Self-Love Aromatherapy Facial

Self-Love Aromatherapy Facial

Enjoy a therapeutic scent-sational Self-Love Aromatherapy Facial as part of your Sedona Spa Retreat or Sedona Wellness Retreat with Sedona Self-Love Retreats! An Aromatherapy Facial merges beauty and the healing arts to impart your skin with a radiant glow and reset your sense of joy, comfort, and ease. Aromatherapy – the combination of aroma meaning scent or smell and therapy, meaning treatment, is concerned with the psychological and physical health of the individual on a holistic mind, body, and spirit level. Natural aromas from essential oils are the basis for aromatherapy which we experience through our olfactory system, our sense of smell. Another word for our sense of smell is olfaction which affects the limbic system of the brain, our feel-good mood center.

Many of our emotions and motivations involve limbic system structures, particularly survival mechanisms like fear and anger. Pleasure responses related to survival are also related to the limbic system, such as our enjoyment of food and desire to procreate. The limbic system influences the peripheral nervous system and the endocrine system.

I like to think of aromatherapy as a portal, since it can evoke memory and influence our mood and behavior. Likewise, it can be repelling and indicate a caution or warning to our surroundings and environment. One of the most powerful of the five main senses, our sense of smell guides us through a complex process between sensory organs, nerves, and the brain making our olfactory system remarkable in detecting, identifying, and perceiving molecules in the air and therefore, closely related to our sense of taste.

Through the ages evidence shows that essential oils have been used by civilizations for medicinal, therapeutic, spiritual, ritualistic, culinary, hygienic and cosmetic purposes to support good health and treat ailments. The Egyptians were known for massaging their bodies with fragrant oils after bathing, while the Greeks used the oils medicinally and cosmetically. However, the practice of burning incense as a mood enhancer for harmony and balance dates back to China, where the oldest surviving medical book (dated around 2700 BC) was found to contain information on over 300 plants. As plant remedies were discovered, different methods of extraction evolved from burning/smoke, infusion in an oil, the process of distillation, and chemical extraction. An Egyptian papyrus dated around 1555 BC depicts infused oils and herbal preparations for spiritual, medicinal, mummification, fragrant and cosmetic uses. Egyptians are acknowledged, in fact, to have coined the term perfume from the Latin per fumum which translates as through the smoke.

The term aromatherapy only came about in the 20th century, in a 1928 article written by French chemist Rene`- Maurice Gattefosse`. In the article, he describes accidentally burning his hand in his science lab, then randomly dunking his hand in a vat of lavender oil and how rapidly the burn healed. Gattefosse` went on to write a book that was translated into English called Gattefosse`s Aromatherapy, which is still in print and widely read today.

Pleasure is a potent healer and, naturally, we are attracted to aromas and experiences that make us feel good, which is why a Self-Love Aromatherapy Facial is one of the best ways to reset your mind, body, and spirit. Ask about this amazing self-healing session while customizing your Sedona Spa Retreat, Women’s Retreat, or Wellness Retreat package.

The Self-Love Aromatherapy Facial we offer combines Ayurvedic principles with modern Cosmetology to create a truly sensational and pleasurable experience during your Sedona Spa Retreat. Also popular with our Women’s Retreats and Wellness Retreats. Women and men alike can experience the benefits from this most-nourishing treatment. My signature skin care Monsoon Nectar Chakra Aroma Skin Care is formulated with essential oils and botanicals from the main aroma categories below:
Citrus – fresh, clean, refreshing, inspiring- think lemon, orange, and grapefruit.
Floral – flowery, soothing- think lavender, geranium, chamomile, and rose.
Herbaceous – herbal, energizing- think oregano, thyme, rosemary, clary sage.
Spicy – not hot, but spices of fall and winter, grounding- think nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, ginger, cardamom.
Woody – grounding, soothing, stabilizing- think sandalwood, fir, cedarwood, cypress, juniper. Earthy – more masculine- think patchouli, vetiver, angelica.
Resinous – reflective, grounding, inspiring- think frankincense, myrrh.
Camphoraceous – unmistakably heady scent that is strongly aromatic, energizing- think tea tree, eucalyptus, peppermint.
Essential oils are known to soothe the skin and make it glow, maintaining moisture and radiance. They have a small molecular weight allowing them to penetrate deep on the surface of the skin. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in the oils alleviate redness and irritation in the skin, while healing properties make essential oils ideal for use in facials.

The PROCESS:
1. The facial begins with oil cleansing and massage using essential oils that are mixed into a carrier oil. This is a pre cleanse step that softens congestion, absorbs dirt on the skin, and sets the mood for relaxation.
2. Deep cleansing involves removing the oil and debris from the skin with a foamy cleanser.
3. Steaming the skin swells the pores to further release congestion and debris. A few drops of an essential oil in the facial steamer produce a variety of effects such as:
• Tea tree – for clogged pores, colds, sore throat, acne, whiteheads and blackheads.
• Lemon oil – oily skin, blemishes, skin brightening, allergies
• Lavender oil – soothing skin, beautifying skin, blemishes
• Peppermint oil/Eucalyptus oil – clogged nose & sinuses, sore throat, difficulty breathing, allergies, headache, migraine, colds & cough
• Geranium oil – skin beautifier, treats hormonal & cystic acne, clogged pores, oily skin, dry skin
4. During the 5-10 minute steaming process a hand and arm massage is given.
5. Exfoliate to remove dead skin cells and make the skin smoother and more receptive to moisturizing and nutrients.
6. Massage to exercise and relax muscles in the decollate, shoulders, neck and face. Stimulates detoxifying and regenerating.
7. Masking the skin is customized to further draw out impurities, impart vitamins, and/or hydrate and moisturize the skin.
8. Final moisturizing to plump and protect the skin against pollution and environmental elements. A hydrated cell is a defensive cell.

The BENEFITS:
• Brighten to remedy a tired and dull complexion.
• Sooth and potentially treat acute or chronic skin conditions.
• Treat clogged pores and diminish appearance of large pores.
• Control oiliness.
• Relax the senses / mind.
• Hydrate and restore moisturize to dry skin.
• Exfoliate to reveal a smoother, more youthful appearance.
• Revitalize and rejuvenate mature skin.
• Heal skin burns.
• Detoxify skin.
• Reduce puffiness around eye.
• Slough off dead skin.
• Soften and prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
• Stimulates circulation and the natural healing capabilities of your skin.

How often to get an Aromatherapy Facial? Cellular turnover, or cell renewal factor, refers to the constant shedding of skin cells and the subsequent replacement of new, younger cells coming to the surface. This process takes place every 28-40 days. When the new cell makes it’s way up from the stratum germinativum, deepest layer of the epidermis, it eventually reaches the uppermost layer of the epidermis called the stratum corneum. Here the cell has become rough, dry, and flaky and is sloughed off. As we age this whole process called desquamation slows down. Finding the right amount of exfoliating and nourishing the skin is the secret to a smooth youthful appearance. Once a month or at least once a season is the ideal frequency to give your skin professional attention from an esthetician, particularly in more arid environments like Sedona, Arizona.

Refresh and renew with a Self-Love Aromatherapy Facial during your Sedona Spa Retreat and get in touch with your skin! Sedona Wellness Retreat packages often include this replenishing session as well. Treat yourself to a facial, massage, and other nourishing sessions – you will surely feel more centered and grounded from your private customized Sedona Self-Love Retreat.