Samoam oil is obtained by cold pressing of the unroasted seeds of Sesamum indicum L., a herbaceous plant native to India.
Sesame oil is widely used in Asian cuisine and, as well as for culinary use, is also used in cosmetics for its interesting properties: it is in fact an oil rich in antioxidant substances and emollient and regenerating action .
Let's see three simple do-it-yourself cosmetic recipes based on sesame oil for hair and face and body care.
Nourishing oil for dry skin
This oil is indicated for dry, irritated and cracked skin. Applied daily on the skin of the body and face, it helps regenerate and soften the skin .
To prepare it, use cold-pressed sesame oil and sunflower oil and organic coconut oil : you can buy them in herbal medicine and organic food stores.
The essence of vanilla must be oily and not watery and is found in herbal medicine.
Ingredients
> 20 ml of sunflower oil
> 20 ml of coconut oil
> 40 ml of sesame oil
> 20 drops of vanilla essence
Method
Heat the coconut oil in a bain-marie for a few minutes. As soon as the coconut oil has melted, add the sesame oil, the oily macerate of vanilla and the vanilla essence. Mix and transfer the oil into a clean container with a spray.
Use the oil to be massaged on the body and face once a day.
The oil is kept at room temperature for three months: if the coconut oil should solidify, pass the container under hot water for a minute before using the oil.
Protective hair conditioner
This pre-shampoo conditioner softens and untangles the hair protecting it from atmospheric agents and preserving its shine, health and color. Apply to wet hair and leave on for ten to thirty minutes before proceeding with the normal shampoo.
Ingredients
> 50 g of Shea Butter
> 30 g of sesame oil
> 20 g of coconut oil
> 30 drops of vanilla essence
Method
Heat the shea butter and coconut oil in a bain-marie and when both are liquid, remove from the bain-marie and add the sesame oil and the oily vanilla essence.
Transfer the still warm balm to a large-mouthed container and let it cool. You can use the conditioner after about twelve hours, applying it to wet hair: leave it on for at least ten minutes before proceeding with the shampoo.
The balm is kept at room temperature for about three months.
Natural shampoo: which to choose?
Anti-odor soft foot ointment
This ointment, applied every day, softens the roughness of the feet ; thanks to the antibacterial and antifungal essential oils used in the recipe, the ointment also helps to prevent and combat the formation of bad odors and to cure the "athlete's foot" due to nail fungus and interdigital space.
Ingredients
> 30 ml of Shea Butter
> 15 ml of sesame oil
> 5 grams of wax (bee or vegetable)
> 15 drops of sage essential oil> 10 drops of essential tea tree oil> 10 drops of lavender essential oil
Method
Melt the shea butter and beeswax in a bain-marie or alternatively mimosa vegetable wax. Before the mixture has completely dissolved, add the sesame oil and mix until a liquid mixture is obtained. Remove from the bain-marie and pour into a small, clean jar with a wide mouth.
Stir until the mixture begins to cool and thicken, add the drops of essential oil, mix one last time and close the jar. Allow to cool to room temperature and use after twelve hours.
Apply to the feet once or twice a day, to soften roughness, control sweating, prevent unpleasant odors and cure any fungal infections of the skin and nails.
Properties of sesame oil
Sesame oil contains mainly fatty acids and natural antioxidants, including vitamin E, selenium and lecithin. Sesame oil has regenerating, emollient, moisturizing and antioxidant cosmetic properties. Sesame oil is particularly suitable for dry and irritated skin, to prevent and reduce the wrinkles of mature skin and damaged skin. The application of sesame oil is also useful in the case of eczema, psoriasis and peeling of the skin.
Thanks to its light shielding action compared to UV rays and to the emollient and moisturizing properties, sesame oil is also included in the formulation of sun creams, after-sun lotions and protective hair conditioners.
Finally, sesame oil is used pure or with other vegetable oils to make massage oils useful for relieving joint pain.
