Peppermint Essential Oil for Skin, Body, and Hair Care

While you aren't likely to use peppermint essential oil for skin care daily, the oil is beneficial for some skin conditions and in body and hair care products.

Contents

• Is Peppermint Good for Skin?
• Skin and Body Care
• Itchy Skin
• Foot Care
• Hair Care

Is Peppermint Good for Skin?

The Aromatherapy Beauty Guide calls using peppermint essential oil on skin "a double-edged sword." Although peppermint oil benefits the skin with cooling, stimulating, and  bacteria-fighting properties, you have to use the oil with caution because too much can cause skin irritation or sensitization.

The book states these precautions for using peppermint:

• Do not use on skin treated with topical drugs, as the oil may enhance the penetration of these drugs.
• Do not use around infants.
• Do not use more than a 0.5% dilution—that is, 3 drops in 30 ml (2 tablespoons) carrier oil. Except you can use a 1% dilution in hair products or leave-on products. (Note: This  recommendation is conservative, and you will find other sources use stronger dilutions. Use your good judgement based on your sensitivity and personal needs.)

Possible uses of peppermint oil for skin care include:

• Acne and blackheads, oily skin, dull skin, puffiness
• Athlete's foot, candida skin infections, ringworm
• Cold sores
• Dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis
• Inflammation
• Insect bites, itchy skin, hives
• Poison ivy or oak
• Scabies
• Sunburn
• Toning and softening

Additional sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5435909/ and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753332222009489.

Safety: Four basic safety precautions to follow when using peppermint essential oil for skin care are to dilute the oil properly, patch test before using the oil on a large area, use sparingly, and avoid using near eyes or on broken skin.

Peppermint Essential Oil for Skin and Body Care

You make a variety of DIY body care products that contain peppermint essential oil, including body oil, body butter, lotion, and body wash. Just keep in mind the dilution guidelines.

Sunburn Spray

Use this peppermint oil spray for body care after spending too much time in the sun.

• 2 tablespoons fractionated coconut oil
• 1/2 cup liquid aloe vera juice
• 10 drops peppermint
• 10 drops lavender essential oil

1. Place two inches of water in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add coconut oil and aloe vera to a glass jar and place in the saucepan. Stir to liquefy and blend well. Remove from heat.
3. Add essential oils, mixing well.
4. Pour mixture into a spray bottle.

To use, shake well and spray on sunburn, avoiding the eyes and other sensitive areas.

Source: The Big Book Of Essential Oil Recipes For Beauty

Skin-Soothing Balm

Use this balm as an insect repellent, to soothe insect bites, or to relieve skin irritation and rashes.

• 1/8 ounce beeswax
• 2 tablespoons apricot kernel oil
• 18 drops peppermint essential oil

1. Place two inches of water in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
2. Add beeswax and carrier to a glass jar and place in the saucepan. Stir to completely melt.
3. Remove from heat. Let cool to room temperature.
4. Stir in the essential oil. Adjust consistency if needed. Let cool completely before using or storing.

Source: Llewellyn's Complete Book of Essential Oils

Chocolate Peppermint Sugar Scrub

• 2 tablespoons turbinado sugar
• 1 tablespoon carrier oil
• 1/4 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 2 to 10 drops peppermint essential oil, depending on how strong you want the scrub

Blend all ingredients and use immediately.

Peppermint Oil for Itchy Skin

To relieve itching of ringworm, scabies, and poison oak and ivy, dilute peppermint with carrier oil at 1% (that is, 1 drop essential oil in 1 teaspoon carrier oil). Anything stronger may irritate rather than relieve the itching.

Peppermint Splash for Itching

• 3 to 4 drops peppermint essential oil
• 1/2 cup distilled water
• 1/2 cup witch hazel
• Glass bottle

1. Drop essential oils into the bottle.
2. Add the water and witch hazel. Cap and shake well.
3. Apply to skin with a clean cloth, shaking well before each use.

Source: Organic Beauty With Essential Oil

Itch-Relief Stick Balm

• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) beeswax
• 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• 10 drops peppermint essential oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 2 to 3 drops basil essential oil
• Lip Balm Tube

1. Over low heat, melt the beeswax and coconut oil.
2. Remove mixture from heat and let cool slightly.
3. Stir in the essential oils.
4. Fill the empty lip balm tube with the mixture. (Using a pipette makes this easier.)
5. Let completely cool and harden before capping.

Adapted from Jade Bloom

Using Peppermint Essential Oil on Feet

To relax the muscles of your feet and ankles, soak them in warm water with Epsom salt and a few drops of peppermint oil.

Athlete's Foot Relief

• 8 drops tea tree essential oil
• 4 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 drops mountain savory essential oil
• 1 tablespoon carrier oil

Blend oils. Apply to feet as needed. Source: Essential Oils Desk Reference

Peppermint Foot Massage Oil

• 3 tablespoons carrier oil
• 2 drops peppermint essential oil
• 3 drops eucalyptus essential oil
• 4 drops rosemary essential oil

Combine oils in a small bottle. Close and shake. You can warm the oil before doing foot massage by running warm water over the bottle.

Peppermint Essential Oil for Hair Care

While you can use peppermint essential oil for all hair types, it's especially good for oily hair and itchy scalp. The simplest way to use the essential oil is to add a few drops to a bottle of unscented natural shampoo.

Peppermint Shampoo

This tingly treat for all hair types stimulates the scalp without drying. Makes 8-1/2 ounces.

• 3/4 cup distilled water
• 1/2 cup organic unscented shampoo
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons jojoba oil
• 1/8 teaspoon peppermint essential oil

1. Warm the water and pour into a ceramic bowl.
2. Add the shampoo and stir with a wire whisk until well blended.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Pour into a bottle and close.

Source: Organic Beauty With Essential Oil

Peppermint Essential Oil Hair Growth

For a hair treatment to support hair growth, use this blend:

• 4 tablespoons jojoba oil
• 4 drops peppermint
• 4 drops rosemary essential oil

Massage a little into your hair, let rest for at least 10 minutes, and then shampoo as usual.

Photo © emarandjelovic, 123RF Free Images

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