Aromatherapy: The Best Essential Oils For Your Hair & Skin

If you're anything like me, I love all my beauty products to be as natural as possible. Having sensitive skin ain't no joke, so I am always looking for new ways to get my hands on these products. Enter...essential oils. We've already explored essential oils and anxiety (read our blog here). Now we're looking at the best oils to use for our hair and skin. Essential oils are so diverse and have heaps of benefits, we're trying to break that down for you so you can easily decided what will work for you! 

What Carrier Oil Should I Use? 

When it comes to using essential oils always dilute with a carrier oil if applying to skin and hair. There are many you can use but there are some popular ones out there and there popular for a reason! 

Both, coconut oil and jojoba oil are really versatile and great carrier oils for making massage oils, body moisturizes and hair care. Coconut oil is a classic and really good for creating conditioners to use for your hair. But, it does always get the spotlight and no hate to it but there are more options out there. Jojoba oil (technically a wax) absorbs very well onto skin and is better if you are wanting to create face scrubs/face moisturizers, as it may help ease acne prone skin. Generally speaking it is lighter and doesn't feel as greasy when compared to coconut oil. 

Argan Oil, like coconut is the perfect carrier oil to use when creating products for your hair. It helps moisturize your hair and scalp whilst helping reduce damage to hair, leaving your hair and scalp hydrated and healthier. 

It is important to do a patch test first when using any of these products on your skin, to ensure you do not have any allergic reactions.

Top 4 Essential Oils For Your Skin...

Tea Tree

 Native to Australia, tea tree oil is extracted through distillation from the leaves of the tea tree plant. A popular oil for skin care as it is known to have anti inflammatory properties and has been effective when treating acne. It can help soothe redness and swelling also. It can calm acne scars with the potential to smooth and clear skin. A refreshing, minty scent that will fit perfectly into any skincare routine. (A personal favourite of mine!). 

Grapefruit

Native to parts of South America, the Middle East and the Mediterranean grapefruit oil is becoming the go to oil for all things beauty. Extracted from the peel of the grapefruit, this refreshing citrus scent is known to have antibacterial properties. Rich in antioxidants it can be used regularly in a skin care routine to help promote clean, healthy skin and fight greasiness. (Bonus points for smelling wonderfully sweet!) 

Mandarin 

 Native to Asian countries, Japan, China and Vietnam mandarin oil is extracted from the rind of the fruit. Similarly to grapefruit, mandarin oil is a citrus but sweet smelling scent and is used in health beauty to brighten skin, reduce oily skin, and help ease scars and age spots. Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants mandarin oil is the perfect essential oil to have in the bathroom cupboard!

Lavender

Ah, lavender, always. Here she is again, just being all great and versatile. I can't not include lavender oil because of how great it is. It is a classic but who doesn't love a classic, amiright?!  Lavender is the most diverse of the essential oils and can be used for almost anything! Commonly known to help ease anxiety, you can also work this oil into your health and beauty regime. By gently moisturizing onto the skin (with your chosen carrier oil) lavender oil is the perfect in helping to ease dry skin. Not only this but it has natural anti-bacterial properties that can help ease acne, prevent breakouts and exfoliate your pores.

 How Best to Use Essential Oils for your Skin...

Please, Please PLEASE use a carrier oil when applying any essential oil to your skin! I really wouldn't recommend putting any essential oils directly onto your skin, it could cause irritation. 

Get creative and make your own!

 Add 2-5 drops of your chosen essential oil to your favourite carrier oil to create the best skin care routine. This can be added to various face scrubs, face moisturizers, and face cleansers.

 To create a refreshing face cleanser add 1 part tea tree oil OR grapefruit oil, 9 parts water and use to cleanse onto skin with a cotton pad or cloth. Use regularly to help ease acne and blemishes.

 Add 2-5 drops of lavender oil to jojoba oil to create a soothing moisturizer, perfect for hydrating dry skin. 

 Top Essential Oils For Your Hair Type

Depending on your hair type, there's going to be different essential oils that are more suited to you! Don't worry, we've got you covered...

Oily Hair: Bergamot

 Normal Hair: Eucalyptus

This refreshing, minty scent is found in Australia and is extracted through the distillation of the leaves from the plant (also known as a tasty snack for the koala bear!). This essential oil relives an itchy scalp and promotes hair growth. When added to a hair care routine it can nourish your hair, calm your scalp and promote a healthy shine! The dream! 

 Cedarwood

Native North America, with it's woodsy scent it is extracted through the bark, leaves and needles of the tree. Cedarwood oil can promote hair growth and reduce hair loss, it can also help balance the oil producing glands in scalp and with it's anti bacterial properties it can help ease dry scalp. 

 Dry Hair: Sandalwood Amyris 

Originating in Haiti it is extracted from the Amyris tree, they have beautiful white flowers! Similar to cedarwood, sandalwood has a woodsy scent with undertones of vanilla. This oil is known to help spilt ends, a dry scalp and promotes a healthier head of hair by strengthening roots. 

How Best to Use Essential Oils for your Hair...

Please, Please PLEASE use a carrier oil when applying any essential oil to your hair! I really wouldn't recommend putting any essential oils directly onto your scalp, it could cause irritation. 

 By adding 2-5 drops of your favourite essential oil to your shampoo and conditioner, you can reap the benefits with no hassle.

 Mix 2-3 drops of your chosen essential oil into a tablespoon of carrier oil and massage into your scalp for 2-3 minutes, wash off and your scalp with be left feeling hydrated and clean! 

 Create your own hair mask by using a carrier oil (I'd recommend argan or coconut oil) and add 2-5 drops, cover hair for 10 minutes and rinse off to leave nourished hair. 

Essential oils offer so many benefits to the mind, hair and skin. They can help ease many physical and mental symptoms and if you're looking to go down the natural route they may just be what you need! I'm not going to sit here and say they'll chnage your life, all your ailments will be gone because that's just not realistic and plus I am not a doctor. But there is something about essential oils for me, I feel they really can postively impact your life. The natural ability of these oils are amazing! And is it worth giving it a go? I'd say so. Even if your not so confident in using them in your beauty routine they smell amazing! Shop our own range of essential oils paired perfectly with our diffusers by clicking here, to make your home smell fresh and wonderful! 

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