First of all, I’m shocked this actually works. I mean, it’s OIL. Normally, putting oil on your skin is inviting zits (at least, it is with my skin). However, I’ve been very interested in aromatherapy lately (which shouldn’t surprise anyone, with my passion for perfumes and scents of all kinds), and I decided to give this a go. I’m pretty amazed by how well this works, and by how nice my skin feels now!
A word of warning: This will probably bring out a lot of bumps at first. It seems to draw them to the surface, and can cause mild breakouts at the start, but then, with continued use, the bumps clear up and the skin becomes remarkably smooth (at least, that’s how it worked for me).
Another word of warning: Two of the ingredients in this are known for being prone to cause skin irritation. I have quite sensitive skin, but I haven’t had any problems with this blend. However, if you know you’re sensitive to cinnamon or to clove, you should be cautious. You can leave one or the other out, if you must. You can also try diluting it more, by using more carrier oil in proportion to the essential oils.
Final warning: Do not get this stuff in your mouth or too close to your eyes. It won’t probably do you terrible harm, but it’s not meant to be taken internally, and you can make yourself sick if you do. Getting it too close to your eyes may cause your eyes to tear up and show signs of irritation, so just be careful with that, too. Good plan to wash your hands when you’re done using this, just to make sure you don’t accidentally get any of the ointment in your eyes or nose or mouth.
You may want to start with a smaller batch of this, to see how you go with it.
2 drop cinnamon leaf oil (note: don’t use cinnamon bark oil, as it’s a lot stronger)
4 drops clove bud oil
4 drops lavender oil
Approx 4ml of carrier oil which will be absorbed by the skin, such as almond oil, grapeseed oil, or jojoba (don’t choose something that generates a barrier on the skin, such as coconut oil). Personally, I prefer grapeseed oil for this, as it’s fairly light and not too greasy.
Obviously, this recipe is for a very small amount. Adjust upward as you wish. I kept it small so that you can make a small batch and see how it goes, and so that if you want to adjust the proportions a bit, you can. To adjust in a big way, you’ll need to make a bigger batch (say, 20ml of carrier) and tweak the amounts.
Store in a small jar or vial. I use an amber glass 25ml bottle for this purpose. You can get empty vials, bottles, jars, and so on from aromatherapy suppliers.
Apply once a day to affected area(s), taking care to gently massage oil into skin. Also useful to apply a dot of this oil to any area that is threatening to break out, and nip the zit in the bud, so to speak.
Wash hands thoroughly after application, just as a precaution (to avoid getting the stuff in your mouth or nose or eyes).
I don’t have a really bad acne problem, but I do have plenty of spots and bumps and other things (totally unfair that I have wrinkles, grey hair, AND zits!). Using this oil has made my skin remarkably soft and clear after a couple of weeks’ use. So far I’ve had no issues with sensitivity or any other problems, other than the initial big breakout that came when I first started with the oil, but that’s cleared up and my skin is softer and smoother than it’s been in years.
By the way, while some people would call this a “potion”, it’s actually an “unguent” or “ointment”. A potion is something you drink, that is, it’s the same root as the word “potable”. An unguent/ointment is applied topically. I’m just saying.
