Use these oils with caution and you will love the benefits!
Unless you’ve been living under a rock the last few decades, you’ve probably heard about essential oils. From bath salts to commercial products to even DIY skincare, essential oils have been the buzzword for a while now.
Essential oils basically are highly concentrated constituents of plants. They can be found in several parts of the plant such as the root, bark, seed or flower. They give the plant a distinctive fragrance and also helps protect them.
These fragrant plant extracts are bottled through an elaborate process of distillation and are available as essential oils. Just to give you an idea of how concentrated these oils are, 450kgs of Lavender flowers will approximately yield about 5 kgs of Lavender essential oil. So the next time you grumble about how expensive essential oil-based products are, here is your answer!
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- Tea Tree Oil (Acne Prone Skin) Tea tree oil is a great natural way for getting rid of pimples. It has unique disinfecting and soothing properties that penetrate the skin to unblock the sebaceous glands, disinfect pores and dry out whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and other blemishes. Unlike other acne treatments, tea tree oil does not strip your skin of its natural oils. Note of caution:- Do not apply undiluted directly to the skin.
- Bergamot Oil (Pigmentation ) Bergamot oil is extensively used in aromatherapy to relieve stress and as a relaxant. But that's not all, Bergamot oil is great for those who have dark spots, pigmentation, and uneven skin tone. With its mild anti bacterial properties, this oil is definitely a girl’s best friend!
- Rosemary Essential Oil (Anti Bacterial) Rosemary oil plays a great role in rejuvenating the elasticity of the skin and works as an antibacterial, especially for us city girls constantly exposed to pollution and bacteria. We recommend:- 2-3 drops Rosemary oil, 2-3 drops Bergamot oil blended with 30 ml Almond oil or as directed by your aromatherapist/ Derm.
- Chamomile Essential Oil (Dry Skin) It’s well regarded for its ability to help improve skin health, fight off the signs of aging, and provide moisturization to dry, itchy skin. It can also help soothe the itching, burning irritation of the extremely dry skin.
- Geranium Essential Oil ( Mature Skin) Here is one for mature skin. But when it comes to skincare, we are never too early! Geranium oil helps rejuvenate damaged skin, lightens wrinkles and scars as well as tightens and tones the skin.
Most products don’t include essential oils. The world is polarised on their opinions of these oils. While some swear by them and go out of their way to include them in their skin care regimen, others feel the risks are too many and they prefer regular natural ingredients.
While essential oils have several benefits when it comes to taking care of the skin, they also come with certain caveats.
Firstly, essential oils cannot directly be applied to the skin as they are extremely concentrated and due to their molecular size can penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream very easily that could have serious side effects. They must be diluted using carrier substances before they can be used. For skin care, virgin coconut oil or aloe vera gel work as excellent carrier substances.
A common misconception is that “natural” products are always good for you. This may not always be true. Essential oils are natural oils typically obtained by distillation and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant or source from which it is extracted. But if you’re allergic to something, no matter how natural or straight from the source it is, you’ll still develop an allergic reaction.”
It is important to not trust words such as natural and organic blindly but thoroughly research the ingredients in the essential oils to make sure they aren’t something you could be allergic to as they may do more harm than good.
Dr. Drishti Shah, MD Dermatology from Ahmedabad says, “Essential oils come with many benefits but one must treat with caution while using them, especially if you’re using them undiluted or internally. They must not be used during pregnancy at all. It is best not to self-medicate but follow the guidance of a dermatologist or aromatherapist when using essential oils.”
It is imperative to analyze individual brands before making a purchase so that you know what you’re paying for and applying to your body.