Many people question what an essential oil really is, and how it can be beneficial to your regular life, so when I was contacted by Ann the “Wellness” advocate for Dōterra one day, I was outside watching my dog try and harass the plum tree at the back of my house. She asked if I was interested in looking at oils at all. Of course, I am intrigued by everything and decided not to pass this opportunity to branch off into a new route in my journey towards beauty.
So with that, an informal interview was set up between Ann and I, to get to the bottom of what an essential oil really is, and how such a product can be introduced into our already hectic living conditions.
**note: I’ll make Ann’s comments blue, since blue is my theme’s aesthetic and I guess it makes her responses more evidential throughout my rambling.
Please note that this post contains affiliated links and a discount worth 25%. In no way is this post specifically created, intended for making profits. In fact, with this post, I don’t make a single amount of profit whatsoever, nor do I benefit in any single way. Whether you decide to use the referral link or not is to your own discretion.
All photos within this blog post have been taken with my personal camera, and DO belong to me, hence why The Beauty Aesthetics logo is scattered throughout the photos. Unless stated otherwise, these images are of my own and I therefore do claim copyright on these images.
Of course, beginning with the interview, I had to ask her what the hell an essential oil is, and what it can do for you in the long run. How an essential oil is made and what purpose an essential oil has for your body and health.
“Essential oils are liquids that are distilled by steam or water, deriving from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots; basically any part or material of a plant organism.” Of course, me being me, I asked whether you could just pick a lemon off the tree and squeeze the life out of it to extract what little oils will come from it’s bumpy exterior. At that point, she gave me an “Oh really though?” expression and told me to shut TF up. She then continued saying that “since all plant life produces oils, it’s better to use the essential oil after distillation than to ingest or use the plant as it is, since the oils in natural state can be volatile.”
Now of course, I was shocked to hear that something as simple as a leaf, can contain oils that go kaboom. Ok, not really, but who ever thought that something as simple as an essential oil can be more beneficial to us, than the product itself.
Now doing some research on the brand she is currently promoting, dōTERRA, it was great to see that even something as little as essential oils, they are certified through the CPTG (certified pure therapeutic grade) system to provide quality products. Basically, every single plant material that is produced at dōTERRA have been (but not limited to) subjected to low-heat steam distillation where the steam circulates throughout the plant material in order to draw out the oils. From there, the oils are carried through the steam for cooling processes, which separates the oils from the water moisture content of the steam. That is how their oils are generally collected.
Now, I had to ask, as we all probably know that from a beauty’s perspective, oils can be harsh for our skin. With that question on the table, Ann strongly claims that “yes, oils can be a bit strong for sensitive skin types, which is why it is always recommended through trial and error (YMMV – your mileage may vary) practicing, to take 1 or 2 drops first and then see how you react before you increase your dosage later on, since everyone is different. If anything, oils are lipid materials (they are oil soluble and oil based) so using a carrier oil, like fractionated coconut oil for example as a diluting ingredient, you can reduce the strength of the essential oil to cater to your personal preferences or tolerance with a ratio of 1 part essential oil to 3 parts carrier. Otherwise, water will do.”
With the inclusion of dilution possible, it is then claimed that dōTERRA essential oils can be virtually used for everyone, no matter what their age is, ethnicity, racial background, religion, whatever. “I even use it on my dog!”
But the real question is, how on earth do you actually USE essential oils. I only have knowledge on skincare, so I have that down packed, but what about everyday use? Not everyone uses or applies skincare daily (and I really need to give these people a huge smack across the face for it) so I can’t speak for the whole nation; no, the world. Luckily, Ann is way more informed and skilled with these things, so for you guys, I cut right into her (not literally, acts of violence are bad. Please don’t try at home) so she could spill all of her little tips and tricks in how she includes essential oils in her lifestyle, and how little things you change can have you joining the bandwagon as well.
“As I mentioned before, always start off with 1 or 2 drops if you have sensitive skin or you’re just starting out.” she said. “Since everyone is different, it’s best to start off slowly and then introduce more to the required amount if you can tolerate it. I like to take my essential oil directly into my palms, and breathe it in, since our sense of smell is directly linked to our brains via the limbic system. Did you know that the limbic system and aromatherapy have been claimed to help improve your sense of smell, your emotions and behavior and your neurological thinking?” I might need essential oils then, since I’m always stuck in a rut when I’m trying to think up content to post about. I also am an “over-emotional” person, according to my good friends, and I always seem happy-go-lucky one moment, then ultra moody the next. I have no idea what they mean by this, but who knows. Maybe a quick sniff of “Motivate” which was recommended to me, might change my feelings and thoughts.
The most common and safest route to including essential oils in your life is to diffuse. I’m not talking about taking your ass over to Coles or Woolies and grabbing one of those Air Wick oil whatcha-ma-call-its. What I mean, is grabbing a diffusing machine (steam or water, up to you) and dripping a few drops of your preferred oil into the machine, clicking the on button and taking the time to breathe in the aroma. “It’s great to diffuse early in the morning when you get up in the morning, to awaken your senses and improve your mood, right after your busy schedule is complete to relax yourself, and right before bed to assist with sleeping,” Ann says. “People who meditate often will feel the effects of essential oils best, since they can help people to relax more and feel at peace with themselves and the world around them.”
But not every single person has a diffuser at home; heck, mine cost me $180 for the machine and a few bottles of Japanese oils. I mean, for something I bought a while back and used rarely, it is a bit much. Luckily for me, Ann gave me information to get you guys a 25% discount on Dōterra oils and gadgets, which I’ll share later on. Nonetheless, maybe some people don’t have the extra money to spend on a $100 machine. What then? “Easy,” she says. “Essential oils that are diffused spread the aroma around the living space in which the diffuser is placed, so it will fill the whole room with scents. Without the diffuser, you can just drop the essential oils directly into your palms and breathe in the scent, which is great for those who aren’t always at home, or for people who aren’t able to use their diffusing machine.”
I don’t know why, but whenever I think of essential oils, I never think of them as something you breathe or apply to your face. Nope, I immediately think of cooking. You know, like olive oil for cooking; I think of essential oils in that aspect. Telling Ann this, she immediately laughed and told me “it’s okay to think so, since you can actually use essential oils in your cooking.” Thank you Ann for not making me look like an idiot in that circumstance. It could have been detrimental to my image if I continuously make a fool of myself HAHAHA. Ann mentioned before that oils in their natural state (meaning prior to extraction) are in a volatile state, so using the oil as an oil, is better for your health and wellbeing overall.
I was really unsure what she meant by eating the oil directly than to eat the oil in the form of it’s original state. I had to ask. Turns out, that using essential oils in cooking has been practiced for quite a while now, and it’s as simple as replacing ingredients with it’s oil counterpart. Take cinnamon for example. You usually stir cinnamon into your oatmeal if you want a sweeter taste right? (I prefer sugar in my oatmeal.) Well, instead of using cinnamon, stir in a drop or two of cinnamon oil instead as a healthier alternative, which can enter the blood system faster via the gastrointestinal tract. How about basil in your pasta? I hate eating basil leaves, but love the freshness basil offers your pasta dish. You can easily replace basil leaves with it’s oil counterpart for a similar effect, which also saves you spending a billion dollars on basil leaves, that you can only keep in your fridge for a few days before they wilt. Hey, why not? Especially since fresh herbs are ALWAYS expensive and never on sale.
Last, but not the least, you can apply oils topically onto the skin. This is where my expertise comes in hand. Since oils are of lipid nature, they work best on well cleansed skin that is free from water. If you apply your water type skincare first, then oils can absorb really well. Remember that oils dissolve and break down in the presence of other oils, so it’s advised to not mix oils together unless you’re cleansing your skin, or using a specific diluting oil to decrease the concentration. My personal advice, is to use oil under or above your moisturizer, since oils tend to be more thicker in viscosity than your other skincare products. That way, your toners, essences and whatever else you use, can fully absorb and penetrate the skin first, before applying your oil. In doing so, you prevent product just sitting on the skin’s surface leading to clogged pores and acne.
Please also remember, that every single person’s advice when it comes to oils all vary and are usually affected by how they learnt or experienced first hand. I always apply oils using the finger tips if I’m using them on my face, since the palms of your hands carry a lot of sebum. Using my finger pads or a facial contouring machine (I use my Tuneage massaging head all the time), I gently massage my face in upwards and outwards motions starting from the jaw and working my way up to my cheeks, temples and finally, the forehead. Of course, never neglecting the neck since it tends to be the area in which you show aging first, taking the essential oils in upward motions along my neck line and décolletage.
“I recommend Frankincense in your skincare then, since it helps to improve the signs of imperfections, rejuvenates the skin and keeps it moisturized,” Ann claims. TOC (turn over cycle) is necessary in skincare if you want dramatic and long lasting changes to your skin texture and underlying health, but I already target the TOC with my watery skincare items, so of course I had my eyes on another product of theirs, since this ingredient is so widely known and used in modern skincare today. Melaleuca, or more commonly known as, tea tree, is excellent used for antibacterial care, for acne skin types, controlling and maintaining sebum output in the skin, soothing the skin from irritations caused by environmental factors and providing a (small) level of protection against the sun.
I actually received a sample of Melaleuca from Ann to try out, and the oil was very easy to work with. The viscosity was that almost resembling a thick water, and absorbed almost instantly into my skin with minimal massaging or patting required. This is important because even though massage can e beneficial for the skin especially with a lubricant, any friction should be avoided at all costs if you want your skin to remain wrinkle free for as long as possible. This also worked well mixed in with my lotion from the History of Whoo, and over my skincare as a sleeping treatment.
With all of this information though, it can be a bit overwhelming, especially since I focus more on skincare, and Ann focuses a lot of her time on the oils themselves. I asked her how she personally includes oils in her life, since it might give us a bit of insight as to how normal people can work on including such products into their regular living routines.
“Simple tasks can incorporate the use of essential oils for therapeutic care, or for cleansing and purifying. Take your laundry for example. Dropping a few drops of oil into your washing can allow the fragrances to linger with your clothing, giving you regular doses of aromatherapy throughout the day. Even in my household cleaning, I like to add a few drops of oil when I clean to deodorize and kill borne viruses and bacteria.”
What about outside of house life? What about you? “Well, coming from a chinese background, we believe that looking after your feet is of great priority since your toes are all directly linked to the rest of the organs in your body. Taking essential oils and massaging key points in your feet can have amazing benefits to your health in the long run, and with the aid of using essential oils, you can really target specific concerns with the art of just massaging and using the correct oils.”
She continues, saying that “since essential oils are all fragranced, it means (she) doesn’t have to buy deodorant or perfume as applying a drop behind your ears, on your wrists and along your clavicles is enough to keep my mind at peace throughout the day, but also release a calming, yet beautiful scent that can replace alcohol based and harmful eau de toilettes. Going natural has also changed (my) perception on general wellbeing, and I can’t look back at all the toxic chemicals I used to ingest, applied to my body or breathed in.”
Heck, even I was convinced. I know for sure I use a lot of chemicals in my life and the desire to go a bit more natural is slowly creeping up on me. Maybe after my huge streak with reviewing and playing with my cosmetics, I might eventually join this healthy movement too.
Now as promised, I did ask Ann how us fellow beauties and regular homebodies can enjoy the life of dōTERRA in our own houses. “It’s very simple, just click and follow!” she says. “If a technologically unaware person can do it, then so can you.”
I’m pretty sure that comment was targeted at me HAHAHA. Nonetheless, she provided a referral website tag that you can find if you click here and she says if you click “JOIN & SAVE” located at the top of the page, then you can enjoy 25% off the wholesale retail prices. If, in doubt you have no idea which oils will work best for you, then she also gave me a business card stating an email address is all you need to book an oil consultation with her as well. Of course, all can be found on that webpage, along with other goodies like the product range, gadgets and even recipes utilizing the essential oils.
With that interview done, I might as well have myself a little browse and see what oils are screaming out to this beauty blogger. Though I thanked you in person already, I want to thank Ann Lin Chuah here on The Beauty Aesthetics once again, for getting in contact with me and taking the time to undergo this interview, and sharing how essential oils are as easy as 1, 2 and 3.
To summarize:
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Essential Oils are extracted from plant materials only. They are therefore natural and healthy alternatives to the harmful chemicals we include in our regular lives on a daily basis.
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You can use essential oils in multiple ways; whether they are for aromatherapeutic purposes, detoxing yourself from unnecessary materials like sugar, for massages and also skincare, to name a few.
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Whether you have a diffuser or not, you can still enjoy the fragrances of essential oils by dripping directly into your palms and breathing in the scent, by adding to your laundry, or dripping a few drops onto your pillows before going to bed at night.
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Ingredients like fresh herbs, crystalized powders like cinnamon, or bulky fruits like lemons and grapefruit can simply be replaced in recipes with few drops of essential oils, saving you money and space in the fridge or pantry.
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Essential oils can be utilized in skincare as well, whether you use them alone before or after your moisturizer, or mixed in with your skincare products for additional boosts in nourishment.
Simply head off to
https://www.mydoterra.com/annlinchuah/
and click JOIN & SAVE
to save yourself a whopping 25% off the retail pricing of all these products.
Do you currently use essential oils in your life? Maybe you have already heard of, or tried dōTERRA before. What are your thoughts on their products and how have YOU incorporated it into your lifestyle? As per usual, if you liked this post then click on the star icon below to show your support. Don’t forget to subscribe and share with your family too if you found this helpful. If you want more information or for general chit-chat, then my SNS is listed down below.
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