Winter Skin Series: January
“I expect that essential oils may some day prove a vital weapon in the fight against strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria”
It’s January! The first month of the calendar year, one synonymous for goal setting and starting healthy ventures. Also a perfect time to talk about my favorite healers for the mind, skin and body, ESSENTIAL OILS! This month, my Winter Skin Series is only going to focus on this one topic, but being such a big topic to cover, there will be a lot to this one focus!
Let’s begin with safety, it is always important to know the parameters when using essential oils for wellness and health. It’s important to note that not all things that are “natural” are necessarily “safe”, they could be stronger then drugs or cause issues when used incorrectly. I would also like to add that as I am not a doctor, I cannot tell you that essential oils will “heal” or “cure” anything, instead think of them as boosters to help give an extra nudge to whatever it is you’re addressing.
Some essential oils require that you buffer them in a carrier oil, like Jojoba or Fractionated Coconut Oil. I like to get Apricot Kernel Oil for skin care and Coconut Oil for body care, but use what you like and what works for your skin. If you’re unsure with carrier oils, check out my blog Back to Basics: Facial Serums, Oils & Ampoules where I discus what oil is meant for which skin type. Not all essential oils need to be put in a carrier oil first, a great book and resource for using oils is “Modern Essentials: Usage Guide” and in today’s modern world, I am sure you can find it online!
“The essential oil in a bottle is 50-100 times more concentrated than in the plant, and safety issues apply to essential oils that may not apply to the whole plant or herbal extract. The rise in popularity of essential oils together with, very often, insufficient information on safety precautions in using them, coincides with an increased prevalence of adverse reactions, and it is likely that these are linked.” (Robert Tisserand, www.tisserandinstitute.com)
I mentioned dilution before, but what does that actually mean? Well lucky for you Mr. Tisserand made a super beautiful and easy chart to show what the percentages mean in terms of drops of oil :
There are still some oils that have special needs when it comes to dilution, they could cause a skin reaction or allergy or can lead to phototoxicity which means you are “allergic” to the sun and it can become toxic when skin that has these oils becomes exposed to sunlight. My rule of thumb is always to err on the side of caution, for phototoxic oils, even lime and lemon can fall into this category, I will either use at night or follow the below guide and just not use very much.
To recap, you now know that oils might need to be diluted for safety and you have a handy chart to help guide you. The book I mentioned above fills in a lot of the gaps when it comes to understanding how and why to use essential oils, and you have an idea of which oils require some special attention. So, why use them and which ones should you use?
“Synthetic or inorganic substances do not contain any ‘life force’; they are not dynamic. Everything is made of chemicals, but organic substances like essential oils have a structure which only mother nature can put together. They have a life force, an additional impulse which can only be found in living things”
Each oil has its own unique property, because just like mentioned above, they are alive and have ‘life force’. I will never forget, in my Esthetics textbook when I was in beauty school there was a small blurb on essential oils and they said that “Essential Oils are the fragrant soul of the plant” and I just love that. Mother Nature is so magnificent and the fact that the “fragrant soul” of a plant or herb can cause changes in your own body just makes me respect our planet that much more. Which, in talking about respecting our planet, it is important to know where your oils are being sourced from and making sure it is in a environmentally safe way. Over sourcing certain plants can lead to a dilution in the strength, an imbalance in the market and it the plant population. Buying oils that are not therapeutic grade though does significantly lower their potency and properties. You never want to use artificial fragrance and call it essential oils, you also don’t want to ingest chemicals and the word “fragrance” does mean there are chemicals present to create that aroma.
There are a few ways to apply and use essential oils; directly to the skin, aromatically in a diffuser, placed in a veggie capsule or dropped into water for ingestion and the list goes on! Essential Oils “aroma” also offers more benefits than just smelling good as the olfactory sense is one of our strongest senses and can activate the brain through the olfactory bulb. So even though it doesn’t directly come into contact with your body, it can positively affect the brain unlike drugs and medicine. They say that memories triggered by smell have the most emotional impact on us, think a realtor baking cookies in a house they are showing. Some benefits found in essential oils are they can be antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-infectious, antimicrobial and even antioxidants which in skincare we can never get enough of!
Knowing which oils to use for what comes with time, experience and education. But we live in a fast paced world where all the information out there is available at our fingertips. So here are my Top 10 Favorite Oils:
Lavender
You can’t talk about essential oils without bringing up lavender! You can use it as in insect repellent, to care for cuts, rashes and burns, soothe irritated skin and even calm down our minds. An overall amazing oil, this one should probably be kept in your medicine cabinet at home next to Neosporin.
Tea Tree
Also known as “Melaleuca” this amazing essential oil should never be consumed but can be applied topically (buffered with a carrier oil like coconut or used neat with no carrier but can be photosensitive) or used aromatically in a diffuser or spray bottle as a bug repellent. Used topically it can be beneficial for ailments like arthritis, bone spurs, carpal tunnel syndrome, high blood pressure, cramps and constipation to name a few!
Lemon
Also a photosensitive oil, please make sure you aren’t applying this directly to skin and then going out in the sun. The recommendation is to avoid sun exposure if used topically for at least 12 hours, personally I love to diffuse this at home or work to lighten the mood. Other uses for lemon oil: anxiety, bites/stings, cold sores, colds, concentration, greasy/oily hair, skin tone, MRSA and even varicose veins. You can eat this one too! Place 1-2 drops under your tongue or add to a beverage like tea or water, can be used in cooking as well.
Peppermint
If you have ever had a headache and have a hippy, earth-mom friend, they probably put peppermint either on you or in your hand for inhalation. Word of caution: peppermint is kind of a “hot” oil so when used near the eyes it can burn, absolutely do not apply anywhere near your eyes! I did this by accident to a friend and her headache was gone but she felt like her eyes were being burned out of her face….. Other benefits of peppermint (face burning not being one of them) it can help with concentration and test prep, just inhale before studying or diffuse and then inhale again before test taking. Also great for bowel issues, parasites, muscle aches, jet lag, itching, tennis elbow and varicose veins.
Eucalyptus
One of my favorite twigs to pick up at our local Farmers Market here in Sacramento, Eucalyptus is not only aromatically calming but it also is antibacterial and great to use when fighting a cold. Used either topically neat (no dilution needed), or can be diluted with a 1:1 ratio if sensitive skin is a concern. You can also diffuse this or just inhale from your palms to get the benefits of this little gem. Targets asthma, brain blood flow, inflammation, disinfectant, overexercised muscles, measles and more.
Frankincense
This is a “king oil” meaning it is literally used for everything, good for everyone and around since the inception of our planet I’m sure. Or it could be called that because it was found inside of King Tut’s tomb… regardless of it’s ancestry this is an amazing oil and great for your face! Known to treat fine lines and wrinkles, you will commonly find this in anti-aging skincare. Other uses for Frankincense are Alzheimer’s disease, brain (aging or injury), memory, infected wounds, coughs, depression, genital warts and hepatitis, MRSA, nasal polyps, scar prevention, ulcers and Parkinson’s disease. Can be applied neat with no dilution, diffused or inhaled and can even be eaten (therapeutic oils only please not Dollar Store oils!) 1-2 drops under the tongue or in a veggie capsule.
Wild Orange
I recently was in a Aroma Bliss Yin Yoga class at Yoga Shala and they had used this oil blend called Citrus Bliss. Let me just tell you that no one could knock me down from the good vibes I floated out there on! I immediately invested in a bottle and have been using it daily to keep my mood in balance. Other uses for Orange are sluggish digestion, fear, insomnia, withdrawal and nervousness. An overall amazing oil to keep you feeling great all day long. Apply straight to skin, diffuse or even ingest to enjoy the benefits.
Rosemary
Something I used to hate and now love, Rosemary can be a strong aroma but when used correctly can really pack a healthy punch! If you are afflicted with addictions, flu, headaches, inflammation, greasy/oily/loss hair, memory or any kind of vaginal problems this is the oil for you. It can be applied directly to skin but always do your research before just putting Rosemary on your concern! This is on of those oils that is not recommended during pregnancy, but again consult or oil practitioner or naturopath doctor before using. Seeing as though this is an herb, the oil can be used in cooking or taken orally, and can also be used aromatically.
Ylang Ylang
Always a tricky one to pronounce, Ylang Ylang (as I say “ee-lang ee-lang”) has been used as an aphrodisiac for centuries, but it does have some more benefits than just the bedroom. Can also be used for hormonal balance, high blood pressure, hair loss, tachycardia, fear/calming and diabetes. You can now find this everywhere, I just got an aromatherapy body care set from Bath & Body Works with Ylang Ylang in it! This oil can be applied neat (no dilution) or mixed with other oils in a carrier oil like jojoba or coconut oil. Diffuse or take in capsules, try it out and see how you like ylang ylang.
Neroli
This oil I met at the same time as Ylang Ylang, they were actually paired in a skincare product I was working with and I fell in love with the aroma. I didn’t know that Neroli is in the family with orange blossoms, which makes sense when you smell it and feel uplifted afterwards. Some other benefits include soothing, easing menopause symptoms and high blood pressure. Can be diluted or diffused, might also be used in a roller ball that you can keep with you for when you need to calm down anxiety.
There is a theme I noticed as I looked up these oils, a lot of them have similar benefits and they all deal with our wellness and overall stress-relief. It has been said before that stress is what kills us and causes dis-ease in the body, our illnesses are just our bodies way of alerting us to an underlying issue With that said, it is clear to me that we can all benefit from adding in a little essential oil into our lives!
Here are some quick fun recipes for DIY Facial Oils:
*Mix 6-10 drops of oil in a carrier oil like Jojoba, Apricot Kernal or Coconut.
Face Oil Blend for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin: Rosehip, Lavender, Frankincense, Neroli , Ylang Ylang and Tea Tree Oil
Face Oil Blend for Dry and Sensitive Skin: Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Rosehip Oil
Face Oil Blend for Mature and Aging Skin: Geranium, Lavender, Clary Sage, Frankincense and Rosehip Oil
For more information about essential oils and ideas for DIY products check out my Pinterest board Oil Lover and fall in love with the beautiful fragrant soul of Mother Nature🌻
Stay healthy and happy in 2020!
Till next time, be good to your skin and even better to yourself,
xx eri