Just thought I’d share my latest personal health fad which I swear has made my skin softer than I can ever remember it being! I try a lot of things out on myself and some stick around and become habits and others fade away, but sesame seed oil is an addiction for me, or should I say my skin?!

I used to really love Neutrogena’s Body Oil which I would use as a moisturizer after showering until I learned that the main ingredient, isopropyl myristate – an ingredient common in many moisturizers – is used to kill lice by dissolving the wax that protects their skeleton and also in outdoor sealants for wood. Not really the sort of stuff I want to be putting on my skin.

But the second main ingredient is the wonderful healing sesame seed oil often used in India. You may have seen or even experienced the Ayuvedic therapy called “Shirodhara” where they drip oil onto your third eye chakra? Or perhaps sesame oil mouthwash also called oil pulling – where you pull the oil thru your teeth for 20 mins(!!!) to clean and tone your mouth which apparently works – if you can stand it – (it makes me gag and retch!). As a healthy moisturizer, sensual massage oil or bath oil (you’d need to add polysorbate 20, a natural dispersant for this use which is available from aromatherapy suppliers), sesame seed oil is the business.

So I have attempted to make my own after shower oil, like my old favorite, but without the nasty bits. I buy my organic, cold-pressed sesame seed oil from The Healthy Hub (which is a fab little cafe/organic food mart in Lincoln’s city center) and started to use it after showering like I used to use Neutrogena’s body oil. I did try to find some specifically for the body online, but they were quite expensive and from what I understand (not much sometimes) it is fine to use the food grade oils for massage as long as they are cold pressed and organic. – DO NOT USE TOASTED SESAME SEED OIL – You will smell like a Chinese takeaway and, no, the aromatherapy oils will not cover that smell up!

Our skin is the largest respiratory organ of the body and – this is the basis of aromatherapy – the stuff you put on your skin ends up in your blood and tissues. According to Dawn Mellowship, author of Toxic Beauty, every year we each absorb an estimated 2 kilograms of chemicals through beauty and cosmetic products. Chemicals found in lipsticks, skin lotions and hair dyes have been linked with tumours, cell mutation, allergies, reproductive complications, endocrine disruption and cancer. So isn’t it time we all paid more attention to exactly what goes into the eye shadows, body washes and deodorants we love to use?

The beauty industry is very naughty. And we need to be savvy consumers. So my dear readers, I present you with the nice way to nourish your skin, simple sesame seed oil with some essential oil thrown in. As you will find, sesame oil smells a bit like sesame seeds, no surprise there eh? But with a few drops (10 per 30ml) of your favorite essential oil it becomes a gorgeously scented oil that can be used directly on the skin as a moisturizer or bath oil – or my top tip – slather yourself with the oil and then get in the bath or shower and don’t use soap.

So for about £6 you can buy a bottle of sesame seed oil and another £3 for the aromatherapy oil of your choice and then you should have at least a 3 month supply as a little oil goes a long way as you will find when you rub it on. And you can rest assured that it will not go off as sesame seed oil is full of anti-oxidants which keep it from going off – which is the same as it will do for your skin.

A couple words of caution: The big downside is that you might have to wait a few minutes before getting dressed otherwise the oil can mark your clothes. But don’t let this put you off, have a cup of tea or brush your teeth or something while the oil seeps into your skin. Or a bit of naked yoga or tai chi could add another healthy dose to your morning routine (if your house is a lot warmer than mine!) In just a week you will see a difference in your skin. All those lovely antioxidants will help keep your skin quite hydrated and happy. Let me know how you find it!

I put a blend of Clary Sage, Lemon and Geranium essential ols in my sesame seed oil, but any essential oil – well, not any, don’t use tea tree or clove or black pepper as they will be too harsh on your skin, but choose what you like to smell – that is usually the one that will be best for you.

PS: Grapeseed, Jojoba, and Almond oils can also be used this way! Sesame just has that Ayuvedic charm going on and perhaps I will investigate that aspect further in future.
PPS: I can make you 100ml bottle for £7.50 tailored to your skin type if you don’t like the DIY aspect of the above post…