10 Points Guide to Getting Started with Essential Oils

When life gives you lemons...make lemonade. So I just got busy making lemonade. And now that my lemons are over am back to the routine and my blog world.

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Find a good esthetician and listen to her...she can change your life. Mine did. Until I found her my facials were nothing but just a relaxing session. After great results from her, I asked about the products she was using and to my surprise they were oils; pure essential oils. I started researching and then using them first for skin then for various other things and rest is history. I have not used any skin care product but my oils since last 4 months and the results speak for themselves.

Getting started with essential oils can be a learning curve. They are like prescriptions which will harm if used wrong. They are so potent that all it takes is 1-2 drops for each use. There are few exceptions like lavender and tea-tree(melaleuca). Here I wanted to put together a 10 point guide for getting started with these nature's therapeutic gifts. Once safely started, the world of aromatherapy is abundant with knowledge to learn and experiment. 

Firstly, essential oils are not oils as they do not contain fatty acids. they are highly concentrated plant constituents providing several medical benefits.

1. Never use essential oils neat on skin - always mix pure essential oils with carrier oils like jojoba oil, grape-seed oil, aloe oil before using on skin. There are some exceptions but dilution does not affect the results. Better be safe.
2. Little goes a long way - This is very potent stuff. You do not need more than few drops at a time. For each 10 ml of carrier oil only needs 5 drops of essential oil (2.5% dilution).
3. Store in dark glass bottles - away from direct sunlight. They are highly volatile and sunlight and heat can hamper their potency.
4. High antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptics and antiviral properties - Most EO's possess these properties. They are great for fighting infections and cleaning purposes. Lemon, tea-tree, lavender, peppermint, rosemary are my favs.
5. Great for acne - EO get quickly absorbed into the skin as have tiny molecules. They are not oils so work great for oily skin. Take facial steam or mix with jojoba oil and massage into skin. I do this daily and love the results. Lavender, tea-tree, sweet orange,  ylang yang are my favs.
6. Great moisturizer and anti-wrinkle for dry skin - Lavender, lemon, sandalwood, ylang yang are very moisturizing and enhances collagen creation in skin.
7. Great moisturizer and anti-wrinkle for oily skin - Lavender, rosemary, sweet orange saves oily skin from drying out of using acne products. In fact using these alone can cure acne too. I use them daily and swear by the great results.
8. Inhale relaxation - Just rub few drops on your palm to inhale and experience great relaxation, soothing and calm. Or out few drops in the soak bath, or your body scrub. Lavender, sweet orange, sandalwood, cedarwood are my favs
9. Only Buy Pure Essential Oils - Only buy therapeutic grade essential oils. All oils are not very expensive and they last years. Recommended MountainHerbs & Edens Garden
10. Alert - If you are allergic to any food, you probably are to that plant's essential oil. Remember essential oils are plant concentrates. So never forget that.

Still in doubt? For baby steps just buy pure lavender essential oil (click to buy) and you probably would only need one for everything you have been looking for.