Natural beauty is all the rage right now, and many people are looking into more natural options when it comes to skincare and haircare. The good news is that there are many natural products currently available on the market to help you with skincare, haircare, and other areas where you might be looking to substitute natural products for the products you’re currently using. Essential oils may be one of those things. Here’s what you need to know about essential oils.

What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for beautification, remedying dry skin, eczema, acne, dull complexions, and aging. Essential oil is an extracted oil from a product, usually extracted with steam. Think about it this way: if you rub your finger on a mint leaf, you’ll be able to smell mint when you pull it away because the oils have transferred to your skin. Essential oils are those oils distilled into a bottle.

Carrier Oils

You generally cannot apply essential oils directly to your skin. In some cases, this may be irritating, and in the worst cases, it may burn. Instead, you want to mix a few drops of the oil in with a carrier oil. Here are two popular and common carrier oils that you can find at a local store.

Coconut Oil

It’s very possible that you already have coconut oil in your kitchen. Aside from being a product that you can effectively cook with, it can also be helpful as a carrier oil and a moisturizer.

Coconut oil contains lots of vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant and skin protectant. It can work well as a highlighter for cheekbones and browbones or as a natural lip gloss, and you can use it as a natural makeup remover.

However, remember that coconut oil is also comedogenic, which means it may clog pores, especially for people with skin that’s already prone to acne.

Argan Oil

Argan oil comes from a tree that grows in Morocco. You may have it in your kitchen for cooking, as many people believe it can regulate cholesterol levels.

On your skin, it can boost the reparative process, restore moisture and lipids, neutralize free radicals, and increase oxygen flow. The fact that it can soften your skin can also be very helpful for anyone with dry skin or eczema and related conditions.

Argan oil is also non-comedogenic, so if you can’t use coconut oil due to your skin’s pores, this can be a great alternative.

Using Oils in Your Daily Regimen

There are hundreds of different essential oils because there are so many different plants that have oils available. You can also sometimes blend or mix oils to get maximum efficacy from them, depending on what you’re looking for. An essential oil chart can help you get started.

Before you start using essential oils, it’s important to talk to a doctor, especially if you already have certain conditions or are taking any medications. Additionally, if your skin issues are bad enough that they’re impacting your daily life or the skin is cracking enough to draw blood, talk to a doctor before you start using essential oils.

Once you’ve done the research, you can start using essential oils to help with many skincare needs, including everything from aging to loose skin and a dull complexion. However, real beauty goes deeper than that. The comfort you feel in a natural beauty regimen may help alleviate stress, which can itself benefit your skin health.