My Favorite Essential Oils

I joked on Instagram today how essential oils get me through life. While it's a bit of an exaggeration, I do make them part of my daily routine and they definitely have a positive impact on my mental state. My mom introduced me to lavender oil when I was young to help reduce my anxiety. She would tell me to put it in my bath and even place a few drops on my pillowcase at night. Over the years I've tried different oils and have found which ones I consistently reach for, and which I can do without.

Getting into essential oils can be overwhelming. Which ones should you use? When should you use them? Should you mix them? I thought I would share my favorite doTERRA oils and the purposes of each. It's important to buy high-quality essential oils, as they are safe and effective. For your info, I keep a diffuser in my bedroom, guest room and kitchen/dining room.

Lavender: Of course I need to start with my favorite. I use lavender every night. I place 3-4 drops in my diffuser (depending if I mix any other oils with it). As I mentioned above, I also place a drop on my pillowcase and in my bath. It helps promote a restful sleep. I will also add it to my face moisturizer. Lavender oil helps to reduce skin imperfections. I like to add it to my moisturizer when my skin is feeling dry and depleted.

Ylang Ylang: I add it to my diffuser with the lavender before bed when I want a bit of a change. It helps reduce anxiety and sadness. You can put it on your skin to help reduce inflammation. You can also put it in your hair overnight to help with damaged ends.

Clary Sage: I put this on my stomach during the time of the month to help alleviate PMS symptoms like bloating and cramping.  It also helps to normalize hormone levels. Besides getting you through the time of month (which sometimes feels like the whole month!), you can add it to your shampoo or conditioner.

Lemon: I love to add lemon to my diffuser in the kitchen when I'm cleaning up and want it to smell fresh and clean. I also add it to my dish soap and sponge in the kitchen. You can also add it to your water, which as we know is amazing for digestion.

Peppermint: My hot yoga teacher always ends class by fanning a towel with peppermint on each person. It's seriously the best feeling after a hardcore workout. When I come home from a workout I like to put it in my diffuser to have a similar effect. I also add a drop to my shower.  Lastly, you can add it to your water to help with stomach aches.

Bergamot: My favorite scent for the living room when I get home from work. It's both uplifting and calming. It's also a good background scent, if you know what I mean.

Frankincense: This is another great one for the living room in the afternoon. It's also a great scent when you want to meditate or relax. It helps to reduce heart rate and high blood pressure. It has anti-aging benefits so it's great to add to your nighttime face moisturizer.

Rose: There is nothing like the smell of roses. I apply this to my palms before bed. It's clean and has a pretty smell, without being overpowering (which is perfect when you're sleeping in bed with someone else).

Blue Tansy: One of my favorite face masks is a blue tansy mask, so I wanted to go straight to the source if you know what I mean. It's found in a lot of high-end skincare products. It helps diminish the appearance of blemishes and soothes skin irritation.

Melaleuca (Tea Tree): A classic, tea tree oil is great for acne, your hair and dry cuticles. You can also add it to your cleaning supplies.

This kit is great if you are just starting out and want to try a variety of oils.