What are Essential oils?

04 Nov, 2016 - 00:11 0 Views
What are Essential oils?

The ManicaPost

Ann Ruthenburg — HELLO there everyone, how are you all this month. Yooooo, we are getting closer to the end of the year and boy, oh boy it has been a crazy year so far.

Many people have been asking me to explain what essential oils are or what they are used for. Essential oils are …yes… miracle oils if used correctly. But they can also do a lot of internal or external damage if misused. We have heard about lemon oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus, peppermint and frank incense etc.

Essential oils are derived from either the flower of a plant or from the leaves or stem of a plant. So one must know the difference and how the oil is to be used. Some oil is used as a massage, others to be inhaled and others massaged in.

My favourite use of essential oils is around the home, they are stronger than air fresheners and last longer and are healthier. Most of the oils need to be diluted by what we call a diffuser.

Sugar Face Scrub
Add ten drops each of vanilla and lavender oil to one cup sugar and ½ cup coconut oil. Apply gently to your face for an all natural sugar scrub. Rinse with cool water.

Wash Away Fishy Smells from Skin
You can use hand soap infused with a few drops of lemon oil to cleanse the lingering fish or shrimp smell from your hands after preparing these foods.

Extract Gum from Hair
Put away the scissors. Instead, use a drop of lemon essential oil to loosen gum (or other sticky substances) and painlessly extract them from hair.

Steam-Clean Your Pores
Add a few drops of lavender essential oil to a pot of steaming water. With a towel draped across the back of your head to trap the steam, lower your face over the water and let the steam permeate your face for up to 10 minutes to open and cleanse your pores.

Night Relaxation
Add five drops of rose essential oil to a rice bag and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Place the bag on your neck or forehead for instant tension relief and relaxation.

Create Natural Highlights In Your Hair
Add lemon essential oil to your daily styling products to increase the bleaching effects of sun exposure on your hair. The more time you spend outdoors, the lighter your natural highlights will appear.

Facial Mist
Mix three drops of lavender oil with eight ounces of water in a small spray bottle. Spray directly on your face each morning for a calming and refreshing mist.

Perfume
For an intense and entirely natural scent, simply mix a few drops of either jasmine, vanilla or lavender essential oil with alcohol and apply a little bit to the insides of your wrists.

Moisturise and Speed Healing of New Tattoos
Dilute tea tree oil in a carrier such as coconut oil and apply to new tattoos. This will prevent infection and keep inked skin moisturised to speed the healing process.

Give Ordinary Shampoo Anti-Dandruff Superpowers
Add a drop of tea tree oil to your daily dollop of shampoo to combat the villain known as dandruff!

Body Butter
In a stand mixer, combine equal parts coconut oil, shea butter and magnesium oil until well blended. Add a few drops of your favourite essential oils for a customised body butter.

Scented Lotion
To add a little excitement to your unscented lotion or coconut oil, just add ten drops of your favourite scent for a unique blend that is entirely you. You can also mix and match scents and play around with essential oil blending.

Acne Face Wash
Make this face wash with a few drops of tea tree oil and raw honey. Apply daily to cut back on acne and clear your skin.

Body Spray
Add 5-10 drops of your favourite essential oil to a small spray bottle filled with water. Spritz all over your body for instant freshness.

Thicken Hair
Add a few drops of rosemary oil to your regular shampoo to thicken and volumise hair.
Pedicure Protection For Your Toenails Massage a drop or two of tea tree oil onto your toes and toenails before getting a pedicure to protect your tootsies from any communal microbes that may be hovering about in public places.

Dry Skin
If you suffer from dry elbows or knees, rub a few drops of lavender oil onto your skin daily. Over time, these dry patches will soften and become smooth.

Hair Refresher
Some days you just don’t feel like washing your hair. If that’s the case, apply five drops of your favourite scent to your brush, your hair will be left smelling fresh and clean.

Facial Toner
Mix two drops each of lemon, tea tree and orange oil with ½ teaspoon of coconut oil. Apply to your face with a natural cotton ball in the morning to keep your face feeling fresh and your skin even.

Massage Oil
Mix five drops of lavender oil with ½ teaspoon olive oil and apply to sore muscles and tension spots for a soothing massage.

Reduce Wrinkles
Mix three to five drops of sandalwood, geranium, lavender and frankincense oils with unscented lotion and apply to your face daily. Do not get in eyes.

Pre-Workout Energy Boost
Take a whiff of peppermint oil before you exercise. You will instantly feel more energized and ready to tackle your workout.

Strengthen Nails
Mix two drops of frankincense oil with ½ teaspoon of coconut oil. Rub directly onto your nails to strengthen weak or brittle nails. Be sure to rub around cuticles as well.

Lighten the Mood
Add lavender, rose, ylang-ylang, Roman chamomile, or orange oil to a diffuser to calm tension in a room and reduce stress.

Energy boost
Simply rub a few drops of grapefruit oil between your palms, and you will instantly feel energised.

Ann can be found at Kutz&Kurlies Hair Salon in Meikles Stores or messaged on 0733285730 or follow her Blog (annruthenburg.blogspot.com) or email on [email protected]

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