Lavender. Tea tree. Lemongrass. Orange. Eucalyptus. With these wonderful array of scents, it’s no wonder essential oils have become all the craze lately. They have so many amazing uses from reducing anxiety to cleaning your yoga mat. I received a pack of essential oils from Tyler after I graduated from yoga teacher training last year and I’ve been hooked ever since! Essential oils have been used by many cultures for thousands of years and are even being used today in hospitals as part of medical treatment. They can heal skin issues, elevate your mood, are antibacterial and just overall pretty bad ass. Check out my favorite ways to use essential oils below!
1. Diffused
As you may have seen in my holiday gift guide, I love essential oil diffusers. Diffusers like this one are perfect for creating a spa-like feel in any space. They’re a lot like candles but with added benefits! You can change your scent as often as you’d like to customize it to your mood or whichever scent your fancying that day. Diffusers are great because you can select an essential oil to align with your desired mood and create a space of zen. Some of my favorites:
- Peppermint: increases focus and clarity
- Lavender: reduces anxiety and relieves stress
- Lemongrass: cleanses the system
- Myrrh: balances hormones
- Tea tree: stimulates the immune system
- Orange: improves mood
- Eucalyptus: invigorates the senses
- Rosemary: increases stimulation and energy
2. Yoga mat cleaner
There’s nothing worse than a sweaty, slippery yoga mat. It sounds gross but it’s true. Water doesn’t clean mats well enough and if you’re anything like me, you don’t want to clean it with harsh chemical cleaners — not very ideal when you’re resting your forehead on your mat in child’s pose. A yoga teacher friend passed on the perfect mat cleaner “recipe” to me and I love it! It cleans my mat so well and the best part is you can add whichever essential oil you like for a great smelling mat with none of the chemicals. It’s super easy to make — store it in a spray bottle and it will last you months! The low-down:
- 1/4 cup witch hazel
- 1 cup water
- 10-35 drops of your favorite essential oil (I like lemongrass because it smells clean. I use about 25 drops because I enjoy the scent!)
- Add all of the ingredients to a medium spray bottle and shake to combine.
- Spray a liberal amount immediately after your practice and wipe down with a cloth/towel. Feel free to spray before yoga to enjoy a fresh scent during your practice. Taking zen to the next level!
3. Stress relief remedy
So like most of you (I’m guessing) I don’t bring my essential oil diffuser to work, on my commute, while traveling, etc. The good news is we can still get all of the amazing relaxation benefits by applying essential oils topically. I love to keep lavender essential oil in my bag so if I’m stressed at work or while traveling I can apply some and take a few deep breaths to relax. I love to apply to the insides of my wrists (like you would perfume) or even to the tip of my nose. This allows me to breathe in the essential oil and get all the stress relief benefits without having to lug my diffuser around. Win!
4. Acne spot treatment
I was surprised to learn that tea tree oil can help with acne, but it really works! If I get a stubborn breakout, I apply a few drops of tea tree oil to a Q-tip and dab it on the pimple after I’ve cleansed my face and applied a serum/moisturizer. I sleep with the tea tree oil on and the inflammation/size is reduced in the morning when I wake up. It’s such an easy and quick trick, and a much better option than harsh chemical treatments that dry out your skin.
5. Coconut oil lotion
Coconut oil seems to be able to do all the things. One way to take your coconut oil to the next level is by adding a few drops of essential oils to it to use as a body moisturizer after the shower. I really enjoy the smell of coconut oil but I like to enhance it even more by applying a few drops of an essential oil like lavender or eucalyptus. Not only is it super moisturizing but it smells amazing! I love mixing coconut oil with lavender after I shower at night to wind down and relax before bed. To use, place a little bit of coconut oil in your palm, add a few drops of essential oil, mix together by rubbing the palms of your hands together and voilà, the perfect moisturizing combination.
Just writing this is making we want to run and throw some lavender essential oil in my diffuser. It’s crazy to think those little bottles of oils can do so much — they’re amazing! I’m continuously surprised by all of their benefits and ways to use them, and will continue to share them with you. I’d love to hear your favorite uses for them in the comments!
x,
Morgan
