When it comes to essential oils, skincare enthusiasts are often divided into two camps: Some love them, and others steer clear of them fearing a sensitive reaction. Essential oils, if used correctly in your beauty and wellness routine, can be transformative, especially for your mood and skin.
What are essential oils?
They are plant extracts obtained using different extraction techniques including steam distillation. The most popular ones are rose, lavender, tea tree, sandalwood, and eucalyptus oil, and they’re most commonly used to boost mood, tone skin, and soothe it. The best part about these natural wonders is that they can be mixed and matched to create potions that work for you specifically.
However, they can be very concentrated and potent, which means like any skincare ingredient, they must be handled and used with care. If you’re looking for a way to include essential oils in your daily routine, here are some ideas…
Perfume oils
Try Meraki Essentials Vetiver Essential Oil, ₹2095, Meraki Essentials Orange Essential Oil, ₹395, Meraki Essentials Lavender Essential Oil, ₹1095
There are many ways to find your signature scent but the most interesting way includes exploring and creating your own perfume. A word of caution, essential oils can be very irritating on the skin if used incorrectly and some can cause photosensitivity. So it is important to understand that just because an ingredient is ‘natural’ doesn’t mean it is harmless.
That being said, if you mix the right quantities of essential oils with a carrier, they sit on the skin well and smell lovely. All you need to do is pick three essential oils to be your head, heart and base notes. The head notes are the ones that dissipate quickly, the heart stays on for an hour and the base lasts for longer. Our favourite combination includes using a mix of Meraki Essentials’s orange (head), lavender (base), and vetiver (heart) essential oils.
How to make your perfumed oil:
Take 80 drops of a carrier oil like jojoba or grapeseed oil and 20 drops of an essential oil blend (10 drops vanilla + five drops lavender and orange, each). Mix it all and apply a drop of two on your skin.
Use eucalyptus oil in a DIY face scrub
Try Meraki Essentials Eucalyptus Essential Oil, ₹445
If blackheads are your skin pet peeve, eucalyptus oil is the one you may want to reach out for. Not only does it have a very refreshing scent but it also does wonders at balancing oily skin. Less oil = reduced chances of blackheads. For best results, try adding a drop or two to a face scrub made using oatmeal, clay, and water. Mix the paste well and apply it to cleansed skin. Wash it off before it dries up.
Mood-boosting soaps
Try the Meraki Essentials Ajneya Naturals Detoxifying & Uplifting Handmade Cold processed Soap, ₹595
The easiest way to boost your mood? Try incorporating aromatherapy in the shower. Try this one from Meraki Essentials and feel your stress melt away. Thanks to uplifting ingredients like orange and lavender essential oils, this bar will soothe your mind and skin.