Hélène Berton - The Essential Guide to Natural Skin Care: Choosing Botanicals, Oils & Extracts for Simple & Healthy Beauty

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Hlne Berton (Quebec, Canada) has been working with essential oils since 2000. Her training includes an apprenticeship at an artisanal distillery in Provence. She regularly gives workshops on natural cosmetics and related topics.

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

The Essential Guide to Natural Skin Care: Choosing Botanicals, Oils & Extracts for Simple & Healthy Beauty 2012 by Hlne Berton.

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Any unauthorized usage of the text without express written permission of the publisher is a violation of the authors copyright and is illegal and punishable by law.

First e-book edition 2012

E-book ISBN: 9780738730561

First published in French in 2006 as Les huiles essentielles pour la peau: Une saine alternative cosmtique: huiles vgtales, beurres vgtaux, extraits oliques, huiles essentielles, hydrolats aromatiques , by the publishing house Aroleome diteur and again in 2008 as Les huiles essentielles pour la peau: Une saine alternative cosmtique: huiles vgtales, beurres vgtaux, extraits oliques, huiles essentielles, hydrolats aromatiques by the publishing house ditions Favre.

Cover art: Background iStockphoto.com/studiovision, Leaves iStockphoto.com/Nishan Sothilingam

Cover design by Kevin R. Brown

Translated from French by Patricia Watt

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

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Llewellyn Publications

Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

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Manufactured in the United States of America

CONTENTS

Part One: Skin And Hair Care Products

: The Skin and Hair Care Industry

The INCI Declaration Common Ingredients Natural Skin and Hair Care Products Certified Organic Skin and Hair Care Products Beyond Skin and Hair Care Products

: A Healthy Alternative for Skin and Hair Care Products

Introduction Skin Care Oils Toners Ointments Hair Care Preparations Lip Balms Creams Lotions (or Milks) Other Uses A Few Additional Recipes Measurements Equipment Required Practical Advice

Part Two: The Ingredients

: Vegetable Oils (VOs)

Classic Vegetable Oils Exotic Vegetable Oils

: Vegetable Butters (VBs)

: Infused Oils (IOs)

: Essential Oils (EOs)

: Aromatic Hydrosols (AHs)

: Some Emulsifiers

: Conclusion

Part Three: The Appendices

Properties Index

Usage Index

English Lexicon

Latin Lexicon

French Lexicon

The reader must keep in mind that the presence of any symptom,
minor or severe, requires medical advice.

Preface

I have enjoyed the world of plants since I was a child. I will never forget the wonderful garden at my paternal grandparents house in France. I played there when I was very young. What attracted me most were the flowerstheir perfumes and colors, as well as the many types of fruit that grew in the garden, which I sampled to my hearts content. I loved to pluck leaves from the huge laurel tree that grew beside the house; then I would crease the leaves and breathe in deeply to smell their powerful aroma. I must confess, however, that the multitude of vegetables that my grandfather grew left me rather indifferent. Later, my mother stimulated my interest in nature, especially my interest in the plant world.

It was during my adolescence that the properties and virtues of medicinal plants began to attract my attention, and it was then that I started to experiment. Before it became the fashion, I would prepare salads that included daisies and nasturtium for our family suppers. I concocted all sorts of herbal teas. And I would rinse my hair with an infusion made from fresh nettle leaves.

Though life has led me to study and work in other domains, I have always kept my great interest in plants. I am still fascinated by their powers and the benefits we can obtain from them.

In the year 2000, a friend introduced me to essential oils. It was like falling in love. Since then, these precious substances have been my daily companionsserving as therapeutic ingredients and as ingredients for skin and hair care products.

A little later, after reading several books and performing many experiments, I wanted to learn about aromatherapy in order to better understand essential oils and to master their use. During this training, I discovered vegetable oils, vegetable butters, infused oils, and aromatic hydrosols (water-based solutions created when essential oils are distilled), and came to understand how they complement each other. After creating my first successful skin care recipe, I started using my own preparations and stopped using commercial products. Then I took workshops to learn how to produce a variety of natural skin and hair care products.

My apprenticeship continued, enriched by more readings, experiments, conferences, and seminarsincluding those given by world-renowned specialist and researcher Pierre Franchomme. I also did a sort of apprenticeship at an artisanal distillery in Provence in order to learn firsthand how to gather and distill aromatic plants. In addition, I discussed the subject with several friends, who are as passionate about it as I am. Each time I prepare a new edition of this book (first in Quebec in French, and then in Switzerland, and now in English for North America), I integrate new information and details I have learned since the previous edition.

At first, it was by instinct that I chose to use the natural substances that are presented in this book. I enjoy their fine, satiny texture on my fingers, and the variety of their aromaslight or powerful, flowery, fruity, or greendepending on which plant they come from. In addition to their beneficial effects, I love the sensation of softness and freshness that they leave on my skin. Furthermore, I find them very easy to use.

Rita Stienss book La vrit sur les cosmtiques (The Truth about Cosmetics) led me to understand that these natural substances are an excellent alternative to commercial products. Ms. Stiens has thrown light on the dubious practices of many professionals in the skin and hair care industry. In fact, certain companies have no scruples about offering products that have little effector, indeed, a detrimental effecton our health in the long term. Furthermore, they have few legal obligations to provide information about the ingredients they use. And all this in the name of profit.

Several years ago, I stopped buying creams, milk, and toners. Now I only use vegetable oils, vegetable butters, essential oils, infused oils, and hydrosols on my face, body, hands, lips, and hair. Over time, I have widened my range of ingredients, and refined and diversified my formulas. When I prepare my directions, I always aim for simplicity and efficiency, carefully choosing the most appropriate ingredients for the effect I am seeking. As a bonus, this costs me considerably less than the commercial products.