Essential oils are the very concentrated essences of different plants. They can be made in a few different ways. The uses for essential oils, commonly referred to by us as EOs, are numerous and widely varied. Aromatherapy is just one of the many important things that can be done with essential oils.

Usually, essential oils are produced by a process called steam distillation. When the plant is steamed, the steam that is released contains the essence of the plant. It is then condensed and the oil is separated from the oil.

Some plants can be pressed in order to get their essential oil. This is especially true with fruits like lemons and oranges. Their rinds can be put in a press, the result of which is the essential oil.

Because an essential oil has the very same properties as the plant it comes from, there is a plethora of essential oils to choose from. All of them serve particular purposes, many even have several uses. (Love: The Element also has a series that outlines uses of popular EOs) Many essential oils have disinfecting properties and can be used for cleaning, some can help you through a cold. While some have relaxing properties, others can energize you. Essential oils are used for aromatherapy purposes in soaps, lotions, creams, candles, massage and bath oils, incense and diffusers.

Most essential oils are VERY strong and must be dilluted with a “carrier oil” (I’ll explain the different carrier oils in the next part of this series). Just a few drops in a very mild oil, cream or lotion will ensure you get the effect of your essential oil, without irritating your skin.

It is also important to get high quality essential oils, which are much different than perfume oils. Essential oils have no other ingredients, only the essence of one plant. Other oils may be combined with other ingredients.

Depending on the rarity of the plant an oil is produced from and the process used to get the oil, the price of an essential oil can vary. Tea tree oil is relatively expensive, while rose oil is pricey.

If you do not feel like worrying about which essential oils do which things, or which ones combine well together. Mainelement: Love products may be a perfect answer for you. Tyrika’s expertise in aromatherapy combines beautifully with the wonderful essential oils and all-natural products that are used for our products.

Mainelement: Love products make great gifts for aromatherapy enthusiasts, too! And who knows? Maybe using our rich (but affordable!) products will inspire you to dabble more in aromatherapy, yourself!

I’ve been asking you to read your product labels and be more aware of what you put on your body, because it doesn’t just sit on the surface, it enters your bloodstream, your muscles, your bones, your organs.  I’ve talked plenty about what you should be looking for that is good for your body.  But I haven’t said much about what you should be avoiding.  So I’ll be devoting a series of posts to giving you an overview of what you should be looking for to keep it away from your body. We’ll start with parabens.
Parabens are quite the controversial ingredient and have recently been under review by the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS).  To start from the beginning, parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, or butylparaben) are a group of preservatives commonly found in cosmetic and personal care products. Read the back of your shampoo, body wash, or deodorant labels and you will see at least one, if not a few parabens listed.

So wants all the fuss about? Well, parabens have been scientifically found to mimic hormones in the body which in turns causes our body to think we’ve produced too much estrogen.  High estrogen levels are widely known to be highly linked to breast cancer.  The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) states that all parabens have been proven to have endocrine-disrupting effects. Elevated estrogen can lead to depression, weight gain, and breast cancer. There are numerous reports on parabens being found in cancerous breast tissue. On the flip side, there are some claims that these reports are founded on faulty, misleading, and/or misinterpreted data.
My personal stance is these claims: Do I want to take the chance that the claims that this information is being blown out of proportion? Do I want to continue to expose myself to an increase risk of breast cancer? In a world where cancer is ravaging women, whether there is a family history or not, do I want to endanger myself?
Preservatives are a necessity in any product to guarantee that it doesn’t go rancid. Plain and simple, if you didn’t make it yourself and store it in your refrigerator and use it up quickly, it must have a preservative for your personal safety.  The question is, are there alternatives to parabens, alternatives that do not have a link to breast cancer?  The answer is absolutely! From rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary oil extract) tocopherol (Vitamin E ) rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary oil extract) alternatives are out there.

Be conscious when you’re making the choice in your beauty products.  Factor in your short and long terms goals…cost vs health vs ease of access vs quality of life.  Take a peek at the label on your favorite skin and/or hair treatment and see what you find.  Leave a comment and let us know what you find and what you think.

I am exactly 30 short days until my big day and I would be in denial if I said I’m not a bit nervous.  I’m heading into my second marriage full of excitement and joy to be marrying my best friend of 12 years.  I’m heading in to it with a lot of insight, thankfully, as it’s my second trip down the aisle and I’ve learned a lot in the ten year gap between my first and second marriages.

In preparation, I’ve set a plan in motion to relax and indulge my body, mind and spirit so that I go into my day as stress free and relaxed as possible. Since I don’t have the luxury of time, I’m doing it all myself, at home.  There’s the challenge in itself, since I am quite the busy bee. Nevertheless, today at the 30 minus mark, I’ve started the following rituals:

• Nightly bath before bed with a lavender vanilla bath bomb and body wash.  I prefer the warmth of the vanilla in this scent (not that I don’t love serenity LOL) and as restless as I am, the combination of warm bath and aromatherapy guarantee I fall asleep pretty much as soon as I hit the pillow.
• Morning sugar scrub using only sugar, jojoba, and aloe gel.  I don’t want any blemishes to jump up and show themselves in my wedding pictures so I’m determined to keep my face fresh and free of any blemishes
• Added coconut oil to my hair routine to beef up the shine factor so that when the big day comes my fresh face matches my luxurious hair

I’ll also be heading over to get my eyebrows threaded this weekend. I stopped waxing because it’s just too harsh on your skin.  The irritation after waxing just became more of an annoyance and I find threading lasts longer.
I’ll be keeping this up from now until the big day and I have a bit more preparation to do at the two week mark so I’ll keep you posted as to how Operation: Get Me Down the Aisle is going.  Do you have any tips you’d like to share with me on how to keep my sanity and remain beautiful at the same time? Let me hear them, I’m all ears!