Lavender has a host of benefits when used in skin care products, but has great value in helping the skin heal itself, stimulating cell growth, reducing inflammation, preventing scarring and balancing the production of oil while at the same time cutting down on localized pain - all perfect when fighting acne and problem skin.
Benefits of lavender when used in skin care products
It has antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-toxic, anti-inflammatory, cytophylactic, decongestant, rubefacient, restorative, vulnerary and tonic therapeutic effects on the skin.
Because of the high percentage of linalool that it contains, it is excellent for promoting healing. The vulnerary properties help to prevent tissue degeneration and also arrest bleeding in wounds. It balances the skin, making it ideal for any skin type.
Its cytophylactic properties (encouraging the growth of new skin cells) stimulates the growth of new skin cells, which is a boon for any anti-aging skin care product, as well as people struggling with problem and acne skin, as well as for minor wounds and sores.
The cicatrisant properties in turn help the formation of healing scar tissue and normal healing, while preventing scar keloids (scarring) on the healed skin, making it perfect for any wounds as well as acne and problem skin. The analgesic properties help reduce local pain on inflamed skin.
Its balancing action on the skin makes it perfect to be used in cases of abscesses, acne, carbuncles, eczema, minor infections, oily skin, boils, burns, sunburn, wounds and psoriasis, while it rubefacient properties increase blood circulation and relieve congested skin.
The fact that it contains excellent antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, bactericide and anti-inflammatory properties, makes it ideal to be included in any product that is to be used for skin problems, and for acne skin in particular.
It also tones the skin and coupled with all its other excellent properties, make this one of the most useful essential oils for all skin types and a great help in sorting out a variety of skin problems.
General information on lavender oil
True lavender oil is extracted from Lavandula angustifolia (a.k.a. L. officinalis, L. spica and L. vera) of the Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family and is also known as garden, common or English lavender.
It has a light fresh aroma, is clear in color and watery in viscosity. The name lavender is derived from the Latin word 'lavera' to wash. The Romans used lavender frequently in their bath routine, and it is held that the Romans introduced it to England, where it soon became a firm favorite.
The main chemical components of lavender oil are a-pinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, cis-ocimene, trans-ocimene, 3-octanone, borneol, geraniol, linalool, lavendulyl acetate, linalyl acetate, caryophyllene, terpinen-4 and cineol. If the plant material from which the oil is extracted is grown at a high altitude, it normally yields more esters.
