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The Ultimate Guide to Essential Oils
The Ultimate Guide to Essential Oils
When considering your skin concerns and the products you use to prevent and correct them, you may be leaving out a key option: essential oils. Essential oils can not only make a difference in your skin care routine, but also in your overall well-being. Want to learn more? We’ve compiled the ultimate guide to essential oils—from scent profiles to product picks—so you can add them to your beauty regimen with ease.
WHAT ARE ESSENTIALS OILS?
Essentials oils are fragranced oils that are extracted from plants and used in aromatherapy. According to the Mayo Clinic, studies have shown that aromatherapy—the therapeutic use of essential oils—can have health benefits including relief of anxiety, improved quality of life, and improved sleep.
WHAT IS AROMATHERAPY?
The Mayo Clinic explains that aromatherapy involves extracting the essentials oils from plants before distilling them to create highly-concentrated oils. During aromatherapy, these oils can be inhaled directly or indirectly, or applied to the skin through bath salts, lotions, or massages.
ESSENTIAL OIL #1: ROMAN CHAMOMILE
This essential oil has an apple-like aroma. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) states that Roman chamomile has a variety of dermatological uses. Roman chamomile can also help you fall asleep more easily, according to Mayo Clinic. Add the Shu Uemura Depsea Water Chamomile Facial Mist to your skin care routine for a refreshing, relaxing feel.
ESSENTIAL OIL #2: LAVENDER
Lavender essential oils have a floral fragrance. According to the NCBI, lavender has various dermatological uses and is often found formulated within deodorants. The essential oil can also assist with sleep, according to Mayo Clinic. If you want to try a lavender skin care product, reach for the Carol’s Daughter Lavender Mint Foot Cream. It is blended with peppermint and lavender to hydrate and soothe tired feet, toes, and heels.
ESSENTIAL OIL #3: ROSEMARY
Rosemary essential oil has an herbal, pine-like aroma. Try Kiehl’s Cactus Flower & Tibetan Ginseng Hydrating Mist, which—in addition to being formulated with rosemary essential oil—boasts a cooling, refreshing formula that purifies and hydrates skin.
ESSENTIAL OIL #4: CEDARWOOD
Cedarwood essential oils have a woodsy, earthy scent, and can be found in Kiehl’s Grooming Solutions Bar Soap. This deep-cleansing body soap infused with Cedarwood, Sandalwood, and Eucalyptus buffs away dead skin cells and dirt leaving skin feeling smooth, soft, and energized.
ESSENTIAL OIL #6: FRANKINCENSE
Frankincense has a sweet, woodsy scent. Our frankincense-infused skin care product pick is Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment, which targets problem areas on contact to help clear the look of blemishes.
ESSENTIAL OIL #7: PATCHOULI
This essential oil has an earthy, slightly sweet aroma. With notes of Iris, Patchouli, and Sweet Gourmand, Lancôme’s La Vie Est Belle Nourishing Fragrance Body Lotion is a luxurious moisturizing body lotion that can help instantly smooth and illuminate your skin.
ESSENTIAL OIL #8: EUCALYPTUS
Eucalyptus has a strong, clean scent. Try the L’Oréal Pure-Clay Purify & Mattify Face Mask, which provides a soothing and refreshing spa-like experience while removing impurities and unclogging pores.
ESSENTIAL OIL #9: LEMON
Lemon has a sweet, clean fragrance, so it’s no surprise that extracts are formulated into Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant. This gentle antiperspirant and deodorant cream that leaves skin feeling soft, soothed and conditioned while providing 24-hour protection against sweat and odor.
ESSENTIAL OIL #10: BERGAMOT
Love the scent of bergamont? Try the Baxter of California Vitamin Cleansing Bar — Bergamot and Pear—a moisturizing body bar with a Bergamot and Pear scent.
ESSENTIAL OIL #11: TEA TREE
Tea tree oil has a fresh, medicinal aroma. According to Mayo Clinic, it is a commonly-used antiseptic. It’s also formulated into the NYX Professional Makeup Tea Tree Blotting Papers, which can help remove excess shine without budging your makeup.
ESSENTIAL OIL #12: PEPPERMINT
With its fresh fragrance, peppermint essential oils are one of our favorites. Our product pick for this essential oil is the Garnier SkinActive Clean+ Invigorating Daily Scrub, which deeply cleanses and polishes to refine pores.
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About the Author
Whether applying a seasonal pumpkin scrub or an ultra-hydrating coconut lip balm, Nicolette is a self-confessed beauty addict with a love of finding the best skin care products to add to her regimen. She hopes to share that passion with Skincare.com's dedicated readers.
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