Essential oils for the body: uses and precautions

Are you a fan of natural skincare and keen to use naturally derived ingredients in your body-care routine? Here are a few ideas and tips for anyone who wants to bring essential oils into their skincare rituals: how to use them, which oils to choose and which recipes to try!

What is an essential oil?

An essential oil is, as the name suggests, a concentrated liquid plant essence, obtained by distillation (steam or dry) of the volatile aromatic compounds of a plant. The only exception: citrus essences, such as lemon, grapefruit or orange, which are obtained by simple cold-pressing of the peel. Aromatic compounds can be found in the leaves or flowers of a plant, as well as in buds, roots or bark. They are a complex blend of chemical compounds, sometimes made up of hundreds of different molecules. This blend of molecules gives the essential oil its properties: stimulating or calming, soothing or purifying for the skin… As a result, essential oils are part of many people’s daily beauty and well-being routines.

How to use essential oils?

Essential oils are not oily. They are generally liquid with varying densities (sometimes fluid, sometimes thicker).They should never be applied neat to the skin, but always used with a carrier. For example:

• In diffusion, you can use a solid carrier such as a wax (like beeswax), a porous material (clay, wood, terracotta) or a neutral alcohol-based solution to enjoy their benefits.
• For topical use: it is recommended to use a fatty base, such as a natural vegetable oil or a plant butter, to prepare a treatment with essential oils.
• In a bath: a carrier is also necessary. Essential oils do not dissolve in water, but they can be mixed with a little coarse salt and vegetable oil to make bath salts.

Bear in mind that essential oils are highly potent, and just a few drops are enough to enjoy their benefits. There is no need to use an entire bottle of essential oil for each treatment!

Which essential oils should you choose for your body-care routine?

As mentioned above, essential oils carry many benefits depending on their composition. These plant elixirs are used both in diffusion, for their fragrance, and in body care, diluted in a vegetable oil.

So it is natural to wonder what place they could have in a body-care routine, alongside our tips for staying motivated.

1- Essential oils for leg care

If your weight fluctuates and you wonder whether excess water is involved, see our dedicated article on water retention. Some essential oils are also often included in homemade treatments for the legs. Among these essential oils, we recommend:

Virginia Cedarwood essential oil: it is a popular choice for homemade leg-care treatments. If you experience the sensation of heavy legs, however, ask a pharmacist or doctor for advice. It can be used in synergy with Juniper essential oil (used in anti-cellulite treatments) and a dry vegetable oil such as Macadamia vegetable oil. Use 35 drops of each essential oil per 20 ml of vegetable oil for a homemade treatment for your legs.

Patchouli essential oil: you are probably familiar with patchouli for its distinctive scent, widely used in perfumery, but perhaps less so for its use in body care! Yet it is often found in body oils designed for the legs. You can prepare your own body oil: simply blend 15 drops of Patchouli essential oil, 25 drops of Evergreen Cypress essential oil and 20 ml of Jojoba vegetable oil.

2- Essential oils for stubborn areas

Some essential oils, meanwhile, are mainly used in treatments for stubborn areas. Among them:

Grapefruit essential oil: it is widely regarded as a go-to essential oil for homemade body care. With its invigorating scent, it is a popular ally when you want to look after your figure. You can prepare a homemade body oil: blend 35 drops of Grapefruit essential oil with 35 drops of Menthol Eucalyptus essential oil in 20 ml of sweet almond vegetable oil. Apply this lotion daily to stubborn areas, as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Sweet Fennel essential oil: fennel is best known as a kitchen ingredient (see also our tips to aid digestion). Its essential oil can also be used as an ingredient in a homemade body treatment. Simply combine it with Sea Fennel essential oil (often chosen for treatments designed to firm the skin) and Atlas Cedarwood essential oil (a staple of homemade anti-cellulite treatments!), using 20 drops of each, blended into 30 ml of natural sesame vegetable oil.

Lemon essential oil: another homemade skincare classic! Its fresh scent makes it a popular ingredient. For a bath with an invigorating fragrance, you can blend a few drops of Lemon essential oil, a few drops of Rosemary Verbenone essential oil, a handful of Epsom Salt and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a bowl. Once the mixture is well combined, pour it into your warm bath and enjoy!

Essential oils and your figure: limitations and alternatives

Of course, it is important to stay realistic: using homemade cosmetics with essential oils every day will not transform your figure overnight! Essential oils can complement an overall healthy lifestyle, which should be built on:

• A varied and balanced diet: home-cooked meals prepared with whole, natural ingredients.
• Adequate hydration, primarily with water; tea and herbal infusions can also be part of it. For more on dietary supplements, see our dedicated article.
• Daily physical activity, such as walking, complemented by regular exercise sessions – fitness, running, cycling, swimming… Whatever you enjoy!
• Enough sleep, which matters for your overall well-being.
• Avoiding stressful situations, because stress does nothing for your well-being or your health.

You can also complement your essential oil routine with other treatments. For example:

• If you would like to focus on your stomach, you can try our Extra Flat Stomach Programme, a 21-day routine designed to help you look after your waist and tummy.
• If it is your thighs that concern you, we also offer a Slimmer Thighs Programme, a routine designed to be followed over three weeks.
• And for those who are truly committed and want to look after their whole figure, our Maxi Slimming Pack offers a comprehensive routine that pairs easily with your homemade essential oil treatments.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best essential oil for your figure?

There is no single essential oil to favour: the right choice depends on your needs, your preferences and how sensitive your skin is. Each oil featured above comes with a recipe. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice.

Which essential oil should I choose for my stomach?

No essential oil can target a specific area such as the stomach on its own. The homemade treatments in this article are designed to fit into an overall routine. Use them in line with the precautions set out in the section “How to use essential oils?”.

Can you use essential oils during pregnancy?

Not all essential oils are suitable for every situation. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition or are taking any medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before using them.

Related articles

• Is the treadmill effective for weight loss?
• Juice cleanse: what it is, side effects and how to start
• Sugar-free week: which sugars to cut and what to eat
• How to Weigh Yourself Properly

Useful categories: Slimming Tips, Slimming Solutions.