Spooky basket: The Essence of Oil

My momma has always said that if you're going to spend money on something, better make it good.

I'm afraid I haven't closely followed my momma's advice, and only last year did I reconsider my perfunctory spending. Desperate was I, to find the product which would aid me to achieve vibrant skin and hair...
Beauty products have been a consistent source of bad spending for my wallet, buying products indiscriminately because I was led to believe that one product alone would not suffice-- I needed an arsenal. If you'd have asked me a couple years ago that essential oils served more of a purpose alone than processed into creams and potions, then I'd think you were simply riffing.

I have used essential and fragrance oils for perfume making as a hobby for many years; the impact of scent alone and how it excites the memory and senses, is quite alluring...
But for reasons beyond my comprehension, it never dawned on me that they could be used for your skin and for your hair. I knew that minute amounts were used in many products; I've had this misconception that in their purest state, essential oils would be too strong for direct usage.
Indeed certain essential oils are too strong, but they can be complimented with equally potent but gentle carriers.
And that was the missing link! The carrier oils. I've also harbored this notion that a carrier oil serves only to dilute the potency of those stronger oils without affecting the scent. Little did I realize that the carrier oil can also be an integral part of the effectiveness of a final product.

The answer lies in plain sight, yet I feel that much like my previous thought path, many believe it is better to buy the store bought products because they would lack the savvy to create their own. In a nutshell, waste money on trial and error; sound familiar?
The very thing that sets us apart from other species on this planet is the ability to learn and adapt; there is an abundance of information on each product on the market (especially essential oils) handed to us by a myriad of authors; it's very difficult to make harmful mistakes. It just takes time, which considering the topic, shouldn't be much of an issue. If one has time to ruminate and spend money in matters of beauty, then one has time to do the research.

And so, my dear readers, I will briefly go over ways in which oils can be utilized:

Oils for your skin: I have already discussed cleansing with oils briefly in this post. Paraphrasing from the link inside the link-- the oil cleansing method (OCM) is a method in which certain plant oils are collected for their effective properties over certain skin ailments, such as acne, and mixed together to create a concoction which is then massaged into the face, then removed with a damp hot towel. A concise exposition behind the OCM is simply "dissolving with like"; you strip the filthy and used, then replenish with new. Oils, such as sweet almond and jojoba, can also serve as a moisturizer for your skin with repairing effects.

Oils for your hair: oils, such as olive and coconut oil, are used for deep conditioning treatments, or simple yet effective hair repair and growth stimulation. This is because they are effective at penetrating deep into the scalp and roots to nourish the hair. But be wary of fillers or cheap quality oils, as this can hinder the effectiveness and yield little to no results. This is especially true with olive oil.

Oils as perfumes: oil perfumes are proven to last 3 times longer than an alcohol based one. This is fact. The reason it is not so widely used is because it's expensive to manufacture in large quantities. Oils as perfumes benefit the wearer in more ways than just scent however, as aforementioned certain types of carrier oils will offer moisturizing properties.

Oils for aromatherapy: Scent therapy is one of the longest standing practices in nearly all civilizations. Scent has the power to encourage healing of the body and the mind. Aromatherapy can be as simple as opening up a bottle of oil and taking a whiff and relishing the emotions in which it evokes, or as complex as creating sessions with certain scents to guide the user into harmony.

When you make an investment into essential oils, you're not just purchasing one practical use, you're buying a versatile product with limitless amounts of room to perfect a product that truly fits you I have purchased my collection one by one as I wanted to expand the combination of applications; you don't by any means need to purchase a bundle to begin to find the uses.

There is a controversial topic about cats and dogs, and the use of essential oils around them. Some people say it's cruel and inhuman to use essential oils around them, but I found that all animals I've owned; a couple dogs, several cats (including Poe), and a hamster; have never ever reacted badly with the smell or shown annoyance-- even when I wear them. The only thing I wouldn't dare risk is putting the oils on them, so I make sure I wash my hands thoroughly after I've been concocting when it's cuddle time.

Always test the oil on a small section of your skin before practical usage. Essential oils should not be used during pregnancy or by women attempting pregnancy! Essential oils should not be ingested unless the label clearly states otherwise. Avoid application on broken skin or open sores. If an allergic reaction occurs discontinue usage, and seek medical attention. Some essential oils may be highly toxic to pets and can cause fatal reactions if they come in direct contact. Please make sure you thoroughly do your research before you buy!


Links to help you get started:

• Experience Essential Oils.com
• The Oil Cleansing Method.com
• Aromatherapy.com
• Just Natural offers a wealth of information that include the use of essential oils for hair, skin and well being
• The Professor discusses the potency of aromatherapy
• Crunchy Betty discusses the oil cleansing method

I will keep updating this as much as possible!


Bonus good buy!

My mother purchased these for me late last year, but I found out about and used them since roughly two years ago. I was waiting for the perfect time to post about them.

Ever since the vendor I purchased them from at a Flea Market went away, I could not find a decent place to buy them. The search only became harder when I moved down. These are Song of India oil perfumes.

One day, my mother and younger brother collaborated on a care package and I was happily surprised to see these in my box. I don't usually like to have mixed/signature label perfumes because I love to make my own on the whim of my moods; these are perfect because the scent is ultra concentrated, super long lasting and very true to the herb or flower they're supposed to be. I typically use these for deodorant; I completely cut out store brands right out of my medicine cabinet. These actually work ten times better than even Tom's or any health food store/organic brand I've ever bought, AND no marks on my black delicate clothing! I can smell them even after a hard work out. Applying it to my palms and then running my fingers through my hair, well, the scent stays straight into the next day-- and they're not pungent which is really great when I'm around sensitive noses. I've received many comments on the way I smell when I wear these.
These are the roll on bottles, and carry the most oils from their line, but they can be purchased in really pretty hand blown glass perfume bottles (which I have in the past), or in solids. I really really enjoy the boxes Song of India packs them in, too! They're such a treat!

Do you use oils for any part of your daily regime?