Following the formation of my aromatherapy based skincare company INSKIN www.inskin.org, I wanted to consider my competitors.
I decided my competitors should be qualified aromatherapists formulating skin care products using 100% pure essential oils.
Frighteningly there aren’t a great amount of competitors out there. The majority of the larger companies using aromatherapy essential oils appear not to have a qualified aromatherapist at the helm.
After much trawling, I found aromatherapists producing home made products but they often fell down on where the big boys triumph – traceabiblity and correct working conditions.
It is my belief that any company producing aromatherapy products which have contact with the skin need to be formulated by a qualified aromatherapist, within suitable working standards and having full traceability. At INSKIN we work to the exacting standards of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) http://www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/regulation/hygleg/hygleginfo/foodhygknow/.
Essential oils are absorbed in to the body’s cell structures and should not be taken lightly. I don’t see it as a hobby.
The BBC ran an excellent article – Aromatherapy Hazards Warning (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/294851.stm) which warned people that essential oils can cause skin burning, rashes, sickness and sometimes miscarriages in pregnant women.
These warnings were discussed at the time at the Royal College of Nursing’s annual conference.
When I was a hands-on practitioner, I very much saw my role as prescribing the correct dose and blend of essential oils to best suit there needs.
I would urge you to carefully consider how, where and by whom your aromatherapy products have been produced.
I’d be delighted to discuss this further and my next blog will consider the wonderful benefits of lemon essential oil as a skin lightener for ageing skin.
If you've enjoyed this, my first blog, it would be wonderful if you could let your friends know.
Many thanks, hugs and kisses to you all
Many thanks, hugs and kisses to you all
Lizzy Radcliffe
ITEC Certified Aromatherapy Graduate 1996
