Wellness to Thrive : Deanna McMahon

How to Apply Oils

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Using oils on your skin is a great way to keep healthy, happy skin and to get the benefits of the individual oils. It's a wonderful option for the whole family! Dilution is never required when using oils, and it will just depend on your preferences and your individual skin. We love to apply oils undiluted to the bottom of the feet, to the spine, and other areas depending on our needs and the oils used! Remember that you're in control here, and you have the freedom to choose how to use your oils! If you're wanting to dilute, here is everything you need to know about diluting and applying oils.

WHAT DOES DILUTING MEAN? Diluting is basically just “watering down” the potency of essential oils. Some oils require dilution while some can be used directly from the bottle. Fun fact: each oil has a suggested dilution ratio right on the bottle! You may have to peel the label back to find it.

  • 1:1 dilution means one drop EO, 1 drop carrier
  • 1:4 means one drop EO, 4 drops carrier, etc.

WHEN TO DILUTE Some oils are considered 'hot' and may leave the skin tingly if used undiluted (neat). Some individuals like to use these oils undiluted for the tingly sensation (you truly cannot beat the soothing tingle of Peppermint when your shoulders are tense!) – just make sure to keep them away from the eyes or other sensitive areas. These oils are usually diluted 1:4, and the recommended dilution will be on the bottle label. Some examples of hot oils include:

  • Peppermint, Raven, Panaway, WinterGreen
  • Thieves, Clove, Cinnamon, and other spice oils
  • Oregano, Thyme, Marjoram

HOW TO DILUTE When applying oils to the skin, any carrier will do! Some that we love are organic coconut oil (great for general use but not for roller blends), Young Living's V-6 (a favorite for making rollers), jojoba oil (our preferred carrier for the face and for those with coconut allergies), argan oil (a great option for dry skin).

To use oils on your skin, you can simply drop them onto the desired area or mix them with a little carrier oil ( a pump of V-6 Vegetable Complex or a dab of coconut oil) before rubbing into the skin.

Another option for topical use is to make a roller blend! (See below for a link to some of our favorite recipes!) When making rollers we typically suggest the following ratios, depending on the person using the roller and the oils used. Don't worry too much about the exact drops though!

  • 10mL roller: 30-70 drops essential oil, rest carrier
  • 5mL roller: 10-30 drops essential, rest carrier

image DILUTING FOR KIDS If you're wanting to dilute your oils for younger family members, here are some dilution ratios straight from Young Living! Dilution is something each person or family chooses for what meets their needs and isn't required but is more personal preference.

  • Age 0-1: dilute at 1/8 the labeled concentration
  • Age 2-6: dilute at 1/4 the labeled concentration
  • Age 7-11: dilute at 1/2 the labeled concentration
  • Age 12+: full labeled concentration

PRE-DILUTED ROLL-ONS One thing we love is an easy button, and these prediluted roll-ons from Young Living are just that!

  • KidScents Roll-Ons: GeneYus (for focus), Kid Power (for courage & confidence), Owie (for bumps & boo-boos), SleepyIze (for sweet sleep), SniffleEase (for happy noses), and TummyGize (for happy bellies)
  • Deep Relief Roll-On: our favorite for all things tense or sore
  • Peace & Calming Roll-On: a slightly sweet, grounding oil that is calm in a bottle
  • RutaVaLa Roll-On: a blend with Valerian, which is wonderful for sleep
  • Stress Away Roll-On: a tropical-inspired blend that feels like a beach vacation
  • Thieves Roll-On: our go-to for daily wellness and immune support
  • Tranquil Roll-On: a gentle, calming blend that's great for emotions & sleep
  • Valor Roll-On: a sweet woodsy blend designed to inspire calm confidence