Essential oils are all the rage these days and we wouldn’t be surprised if you have a diffuser or two in your home. While you may be able to recognize that essential oils are beneficial to your health, do you really know which scents go with which moods, and how to properly use essential oils on your skin?

To answer a few of the most common questions essential oil beginners have, we put together this handy guide for you.

Let’s get started!

What are essential oils?

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years (dating back to ancient Egypt) for many different purposes, including religious ceremonies and holistic healing methods. Highly concentrated, each oil is derived from a different part of the plant they come from; for example, orange oil comes from the rind, whereas rose oil comes from the petals and ginger oil from the root.

The consistency and color of essential oils can vary considerably between different oils and batches; some are thin like traditional oils, and others can be much thicker. Additionally, the colors range from clear to amber, green, or even dark blue.

What are essential oils used for?

So many things! You can find them in many natural skin and body care products, household cleaners, and, of course, in aromatherapy. They're also powerful for the mind and have incredible uplifting and calming effects when inhaled.

Some might assume that since essential oils are all-natural they would be safe for use right out of the bottle. Actually, the exact opposite is true (not to scare you!). A few drops of essential oil will go a long way, considering they're about 50-80 times more powerful than dried herbs!

This is why handling essential oils must be done with the utmost care and responsibility. They should always be diluted with water, or mixed with carrier oils or butters before applying directly to the skin.

When mixing with carrier oils, we recommend:

Coconut Oil: used for thousands of years for its nourishing properties; it is rich in nutrients and healthy fats that help give it smoothing, antimicrobial, and anti-aging properties.

Organic Saponified Olive Oil: a great natural cleanser and perfect for sensitive skin; also commonly known as castile soap.

Shea Butter: rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids; this powerful moisturizer provides all the nutrients necessary to boost collagen production and offers natural UV protection (SPF 6).

Hemp Seed Oil: high in Omega fatty acids and proteins, this cosmetic grade oil provides many nutrients and is commonly used in hair care products because of its moisturizing, strengthening, and hair growth stimulating properties

3 common uses for essential oils:

🔥 Soothing inflammation on the skin.

Plants are a natural anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and antiseptic (quite a mouthful); thus, making them great for skincare remedies...especially when used to battle acne, blemishes, sunburns, rosacea, sore muscles, and more. Tea tree and peppermint are two of the most commonly used essential oils for skincare.

Not sure where to start when it comes to essential oils for your skin? Try using a natural cleanser (like our handmade Clear Skin Foaming Cleanser) ​that contains tea tree oil to balance and restore your skin and help you win the fight against blemishes!

😊 Boosting your mood.

Essential oils are the perfect way to lift you out of a mid-day slump. Say goodbye to that extra cup of coffee before noon and say hello to memory-boosting rosemary, focus-enhancing peppermint, and mood-boosting citrus scents like orange and grapefruit. All it takes are a few drops in your diffuser.

😴 Helping you sleep.

Another common use for essential oils is to get a better night's sleep. Lavender has been proven to greatly decrease anxiety and increase sleep quality in a study of ICU patients. Try diluting some lavender oil with filtered water in a spray bottle to make a nighttime spritz.

 

A few notes on shopping for essential oils:

When buying your essential oils you’ll come across labels that read “pure,” “therapeutic,” or even “organic.” Unfortunately, these claims may not be 100% true.

Some companies are getting away with adding fillers and additives to their products in order to lessen their costs. A great way to prevent getting products like this is to avoid purchasing from third-party sites like eBay or Amazon, and instead purchasing directly from the company selling the oils themselves. You should do your due diligence and question their ingredients if you're unsure before making your purchase. The last thing you want is to end up with over diluted oils that offer little to no value; or even worse, oils that contain added toxins that could damage your skin and health.

At TruSelf we value our customers and would never put your health in jeopardy. This is why our products containing essential oils have essential oils that have been tested and verified as the real thing so that you can continue getting the results you want!