Skin lotions can make your skin feel soft, but if you are looking for a more natural way to deeply nourish your body, essential oils are the way to go. Knowing how to use essential oils topically will help you eliminate the use of chemically-filled skin lotions.
More people every day are catching on the wonderful qualities that essential oils have to offer, and it is no surprise that the market value of essential oils is estimated to grow to 27 billion dollars by the year 2022!
Every oil has a different chemical structure, which affects how they are absorbed into your skin. They all need to be mixed with a specific amount of carrier oil and are best absorbed if applied to the right area on your skin.
So do you know how to use essential oils topically, the right way? If not, we got you covered.
Keep on reading to learn about using essential oils topically
Why Use Essential Oils?
Essential oils have much more benefits than sitting in a diffuser, they also have amazing benefits for your skin. There are hundreds of oils to choose from, each having its own way of helping your skin.
Essential Oils can help with anything from reducing wrinkles, balancing red skin, and even reducing scars and acne.
The most popular essential oils to use are:
Frankincense
Frankincense can help with reducing wrinkles and fine lines, and will also leave your skin with a nice glow.
Rosehip
Rosehip is packed full of vitamin C and anti-aging properties, the retinoids can help to brighten your skin and add a little glow.
Lavender
Lavender is excellent for reducing the signs of acne, it is very calming, nourishing, and can help you have a nice glow.
Tea Tree
Tea tree oil can help with anything from reducing blemishes with its antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties, to helping to alleviate the itching of a mosquito bite.
Ylang Ylang
Ylang Ylang can help with achieving that youthful glow and really moisturize your skin.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass oil is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and can help reduce the signs of aging. On vacation somewhere hot? Lemongrass oil helps to scare away pesky mosquitos!
Peppermint
Peppermint oil can help a bit deeper than the skin level as it is used to help alleviate muscle soreness and itchy skin. It has a powerful cooling effect that can awaken the senses and promotes calmness and stress reduction.
What is a Carrier Oil?
Most essential oils are so powerful that they need to be diluted with a carrier oil, otherwise they can dry and irritate the skin. This is because they have no lipids in them to work as a barrier and slowly absorb into the skin.
There are many carrier oil options, and it really comes down to which you (and your skin) prefer.
To choose the right carrier oil, first, consider:
- The odor of the oil- some may be strong in odor like almond or coconut.
- Your skin type- if you have sensitive, oily, or dry skin. Some oils may worsen your symptoms.
- Absorption rate- some carrier oils help the essential oils to absorb quicker.
- Shelf life- some carrier oils last longer on your shelf than others, and some have to be stored at certain temperatures. The most common types of carrier oils for essential oils are:
- Jojoba oil
- Coconut oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Apricot Kernel oil
- Rosehip oil
- Olive oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Avocado oil
To mix the oils, follow these dilution guidelines:
- 2.5% dilution- 15 drops of essential oil per 6 teaspoons of carrier oil
- 3% dilution- 20 drops of essential oil per 6 teaspoons of carrier oil
- 5% dilution- 30 drops of essential oil per 6 teaspoons of carrier oil
- 10% dilution- 60 drops of essential oil per 6 teaspoons of carrier oil
How to Use Essential Oils Topically
From the crown of your head to the tips of your toes, essential oils benefit your entire body.
Pressure Points
- Wrist -Lavender, and Eucalyptus oils help to alleviate pain and swelling from carpal tunnel.
- Jaw– Tense jaw? Massage Lavender or Peppermint oil into your jaw to release tension
- Each side of your nose– Tea tree, lavender, Rosehip, or Sweet Orange to calm blemishes.
- Temples – Peppermint, lavender, and lemon are wonderful for relaxing and de-stressing in this area.
- Shoulders– Peppermint or Eucalyptus oil can help to reduce tension and pain in the shoulders. If it is stress-related, use Lavender oil
- Back of the neck– create a peppermint halo by rolling peppermint oil in a circle on the back of your neck.
- Third eye chakra– Lavender, Clary sage, Bergamot, and Patchouli help to open the third-eye chakra.
- Crown Chakra– Frankincense, Sandalwood, Rosewood, Lavender, and Cedar all help to clear the area above the crown chakra
- Hairline -Rosemary oil helps to stimulate hair follicles into growing faster.
- Stomach– Soothe a sore tummy or digestive problems with peppermint oil.
- Chest – Eucalyptus or Juniper helps to release congestion in the chest area.
Feet
Applying essential oils to your feet a bit different than applying on the rest of the skin. Oils are much more quickly absorbed when applied to your feet, and this area is full of reflexology points and pressure points to alleviate many issues in the body.
For antifungal purposes, apply Tea tree oil to the feet, or Rosemary, Bergamot, Peppermint for their wonderful nourishing qualities.
Make sure to check this essential oil reference book before applying the oils to your skin, so you can receive the ultimate benefits that your body deserves.
Learn More About Essential Oil Use
There you have it! A full guide on how to use essential oils topically, to reap the powerful benefits of mother nature’s plants.
This is just the tip of the iceberg with essential oil use, there are so many more uses, oils, and benefits to learn about!
If you found this article helpful, check out the health and fitness section of our blog for more information.
