I'm going to answer your top essential
oil questions so you can get the most out of your oils.
Hey everyone.
Welcome back to our series on the  top 15 essential oil questions we get asked at Plant Therapy.
If you haven't yet, make sure you go back and watch videos one through six.
Because this is number seven,
and today we're talking about how and
where to use essential oils on your skin.
So, you're probably wondering if you can
use essential oils directly on your skin.
The answer is yes. But, we always
recommend that you dilute any essential oils
with a carrier oil, aloe vera jelly, or body cream or lotion before applying them to your skin.
How much you dilute
your oils depends on a lot of different things,
like which essential oil or oils
you plan to use or your age.
Applying essential oils to the skin is 
a really good method of use.
But if you have sensitive skin, then you may want to do a
patch test before applying the oils to your skin.
If you haven't used a
particular essential oil before,
a patch test tells you whether or not 
your skin is too sensitive.
To do a patch test, just choose your carrier oil and mix your essential oil at an appropriate dilution.
Then place one to two drops of the
diluted essential oil on the inside of your wrist.
If you're sensitive to that oil, 
your skin may turn red or itchy within a couple hours,
though some aromatherapists and allergists recommend testing for up to 24 hours.
Once you've diluted your essential oils, 
you can safely rub it onto your skin.
Just remember you always need to dilute.
So how do you apply essential oils
topically on your skin?
Well, there are different dilution recommendations for different things and for different reasons.
For example, if you're applying oils to the face, if you're elderly or if you're pregnant or nursing,
Plant Therapy generally recommends 
a 0.5%-1% dilution.
For full body massages or regular daily use, we recommend a 1%- 2% percent dilution.
For isolated areas, a 3%-5% dilution is typically used.
For acute issues or a spot treatment, up to a 10% dilution can be used.
With this said, it's important to 
remember that certain essential oils
like Cinnamon Bark, Ylang Ylang and Lemongrass have max dermal application limits.
That means you shouldn't apply those oils topically, even diluted in larger dilutions than suggested.
Think of it like taking too much medicine.
For example, Ylang Ylang should not be used at a higher than 0.8% dilution to avoid skin irritation or sensitization.
Thanks for watching Video 7 and learning
more about how to use essential oils on your skin.
For more, be sure to come back
and watch Video 8
where we're going to be talking about 
everything carrier oils.
And as always, if you have any more questions, please share them with us below
and one of our aromatherapists will answer you ASAP.
Bye and happy diluting.
