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The size of a molecule of essential oil is incredibly tiny. These small molecules are able to pass through your skin without much difficulty. Your skin will not absorb every drop of oil, however. A small quantity of essential oil evaporates just from the warmth of your skin, and a little stays on the surface of your skin.

 This assimilation does not take place all at one time. Essential oils are formed from lots of different compounds, and some go through your skin quicker than others. The most absorbable components can appear in your blood 20 minutes after you massage them on your skin.

 Try this out. Cut a clove of garlic in half and rub the cut surface freely on the sole of your foot. Put socks on and wait. It will require your blood system about 20 minutes to transport the essential oil of garlic all through your body. You’ll know because you’ll be able to taste it. Not simply can you taste garlic, but its potent antiseptic activity is operating all over your body.

 Essential oils tend to go right where you need them. Assume that you have a sore muscle and would like to make use of an essential oil like chamomile to relieve the pain. Rub a massage oil that includes chamomile essential oil on the sore area, and you’ll dispatch the absorbable portions of the oil to your aching muscle that lies underneath the skin.

 Not only does the troubled region obtain nearly the entire healing dose when you put aromatherapy products on your skin, but a smaller amount of essential oil goes into your blood stream. Not as much essential oil in your blood means less oil has to be processed by your liver.

 Essential oils must be diluted before they may safely be applied to your skin. This is commonly done by mixing a small amount of essential oil with a large quantity of a vegetable oil. Every aromatherapy product that contains vegetable oil – and that includes skin lotion, facial cream, salve, and massage oil – slows down the assimilation of essential oil by your skin. This means that a little less essential oil is absorbed into your body. What is going on is that large molecules in vegetable oils such as sweet almond oil or olive oil are too large to go through your skin, so they remain on surface of your skin and hold onto some of the essential oil while they’re at it. This is good for your skin since it provides the essential oils a chance to do their work directly to your skin.

The information for this post is taken from:

• Kathi Keville. Aromatherapy for Dummies. Foster City, CA: IDG Books Worldwide, Inc, 1999

In their pure state, essential oils are too highly concentrated to rub directly on the skin. We use vegetable and carrier oils to dilute them. These oils are made from vegetables, nuts, or seeds. They are produced mainly for food and are a good source of nutrients and energy. But they are also used in aromatherapy. Many of these oils have healing properties even when we use them by themselves.

Here is a list of a few of these base oils and the various skin types they can be used for:

Sweet Almond Oil
Rich in protein, good for all skin types.

Apricot Kernel Oil
All skins, especially prematurely aged, sensitive, inflamed, and dry.

Avocado Oil
All skins, especially dry and dehydrated; eczema.

Borage Seed Oil
Prematurely aged skin. Good for regenerating and stimulating the skin. All skin types.

Carrot Oil
Premature aging, itching, dryness, psoriasis and eczema. Rejuvenating; reduces scarring.

Evening Primrose Oil
Helps to prevent premature aging of the skin.

Jojoba Oil
A waxy substance that mimics collagen. It can be used for inflamed skin, psoriasis, eczema, acne, hair care, all skin types; highly penetrative.

Olive Oil
Rheumatic conditions, hair care, cosmetics; soothing.

Wheatgerm Oil
Prematurely aged skin; all skin types.

This post is based upon The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy, by Valerie Ann Worwood. Novato, CA. New World Library, 1991