Now, go forth and dilute, and enjoy the beautiful results! You can learn more about carrier oils here . They're also often used to dilute essential oils in order to facilitate the absorption of oils into the skin and make them safer to apply. Since 1999. Carrier oils are what you add to your essential oil to dilute it. Dilute your essential oils adequately prior to use on the skin and use extreme caution with oils that are more likely to cause irritation and sensitization. Find out the math to dilute any percentage properly, including amounts for babies, toddlers, and children. So, let’s say you apply lavender over an old scar that you’re trying to fade (this is a popular use of lavender!). dry, normal, combination, sensitive, oily or acne-prone. Using Carrier Oils. [Marge Clark, Essential Oils and Aromatics (Sandy, UT: Silverleaf Press, 2008), 32.]. Essential oils are mainly lipophilic, which means that they dissolve in fats. Using a 2% essential oil dilution is generally considered a safe guideline for topical application of essential oils on adults when an essential oil has a dermal maximum of 2% of higher as provided within the second edition of Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young. A portion of that oil will disappear before it’s had a chance to be absorbed into your skin. Measuring by weight is recommended for more precise blending and accuracy. For instance, if Essential Oil Safety recommends a dermal maximum of 0.7% for a particular essential oil like Lemongrass Oil, multiply 600 drops (the average number of drops in an ounce) by 0.007 (this is the decimal version of 0.7%), resulting in a maximum recommendation of 4.2 drops per ounce, and that should be rounded down to 4 drops per ounce. When using essential oils topically, they should be diluted with a carrier oil such as, sweet almond oil, olive oil or coconut oil. The aroma of a 2% dilution may seem weak or barely aromatic at first. We’re going to dive into proper dilution for the face and body, while also debunking some common misconceptions about essential oil dilution. If you're used to strongly scented products, be assured that over time, you will begin to adjust and savor the nuances of your diluted blends. Diluting essential oils reduces the concentration of the essential oil without altering its therapeutic benefits. Learn more about my background. What exactly do I dilute the essential oils in? Learn Why It's Smart to Shop With AromaWeb's Advertisers! The safest way to go about this while making the most out of it is by using it as a spray. On the other hand, when you dilute the essential oil with the right carrier (we’ll talk about carriers soon!) For some, diluting it makes it easier to handle from bottle to bare skin. Makers use different methods to concentrate them into oils. The information on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease. A good rule of thumb is to stick to the 2% solution for topical application. Remember essential oils are super concentrated substances, so you don't usually apply them to your skin undiluted. 2% of 600 drops equals 12 drops (600x.02). For example, various essential oils for skin are anti-acne, anti-aging, and antibacterial. The truth is that this can sometimes be a … How to Dilute Essential Oils for Skin Care For facial applications such as masks or oils, a 1% or less dilution is recommended. This holds true when essential oil is diluted with carrier oils — don’t use diluted essential oils internally. Wait 24 hours. How To Use Tea Tree Oil In Your Skin Care Routine (No More Blemishes! A good rule of thumb when seeking to make a 2% dilution using the by-the-drop method is to add 12 drops of essential oil to each fl. How do I safely dilute essential oils for my kids? Technically, this method of measurement is not entirely precise — 2% essential oil should be added to only 98/100th of an ounce of carrier, but adding it to a full ounce makes this so much easier for most individuals to measure. Coconut oil can be used as a carrier oil for essential oils used in skincare, haircare, oral health, and home fragrance. So think about carrier oils as a base for carrying your actives ingredients (in this case, the essential oils) into your skin so they can have the results you intend them to,” explains Holecek. Dilution is done with carrier oils, which are vegetable oils “derived from the fatty portion of a plant, usually from the seeds, kernels or the nuts.” 3 They differ from other forms of oils like mineral oils, and are named as such because of their purpose of carrying the essential oil onto the skin. Applying essential oils to your skin undiluted can result in a burning sensation, skin sensitivity, and the risk of a rash. The same type of calculation described above can be used as the basis for working with oils that have different dermal usage maximums. And even though dilution sounds like you’re getting a weaker version of essential oils, it actually enhances the action of the oils. First, be sure you are using an essential oil that’s safe for the skin. 1,500 pounds of lemon. ), Essential Oil Dilution for Face: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners, Your email address will not be published. Do not use undiluted essential oils on your skin. The carrier oil serves as the medium in which the essential oil dissolves so that it can be “carried” to (and through) your skin safely. When you’re using essential oils topically, the dilution process can totally make or break your ability to get the right results. Apply 3 drops of essential oil per 2 teaspoons of coconut oil. The oils you use to dilute essential oils are called “carrier oils.” A carrier oil is a base oil for blending your essential oils. Featured Listing: You must dilute essential oils in carrier oils. There are instances when experienced aromatherapy practitioners make exceptions to this precaution. However, as I keep emphasizing, this can vary greatly depending upon the size and type of pipette, dropper or orifice reducer used and the viscosity (thickness) of the particular essential oil. Carrier Oils Carrier oils are not essential oils, they are fixed fatty oils from the seed or … The important thing to note is this is NOT simply aloe vera extract. Knowing how to dilute essential oils is key to truly enjoying them and reaping their benefits. In order to be used safely, they should be diluted in another safe substance, like water, a skin care oil or an unscented lotion or liquid soap. It’s a sign that you’re sensitive to that oil and you should either reduce the dilution ratio, or avoid it completely. So, don’t be surprised if you still experience an adverse reaction to an oil, even in the diluted form. Required fields are marked *, Copyright © 2020 Simply Natural Beauty Tips. In order to dilute essential oils for the skin, you need a carrier. Marge shares her experience and her unfortunate long term consequences for having used lavender essential oil neat: "One of my mentors reminds me 'sensitization is forever.' Using carrier oils to dilute essential oils provides a great medium for absorption into the skin and is one my favorite ways to use them. Your email address will not be published. Since we rarely cover our entire bodies in essential oils – a 2% dilution is fine. You will want to dilute essential oils with a good carrier oil. How To Dilute Essential Oils. It is also advisable to dilute the more potent oils and when trying an oil for the first time or when applying to sensitive skin or children. How To Dilute Essential Oils For Skin: Easy and Complete Guide. 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