Skin therapist and esthetician, Shelly Marshall of BeautyShamans, is somewhat of a glow whisperer— her own complexion is proof that she knows what she's talking about when it comes to inside-out radiance. Plus, her approach is back-to-basics and rooted in science, which made it feel like all the stars aligned when we were first introduced. So, we were thrilled when she shared one of her key tools to hydrated, even-textured skin: her coveted cleansing beauty oil. Below, we're sharing the exclusive recipe to re-creating the mixture that calms inflammation and cleanses the first layer of the dermis in a gentle, effective way. Plant medicine extends beyond your plate, and Shelly is one (very glowy) example.
Shelly: In the evenings I ritualistically clean my face thoroughly. I start with oil cleansing every night. With dry fingers and dry face, I massage my Cleansing Beauty Oil into my skin for 3-5 minutes. At some point, I turn on the faucet to start heating up some water. With my facial massage, I make long continuous strokes in an outward/upward motion. After a couple of minutes, I wipe all the oil off with a clean hot washcloth. Then I wash with my regular cleanser making small circular motions before wiping that clean as well. It takes about 10 minutes out of your night but it is so worth it. I can honestly say my skin has never looked better.
I have a standard Cleansing Beauty Oil that I sell to my clients, but I can also customize the formula based on my clients' concerns or aromatic preferences. I actually love coming up with different blends!
It is easy to make at home, and the most important thing is to have high-quality ingredients. I always buy organic to avoid common agricultural chemicals.
Here’s a simple recipe for an at-home cleansing beauty oil:
- In a 1 oz dropper bottle, pour in a base oil of your choice (argan, jojoba, hemp seed, apricot, rosehip, grapeseed etc.... You can even combine a few if you like)
- Add 3 drops of lavender essential oil, 2 drops of lemon essential oil, and 2 drops of cedarwood essential oil. This makes a 1% dilution blend that is safe to use on the face.
Lavender is calming to the skin, and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, (replacement: clary sage, ylang ylang or helichrysum).
Lemon oil is an antioxidant, aromatically uplifting and highly anti-infectious. It’s a great cleansing oil and helps other ingredients penetrate deeper into the skin due to its volatile qualities, (replacement: orange, grapefruit or bergamot).
Cedarwood is a great respiratory oil to clear your sinuses as you clean your skin, thereby increasing circulation and oxygenation to all skin tissue, (replacement: marjoram, jasmine or peppermint).
