Everyone and their dog has heard of essential oils. You might even use an essential oil diffuser to fill your home with their wonderful scent!
While diffusing essential oils is one of the most popular ways to enjoy them, as their unique properties soothe your senses and uplift your mind, they can be an absolute game-changer for your skin!
Of course this is where things may get a little tricky or confusing, because you can’t just apply a pure, undiluted oil to your skin. You need to ensure it is properly diluted.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s start with the basics and answer your most common questions as we go.
Let’s dive right in!
What are essential oils and how are they made?
Essential oils are derived from the roots, stems, leaves or flowers of a plant and are highly concentrated plant oils. They are usually extracted via steam distillation or through cold-press methods, usually specific to citrus oils such as tangerine, lemon, bergamot, sweet orange, and lime.
The cold press method simply means that no heat is used throughout the extraction process. The oils are separated from the plant through scraping, grinding and pressing. This method is important to maintain the beautiful, delicate aroma of citrus oils, which can turn bitter when extracted through steam distillation.
Both methods work well though, and ensure the plant's nutrients remain intact.
Each essential oil is derived from a different part of each plant and has its very own special, unique properties. For example, rose oil is derived from rose petals, orange oil from the rind of the fruit and ginger oil from the root of the plant.
Each oil serves a powerful purpose in terms of aromatherapy, your health, and your skin.
Every oil is very different, Some are as thick as honey, while others may be as thin as running water. The color of each oil differs too, varying from clear to amber, green or even dark blue.
Of course, because we incorporate our essential oils directly into our products, you won’t see the different consistencies and colors.
How can essential oils benefit my skin?
While essential oils certainly help to calm frazzled nerves and lift the spirits, a whole new world opens up for you when you introduce them into your beauty ritual!
We know of lavender as a beautiful soothing herb, but it provides these same soothing properties when used on the skin. Lavender helps to calm down redness and inflammation providing much needed relief for troubled complexions.
Calendula feeds the skin with a hefty dose of anti-aging and brightening antioxidants, while also helping to reduce inflammation. The aromatic scent of rose helps to uplift while it beautifully nourishes the skin.
Find these incredible oils and more in our wonderful collection of pure salt scrubs.
Can I use essential oils if my skin is very sensitive?
This is a fantastic question! Of course, as with any new ingredient, you may not always know how your skin is going to react. When it comes to essential oils though, it is very important that they are always diluted in a carrier oil, which we have taken care of for you when you purchase our products.
If using oils on your own, always add just a few drops to a carrier oil first. Our favorite option is jojoba because it's smaller molecular structure penetrates the skin more deeply.
But olive, avocado or coconut oil are also great options. You could add a few drops to a tub full of bath water for a relaxing aromatherapy experience.
Using such highly concentrated oils directly on your skin can definitely cause potential irritation, especially when they are applied directly to the skin. Tea tree and peppermint essential oils are just two examples that can be potentially irritating if not diluted or if you have very sensitive skin.
Whenever you're using a new oil or skincare product for the first time, we recommend a simple patch test.
Do this by applying a little of the product to your inner arm and leaving it for 24-48 hours to see if a reaction occurs. This is especially recommended for very sensitive skin types.
Essential oils over artificial fragrance
Another reason we truly love essential oils is because they provide a beautiful natural scent, without having to rely on artificial fragrances.
In fact, did you know that it takes up to 100 chemicals to create one single fragrance? And often, artificial fragrances are quite intense, with a sickly scent that can leave you feeling nauseous and put your health at risk.
Essential oils provide beautiful, subtle scents that uplift your spirits as they leave a gorgeous, lingering scent on your skin all day long.
Our top essential oils and their benefits
Sandalwood
The earthy, bold and rich scent of sandalwood makes it a popular choice for all genders, and it’s known to help ground you in the present.
Lavender
Soothing, and wonderfully calming, this beautiful oil will calm your nerves as it calms your skin.
Jasmine
Has powerful antibacterial properties, and may help to alleviate dry skin while promoting a gorgeous glow. Oh, and we should mention that just one whiff of this incredible oil is said to have the same calming effect on the mind as taking a valium… yes, really!
Frankincense
This woodsy, spicy essential oil can help to purify and center the mind, body and spirit, while providing both anti-aging and anti-acne benefits.
Calendula
This vibrant orange-gold flower helps to reduce inflammation, fight the signs of aging, and promote a radiant glow.
Rose
Beautiful aromatic rose will help to instantly lift you up out of the depths of despair while infusing your pores with deep nourishment.
Spearmint
Antibacterial, refreshing and wonderful for helping you focus.
Cedarwood
Warm, woody cedarwood will leave you feeling comforted while its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties will help to clear up blemishes fast.
Vanilla
Who needs artificial perfume when you have sensual, natural vanilla? It also has powerful anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, a dream for calming irritated skin.
Adding essential oils into your beauty ritual will truly transform the way you approach your skincare routine forever! Not only are you infusing your pores with powerful nutrients to provide long-term benefits, you are also treating your senses to a dose of pure bliss!
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