Have you ever used essential oils for homemade remedies, natural skin care products, or to clean your home? Essential oils have countless benefits and uses. Here are some uses for essential oil and some information on the best essential oils to use for skin care, hair health, cleaning, and aromatherapy.
Essential oils can replace many health and beauty products. You can also use these oils to clean your home. Besides having an amazing smell, most essential oils have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Here are the most common uses for essential oils and some tips you had probably never heard before.
Plants contain hundreds of different compounds. Some of these compounds have beneficial properties while others simply have a pleasant smell. Some of these compounds have anti-inflammatory properties, while some act as antioxidants. Some plants have natural anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.
These compounds can be found in the seeds, bark, flowers, or roots of a plant. They can be extracted to make essential oils by pressing plant materials or by using a distillation process. Some solvents can also be used to extract essential oils. The essential oil has all the beneficial properties of the plant but is far more concentrated and effective than the plant materials.
Most essential oils are very volatile, which is why you should never use them in their pure form. A pure essential oil will typically evaporate very quickly and can irritate your skin due to its high concentration. Keep in mind that most essential oils are not considered as being safe when ingested.
Essential oils are diluted in a carrier oil. You can purchase essential oils that have already been diluted or mix them at home.
These are the most common carrier oils:
Most of these oils have a moisturizing effect and won’t mask the smell of the essential oils you mix them with. You need to have at least one carrier oil but should try different ones to see which carrier oils you like using.
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These are many uses for essential oils when it comes to skin health. Applying oil to your skin can seem counter intuitive, especially if you have oily or mixed skin.
However, essential oils restore the natural balance of your skin oils. Essential oils hydrate and soothe your skin. These natural remedies are a great alternative to skin care products that contain irritating chemicals.
Here are a few of the benefits associated with applying essential oils topically:
You can add a few drops of essential oil to a moisturizer. Use a moisturizer made with natural ingredients and take the time to massage it into your skin.
You can also dilute essential oils into a carrier oil. Make sure the concentration of the essential oil is not more than five percent, and use a lower concentration if you have sensitive skin. If you want to apply essential oils topically, it is always best to apply a very small quantity and wait a few minutes to see how your skin reacts.
These are the best essential oils for skin health:
Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial and antifungal. This essential oil reduces inflammation linked to acne, eczema, and psoriasis. It hydrates and soothes skin as well.
Rose essential oil has a pleasant and relaxing smell. It helps with inflammation and has astringent properties, which means this oil will cleanse your pores, minimize their appearance, and reduce wrinkles.
Myrrh essential oil reduces inflammation and hydrates your skin. It promotes skin elasticity and can help repair sun damage. This is an excellent option if you have acne-prone skin or want an oil with anti-aging effects.
There are additional uses for essential oils linked to hair and scalp health. Most shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks contain fragrances and other chemicals that can irritate your scalp.
You can use essential oils to treat conditions like dandruff or to promote hair growth. If you have dry and damaged hair, you can use a homemade conditioner or hair mask made with essential oils.
These are the best essential oils for hair health:
Lavender essential oil smells great and helps with hair growth. It will also make your hair follicles healthier. This oil is a great choice for scalp health since it has antimicrobial properties.
Rosemary essential oil is one of the best essential oils for hair growth. This essential oil can slow down hair loss and treat dandruff. You can safely massage this oil into your scalp and wait a few hours before rinsing.
Cedarwood promotes circulation. Massaging this essential oil into your scalp will improve hair follicle health and promote hair growth.
Lemongrass oil is your best option if you need to soothe a dry and itchy scalp.
Remember that essential oils can irritate your skin due to their high concentration. You should dilute these essential oils with a carrier oil or mix them with a conditioner that contains natural ingredients to avoid irritating your scalp.
Many essential oils can eliminate bacteria, fungus, and germs. You can replace cleaning products with essential oils to reduce exposure to chemicals.
Tea tree oil is one of the best essential oils for cleaning since it can eliminate germs, bacteria, and viruses. You can combine it with another antibacterial such as lemon or rosemary oil to get better results.
Eucalyptus and thyme essential oils are the best natural cleaners you could use during the flu season since these two essential oils kill germs. Combine them with cinnamon bark essential oil to disinfect.
Clove essential oil is another effective antibacterial and antiseptic. You can combine it with lavender essential oil for its pleasant smell and antibacterial properties.
Peppermint essential oil is the best essential oil for cleaning your bathroom since it eliminates fungus and bacteria. Wild orange essential oil is the best oil for cleaning your kitchen since this essential oil can break dissolve grease.
You will need to dilute these essential oils to clean your home. You only need to use three to five drops of essential oils per bucket of hot water to get results. Essential oils don’t interact with each other. Feel free to mix different essential oils to make a natural cleaner, but be mindful of the concentration!
Aromatherapy is another use for essential oil. This is a form of therapy that uses pleasant smells to stimulate positive reactions from your brain.
You can schedule an appointment with a specialist to explore this form of therapy or practice aromatherapy at home. Any oil that has a smell you find pleasant will work.
Even though you are only enjoying the scent of different essential oils, you should still mix them with carrier oils. This will prevent essential oils from evaporating too quickly and won’t affect you since carrier oil don’t have a strong smell.
The main benefit of aromatherapy is to relieve stress. Find a quiet space where you can be by yourself for a few minutes and take the time to enjoy the scent of your favorite essential oils. You can combine this with meditation.
Aromatherapy also helps with memory, energy levels, and can reduce some symptoms of depression. Some essential oils such as eucalyptus, sandalwood, rosemary, and peppermint help with headaches and recurring migraines. The best essential oils for reducing stress levels are lemon, lavender, peppermint, and ylang-ylang essential oils.
You know how to use essential oils for skin care, hair health, and for cleaning purposes. You also know about the benefits of aromatherapy.
There are many other uses for essential oils. Here are more resources to explore:
These resources combine more than 300 tips on how to use essential oils! This can be overwhelming, but you will probably find many uses you had never heard of before.
The great thing about essential oils is that you can get started with a couple of products. You only need to get a carrier oil and essential oil that has the benefits you are looking for. You can expand your collection of essential oils as needed, or stick to a few essentials that promote skin health or help you disinfect your home!
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