Hey I just saw your essential oils ask and I have actually been wanting to ask someone who actually knows or can point me to real science (and isn’t in an MLM) to help. Basically, an MLM friend gave me lavender oil and in a desperate moment when my allergies were bad, I put it directly on my skin where my sinuses were pressuring my teeth painfully. It worked!! Several times! But I feel like I should be diluting it maybe? Idk. Is it even safe to put on my skin? Any advice would be appreciated
Doesn’t surprise me, lavender can be an effective analgesic/anti-inflammatory when used correctly, I know a lot of anti-allergy blends contain it... which is kinda funny, cause lavender is a very prominent allergy in the population lol. Bodies are fun.
But you should absolutely be diluting it. The biggest no-nos for topical applications tend to be citrus oils as they are photoreactive (React in sunlight and can cause chemical burns.) but lavender is tolerated by most people. Putting it directly on your skin can be fine at first, but you can also sensitize yourself to essential oils by not using them properly and develop allergies/chemical burns if you do it too often. So if you do want to use it on your face, diluting it with a carrier oil such as coconut, jojoba, sweet almond, olive oil etc etc is necessary, and also like, use it sparingly. My usual mix for topical application is 2-5 drops per half cup of carrier oil. Essential oils really do not to be “strong” for you to get the benefits of them. Less is more.
If you start to get skin rashes or wheezing, stop using right away. You can also remove it from your skin using a plain carrier oil, then washing off with water. Consult with a doctor yadda yadda, I’m not a health care expert, I’m just someone with a lot of experience in holistic fields/chronically ill.
Also if you have cats, don’t let them rub up against your face. Lavender essential oil is harmful to our dear kitty friends.
