Let’s Talk Topical

Since my teen years, I have striven to take care of my skin. That desire deepens as I mature. When first learning about essential oils (EO) and all they offer I was definitely overwhelmed with the vast amount of information available. Over time and steady devotion focused on expanding my knowledge from reputable sources about their uses and potency, I fell in love with EO all over again as I began to use them topically. My skin and overall wellbeing has improved giving me no reason to look back to a past of synthetic brands. In this article, I share what I use in my personal beauty regimen, natural cleaning recipes, and information about why I have chosen to draw a line in the sand when it comes to synthetic chemicals in my home or body.

I don’t always get to choose what is exposed to my skin that then infiltrates my body: pollution, free-radicals, and chemical residue to name a few. Choosing products that will not only clean but also nourish us is important to our quality of life and wellness aspirations. Essential oils offer multitudes of benefits that are natural and straight from the earth to our bodies. Being a naturalist, I will always choose organic, natural, non-toxic solutions over synthetic inhibiting ones. The products and ingredients I use on my skin are no exception. There are two main ways to use essential oils topically: directly or indirectly.

Direct Usage

When applying EO to your body you have the option to dilute with a carrier oil or not, which is called neat. I dilute all oils I use on my body for a few reasons.

1. EO are volatile and they evaporate quickly. By mixing a non-volatile carrier oil, such as coconut oil, with an EO it will allow your body more time to absorb the mixture before it evaporates.
2. EO are power tools of nature so by diluting with a carrier oil the EO is gently introduced to the body’s system as well as using fewer drops.

I absolutely, positively love creating and blending EO to use on my body. It is quite fulfilling to know that I am giving my body profoundly effective protection and support through the natural products I use. The most common way I directly apply essential oils to my skin is through my lotions, soaps, creams, and bath salts.

Indirect Usage

Cleaning supplies and laundry detergents are an indirect topical application to your skin. Cleaning supplies will leave a footprint known as residue. The chemical residue is able to penetrate your body through the skin which is also known as dermal absorption. This is why it is imperative to choose non-toxic supplies that are safe for you and your household.

“Dermal absorption is the transport of a chemical from the outer surface of the skin both into the skin and into the body.” –CDC

Recipes

Natural Beauty Regimen

Here are the current products I either buy or create for my beauty regimen.

• Facial Cleansing: Mirah Luminous cleansing oil, ART Gentle Cleanser, Orange Blossom Facial Wash by Young Living. I like to rotate through different soaps throughout the week to keep my skin fresh and vibrant.
• Mint Facial Scrub by Young Living. I use this scrub on my upper body once a week to help exfoliate dead skin cells and brighten my complexion.
• Brightening and hydrating eye cream and Wolf Berry Eye Cream by Young Living. I rotate these morning and evening.
• SPF facial moisturizer In the morning I use my SPF lotion as my carrier oil. I select my preferred EO to mix into the moisturizer before applying to my face. There are countless EO options that offer anti-aging, free-radical scavenging, and antioxidant properties such as; ylang-ylang, frankincense, and rosemary. Lately, I have been adding 2 drops of Endoflex which contains: spearmint, sage, geranium, myrtle, nutmeg, and German chamomile; essential oils that are known to promote hormonal balance. Starting at my neck I massage the solution up to and on my face.
• Weleda Sage Deodorant Spray I looked for years for a quality, natural,  aluminum-free deodorant that works all day. Weleda Sage Deodorant is that deodorant! I like that it is light and absorbs quickly. No more gooey pits or embarrassing moments when your deodorant lets you down.
• Detoxifying Clay Facial Mask Once a week I use this mask to help draw out dirt, remove impurities and toxins.
• DIY Natural Toner
  I like using Thayer’s Witch Hazel to create this toner.

Fill a 4 oz bottle almost full with witch hazel.

add 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil.

add 3 drops each of each essential oil geranium, cypress, and lavender.

shake to mix.

• Boswellia Wrinkle Cream by Young Living. This cream has so many great wrinkle-fighting EO like frankincense, rose, and myrrh to name a few.
• DIY Hormone Balance Roller: 1 roller bottle,  2 tbsp evening primrose oil, 30 drops of each oil: clary sage, thyme, and ylang-ylang. I apply this to my neck and massage any extra oil onto my abdomen.
• Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil is what I use for lotion. I like to add 2 drops of lavender and ylang-ylang EO.

Bath Salts & EO Concoctions

There is an art to bathing. Creating a nurturing and calming bath environment is one of my favorite ways to relax and unwind from the day. When adding essential oils to your baths, you are definitely leveling up your experience and wellness benefits. I prefer fragrance free, unrefined, Dead Sea Mineral Salt as the carrier for my essential oils at bath time.

“Dead Sea Salt contains 21 minerals including magnesium, calcium, sulfur, bromide, iodine, sodium, zinc, and potassium. These essential minerals naturally occur in our bodies but must be replenished, as they are lost throughout the day. These minerals are known to treat, detoxify, and cleanse our bodies.” – San Francisco Salt Company

If you are curious to learn more about Dead Salt and how it differs from Epsom Salt, click here.

Ingredients

¼ cup Dead Sea salt

4-6 drops of preferred EO (A few of my favorite bath time EO are wintergreen, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, StressAway, and valor.)

2 oz Magnesium Oil

As the tub is filling I place my bath filter ball to help remove chemicals such as chlorine and chloramine. After 8-10  minutes I remove the ball and add in my Dead Sea Salt and EO concoction.

 TIP: Let the EO absorb into the salt for a few minutes prior to adding to bathwater. 

Natural Cleaning

Multi-Surface Thieves Spray

• 1 capsful of Thieves ( I usually put 2 because I love how it smells!)
• 1 cup of white vinegar
• Fill the bottle with water to the fill line.
• Professional Grade Spray Bottle or Glass Bottle

Glass Cleaner

I create this cleaner with the size of my bottle in mind.

• ⅓ part water
• ⅓ part rubbing alcohol
• ⅓ part white vinegar
• 5 Drops Citrus Fresh
• 5 Drops Lavender

Baking Soda Scrubbing Paste

• ½ cup – 1 Cup Baking Soda
• Multi-Purpose Thieves Spray

Place baking soda in the sink or tub. Spray several sprays of the Multi-Purpose Thieves Spray to create a paste. Use a rag to scrub off any hard water or any stuck particles.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

• ½ cup Hydrogen Peroxide
• 3-5 drops Lemon Oil
• 1 cup Baking Soda

Place ingredients into the bowl and scrub with a toilet brush.

You can also leave this solution overnight and it will ensure your toilet bowls stay sparkling white.

Laundry Supplies

Over the last few years, I have honed my laundry supplies needs. Balancing safety and price is a tricky thing when it comes to natural cleaning products. In each load of laundry, I add the below ingredients.

• 1 capsful of Thieves Cleaner
• 1 capsful of Seventh Generation Free and Clear Detergent (listed on the EPA Safer Choice List)
• ½ cup of diluted Borax Solution
  OR
• ½ cup of  Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

Drying Naturally

• Wool Dryer Balls: I apply a few drops of Lavender to the wool balls for added freshness and glorious aroma. I do not miss the days of dryer sheets with this method.

Kitchen Soaps

• Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Soap (Listed on the EPA Safer Choice List)
• Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid Dish Washing Detergent (Listed on the EPA Safer Choice List)
• Adding a few drops of Lemon or Orange to your soaps adds a nice aroma and added cleaning properties.

Bathroom Soaps

I like making my own soaps for the bathroom because it is cost-effective and helpful to the environment by reusing my soap dispensers.

• Foaming Hand Soap Dispenser
• ½ Cup Dr. Bronners Peppermint Castile Soap
• 1/2 capsful of Thieves Cleaner
• 3-5 drops of Vitamin E oil
• 3 drops of any preferred oil. Recently I have been enjoying Lavender & Orange
• Fill the rest of the container with water
• Shake Well

Resources

The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies: A great read for those wanting to look deeper into natural remedies.

Safer Choice Program EPA:

Dermal Absorption of Essential Oils

Borax: Their website gives great tips on cleaning with Borax as well as instructions about diluting it.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.