Applying essential oils topically, or on the skin, is a safe and effective way of enjoying the benefits that essential oils offer the skin and other functions of the body. Due to their chemical makeup, essential oils can easily penetrate the skin and provide localised benefits to the applied area. Plus, by using an oil for its topical benefits, you can simultaneously enjoy its unique aroma as it sits on your skin and you breathe it in. While essential oils easily absorb into the skin, you can prolong the benefits of an oil by using a carrier oil to slow down evaporation, allowing it to moisturise your skin.
What is a carrier oil?
Carrier oils are lipid-based substances that can dilute essential oils. As the name suggests, a carrier oil will literally help “carry” essential oils to your desired area. Using a carrier oil like Fractionated Coconut Oil allows you to effectively apply an essential oil topically, without altering its potency. Some people worry that dilution makes an essential oil less effective; however, when you dilute an essential oil, it enhances the absorption by making it easier to disperse the oil over a larger surface area, which maximizes the topical benefits. One of the most important functions of a carrier oil is preventing skin sensitivities without lowering the oil’s efficacy. This is especially important if you’re using essential oils on children, or other individuals with sensitive skin, or if the oil is particularly strong. Ideally, a carrier oil should be a pure vegetable oil so that it easily dissolves an essential oil without damaging its delicate chemical profile. If the chemical makeup of an oil is altered or damaged in any way, the efficacy of the oil will be reduced, and you won’t reap the desired benefits. Vegetable-based oils like avocado, walnut, macadamia nut, sweet almond, linseed, sunflower, olive, and coconut oil are all appropriate choices for dilution.
Head
Starting at the head, you can add essential oils to your daily skincare regimen in order to improve the skin and maintain a clear complexion. To incorporate essential oils to your skincare routine, simply add a few drops to your facial cleanser, moisturizer, or body lotion. You can also dilute oils with a carrier oil like Fractionated Coconut Oil and apply them directly to your face. Lavender, Frankincense, Cedarwood, and Tea Tree are all commonly used for their beautifying properties. Applying essential oils to areas like your temples, forehead, base of the skull, and neck allows you to promote relaxation and target feelings of tension. If you tend to hold a lot of tension in your neck from working long days behind a desk, or you just need to unwind after a tense day, consider a soothing and relaxing massage on any of these areas. In particular, Peppermint oil can be helpful for a tension relieving massage.
Arms, wrists, legs & feet
Massaging essential oils onto the arms, wrists, legs, feet, and back after a workout or any kind of physical activity allows you to harness their soothing properties. Many essential oils have cooling and warming properties, which make for relaxing massages after exerting your body. Wintergreen, Cassia, or Blue Tansy can all enhance the relaxing effects of massages or stretching exercises. If you use Cassia, make sure to dilute it before any topical application.
Chest
The cooling and invigorating properties of essential oils can help promote feelings of clear breathing when applied topically to the chest. Applying oils to your chest will provide quick access to aromatic benefits and can even help create a cooling or soothing vapor that promotes feelings of clear airways and easy breathing. Some good oils to use for this include Eucalyptus, Cardamom, and Peppermint.
Abdomen
You can also apply essential oils such as Clary Sage, Lavender, and Geranium to the abdomen during your menstrual cycle when you want a comforting massage. Applying essential oils to your abdomen helps alleviate occasional digestive discomfort. Fennel, Peppermint, Ginger, and Coriander are just a few oils with soothing properties.
Feet
Another helpful way of applying essential oils topically is the bottoms of your feet. When trying an oil for the first time—or when using oils on children—the bottoms of the feet are a good place to start, because the skin there is thick and less prone to sensitivity.