Essential Oils and your Skin

September 8, 2010

Essential Oils are highly concentrated so care must be taken to handle them correctly. 

Using certain essential oils on your skin through massage or a bath can cause irritation if it is applied undiluted.   However, there are exceptions like Tea Tree Oil and Lavender which can be used undiluted. But to avoid irritation (a very itchy red rash), it is important to follow the recipe carefully and dilute the essential oils with a carrier oil.  If a rash occurs, wash the affected area immediately and apply a base cream or oil (Sweet Almond Oil) to the area.  Then apply a cold wet cloth until the redness and itching stops.

There is also the risk of skin sensitization caused by an allergic reaction to the oil.  If you have allergy prone skin, it is best to avoid essentials oils that can cause sensitization altogether.  There is also the possibility if an allergic reaction even if you don’t have sensitive skin so be aware of your skin.

The best way to find out how your skin will react to an essential oil is to massage a small amount on your skin on the inside of your arm and cover with a band-aid overnight.  In the morning remove the band-aid and if your skin is normal, then the essential oil is safe for you to use.

Certain essentials oils such as citrus oils can be phototoxic and this can cause skin discolouration if you are exposing your skin to the sun.  It is best to avoid these oils in sunny weather.

Clearly Essentials Limited lists the aromatherapy uses and safety data of each essential oil and carrier oil we sell.  Please take the time to read carefully and if you have any questions or concerns please to not hesitate to contact us.

By jquigg | Posted in Essential Oils - Beauty Products, Using Essential Oils | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Essential Oils for Beauty Products

September 24, 2009

h1By enhancing your lotions, creams and other products with the right blend of our essential oils, you can naturally support a younger, fresher appearance, stronger hair, refreshed eyes, amplified lips, a smooth neck and jawline, fewer age spots, and less cellulite.

Having beautiful skin and hair takes a lot of work inside and out.  What you eat and drink, overall health, and how you take care of your skin is reflected in your appearance. So finding the right combination of essential oils in your skin and hair care regime can help you to refresh and beautify your hair, face and body.

Whether you have normal, dry, combination, oily, sensitive or mature skin – a good skin care regime along with the use of creams, lotions, toners, cleansers, massage, deep cleansing facial steamer, body scrubs, or soaps for the bath are just some of the ways you can incorporate essential oils into your skincare products.  Finding the right combination of essential oils will differ depending on your skin type but here are a few suggestions;

Normal Skin – chamomile, geranium, lavender, rosewood, sandalwood, ylang ylang

Dry Skin – chamomile, lavender, sandalwood, orange, ylang ylang

Oily Skin – bergamot, lavender, rosemary, geranium, juniper

Combination Skin – chamomile, lavender, geranium, cedarwood, tea tree, ylang ylang

Sensitive Skin (use oils in low concentration) – chamomile, lavender 

Mature Skin – clary sage, geranium, lavender, sandalwood, chamomile

And what about your hair – there are many ways such as a shampoo, conditioner, rinse or a treatment to incorporate essential oils into your haircare products depending on your hair type (normal, dry or oily).  Here are a few suggestions;

Normal Hair – chamomile, lavender, rosemary, cedarwood, geranium, thyme

Dry Hair – lavender, ginger, sandalwood

Oily Hair – lavender, lemon, lime, rosemary, ylang ylang

Do you need help finding the right essential oils or need help finding a recipe to make a product for your skin & haircare regime, Clearly Essentials can help you.  Check out our website of give us a call at (416) 751-0105.

By jquigg | Posted in Essential Oils - Beauty Products | Tagged | Comments (6)

CFA Fall Retreat

September 18, 2009

loyolaFor those of you who were able to enjoy a wonderful relaxing and exhilarating weekend up at Loyola House (Ignatius Jesuit Centre of Guelph) on behalf of the Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists – Welcome Back!

Clearly Essentials was happy to supply a small sample of our essential oils and our “Spirit” blend.  If you are reading this – you’ve had a chance to use them or are just a little curious about us.

We chose to give you a sample of our Organic Lavender because it is a popular essential oil and most versatile.  It is also one of the safest of essential oils and is used for uplifting your spirit (relaxation), easing your mind (calms emotional anxiety) and healing your body (irritated skin, sore muscles, respiratory or digestive).   Lavender’s  odor profile is a wonderful  sweet, floral, herbaceous and balsamic woody fragrance.

Our second choice was Organic Bergamot for it’s refreshing odor profile of rich, sweet-fruity smell followed by herbaceous balsamic notes which makes it a uplifting, sunny fragrance.  Bergamot should be avoided if you have sensitive skin and is phototoxic.  It is used for uplifting your spirit (relaxation), easing your mind (calms emotional anxiety, antidepressant) and healing your body (problem skin, calms muscles, respiratory or digestive).

Clearly Essentials can provide blended oils as well so if there is a particular fragrance you are looking for we would be more the happy to help.

Since we just now starting to offer our essential oils to the general public, we would love to hear from you so write us or just browse our website.  Thanks!

By jquigg | Posted in Clearly Essentials Limited | Tagged | Comment (1)