Thanks Sara. I am getting ready to experiment with your 9:3:1 ratio using EV Olive Oil, Castor Oil, and Essential/Fragrance Oils. This.... Plus this..... should be interesting. I am starting out with .5 oz bottles.
0.25 TSP-ESS/FRAG OIL(about 20-25 drops) 0.50 TSP-CASTOR OIL 2.25 TSP-OLIVE OIL 3.00 TSP=.5 OZ BOTTLE Scents(drops): 10-TX Cedar, 5-Tea Tree, 10-Lavender $1.50 cost including the dropper bottle($1.01). The pre-shave oil itself came about to about $0.50 for the .5 oz. The cost will increase with more expensive oils like sandalwood.
Still a mere 'drop in the bucket' compared to the cost of retail-brand PSO! $15 & up for 1 fl oz puny little bottles....
Coconut oil is so highly saturated that at room temp I'd think it would be a fairly solid mass to smear on one's face.
I started with just Aloe which was OK, but a bit boring scent wise. I now have: 1- TX Cedar, Lavender, & Tea Tree and 2-Frankincense, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Lavender, & Aloe. I am going to try just some Peppermint, Tea Tree & Lavender next.
Sara - Thanks for this contribution. I am an avid AoS PSO user and, like many, I cringe at the thought of having to buy another bottle when mine runs out due to sky-high pricing. With that said, would anyone mind sharing their preferred EO scent ratios? Example: 4:1 (Lavendereppermint)
I'm acne prone so I use unrefined shea butter. It's harder to use but it is the only thing I can use. Some of the suggested oils like Olive and Grapeseed have low comedogenic properties but I can't go with low it has to be zero comedogenic or I get acne (Im 22).
Thank you for the suggestion but yes I've used it a couple of years back with olive or grapeseed with castor. I must have not been doing it right because it broke me out even more. I've used tons of home remedies as well as OTC and prescription drugs but I find it has mostly disappeared on its own with age as long as I avoid certain triggers. Here is a useful site listing comedogenic ratings: http://www.beneficialbotanicals.com/facts-figures/comedogenic-rating.html. Grapeseed is very low on their list but I personally find I am too sensitive for even that.
I have fresh peppermint and lemon balm growing around my house. Anyone have an idea how it might turn out if I mixed some EVO and castor oil, then let peppermint and lemon balm leaves steep in it for a few days, to let the natural oils infuse the oil?
I made my first batch of PSO a few days ago. I infused some peppermint and rosemary into some grapeseed oil. The peppermint grows wild around the pond and the rosemary from the garden. I filled a small sauce pan with a mix of rosemary and mint leaves, then poured heated oil over them. After pressing them hard with a potato masher let them steep for about 5 hrs. I like the finished product. The aroma is invigorating and tingles just a little. I do seem to get a more comfortable shave. I feel like it could benefit from a small amount of a thicker oil though. Any suggestions? 8 oz sweet almond oil 2 oz EVOO 2 oz filtered infused grapeseed oil 10 drops Tea Tree oil
Thanks for the tip about heating the oil first, I hadn't thought about that. Should have, since I occasionally make peppermint/lemon balm tea (great for relaxing, settling an upset stomach, and tension headache relief), and boiling the water brings out the natural oils. I'll try that this weekend. Can't wait to see how it turns out. The lemon balm and peppermint has a really nice scent. I'm wondering if the peppermint will have a menthol type effect.
