The helichrysum flower – more commonly known as everlasting or immortelle.
Everlasting Essential Oil
Helichrysum. Everlasting. Immortelle.
Botanically known as helichrsysum italicum, everlasting or immortelle lives up to its common names and has wonderful anti-aging properties when used in skin care.
Botanically known as helichrsysum italicum, everlasting or immortelle lives up to its common names and has wonderful anti-aging properties when used in skin care.
It is a small, shrubby herb with dry (straw like), yellow flowers from which the essential oil is distilled. Incidentally, the name immortelle (French for immortal) comes about because the flower retains its yellow colour even when picked and dried, apparently lasting up to 7 years. Its soft hay and honey-like fragrance imparts a sense of warmth and being on a dry Mediterranean island. This is not surprising given the most renowned everlasting plants in aromatherapy come from the island of Corsica.
Benefits of Everlasting
Due to its chemical composition, everlasting is most effective in regenerative skincare. The popular L’occitane Immortelle is a skincare collection the French company created around it.
As one of the few essential oils to contain diketones, everlasting is able to stimulate cell and tissue regeneration. It is also high in anti-inflammatory sesquiterpenes and calming esters. Because of this, it is able to stimulate without causing irritation which makes it excellent for sensitive, stressed and damaged skin. Everlasting essential oil is especially beneficial for:
As one of the few essential oils to contain diketones, everlasting is able to stimulate cell and tissue regeneration. It is also high in anti-inflammatory sesquiterpenes and calming esters. Because of this, it is able to stimulate without causing irritation which makes it excellent for sensitive, stressed and damaged skin. Everlasting essential oil is especially beneficial for:
- Skin rejuvenation – whether it be calming, healing, or protecting. It is suitable for all skin types and especially effective on old scars, chemical or sun damaged skin.
- Reducing inflammation – including bruises, swelling from sport injuries and broken capillaries.
- Emotionally – providing a sense of calmness and security by opening the heart and soothing emotional wounds.
How to use Everlasting
Because it takes 2 – 3kg of flowers to produce 1g of essential oil, everlasting is mostly sold as a 3% dilution in jojoba oil. However a little can go a very long way. Here are some simple home remedies:
- Bruises and sports Injuries – Apply 3% dilution to injured area to minimise swelling and bruises and also provide a little pain relief.
- Scars and wounds - mix with a little more oil and apply twice a day to recent wounds for about 10 days. It may take 3 - 6 months for older scars and wounds.
- Skincare – for an added boost try adding a couple of drops to your face serum or moisturiser. I use everlasting in Drift Escentuals Moisturisers and Body Lotions to help regenerate and repair the skin. It nicely hugs the other scents and leaves your skin feeling soft and nurtured.
Next post I'll cover another amazing essential oil I use in my skincare range. Can you guess what it is?
