How To Use Essential Oils In Your Beauty Routine

The hype is real when it comes to essential oils! Why? Because it is indeed an essential. The benefits of essential oils are clearly evident. For centuries, essential oils have been utilized in beauty routines and in turn, positive results show. Any of the amazing creams, lotions, and skincare and haircare products created by dermatologists and hair professionals – all include the usage of essential oils. In fact, many of the main ingredients are essential oils! This is why those luxurious products work and are beneficial. Celebrities have been utilizing essential oils for years. Some stars who can’t get enough include: Blake Lively, Gwyneth Paltrow, supermodel Gisele Bundchen, Kerry Washington, Demi Moore, MLB star Josh Hamilton, Grammy award winning Patrick Monahan of Train, and Maria Menounos, in addition to countless other stars. Essential oils are great for your skin, hair, health, stress levels, and even the air that you breathe!

         Oftentimes, those designer products do come with a steep price tag, though. Therefore; many people around the world have decided to go straight for the essential oils themselves. (And in many cases, people make their own products using the essential oils!) Many essential oils are combined with coconut, olive, rosemary, lavender and jojoba – so these are some great choices to mix the essential oils with for great results!

The dictionary defines essential oils as, “a natural oil typically obtained by distillation, and having the characteristic fragrance of the plant or other source from which it is extracted.” Essential oils are frequently cited by celebrities and beauty experts, to be one of the important ingredients and aspects of their beauty routines. Ancient Egyptians first started using vital oils and since then it has escalated into a cultural phenomenon. Essential oils have multiple purposes and can be used in several ways. This includes: aromatherapy, beauty treatments, skincare regimes, all-purpose cleaning products, air purification, insect repellants, massages, baking goods, healing remedies, and spiritual enlightenment. According to health experts, essentials oils are rich with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.

Essential oils have been known to decrease wrinkles, reduce cellulite, treat acne, whiten your teeth, strengthen your nails, keep your hair healthy, protect skin from the sun and hydrate your body. Many people opt for making homemade shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant and sugar scrubs – all containing essential oils. In a lot of locations around the country, you can get fresh essential oils. In New York City, the markets in Union Square have vendors come in from all over. Many of them carry essential oils, such as Lavender by the Bay that sells fresh lavender products such as the amazing Lavender Hydrosol Relaxation Mist.

For brightening your skin, rose hip and jasmine oil contains vitamin C and lycopene and helps to rejuvenate the skin. Jasmine helps with the skin elasticity and strength, many people use the jasmine to help fade stretch marks and blemishes. For irritated skin and acne, a tea tree oil is the best to use, because the oil naturally kills bacteria. It also prevents and solves dry skin, dandruff from dry scalp, nail fungus, and takes the sting and itching sensations out of bug bites. Calendula oil and thyme in beauty routines, has been known by industry professionals to be antibacterial properties that help the skin and treat acne, as well. To keep your skin youthful and vibrant, the essential oils to utilize are: geranium, patchouli, and frankincense. These help tighten aging skin, control oiliness of skin, and encourage skin cell turnover that is a necessity.

It’s important to protect your skin from harmful sun rays at every age! Although you should use a purchased sunscreen, a natural sunscreen to use in addition is carrot seed oil, beta-carotene and vitamin A. These detoxify the skin and promote cell growth. The best way to maintain glowing skin is to exfoliate! Almond oil is the perfect way to get rid of dead skin cells, in a natural way, without skin irritation. An added bonus: almond oil makes skin tones even!

One of the best essential oils to use for your hair, is argan oil. It’s not good to use too many products on your hair. If your hair needs some hydration and shine, grab the argan oil. It contains moisturizing vitamins and fatty acids that work wonders on your pretty locks of hair.

 Reality star, Teresa Giudice, created a line of hair care products: ‘Milania Hair Care’ also marketed as ‘Youthful 8.’ She has stated that argan oil is the most important thing in the products! The products include: Argan Oil Infusion Serum, Keratin Heat Protector and a Total Vitamin Leave-In Treatment. One of the products is an Argan Oil Infusion Serum, which contains 8 essential oils that make your hair silky, smooth and shiny. All the while, creating stronger, healthier strands of hair. Ingredients include: argan oil, vitamin E oil, shea butter oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, tea tree oil, rosemary oil and peppermint oil. These are the common ingredients that make up any reputable hair care products. This treatment, like all argan oil hair treatments, locks in the moisture which gives it a natural glow. Additional benefits: repairs split ends damaged by drying, curling and coloring, prevents hair from becoming greasy and oily, conditions, softens, adds shine, prevents breakage and hair loss, stimulates hair growth, balances the PH to neutralize dry and oily hair. When you have to style your hair frequently, (curling iron, flat iron, hair waver, blow-dryer, etc.,) you need to keep your hair extra hydrated to keep it healthy. The products work wonderfully, and trust me, if it works for The Real Housewives of New Jersey star and I, it’ll work for you too!

Not only can you use essential oils for your beauty routine, you can use them for relaxation; such as during bath time. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow was quoted as saying, “I do very little DIY (do it yourself) beauty, but I’m really into my nightly baths. I mix Young Living essential oil in Thieves, a blend of clove, lemon, cinnamon, rosemary and eucalyptus – with Epsom salts to soothe inflammation. Then when I get out, I lather myself with organic coconut oil.” This bath time beauty routine makes you feel like you’re in paradise!

            Have fun finding your own perfect personal combination that works for you, enjoy creating your own potions and remedies, and enjoy the magical results! Be-you-tiful.

Katie Gray is a Marymount Manhattan College alum with degrees in Communication & Media Arts and Business with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. She is a New York City based freelance writer, journalist and reporter. She has had jobs and internships with: Marie Claire, Fox News, 5W Public Relations, NY1 News, Bloomingdale’s flagship, Cumulus Media with radio stations NASH FM & PLJ, Tribeca Film Festival and New York Fashion Week with the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Her work has been featured in print and online publications: Brooklyn Reporter, Cupid’s Pulse, The Daily Meal, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Center for Communication, Bensonhurst Bean, and more. You can find her on her website: www.xoxokatiegray.com for more.