Rosemary oil, dos and don'ts

Dilution, patch testing and the mistakes people make with scalp oiling.

Aromatherapy skincare rewards patience more than novelty. The plant material is concentrated, so the right amount is almost always less than you expect, and the right frequency is almost always more regular than you manage in the first month.

Start with the skin you have today

Skin shifts with season, sleep and stress. Read it before you reach for a product, and adjust one step at a time so you can tell what actually helped.

Keep it simple, keep it going

Cleanse, tone, treat, protect. Four steps done every day beat a shelf of products used occasionally. Choose formulas whose ingredients you can name, and give them six weeks before judging.