Could this fruity blossom be a BOON to your aging skin?
With the way things have been lately, no one would blame you if you refused to leave the house without wearing a hazmat suit.
Unfortunately, we can’t seal ourselves in our own little bubbles… or forge custom-fit suits of armor… to protect us from the outside world.
All we’ve got is our good sense… impeccable hygiene… and our SKIN!
Fortunately, there are ways you can BUILD UP that natural barrier of yours…
And not just to keep it STRONG and RESILIENT to the ravages of time.
You can also PROTECT it from infection… inflammation… and other stressors.
All you need is a time-tested flower trick – one that can help FEND OFF so many of the factors that can wear your skin out.
A fragrance fit for a princess
Is there anything more refreshing than biting into some slices of a juicy orange on a hot summer day?
Whether you choose Navel… Valencia… or Mandarin oranges…
They sure are delicious.
But there’s ANOTHER type of orange tree that you may have never heard of… and that you WON’T find at your local citrus stand.
I’m talking about bitter orange (Citrus aurantium).
The entire tree is a source of essential oils – not only the fruit (frequently used to make marmalade), but also the leaves and flowers.
Bitter orange blossoms are the source of neroli oil… named after Madame des Ursins, Princess of Nerola, who popularized the scent as a perfume in 17th-century Italy.
Neroli is also a soothing and calming essential oil that you can use topically and in aromatherapy.
Neroli oil has got the trifecta of beneficial properties you’ll find in many essential oils, including…
- anti-inflammatory
- antioxidant
- antimicrobial.
That last one means it can help resolve skin conditions caused by fungal infections, like jock itch and athlete’s foot… and by bacteria, like those MADDENING blemishes from adult-onset acne.
Some research indicates that it could also be helpful in cases of psoriasis and eczema… when those irritated and sometimes scaly patches can become inflamed and infected.
But this healing oil is also a rejuvenating HERO to aging, worn-out skin!
If your skin is sagging… neroli oil can help improve firmness and elasticity.
Neroli oil can even help smooth out and lighten the appearance of scars and stretch marks.
And neroli oil can help “fill in” and hydrate those wrinkles and fine lines by REGENERATING new cells… and helping to keep the PERFECT oil balance.
According to a study out of London, these age-reversing properties may be a result of how neroli oil can help INHIBIT enzymes responsible for DEGRADING the structural proteins in your skin and connective tissues, like collagen and elastin.
So, along with keeping oxidative stress and free radical damage at bay, it also BEATS BACK the enzymes collagenase and elastase.
If you’re applying 100% essential oil directly on your skin, you should always dilute it with a carrier oil… like coconut or jojoba.
You’ll find steam-distilled neroli oil already blended and ready to use at your local health food store or online, though it may be labeled “Seville orange” or “sour orange.”
In either case, neroli oil has not been shown to exhibit phototoxicity (or skin sensitivity to UV rays from the sun)… but always perform a patch test first.
You can sniff it to reap its stress-relieving benefits… but don’t ingest it.
For skin infections, the recommendation is to apply once daily for 1 to 3 weeks, as needed.
You can leave it on areas of breakouts overnight… and the scent just might help you get a restful night of sleep!
To catching a whiff of relief,
Melissa Young
