Examples of essential oils that should be avoided in pregnancy are:

• Angelica
• Basil
• Clove
• Cinnamon
• Coriander
• Fennel
• Ginger
• Juniper
• Myrrh
• Nutmeg
• Parsley
• Peppermint
• Rose
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme

Examples of essential oils that can be used in pregnancy are:

• Bergamot
• Eucalyptus
• Frankincense
• Geranium
• Grapefruit
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Mandarin
• Sandalwood
• Sweet Orange
• Tea Tree
• Ylang Ylang

Many essential oils can be used safely in pregnancy and help alleviate many pregnancy related problems. However it is strongly advised to consult a qualified aromatherapist on the use of essential oils in pregnancy to avoid any potential dangers.

• 2 cups – Epsom salt
• 3 tbsp – baking soda
• 8 drops – essential oils

Choose 3 or 4 oils from these essential oils: cedarwood, chamomile, cypress, frankincense, geranium, lavender, mandarin, melissa, neroli, orange, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, ylang ylang essential oils.

Mix the ingredients very well. Add to tub of running water.

Energizing salt bath recipe

• 1 cup – Epsom salts
• 1 cup – sea salt
• 3 drops – eucalyptus essential oils
• 3 drops – rosemary essential oils
• 3 drops – peppermint essential oil

Mix the ingredients and add to tub of running water.

Relaxing minty bath oil recipe

• 1/2 cup – castor oil
• 1/2 tsp – spearmint oil
• 1/2 tsp – orange oil

Blend the ingredients together in a bottle by shaking them up, and add to warm bath.

Honey and oatmeal milk bath recipe

• 1/2 cup – powdered milk
• 1/2 cup – finely ground oats
• 1/2 cup – honey

Mix the ingredients, and add to warm bath.

Skin-softening bath recipe

• 1 cup – buttermilk
• 3 tbsp – Epsom salt
• 1/2 tbsp – olive oil or canola oil
• 3 drops lavender or geranium essential oil

Mix the ingredients and add to tub of running water. Soak for 15 minutes or so, relax and enjoy!

Healthy nutrition

In order to fight cellulite, you have to detox your body. Avoid sugars, saturated and hydrogenated fats, caffeine, refined and processed foods, alcohol, soda and tobacco use.Reduce the amount of salt in your diet, since salt is known to contribute to water retention, which promotes cellulite.

Eat little and often. Consume a nutrient-dense diet rich in whole, unprocessed, preferably organic, foods. Feast on fruit and vegetables, which are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Fiber is important, as it removes waste and toxins from the intestinal tract. Increase your intake of proteins (cold-water fish, lean meats, seeds, nuts, legumes) and wholegrain foods (bran, oat cereals).

Use spices that are effective in curing cellulite, owing to their antioxidant properties: cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic, ginger, juniper berries, peppermint, etc.

Drink 1-2 liters of still, pure water daily. Add fresh lemon juice for further detoxification. Drink detoxifying herbal teas of dandelion, ginger, burdock, red clover, etc.

Supplements
Vitamins C and E may help to reduce cellulite. Fish oil, gingko biloba, and soy lecithin are also effective supplements that provide positive effects such as improving blood circulation, boosting metabolism, and protecting against cell damage.

Exercise
It is better to combine cardiovascular exercises with strength training and stretching. Though this may be anything from walking and swimming to dancing and yoga. You can lose weight, tone your muscles and keep your heart healthy. To help speed up the cellulite reduction process, you can choose exercises that target the area that contains the cellulite. Exercise also helps your body eliminate toxins, another key to cellulite reduction. Moreover, regular exercise increases your serotonin level as effectively as an antidepressant. Make a habit of exercising for at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week.

Massage
A massage activates blood circulation and lymphatic system helping battle the cellulite. Perform cellulite massage in a circular motion from top to bottom. Massage with coconut oil proves to be very useful in treating cellulite. As well, many essential oils like cedar, juniper, rosemary can be added to your massage oil for better effect. Mixing 3 parts apple cider vinegar with one part of your massage oil is also effective.

Dry skin brushing
Regular dry skin brushing just before bathing gives excellent results. Start brushing your feet upwards and from your lower to upper arms going through your shoulders and back. It will increase blood circulation and improve the appearance of your skin. Wet skin is generally not recommended, as it stretches more on brushing.

Anti-cellulite creams
Anti-cellulite creams with botanical ingredients like ivy barley, kola nut, sweet clover, lemon, strawberry and fennel increase circulation and blood flow in the area, repair and fortify skin cells and connective tissue, therefore improving the skin texture and reducing the cellulite.

It is very easy to make an anti-cellulite massage cream at home. Mix coffee grounds with any vegetable oil or moisturizing lotion. Rub it on the cellulite areas for just a couple minutes a day and then shower it off. The coffee grounds will exfoliate the skin, while the caffeine will absorb into the skin and stimulate fat cells to release.

Anti-cellulite body wrap
Try to make an anti-cellulite body wrap at home (and safe at least $100 ). The body wrap will stimulate your fat cells and absorb toxins that have been built up in the skin. Take the warm coffee grinds or seaweed and smooth them out over the area of skin that has cellulite. Wrap the treated area in plastic wrap and some towels. You can also use gauze to hold the coffee grinds in place before applying the plastic wrap. Relax and leave it for about 30 minutes. Then, remove the towels and plastic wrap. Take a warm shower and enjoy your rejuvenated skin.

Aromatherapy
Soak yourself in warm bath with a mixture of about two cups of sea salt and 6-8 drops of essential oil for 10-20 minutes. While you are in a tub, massage your body with an upward motion. Essential oils such as juniper, rosemary, cedar wood, grapefruit and patchouli are useful in cellulite removal.

Stress reduction
It is vital to reduce unmanageable stress. Start to practice deep breathing, meditation and yoga right now.

Getting rid of cellulite is not a big deal, if you work to remove it on a daily basis! Wish you patience and good luck!

Carrier (base) oils

Choose the one which seems most applicable to your skin:

Peach kernel oil: Rich in vitamin A, nourishing.

Apricot kernel oil: All skin types, especially elderly, inflamed and dry skin. Good for wrinkles as well as stretch marks on the body.

Avocado oil: Dry and dehydrated skin.

Grapeseed oil: Most skin types. Avoid using on sensitive skin, eczema and psoriasis.

Wheatgerm oil: All skin types, including inflamed, red, or dry skins, eczema, psoriasis and acne. Rich in vitamin E and phosphorus; soothes, heals and helps to smooth out wrinkles and lines.

Almond oil: Lubricates and smoothes skin and reduces red veins. Helps relieve itching, soreness, dryness, inflammation and wrinkled, dry skin.

Coconut oil: Acts as a cleanser, can have a drying effect on skin. Good for oily skin.

Essential oils

Choose oils most appropriate to your skin, or simple opt for the smells which please you most:

Benzoin: Has a toning effect, acts as an antiseptic; very good for dry skin.

Lavender: Has stimulating and antiseptic effect; good for oily skin and spots or any blemishes which need healing.

Patchouli: Soothes dry, flaky skin.

Frankincense: Rejuvenating and regenerating.

Neroli: Rejuvenating and regenerating; this is the only one to use around the eye area; very good for broken capillaries.

Myrrh: Nourishes mature skin (aged 50+); especially good for any areas of inflammation.

Geranium: Balances combination skins, as well as your emotions.

Source:  Stacey, S. and J. Fairlay (2002) The Beauty Bible.

Related posts:
Homemade body scrub recipes
Aromatherapy massage
Give yourself a facial massage

Get your skin ready for summer and pamper yourself on a budget using one of these homemade exfoliating body scrub recipes.
Three main ingredients of the body scrub are: exfoliators, carrier oils, and essential oils. An exfoliate could consist of sugar, sea salt, ground almonds or wheat bran. You can use either form of sugar, just make sure that with the brown sugar, you’re keeping a careful eye on the liquid ingredients so your scrub doesn’t dissolve into a thin paste. A carrier oil could be olive, grape-seed, hazelnut, or almond oil. The essential oils used here are for fragrance and healing. Grapefruit and orange essential oils gently stimulate and refresh. Lavender oil can help heal minor inflammations, and relieve day-to-day stress. Some other skin friendly oils include rose, rosemary, mandarin, jojoba, and chamomile. Do not use “fragrance oils” – they are chemical fakes that can cause irritation or even allergic symptoms. Try any of these recipes, or make your own, mixing your favorite exfoliate with carrier and essential oils.

Recipe 1:
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup carrier oil
10 drops vitamin E
10 drops essential oil

Recipe 2:
2 cups of ground coffee
1/2 cup sugar or sea salt
2-3 tablespoons of carrier oil

Recipe 3:
1/2 cup of poppy seeds
1/2 cup of carrier oil
10 drops orange essential oil

Recipe 4:
1 cup fine sea salt
1/2 cup carrier oil
10 drops grapefruit essential oil

Recipe 5:
2/3 cup sugar
2 mashed strawberries
6-8 drops rose/jojoba oil

Recipe 6:
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons ground oats
2 tablespoons aloe vera gel
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon carrier oil

Recipe 7:
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup carrier oil
a shot of rum

Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and stir thoroughly. While taking a shower, scoop up some, not more than a teaspoon at a time, and massage gently using circular motions. Rinse and voila! Your skin is totally smooth and silky.
You can use these scrubs once a week. Keep in mind though, if you have rashes, acne, or sunburned skin, scrubs might make the condition worse.
I hope you enjoy these body scrub recipes!

Related posts:
How to choose carrier and essential oils for homemade cosmetics?
Aromatherapy massage
Give yourself a facial massage

• Deepens relaxation
• Improves circulation
• Stimulates lymphatic system, boosting immunity
• Aids digestion, speeds the elimination of toxins
• Improves skin circulation and quality
• Increases blood supply to joints, can help arthritis
• Relieves mental and physical fatigue

Massage with aromatic essential oil works by stimulating our sense of touch and smell. Fragrances are the first stimulus of any to be registered by the brain, so the effect of aromatic essential oils is instant as well as long-lasting. Essential oils also have a physiological effect as they are absorbed via the skin into the blood supply.

Make aromatherapy massage oils by mixing a base oil, such as jojoba, grape seed, sunflower or apricot, with 6-to-12 drops of essential oils. Never apply undiluted essential oils directly on to the skin, and consult aromatherapist before using essential oils during pregnancy.

Certain essential oils may help to counteract negative emotions, because they trigger a positive emotional reaction. Here are some widely used essential oils and their properties:

Source: Spiers, K. Recipes for natural beauty. Facts On File, Inc.