Beauty School: How you should be using your essential oils

Essential oils can be used for a multitude of reasons, ranging from health to beauty, due to their various properties that are beneficial to our well-being. However, the appropriate way to use an essential oil may not be as straightforward as it looks. Here are some ways you can maximise the use of that small bottle you have at home – be it for fragrance, skincare or even as an ingredient in your food.

Aromatherapy

Inhaling the scent of an essential oil can have numerous benefits to your physiology and emotions, depending on which oil you choose. Each type of oil has its own effects, so select one that caters to your needs. A diffuser is one of the simplest tools you can use to make your room smell amazing, while an oil burner is a stronger method that really extracts the fragrance out of the oil while you rest, for a better sleep. For convenience, you can simply place a few drops of essential oil in the palm of your hand and cup your hands around your nose as you breathe in deeply. You can even mix the essential oil in a spray bottle of water to spritz on furniture, carpet and clothing!

Topical

Many people have been using essential oils as a topical solution to treat their skin problems, acne being a very common issue. This is because essential oils easily penetrate into the skin and are therefore very effective in combatting skin woes. When applying an oil directly, make sure you check if the essential oil in question needs to be diluted before application, and that you are not sensitive to it. The concentration of oil should not be greater than 5%. Massaging the oil into your skin can increase blood flow to that area and in turn increase absorption. Feel free to add a few drops of oil to your bath as well if you want to enjoy both aromatic and topical effects. Sometimes, a drop of tea tree oil can be gargled with water to relieve any signs of sore throat, proving how versatile your bottle of essential oil can be.

Internal

Firstly, note that the ingestion of essential oils should be prescribed and supervised by a professional, and that only a selected number is deemed safe for consuming, such as grapefruit, lemon and peppermint. Even so, ingesting essential oils should be done sparingly to avoid overconsumption, so it is advised to treat them as medication instead of a daily routine. A good method to consume them based on your needs is by mixing one drop of the necessary oil in one tablespoon of honey, and then dilute it in a cup of warm water for drinking. You can also incorporate essential oils into your cooking, but combine them with a cooking oil if you’re doing so.

These are some basic methods you can use your bottle of essential oil in a safe and appropriate manner. Essential oils are great for treating headaches, wounds and colds, but make sure you conform to the guidelines for maximum benefit!

Dione Chen

Photo: Getty Images

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