effect. In these ingredients, add 6 drops essential oil in 30ml (1fl oz/6 tsp) carrier oil mixed with enough powdery ingredients to make a sticky, thick paste.

b) For Cleansing the Face Masks
The ingredients here are Fuller`s earth, Kaolin, Bran and more finely grained the ingredients are, better the effect. A bit warmed up mask can also do wonders). In these, add 6 drops essential oil in 30ml (1fl oz/6 tsp) hot water mixed with enough powdery ingredients to make a smooth, thick paste.

c) Mask for Trouble Spots
You can also easily make masks using a facial moisturizer mixing with that of powdery ingredient. Remember also that you can apply several different masks in patches: a moisturizing one over dry cheeks, an oil-control mix for nose and chin and a firming mix for the jaw and neck, for instance. After removing the mask, you may like to apply a little massage oil to the skin, or a blend of 15 drops rose oil in 30 ml (1fl oz/6 tsp) jojoba. Here are some recipes for the most common types of mask so you can perfect mixing them before you go on to experiment alone.

d) Moisturizing Mask
2 drops each frankincense, rose, Neroli in 30ml (1 fl oz/6 tsp) apricot oil with 1 tsp warmed, melted Honey, mixed with enough finely ground almond to Make a soft paste. Apply on face till it dries up.

e) Deep Cleansing Mask
2 drops geranium, 3 drops lavender and 1 drop lemon in 30ml (1 fl 02/6 tsp) hot water, mixed with enough kaolin to make a smooth paste.

f) Relaxing Mask
2 drops each violet, lavender and Neroli in 30 ml (1 fl oz/6 tsp) sweet almond oil, with enough oatmeal to make a smooth paste.

g) Energizing Mask
2 drops each Ylang Ylang, Petitgrain and lemon in 30ml (1fl oz/6 tsp) iced water, with enough ground almond to make a smooth paste.

h) Anti-aging Mask
2 drops each Neroli, mandarin and orange in 30ml (1 fl oz/6 tsp) evening primrose oil with 1 tsp of warmed, melted clear honey, mixed with enough ground almond to make a smooth paste.

4. Steam Facials
The one remarkably effective way to use essential oils in your beauty routine is to simply add them to a steam facial. The steam opens pores and warms skin, so essential oils are absorbed more rapidly. It also makes the oils themselves more volatile, so they evaporate faster and is even more aromatic than usual. The steam facial is also deeply relaxing, quick and non-messy. However, since it is so effective, some essential oils are too potent to be directly inhaled in such a small space and absorbed with steam in this way, especially as they enter the nasal passages and can irritate eyes. Steam facials are not recommended for anyone with a history of asthma or respiratory complaints.

Steam facials should be used to deep-cleanse or deep-moisturize skin once a week at most, in place of a face mask. They are particularly effective when skin is dull, dehydrated, spotty or greasy, as they act as an instant Beautifier. However, do not use them just before you plan to go out as the heat and steam can leave a high colour on the cheeks and make skin look shiny for a couple of hours afterwards. Since they are so relaxing it is best to use them before going to bed. Also, any moisturizer you apply afterwards will get to work on warmed, softened skin and immediately become an extra beneficial night cream. Given here are the oils, which are not recommended for Steam Facials: Basil, Laurel, Bay, Pine, Birch, Clary sage, Camphor, Tarragon, Citronella, Tea-tree, Fennel, Thyme, Ginger, Valerian and Juniper.

Using the Masks

•Wearing an off-the-shoulder top, cleanse the skin thoroughly.

•Then boil some water. Pour the required amount into a large, heat-retaining bowl and place it on a table.

•Make sure it is the right height so you can sit comfortably and bend forwards over the bowl.

•Have a large towel ready to drape over your head and trap the steam.

•Then add your chosen essential oils drop by drop onto the surface of the water.

•Stay under the towel with your eyes closed until the steam cools then add more boiling water to the bowl to evaporate off any remaining essential oils.

•Afterwards, gently pat your face dry and immediately apply a moisturizer to trap the extra steamy water in your skin.

•For steam facials, you should add 5 drops essential oil to 1 litre (2 pints) boiling water.

Steam Facial Trouble Spots
It is best to use a maximum of two different essential oils in a steam facial because they become so aromatic with the heat that any more are invariably overpowering. However, the right combination will treat almost any problem of both the skin and psyche. Here is a selection of recipes for you to try before you start creating your own concoctions:

a) Deep Cleansing Facials:
For Dry skin: 2 drops lavender and 3 drops of violet.
For Normal / Combination skin: 2 drops mimosa and 3 drops geranium.
For Oily Blemished skin: 3 drops juniper and 2 drops bergamot.
For Mature Skin: 3 drops frankincense and 2 drops galbanum.

b) Deep Moisturizing Facials:
For Dry skin: 2 drops chamomile and 3 drops of jasmine.
For Normal / Combination skin: 2 drops rose and 3 drops sandalwood.
For Oily / Blemished skin: 2 drops Chamomile and 3 drops Geranium.
For Mature skin: 2 drops of Neroli and 3 drops rose.

c) Relaxing Facial:
2 drops of Ylang Ylang and 3 drops jasmine.

d) Invigorating Facial:
2 drops of peppermint and 3 drops lavender.