Men’s Health Week
Men’s Health Week falls this month between the 10th-16th June and is aimed at encouraging men to take responsibility for their health by promoting different means by which they can enhance both their physical and mental well-being.
One of the first basic steps to a greater sense of fulfilment is that of acknowledging the importance of caring for oneself on a daily basis and to put time aside for one’s own needs and values, whatever these may be. Another central premise of a holistic approach to health is to acknowledge the requirement to take care of both our mental and physical well-being as being inter-related aspects of our dimension. For example, nervous stress and burn-out can affect our body in a negative way – just as a depleted physical condition can simultaneously damage our mental and emotional sense of well-being.
An Aromatherapy Approach to Men’s Health
An aromatherapy approach is unique in this respect, as it can offer a multi-faceted approach to health: for example, natural aromatics can simultaneously soothe stress and anxiety, ease muscular pains and help to increase physical confidence through promoting a more attractive appearance. It is now recognised scientifically that many essential oils can also individually offer a wide range of diverse benefits.
For example, lavender oil can relax the nerves, aid sleep, bring relief from sports injuries, heal burns, as well as help to regenerate the skin – to name but a few applications. Likewise, our Tranquility Body Oil which is based on lavender, petitgrain, chamomile, jojoba, light coconut oil and vitamin E oil has a wide range of applications. It can be used as a relaxing massage oil to soothe both the body and mind, easing away any stress and anxiety at the end of a busy day, whilst also reducing any physical aches and pains and is equally effective as a natural skincare agent.
Adopting a more naturalistic approach to health and skincare practices is just as valuable for men as it is for women today. Allergies and skin sensitization is on the increase due to the proliferation of artificial chemicals with which we are surrounded. Most men’s aftershaves and cologne are made up of synthetic ingredients and this is quite apart from the mass of other toxins which we are exposed to on a daily basis. Apart from the obvious environmental reasons for using eco-friendly products there are also numerous health and economic benefits too, as outlined below.
Body Oils, Diffusion Blends & Essential Oils for Men
Our Feed Your Skin, Aches & Pains and Exercise Aid formulations are all ideally suited to men and are part of our ready-to-use Body Oil range which can effectively be used as part of an everyday skin care routine, whilst simultaneously providing specific therapeutic benefits.
Or choose from our selection of diffusion blends to infuse and enjoy their benefits – such as our fresh-scented air-purifying Mountain Air, based on the coniferous oils of juniperberry and black spruce, or Deep Sleep with valerian and vetivert, to induce a restful night using one of electric diffusers, such as our black Mia Room Diffuser.
Essential oils favoured by men include bay, bergamot, black pepper, cedarwood, cypress, elemi, fragonia, frankincense, juniper, lavender, bitter orange, peppermint, petitgrain, rosemary and sandalwood, where each oil offers a range of unique benefits. Add a few drops of any of these oils to the bath water, carrier oil, shower mitt or to a room diffuser for an enriching experience. You can view our full collection of aromatherapy products best suited to men’s health and wellbeing here.
Men’s Natural Skincare & Beard Oils
When it comes to men’s skincare, beard oils and facial serums have become popularised in recent years. Some of the best beard oil recipes combine a mix of nourishing carrier oils such as jojoba, light coconut or argan oil, blended with a small amount of an essential oil. And in addition to creating a neat and conditioned beard, these blended oils are also very good for nourishing the skin too when applied on a daily basis.
Beard oil softens and adds shine to the beard hair whilst making it look neater and more styled overall plus reducing the occurrence of dandruff or itch whilst encouraging growth. A personalised beard oil made to one’s own taste smells delicious and can easily be used instead of a cologne or aftershave, which generally contains alcohol or synthetics which tend to dry the skin and may cause irritation. A natural beard oil will by contrast help to keep the complexion more supple and healthy too! Infact, you don’t need to have a beard at all to use the facial recipe detailed below.
All types of skin, including oily skin, need to be nourished and moisturized daily – plus many essential oils have antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties alongside. The best time to apply a beard or facial oil is after showering or after washing the face when your pores are open to help your skin absorb it more efficiently.
My recommended beard or facial oil consists of a lightweight carrier oil such as jojoba or light coconut oil since these both have a long shelf life and are absorbed readily. Jojoba has a consistency similar to our skin’s own sebum so it is extremely effective as a skin and hair moisturiser – see my journal post: ‘Jojoba Oil: Your Skin’s Best Friend’. Our organic argan oil is also a premium choice for conditioning both skin and hair. To enjoy the moisturizing and softening benefits of a beard or facial oil without added fragrance, you can opt to use jojoba oil or organic argan oil, without adding any essential oils into the mix. This is an economical alternative, as well as being an option if you have sensitive skin or tend to suffer from allergies. Always do a patch text before using a new essential oil on your skin and wash off with cold water immediately if irritation does occur.
DIY Beard Oil / After Shave Recipe:
- To a tinted 100ml glass bottle with a dropper top add a carrier oil that has a light texture and neutral scent. I recommend 80ml jojoba oil and 20ml argan oil for an extra conditioning treatment. However, feel free to experiment with different carrier oils and with various essential oils to find a personalised blend that suits you.
- Add 20 to 25 drops in total of your chosen essential oil (see list of suggested essential oils) into the carrier oils and shake well. It is best to keep to a low dilution of just one or two essential oils to avoid any potential irritation issues.
- If you wish to add the benefits of essential oils, choose one or two oils which are suited to your skin type: for example, fragonia and rosemary essential oils are suitable for oily-prone skin; sandalwood and cedarwood are good for dry skin; while lavender and frankincense have a healing effect – good for shaving cuts or rashes.
- To apply as a beard oil, put three to five drops of the blended oil in the palms of your hands and rub it into your beard when slightly damp.
- If using as an alternative to an aftershave, spritz some toning witch-hazel or fragonia water onto the skin after shaving then apply the blended oil onto your face directly with a gentle circular motion.
View our full suggested collection of Men’s Health products.