Olive S Serum - improves moisture balance and skin elasticity

Ingredients

Olive Squalane

Olive S Serum contains the beautiful anti-ageing Olive Squalane or Phytosqualan®, a vegetable squalane of high purity¹.

The molecular structure of this oil makes it compatible with our skin as Phytosqualan® is one of the components found in human sebum. Sebum, produced by sebaceous glands, forms an oily layer on the skin surface, keeping it soft and helping it to be waterproof. The compatibility of Olive Squalane with sebum prevents moisture loss and restores suppleness and flexibility to the skin.

Research shows that, after applying a moisturizer containing Olive Squalane twice daily, a significant improvement is visible after week 8 and Kato et.al. suggest that Olive Squalane can be used as an active ingredient for wrinkle-care moisturizers².

Olive Squalane also stimulates a better blood flow and nourishment of the skin, as well as an improved moisture balance and elasticity of the skin. The result is a visible improvement in the skin’s quality and structure³.

Squalane is a stable product that does not turn rancid. It is also an anti-oxidant, immune-stimulator and has anti-inflammatory properties, which are all beneficial for the skin. Another benefit is that it is odourless.

As stated by Gregory Kelly⁴, “squalene is not very susceptible to peroxidation and appears to function in the skin as a quencher of singlet oxygen, protecting human skin surface from lipid peroxidation due to exposure to ultraviolet light and other sources of oxidative damage.”

Lavender

Skin regenerating essential oil, which benefits the skin where there is inflammation, redness and ageing.

Vitamin E

A natural moisturizer, Vitamin E penetrates the epidermis where it binds water in the skin thus hydrating the cells in the skin.

Conclusion

Olive S Serum is a blend that is easily absorbed by the skin; in a matter of seconds it leaves a beautiful soft and non-greasy finish on the skin. One drop goes a long way and two drops generally suffice to massage into the face. The throat and décolleté also benefit from daily applications of this blend.

References

1.     Sophim. Retrieved from http://www.sophim.com/html/fphytosqualan.html

2.     Kato, S., Taira, H., Aoshima, H., Saitoh, Y. & Miwa, N. (2010). Clinical evaluation of fullerene-C60 dissolved in squalane for anti-wrinkle cosmetics. J. Nanosci Nanotechnol., 10(10), 6769-74.

3.     Tjan, L. What is Squalene? The miraculous essential Omega 2 oil. Secrets from the sea. Retrieved from http://www.scienceforlife.eu/tekst%20what%20is%20squalenel.htm

4.     Kelly, G. (1999). Squalene and its potential clinical uses. Alternative Medicine Review, 4(1), 29-36.

 

Essential oils and fragrance in general

Essential oils are much more than about smells.

Smells however are so powerful they can draw us to someone or bring us back to a place or situation as we remember connections.

Most of us have some memory of fresh coffee brewing, lavender in linen drawers or the wafts of fresh bread in the oven; some of these ‘tricks’ are used by many a house seller to make their home more attractive to a prospective buyer.

My husband and I just returned to Melbourne having driven a little under 4000km from Cairns during Australia’s spring. What an amazing experience. Not only was the heat very different in different parts of the country so were trees and plants as they are of course also influenced by heat and humidity in the air. This makes for interesting landscapes and smells, with the windows down we picked up wafts of various fragrances and in a two-week period the transition is rapid enough for our sense of smell not to adjust too quickly.

As our journey started, the tropics were entering the wet season bringing the smells of gum trees and cane sugar being harvested and processed. In some areas, cane fields were burning. Banana plantations, even with bananas covered with plastic, had their own fragrance in the air. Blossom, saps, native grasses, freshly cut grass along the road, ocean air and the dry heat on a dusty road all made this journey a pleasure. I can’t forget to mention the smell of tar during the many road upgrades we encountered!

Smells and fragrances reach the limbic system in the brain, which is believed to be connected with emotional behaviour. Essential oils are distilled from plant material and have powers beyond bringing back many memories of times spent in different climates and seasons.

Not only do essential oils smell nice, they also possess healing properties as they have the power to change how we feel: more relaxed, happier, lift our energy, ready to concentrate at work or study or clear a headache.

Check out the Aroma Blends’ roll-on range for some options.

Lavender

History

Documents show Lavender has been used for over 2,500 years. The Egyptians and the Phoenicians used it during the mummification process and as a perfume, the Romans during bathing, cooking and to scent the air. From Greece the plant arrived in France around 600 BC and spread further through Europe. Today, it is grown in France, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and Britain where it was introduced in the 1600’s. During the 16^th Century, French glove-makers perfumed their wares with lavender and never caught cholera. In the 17^th century, during the Great Plague in London people felt protected from the disease by wearing bunches of lavender around their wrists. The various Kings of France and their courtiers used lavender extensively¹.

Recent history

In 1910, Rene-Maurice Gattefossé, a French chemist, discovered the healing powers of lavender. Whilst working in his laboratory he suffered severe burns on his hand during an explosion and immersed his hand in the nearest vat of liquid, which happened to contain lavender oil. He was amazed at how quickly the skin healed leaving no scarring³. This lead to him experimenting with essential oils on wounded soldiers during World War I. He noted an increase in wound healing that had been treated with essential oils. He later actively supported lavender growers in France.

Origins of lavender

There are more than 30 different varieties of lavender available commercially, mostly grown in the Mediterranean, and this causes confusion. Cross-pollination happens very easily with other varieties creating hybrids that do not produce the same quality oil as the true lavender oil Lavandula angustifolia².

Benefits

Lavender is one of the most versatile essential oils and has a complex structure. One of the main components, linalool, has sedative properties⁴ that accounts for it to be useful with insomnia. Lavender also has skin regenerating² properties that help wound and scar healing. Diluted and in small quantities, it is safe for babies. It is one of the few oils that can be applied neat on the skin in small quantities. Test before use by applying a very small quantity on the inside of the elbow and watch out for any skin reaction such as redness. In the event of a reaction, remove the lavender with a vegetable oil; olive oil is fine. Water will not help, as essential oils are not water-soluble.

Some of the benefits are⁵

·       Used in skin and wound care

·       Calming, soothing and balancing

·       Relaxing and refreshing

·       Uplifts the spirits

·       Induces a peaceful sleep, relieves insomnia

·       Treats burns and scars (seek medical attention for anything more than a small burn)

·       Has a calming effect on the heart and palpitations

·       Calming or stimulating according the body’s needs

·       Reduces muscle pain and reduces spasms

·       Keeps moths at bay

References

1.     Lavender Farm. The history of lavender. Retrieved from:         http://www.lavenderfarm.com/history.htm

2.     Arthur, D. (1997). Aromatherapy. Course notes.

3.     Oils and plants. Rene-Maurice Gattefossé. Retrieved from:     http://www.oilsandplants.com/gattefosse.htm

4.     Bowles, E.J. (2003). The chemistry of aromatherapeutic oils. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.

5.     Oils and Plants. Lavender. Retrieved from http://www.oilsandplants.com/lavender.htm

What are unadulterated essential oils?

Unadulterated essential oils are those that have been extracted from particular plant material leaving the chemistry of the oil intact and in its original state, exactly as nature intended them to be. Unadulterated oils are highly beneficial for our mental and physical well-being. They help from relieving discomfort, fatigue, depression to chronic conditions found in various parts of the body.

What are and where do essential oils come from?

Essential oils are the odorous and highly concentrated natural oils extracted from particular parts of a plant such as petals, leaves, flowers, bark, etc.  and possess the aroma and healing qualities of the plants they come from. As they are the concentrated oils, a little goes a long way.

Complexity of essential oils

Essential oils are complex as they consist of different compounds each with different chemical and physical properties. The synergy of the compounds gives the complete and unadulterated oil its distinctive qualities and aroma that sedate or awaken the mind and body. Mixing two or more essential oils enhances their effectiveness as the blending of the compounds changes the chemistry.

Synthesising essential oil components

After discovering the benefits of certain compounds in essential oils, the pharmaceutical and beauty industries have successfully isolated and inexpensively synthesised them. These can then be added to modern medicines and beauty products. As isolated components, they lose the full capacity they have when still in the unadulterated oil.

Adulterated essential oils

With this knowledge, essential oils can easily be adulterated. Fully synthetic oils are available in the market whilst other oils have for example the synthesised smell component added to a cheaper oil that can then be sold at a higher price. Adulterated essential oils do not have the same healing properties as truly pure oils extracted from the plant material.

Purchasing essential oils

Therefore in the practice of aromatherapy, care must be taken when purchasing and using essential oils as it is difficult to distinguish between a genuine and a synthetic oil. The genuine essential oils are never cheap as growing the plants in the right conditions and the method of extraction, quality control, etc. are all labour intensive. Damask Rose is very expensive as it is highly labour intensive, as many rose petals are needed to obtain a small quantity of oil.

Conclusion

When buying essential oils, buy from a trusted source and remember to dilute them in a vegetable oil before applying to the skin. As the oils are highly concentrated, only a few drops are needed at a time. Enjoy the journey.

Reference

Arthur, D. (1997). Aromatherapy. Course Notes