Essential oils are natural extracts from plants that have been reduced into highly concentrated forms. While most people use them solely for aromatherapy, they have many uses, some of which might surprise you! Let’s take a look at everything you can do with your essential oil collection (with a tip or two on which oils work best and why)!
1. Skincare and Massage
While it’s never a good idea to apply essential oils directly to your skin, you can dilute them with a carrier oil and use them for skin care and massages! Even better, you can add a drop or two to some of your favorite products, such as serums, toners, and muscle rubs, to create the perfect blend to put a smile on your face.
As promised, here’s your tip or two: If you have dry skin, use lavender, chamomile, or sandalwood to get the extra moisture needed for a glowing complexion. If your skin is oily, use clary sage, rosemary, or frankincense!
2. Pain Relief
Most of us are used to grabbing that bottle of ibuprofen as soon as pain is triggered in our bodies, but some essential oils have been proven to reduce pain and inflammation! Again, be sure to add the proper carrier oil or lotion, as essential oils are incredibly concentrated and can do more harm than good if used straight from the bottle.
A tip or two: Peppermint tea has long been recommended for headaches, but the oil is a natural menthol with analgesic properties! Wintergreen also has the same effects. For inflammation and eczema, try patchouli.
3. Laundry Day
Okay, so this might fall slightly in the realm of aromatherapy, but only in so much as there’s nothing quite like getting your clothes from the dryer and inhaling that fresh, clean scent! See, here’s the thing, most scented laundry detergents use artificial additions that can easily irritate your skin. By buying a scent-free laundry detergent with very few chemicals in it and controlling the scent addition with essential oils, you’ll be doing yourself (and your household) a huge favor!
There are two ways to do this. Either add a drop or two in the washing machine or slightly dampen a washcloth or wool dryer ball and add a drop or two to it before tossing it in the dryer. Want to go wild? Do both! Just be careful about how much you add and what clothing you have in the washer. You wouldn’t want any oil stains on your clothes.
Your promised tip: The best essential oils for laundry are lemongrass, peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree oil. Feel free to mix and match until you get a scent that makes you happy! Personally, I prefer eucalyptus and lemongrass.