Blog Category: Beauty

I wanted to share a recent article I wrote for the Crazy Wisdom Journal about essential oils. This article and many others great articles can also be  viewed at https://crazywisdomjournal.squarespace.com/current-issue 

Essential Oils: More Than Just Pretty Aromas

Sure, essential oils can leave your home smelling of fresh cut lavender or the bright citrusy scent of lemons but they are so much more than a pretty aroma. Did you know they can be used to support healthy emotions, keep you alert, focused, calm, and relaxed? All this is made possible in the limbic system, which is our emotional brain. Our limbic system supports five major functions: Emotions, behavior, motivation, long-term memory, and sense of smell. As you inhale essential oils, the tiny molecules enter the nasal cavity and pass by the olfactory bulb. Your olfactory bulb is a part of your limbic system and therefore your response to an aroma is going to be emotional before it can be rational. This all happens in three seconds!

 

First things first, all essential oils are not created equal! I am sure you have noticed that essential oils are everywhere these days. But I am here to tell you that there is a huge difference in quality between brands. To get the most therapeutic benefit from your essential oils look for 100% therapeutic grade. Your essential oils should not have flammability warning labels on the bottle (these oils are in a base of alcohol) or the word “fragrance or parfum” as these will have synthetic ingredients. Some oils are pre-diluted with carrier oil which makes them less expensive and less potent. Do your research and go with a trusted company. I personally use Young Living Essential Oils. 

 

Essential oils can be used aromatically by adding them in a diffuser, inhaling them direct from the bottle, in diffuser jewelry (that can be worm in lieu of synthetic fragrances), be made into sprays to freshen your home and linens, or mixed with Epsom salts in a warm aromatic bath. Essential oils also have benefits when applied topically to the skin and can actually be found within the bloodstream in as little as 26 seconds.

 

When applying essential oils to the skin there are a few safety precautions to consider. Some essential oils can be applied to the skin “neat”, meaning straight from the bottle, and some require carrier oil such as coconut, jojoba, or olive oil. Be sure to check the bottle for dilution recommendations and if you have sensitive skin test a small area first. Carrier oils help to dilute the essential oils and are great when applying oil to a large area such as with massage.

 

Some places to apply essential oils are pressure points at the temples, wrists, and behind ears. Apply the oils to your energy centers of the body or chakras, to the bottoms of your feet at the vita flex points (reflexology), or anywhere you feel drawn to that needs extra support. Essential oils can also be applied over different organs in the body to help with emotions. Our organs are linked to different emotions. We hold onto fear in our kidneys and anger in our liver. By applying oils to these areas of the body it can help facilitate release.

 

Feeling stressed or anxious? Try adding a few drops of calming oils such as Lavender, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile, or Cedarwood to the palm of your hands, rub them together to activate, then cup hands over your nose and mouth and take three slow deep breaths. As you breathe deeply and inhale the oils they create a calming effect in the body.

 

Frankincense is distilled from tree resin and has been used for centuries in spiritual rituals and ceremony. It can be used during meditation to increase spiritual awareness, calm the mind, and promote emotional balance.

 

Roman Chamomile flowers were historically used by Roman soldiers to clear their minds before battles. It is relaxing and can help balance and release emotions, calm anger, and diffuse irritability.

 

One way I like to use my oils is through scent memory recall. In the morning I choose an essential oil and an affirmation or intention for the day. While inhaling the essential oils I repeat my affirmation or intention. I then apply the oil to my skin and as I smell the aroma throughout the day I am reminded of the intention I set. By inhaling lavender and repeating the positive affirmation “I am calm and relaxed” you can help reduce stress. If you need courage before a big presentation use Roman chamomile and repeat “I am fearless”.

 

Having a down day and need a little pink me up? Citrus oils such as Lemon and Bergamot are very uplifting and refreshing to the body, mind, and your mood. Feeling tired and need boost of energy? Skip that second cup of coffee and try diffusing or applying Lemon and Peppermint together. Peppermint is invigorating, purifying, and stimulating to the mind and can help you remain focused.

 

Palo Santo and Sage can be beneficial to help clear out negative energy in the body or in a physical space. You can add these oils to a diffuser to clear a space, make a room clearing spray, or apply them to your body. I find Palo Santo to be very grounding when applied to the bottoms of my feet. Fun fact, it takes two years after a Palo Santo tree has been cut for the oil to be pulled into the heartwood (dense central wood of trunk) and can be extracted and distilled. Palo Santo has been used in rituals for purification and cleansing and can help with spiritual awareness and emotional balance.

 

As you can see there is so much more to essential oils than just aromas and this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. To learn more please visit my website www.naturallyyl.com or email me at michelle@naturallyyl.com.. Or get started today with essential oils by clicking here. 

 

Since 2013 Michelle has been a natural living advocate and essential oil educator, helping others on their journey to a toxin free lifestyle with Young Living Essential Oils. She is a creative soul that crafts home remedies and natural products using essential oils, loves cooking from scratch and creating art from elements found in nature.

Want to wear a delicious scent without all of the harmful toxins in conventional perfumes? You can easily make your own DIY natural parfum using a few simple ingredients you already have and essential oils. 

Conventional parfumes are made using "fragrance". Companies do not have to label what ingredients are in their parfum because of the Trade Secrets Act. So we as the consumer have absolutely no idea what harmful toxins are in anything that is labeled with "fragrance" as an ingredient. Chemicals in fragrance are so toxic studies have shown that breathing them in as just as bad as breathing in second hand smoke. 

I'm going to share one of my favorite recipes here for a natural DIY parfum but I need to give credit to Melissa Poepping and her book Essential Parfumerie. This girl has done all of the work for us ladies and come up with some seriously amazing recipes using essential oils. She even came out with a book with men's cologne recipes too!

16 drops Bergamot essential oil

13 drops Orange essential oil

4 drops Lavender essential oil

6 drops Rose essential oil

18 drops Cold pressed clear organic vanilla 

80 Proof Vodka

Distilled water

Rose quartz tumbled chips *

You can make this into a parfum roll-on or a parfum spray. 

I love to apply of spray this blend right over my heart to help open up the heart chakra and let love flow in and out. 

Your heart chakra is located in the center of your chest and is the central energy center of your body with the three higher chakras located above it and the three lower chakras located below it. The heart chakra is your center of love, compassion, and spirituality. With in this chakra resides the energies of courage, forgiveness, peace, gratitude, and connectivity. Essential oils like Rose and Bergamot can help open the heart chakra and radiate love energy.

If you are new to the chakra system a book I love is Chakra Balance by April Pfender

With the weather getting warmer and my feet being back in flip flops I realized that my feet needed a little TLC after a long winter. Salt scrubs can be an great way to slough off the dry skin, leaving your tootsies soft and supple and ready for Spring! This recipe makes a perfect gift for Mother's Day  or for that new mom or bride to be too:) 

1/2 cup Espom salts or sea salt

1/4 cup pink Himalayan salt

1 tbsp dried lavender

1 tbsp dried rose petals 

2 drops Lavender essential oil

1-2 drops of Rose essential oil *optional but makes it smell amazing!

1/2 cup cold pressed sweet almond oil

Glass or ceramic mixing bowl

(You can get the dried flowers on amazon)

The combination of Epsom salts and pink Himalayan salts work to scrub off the dead skin and give you a good dose of trace minerals. With your skin being the largest organ on your body and the pores on your feet being larger than other areas, you can get those much needed minerals all while you pamper yourself. So much of the modern food we eat is devoid of these essential minerals so it is important to supplement to make your your body is getting what it needs. 

Your feet will not only smell absolutely amazing but they will feel super soft. I did this before bed and could smell the oils on my feet while I was laying in bed. They were like my own little personal diffuser :) 

So lets learn a little more about the different ingredients in this recipe.

Did you know it take 22 pounds of rose petals to make one 5 ml bottle of Rose Essential oil!? This is just one reason this is a highly prized essential oil. Its sweet, rich aroma encourages feelings of positive self-reflection and can create an uplifted feeling when inhaled. It has been used for thousands of years topically to leave skin looking radiant. 

 Lavender  cleanses and soothes minor skin irritation, can be soothing to the skin after a day in the sun, reduces the appearance of blemishes and supports aging skin. It is wonderful applied to dry and stressed skin. 

Rich in Vitamin E, monosaturated fatty acids and many other healthy minerals and vitamins, sweet almond oil is wonderfully moisturizing. Use for smooth beautiful skin, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by helping to repair the skin's collagen layer. Great for strengthening nails. 

Winter weather have your skin feeling super dry? Last week I shared my beauty serum recipe for my combination/oil and blemish prone skin so I wanted to now share some oils that are great for those who have dry skin. After I had my daughter I had super dry skin for about a year which was something I was not accustomed to so I tried and used a lot of amazing oils and products and had great success!  (though now my hormones have leveled out my skin is back to combo/oily :)

Now if you are a DIYer and are ready to try out making your own beauty serum here are a few suggestions to start with. Lavender, Sandalwood and Frankincense. 

Lavender  cleanses and soothes minor skin irritation, can be soothing to the skin after a day in the sun, reduces the appearance of blemishes and supports aging skin. It is wonderful applied to dry and stressed skin. 

 Sandalwood supports the appearance of healthy-looking skin and can be added to enhance your favorite skin and hair products. It is a much thicker essential oil and when applied to the skin is very moisturizing. For those of you who enjoy meditation and yoga this oil can also Inspires passion and promotes feelings of confidence and clarity. 

Another great oil that I already mentioned in my recent blog post is Frankincense. 

For making your own beauty serums here are some good options for carrier oils for dry skin: Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil, Hemp Oil and Rosehip Seed Oil are all great options

This ready made beauty serum was a life saver for me and my super dry post pregnancy face :)

 This serum contains essential oils like Blue Cypress and Lavender, known for their ability to restore the skin’s natural moisture balance. The scent is amazing and I loved how super soft my face felt after using. You simply add 3-5 drops to your moisturizer and apply. 

Sandalwood Moisture Cream 

This cream is very moisturizing without being greasy. I love to use this on my dry hands and feet in the winter. Contains skin loving essentials like Sandalwood, Lavender and Myrrh. 

This deep, ultra-hydrating lotion recaptures the qualities of younger-looking skin by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helping skin feel smoother and more pliable. Contains essentials oils like Sandalwood, Cedarwood and Frankincense. 

Rose Ointment is a deeply nourishing blend for dry skin. Rose essential oil improves skin texture, while Tea Tree works to soothe rough, irritated skin. This is great for super dry areas on your face, elbows and especially dry nails & cuticles on you hands and feet. 

Everyone's body chemistry is different so mix and match and play around with what essential oils and products work best for your skin. As with changing any skincare routine you will need to give your skin a few weeks to adjust. Especially if you have been using skincare with toxins, your skin may go through a slight detox period. 

Looking to get you DIY on and make some fun Holiday gifts for friends and family! Here is another super easy and fun recipe perfect for everyone on your list this year. Lavender Peppermint soaking salts are great for a relaxing bath or for a soothing foot soak after a long day of holiday shopping.

12 oz mason jar or larger
2 cups unscented Epsom salts
1 tbsp baking soda
1 tsp sweet almond oil or carrier oil of choice
¼ cup dried peppermint leaves
4 drops Lavender essential oil

In a bowl combine epsom salts, almond oil and essential oil and stir well to combine. Add in baking soda and peppermint leaves and stir well until mixed. Store in mason jar. To use add 2 heaping tbsp into muslin bag and add to tub of hot water soak and enjoy! 

*Don't have dried peppermint leaver or tea? No worries you can make this recipe using 2 drops of Peppermint essential oil in lieu of the peppermint leaves :)

Lavender Essential oil is actually one of the most well know essential oils. It has so many uses that it is jokingly called the swill army knife of essential oils.  Many lavender essential oils on the market are filled with synthetic fragrance and fillers so be sure you are using a high quality product to get the most therapeutic benefit like Young Living's Lavender. 

Aromatic: Diffuse lavender for focus, to create a calming atmosphere and for a more restful night sleep. 

Topical: Apply Lavender with a few drops of carrier oil on stressed skin. Try adding a few drops to a small glass spray bottle for a lovely pillow or linen spray. 

Internal: Add 1-2 drops of Lavender Vitality to your next batch of fresh squeezed lemonade or add into shortbread cookies for a tasty treat!