If you are familiar with sunflowers, then you are most likely familiar with their vibrant cousin helichrysums. Sure, you may not have always remembered the name of this flower, but it's more than likely you've stumbled upon them on any trip to the flower shop. Here's the thing, helichrysums aren't just a cheaper version of sunflowers: They were so well-known for the their healing properties that they were once offered to Greek Gods. Just think about that the next time you narrow your eyes when a bouquet of helichrysums is offered to you, and then, think about all the amazing things you can do with helichrysum essential oil because this hyper-allergenic, restorative essential oil is going to be a perfect addition to your springtime beauty routine.
Here's a little bit more background about my new addition to DIY beauty — in aromatherapy, helichrysum is considered a stimulant with anti-depressant properties. It's often used for opening the heart and healing old emotional wounds. Hmm, sounds like something my face could definitely use a dose of, considering the old emotional wounds of last month's period are still healing themselves. Fortunately, helichrysum is excellent for skincare by doing just that — the oil of this flower is known for healing scars and stimulating new skin cell growth.
According to sources at Young Living, helichrysum oil can fight off damaging free radicals and accelerate the healing process for many skin conditions. The oil is a moisturizing emollient, which means it won't dry your face out but it will help you lock in moisture that can easily be drained by natural toxins in the air. According to sources at Organic Facts, helichrysum essential oil is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, antiseptic, and has strong anti-inflammatory properties that makes it an ideal essential oil for acne-prone skin.
The scent is similar to many flowery oils, though not quite as floral as geranium or bergamot, with a dash of sweetness as an after note. Check out these recipes below for some ultra healing and soothing skincare treatments:
Helichrysum Sugar Scrub Stretch Mark Treatment
No doubt — the only thing more annoying than stretch marks is trying to get rid of them. Natural remedies can help stretch marks when you are diligent AND have the right recipe for success. A natural exfoliate can scrub off dead skin cells while your essential oils can work their healing magic. This recipe calls for 2 ounces of organic, unbleached sugar or brown sugar (raw sugar may be too coarse for scar tissue unless you have access to a blender), 10 drops of helichrysum essential oil, 8 drops of patchouli essential oil, 1 tablespoon of rosehip essential oil, and a half-teaspoon of lemon juice. Mix your ingredients vigorously and apply twice daily on your old scars.If your new scrub is too dry, add more rosehips!
Gentle Helichrysum Astringent
One thing I can certainly predict as the weather gets warmer is that my face will once again require an astringent in my daily routine. The problem with many astringents that I've used is that they dry out my skin and leave my face producing defensive oils that inevitably leave me with pimples. This summer, I'm about gentle astringents that can actually control my oil production, not strip it. My astringent is 1 cup of freshly brewed chamomile tea, 8 drops of helichrysum essential oil, and 1 teaspoon of bourbon. You can substitute bourbon for witch hazel, but definitely avoid rubbing alcohol. Store your toner in a sealable jar and be sure to do a sniff test if it lasts over 2 weeks. Brewed tea is highly perishable.
Image: Kim Love; Flickr/ epicnom ; Giphy; Kristin Collins Jackson
