It's Spring Break and sunny somewhere

I touched on phototoxicity in my last post, but because Spring Break is approaching and maybe, just maybe, we are going to have less dreary weather in the near future, I thought I'd write about it today.

As stated above, photosensitivity and phototoxicity is caused by certain oils enhancing light's effects, making it easier for skin to burn.  And I mean, it can burn -- google "essential oil photosensitivity burn" if you want to wince and learn.  It's important to keep the photosensitive oils in mind if you're applying topically.  If you're applying 'where the sun don't shine' you should be okay, but if you're rubbing grapefruit oil on your belly and planning to lie out in a bikini - I would not recommend it. 

You may wonder why Young Living doesn't have the photosensitivity icon next to some of the oils I've listed.  That's because some of them, like Lemon (Citrus limon) are considered dietary supplements in the official Product Guide.  However, there are people who use lemon oil for things like blemishes, and it is in several YL blends, so you have to be vigilant when you're wearing oils and going outside.  

In their 2015 product guide, Young Living lists the following blends as photosensitizers:  Abundance, Build Your Dream, Awaken, Christmas Spirit, Clarity, Dream Catcher, Gentle Baby, Harmony, GLF, Grounding, Lady Sclareol, Inner Child, Joy, Oola Balance, Oola Grow, Peace & Calming, Raven, Surrender, Transformation, and White Angelica.

But again, you have to remember remember,  the oils listed are meant to be applied topically.  Citrus Fresh is a blend that would be photosensitive, but because it's considered a dietary supplement, it has no photosensitivity icon.  I've read uses for it that include massage and perfume, though, so if you're someone who uses it topically -- particularly neat -- avoid sun/light exposure.  The potential burns are not worth it!

And if you're left thinking "Ow!" after this post, have no fear -- my next post is going to have an awesome sunburn spray to soothe skin you've roasted by forgetting to apply (or reapply) your SPF. 

My everyday oils

Today I'm going to talk about my Young Living Everyday Oils kit.  When you order the premium starter kit from Young Living, you get a set of ten essential oils in 5mL bottles.  It's a great way to introduce yourself to oils, and the assortment you get is excellent.  My go to oils are lavender, frankincense, tea tree (melaleuca alernifolia) and Purification.  Young Living's Purification blend has a wonderful smell.  It's one of my favorites to diffuse.

In the graphic above, you'll see the oils that I use day to day around my kids, ages 4 and 1.  For the most part, I diffuse them.  You can use them topically, but as I've mentioned before, I always dilute.  And since I'm discussing using oils topically, watch out for Lemon oil and Joy blend because they are phototoxic. (When an oil absorbs sunlight at high rates, it's considered phototoxic.  The areas to which you apply phototoxic oils can burn very easily!)  If you're planning on using them topically, stay out of the sun.

The other oils in the kit -- Thieves, PanAway, Purification, and Peppermint -- don't get used on or around the boys.   It's a personal decision I've made based on material I've read about oil components and essential oil safety.   (And no, this is not about the quality of the oils, but rather the chemical components that are responsible for how oils affect the body.) My husband and I have used each of these oils, but generally it's after the boys go to bed.  The boys climb all over me too much to wear PanAway throughout the day - besides, massages and relaxed muscles are much better before bed!

This kit is one of the reasons I'd encourage anyone interested in Young Living to begin their journey with the premium starter kit.  You get the diffuser, Everyday Oils, and a few other goodies you can see here.  If you need a sponsor and enroller ID, I'd be happy to help get you started.  My ID is 2444710.  I'll answer any and all the questions you have, and I have a great team I work with that can answer anything I can't! 

Lavender, the eo I use the most.

I'm going to start out with a post about the essential oil I have used the most.  It's included in YL's premium starter kit, but as I quickly learned, the 5mL bottle "starter" is just not enough considering everything you can do with it. 

Lavender.  At first, I wasn't sure I'd like it.  The aroma isn't quite like the lavender smell you find in perfumes and lotions.  However - and I'm sure several people can back me up here - your nose for oil scents changes as you begin to use them.  That doesn't mean you'll like all of them -- I can think of two blends that I don't diffuse or use often for that reason.  But lavender is one I adjusted to quickly and now I really, really like it.

So what's so special about lavender?  Several things, actually.  For starters, it's an essential oil that can be used on both children and adults.  It is one of the few oils that can be used neat (topical application without dilution), but I always dilute mine because I don't want to become sensitized to it.  Sensitization is an allergic reaction to the oil, basically, but something I always keep in mind is that just because an oil is non-sensitizing in the beginning doesn't mean you won't develop a reaction to it later.  And because I like lavender oil, I'd rather not risk breaking out in hives from it. 

Also, when it comes to my boys (ages four and one), I never apply lavender without dilution. (Never use oils neat on children younger than 2.)   

But Larissa, I hear someone saying, aren't you worried that lavender causes breast growth in boys?  Nope.  That claim has been debunked by Robert Tisserand.

Now that that's out of the way, what else is awesome about lavender?  It's calming.  It relieves tension.  It's a pain reliever.  It's really, really excellent for burns, insect bites, and small scrapes and cuts.   In my youth, I was a lifeguard -- a (regrettably) careless teenager who would sometimes skip reapplying sunscreen after a swim -- and I had a spray that I'd use when I got sunburned.  It contained lavender essential oil (and other oils including roman chamomile and geranium) and it was AWESOME.  Immediate relief and fast fading.  I didn't pay attention to the power of essential oils then like I do now, but having experienced great results, I plan on making my own spray this summer. Just in case.

It's also lovely to diffuse when you have sniffly and/or temperamental kiddos.  I've noticed the calming effect.   But if you're a sleep-deprived parent (I feel you.  I so feel you), I can't give any testimony to its aid in your kiddo's sleep.  My youngest is really not a great sleeper, and I won't lie, I tried diffusing it in his room before bedtime and saw no difference in his sleep patterns. 

And now since you know I deal with the occasional bags under my eyes, I'll include this:  lavender is an awesome addition to my daily moisturizer.  I added a few drops to my moisturizer pot.   My skin looks great, and the occasional chin breakouts that I get disappear within a few days.  The redness doesn't linger!  My skin looks healthier!  Lavender, you have me for life.  Which may also be why I recently had to order another bottle. 

So, if you're interested in essential oils, do yourself a favor and make sure you include lavender!  In my opinion, it's the most versatile and helpful oil of the lot! 

An intro of sorts

Unless you've disengaged yourself from Facebook...and Pinterest...and Tumblr...and possibly your social circle, you've probably been inundated with conversation about essential oils lately.  Being "oily" is no longer an insult or something plaguing your t-zone.  It's popular!  It's natural!

It's...moderately expensive.

It is.   And it's no wonder people are signing up to buy oils at wholesale price and with rewards programs.  If you try out essential oils and end up with positive results, you're going to want to save money as you explore new oils and blends.

I say this from experience.  I was super hesitant about joining any kind of marketing business, but wanted to buy a kit to explore how essential oils could fit into my life.  I'm a mother of two.  I like natural and organic products.  I like to avoid an unscheduled trip to my doctor's office if I can -- finding someone to watch the boys is hard enough, let alone dragging them along with me while I'm feeling sick.  I know other parents feel me on this one. 

So I joined the eo company that several of my friends used.  I ordered my premium starter kit and waited in excited anticipation for my products to ship.  And although I'd done some research before ordering my kit, I started to dig a little deeper.  You see, the eo debate goes beyond the dispute between the two leading MLM companies.  Once you sink your teeth into Google, you'll find lots of controversy: to ingest or to not ingest, to dilute or not dilute (use oils "neat"), and the one in which I was most interested -- safety regarding eo use with children.

Here's the thing, folks.  It doesn't matter what brand of essential oils you use, you have to keep yourself educated.  Because eos are becoming really popular, people are sharing their uses and experiences.  MLMs get a bad rap in some crowds when distributors share information viewed as unsafe.  I will fully admit - I got a little upset as I researched, thinking I'd just sunk a rather large chunk of money into something sketchy.  But as I continued my research, I realized a few things.

1. The oils I purchase are good quality.  I'll talk about this in a later blog post.
2.  Just because there are some poor recommendations being made out there doesn't mean I have to follow them.  In fact, I bought a couple of books on the science of aromatherapy and safety of essential oils so I could make informed decisions about the oils I use and how I use them. 
3. I wanted to share what I was learning and promote keeping yourself educated, no matter what essential oils you choose to purchase.  

So if you're interested in what I have to say, keep an eye on this blog.  I plan on sharing my experience with essential oils and how I use them in a family setting and personally.  I've had an excellent experience with them so far.  Better yet, I feel confident in my kids' health and safety, too.