Orientation:

The sequence of lessons in the Advanced Practical Potions Program is similar to those in the Introductory Program so that you will know the ship’s protocol from your first adventure.

Listen to your animated guide, which will give you an overview of the lesson.

Today, could you make your way to Aphrodite’s Beauty Salon? From the main stairwell, ascend to Deck 3. Proceed aft, passing the Healing Bay on your right. Aphrodite’s Beauty Salon is the third door on the left before reaching the Galley.

Bring your laptop, notebook and a beverage. When you arrive at the Salon, get comfy. You can then read all the write-ups, watch the videos, download your journal and do the exercises at the end of each lesson. Sometimes, short videos are placed inside the lesson. Be sure to look carefully, as they can be in unexpected places.

We have some familiar animated helpers on this crew and many new ones. Also, remember to check in with your Practical Potions Facebook forum group to stay connected to other journeyers.

Overview of Body Beautiful

Hi, apprentices and pleasure cruise students. Body Beautiful, unit two is full of exciting recipes and ideas for skincare. This first lesson gives an introduction to natural skincare.

Video-Love the Skin You’re In

 

What Influences Our Skin Health?

Most consumers have been asked, “What is your skin type?” when they buy cosmetics. If they don’t know their skin type, most cosmeticians will help them decide.

Skin type has a genetic component but is also influenced by age, gender, environment, and habits. For instance, on the genetic side, thinner, whiter skin is more prone to wrinkling, sagging and maturing quickly. Adolescents are most prone to acne and oily skin. Men generally have thicker, oilier skin, and Women wrinkle more quickly than men. As far as behaviour goes, smokers’ skin appears to age faster than their non-smoking counterparts. People who have not protected their skin from sunlight often have skin that looks more aged.

Overall health may influence skin conditions, and so will medications. Diet affects health, and our skin reflects overall vitality. Products we use on our face and body also influence our skin. The location we reside in will impact our epidermis. A cold, dry climate will increase the possibility of dry and flaky skin.

Another factor that changes our skin type is age. It is not unusual for an adolescent to have oily skin with acne, but by the time an individual reaches middle age, their skin may become dry and mature. Emotions will also influence skin in a very noticeable way. Stress creates skin problems, such as breakouts or dryness. On the other hand, challenging skin issues can cause stress to worsen, so it is a cycle.

Video-Why Use Essential Oils on Skin?

 

Some Skin Types and Conditions:

Before you create products for your skin, it is important to know your skin type and use the essential and carrier oils most suitable for your needs. Skin type is a fluid descriptor. Our skin may change quite radically throughout our lives. So, you may pick more than one category, but choose what description fits best now.

a) Sensitive – reacts to substances and emotions. It can be dry and tight and becomes inflamed and irritates easily. Some people are born with sensitive skin. Others emerge from the womb with more hardy sheathing, but their skin becomes sensitive. This may have come from exposure to harsh soaps, drugs, change of life, or cosmetics. For those with sensitive skin, always patch test before using anything. Adolescents with reactive skin may exhibit more significant amounts of oil and acne than adults with this skin type. Essential oils may be helpful- use in very low percentages, such as Roman and German Chamomile, frankincense, rose geranium, and helichrysum. Hydrosols, especially Roman Chamomile, Rose and Neroli, are gentle on sensitive skin. Use a tiny amount of essential oil; .02 % is a good starting point. Many carrier oils are helpful. Always patch test with sensitive skin. Emulsifiers and preservatives may also create reactions, so monitor thoroughly. When making a product, fewer gentle ingredients are preferable to complex formulas.

b) Oily—Oily skin can feel greasy after a few hours. There is increased oil on the skin surface due to very active sebaceous glands. Oily-skinned adults tend to have larger pores. Blackheads are another gift oily skin grants. The skin can feel greasy and shiny and be more prone to acne. But those of you with oily skin do get your revenge. Your skin will likely look much better than your peers as you age.

Oily skin may benefit from steaming, and clay-based masks. When you need a moisturizer use something light.  Carrier Oils you might like include Seabuckthorn Seed, Grapeseed, Neem, or Camellia. You might also try astringents like Witch hazel. Essential oils which might be valued, Lemon,  Lavender, Tea tree, Cypress ,  Rosemary and Rosemary Verbenone, Sage, and Manuka.

c) Acne – Ugh, most of us know the lovely skin bloom, often called a pimple. It may be small or hard or large and pustular-like. Like oily skin, this condition is most prevalent in youth. There can be a bacterial component. There is an emotional aspect as well- pimples are known to appear before very important occasions and hot dates.

Sulphur-based ointment and tea tree oil can sometimes be put directly onto the spot. Use a mild astringent on the breakout. Sometimes, the inability to metabolize vitamin A, constipation and food sensitivities can aggravate the situation. Some people will break out from certain foods, such as too much cheese or dairy. Keep a food diary to determine trends. Hormone imbalance, especially in adolescence but sometimes in menopause, can trigger this situation. Witchhazel hydrosol is effective on the spots themselves. Please follow the protocol for acne, but you can use the product only on the spots themselves, or the surrounding skin will get very dried out.

d) Dry– This may be an age-related condition (as dryness is more prevalent with mature skin), but it is not always. Dry skin will often feel flaky, dry and tight. Skin can be fine-textured and delicate. There is a lack of moisture in its corneous layer. Skin can appear dull. It can develop wrinkles and be prone to earlier aging and irritation. Winter can aggravate dry skin. Gentle exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells and promote a healthy complexion. Be careful with acid peels. Focus on hydrating and nourishing ingredients, topically and for food. Many carrier oils will nourish dry skin. So experiment and find which ones you like.  You might try coconut or MCT oil,  sweet almond oil, plum kernel, raspberry seed, rosehip seed, seabuckthorn seed and fruit. Essential Oils you might find helpful are yarrow, Roman Chamomile, neroli, rose Otto, Frankincense and Helichrysum.

e) Mature or Aging Skin – I am currently in this category and not only has my sebum production slowed, but like most people in my age group I have increased dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles. Skin can age more noticeably after menopause. It shows up most dramatically in fair skinned Caucasians.  People who have smoked, spent much time in the sun and have spent many moons on the planet  will often have character lines, sagging etc. Many products and therapies can help smooth lines. Many people swear taking collagen internally and using a soft smooth pillow cover is helpful. We can create products using hydrating and reparative ingredients like honey, seaweed, vitamin C, pumpkin, peptides, silk, antioxidants.  Carrier oils are very useful and there are many to choose from. Bakuchiol  is a natural retinol, carrot, rosehip, seabuckthorn Essential oils are also helpful some you might like include,  elemi, myrrh, rose, neroli, helichrysum, frankincense, patchouli, geranium, galbanum  yarrow, and ylang ylang.

f) Rosacea can be mild or severe. Many people have a bit of it. It can appear as a redness, or blushing or flushing. The red areas are commonly on the cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. Rosacea may also include other problems, as true rosacea is a medical diagnosis. It often worsens with age. Some symptoms might be bloodshot eyes that feel gritty, tiny pus-filled pimples, and enlarged blood vessels. The skin tissue of the nose may become thick, swollen and bumpy. It affects fair-skinned people most often. What you eat and drink can affect rosacea symptoms. People notice flare-ups after hot drinks, caffeine, spices, alcohol, sun exposure, temperature extremes, intense exercise, stress, medications and certain cosmetics. Use only gentle products. Do not steam. Anti inflammatory essential oils, such as Roman Chamomile, lavender, yarrow, helichrysum, rose and blue chamomile,  might be helpful in small quantities. Hydrosols may also be helpful.

Eczema is another condition that can be pretty challenging. It manifests in various forms and affects different body parts. In severe cases, it might manifest as itching, skin inflammation, redness, dryness, blistering, and open, cracked wounds. A full cure might be elusive.

Remember, keeping the skin well-moisturized is critical in managing eczema, and stress reduction techniques can be beneficial since stress is a known trigger for some people. As always, encourage clients to skin test when trying new remedies to ensure they suit their specific skin needs. Almond oil might be helpful.

Hyperpigmentation can show up as darker spots or patches on the skin brown, black, grey, red, or pink. You might be familiar with them as age spots, sun spots, or liver spots. This occurs when melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin (the pigment that gives skin its color), produce too much melanin. While some level of hyperpigmentation is simply a part of aging, it can sometimes signal other health conditions, like hormonal changes from pregnancy, Addison’s disease, reactions to skincare products, or liver concerns. It’s important to address the root causes, but there are also natural remedies in our aromatherapy and skincare toolkit to help manage the appearance of these spots.

Rosehip seed oil, rich in vitamins A and C, is known for its ability to help reduce pigmentation, while jojoba oil offers nourishing hydration and promotes healthy skin regeneration. Essential oils like lavender and frankincense have been proven to support skin healing and even out skin tone. Lavender, in particular, has calming properties that help balance pigmentation, while frankincense helps with skin cell regeneration and can reduce the appearance of dark spots over time.

For topical treatment, enzymatic peels such as AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acids) might be useful.

f) Normal – very resilient, healthy skin.

Video – A light-hearted- summary of the skin types

Determining your skin type is a crucial step to complete before creating skincare products. If your skin is sensitive, you must do thorough testing to determine what it responds well to. If you have rosacea, you must avoid anything strong or stimulating. Finding a substance to dilute the essential oils is tricky if you have acne, as many carrier oils will clog pores. Yet, the vast array of essential oils, hydrosols, and natural compounds gives us the power and flexibility to create individually tailored products to match skin types and preferences.

Essential Oils for Skin Types and Conditions:
In addition to our discussion above a summary of skin types and essential oils, follows.

Acne: cajeput, cedar Atlas, juniper, lavender spike, manuka, niaouli, rose geranium, tea tree, thyme linalool.

Combination: bergamot, frankincense, Roman chamomile, rose geranium, ho leaf, lavender, monarda, palmarosa, rose otto, ylang.

Dry: carrot seed, chamomile blue, chamomile roman, cistus, elemi, frankincense, rose geranium, ho leaf, lavender, mandarin, myrrh, neroli, orange, palmarosa, patchouli, rose otto, sandalwood, yarrow.

Inflamed: carrot seed, cistus, helichrysum, Roman and German chamomile.

Large Pores: cedarwood, lemongrass, myrtle and rose otto.

Mature: (aged, wrinkled): anise, carrot seed, cham. Roman, cistus, clary, elemi, frankincense, galbanum (tiny quantities), rose geranium, lavender, mandarin, myrrh, neroli, orange, palmarosa, patchouli, rose otto, rosemary verbenone, vetiver, yarrow.

Oily: bergamot, cedars (atlas, red & Texas), cypress, juniper, lavender spike, lemon, lemongrass, manuka, myrtle, niaouli, petitgrain,  rosemary, tea tree, thyme linalool.

Puffy: clary sage, fennel, chamomile roman, helichrysum and marjoram.

Rosacea: chamomile- Roman and blue, lavender, lemon, rosemary verbenone, rose otto.

Sensitive: chamomile blue and German, helichrysum, neroli, rose otto, palmarosa, yarrow.

Video- Is Tea Tree Effective For Acne

Extra Tips for Skin Types and Conditions:

Acne – Tea Tree Works Wonders

Acne: Int. J. of Aroma Vol. 3 # 1, p. 14
The facts are re-stated from the cartoon above.

In a single-blind, randomized clinical trial on 124 clients, 5% tea tree gel was tested in treating mild-moderate acne compared with a 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion. Both products had a significant effect on inflamed and non-inflamed lesions. Tea Tree oil’s action was slower and had fewer side effects. Tea tree oil was better tolerated, with less scaling, drying, and itching.

Philosophy of Loving The Skin You’re In:

It is so easy to find flaws in ourselves. Our skin, hair, and body weight can be the primary targets of criticism. Women, especially, learn to compare themselves to seemingly flawless models. This self-criticism can stop us from feeling self-love and enjoying our lives to the fullest. This self-criticism may occur when we are young and again rear its head strongly as we age.

I wrote an excerpt from one of my books, Healing The Goddess Wound, a few years ago. This portion is about Hekate, a powerful goddess and an older woman. It is important to have the wisdom to know what we can change about skin and appearance and what we can’t.

Hekate

In society, the Hekate wound is cultural and carried mainly by elders. Those who do not meet the standards for cultural beauty are made to feel as if they do not belong. The role of older women is often that of an outsider, as crones are still not particularly esteemed.

 

 

Hekate- The Greek Goddess of Aging and the Crossroads-Video
Adapted from Healing the Goddess Wound by Laurie.

 

Your words and thoughts are magical. You have the power in the way you speak and think to show your respect toward the croning and aging process. Change your perceptions and descriptions of aging from unattractive to worthwhile. Rewording how we talk about aging and embracing our accumulating years can re-direct us from self-loathing to self-love. Careful self-monitoring can filter out the hostile societal critics inside us. In the outer world, promote this change by cheer-leading the journey toward the next great adventure, wrinkles and all. Your thoughts, words, and behaviours are your magical wand, which creates your future.

This is relevant for aging and when we are at odds with the “skin we are in” and how we look. Learning to embrace ourselves and others at all ages takes much misery and alienation out of the human journey. Being loving to our skin and the person within is a big part of the magic of Practical Potions.

Pleasure Cruise and Apprentices: a review of how to save your aromatic journal.

Accessing and Using Your Practical Potions Journal-Interactive Downloads:

The download button at the bottom of this page will allow you to open the exercises in PDF form for your Practical Potions Journal.

To turn these files into journal pages you can write on, click on File” (top left on the menu bar) and then on “Save As.” This will create a dialogue box that allows you to change the file name if you want to. In most cases, this will not be necessary; you only need to click “Save.” Another dialogue box may appear, warning you that this file already exists and will be overwritten. The journal pages you “Save As” will appear in your document files under the name you saved it in. You can then create a folder (if you like) where you put all of the journal files.

You may also download and print off the Practical Potion Journals PDFs and then create a physical journal.

Download the files below for ideas and exercises for skincare and valuable references.

Downloads

Schnaubelt & McQuade
Unit 2A-Course-References
Get Ready for the Journey-2A
Body Beautiful-2A