I am absolutely enamored with plants, especially when used in skin care and aromatherapy. For those of you that don’t know my story, I healed my cystic acne by following a holistic lifestyle and using plant ingredients in my skin care routine. I began studying about essential oils and aromatherapy and became fascinated with their healing properties. It seemed like any skin concern I had could be addressed topically with plants. I also began to learn that they are just as beneficial to the mind as they are the skin. Depending on which plant oil you reach for, you can experience calm, inspiration, happiness, or peace — simply by inhaling their scent. Amazing, right?

With all that’s happening in our world right now and the impending election, you’re not alone if you’re feeling anxiety, fear, or a general sense of unease. I thought this would be an appropriate time to share some of my favorite essential oils to reduce stress, feel more grounded, and hopefully bring you back to a place of rest and ease. Below are my top picks for using aromatherapy during times of stress.

*If you’re looking for a place to purchase straight essential oils, I recommend mountain rose herbs. Their quality is unsurpassed and they use sustainably sourced plants and support organic agriculture.

**Essential oils are extremely powerful and concentrated. When using essential oils topically on the body, always use precaution by diluting with a carrier oil.

Lavender

This baby has been my go-to for the past 8 years. I use it daily on myself and my son. It’s very gentle and its calming properties make it an easy choice for anytime of the day.

The ritual: I like to put a few drops in my palms, inhale 3 deep breaths, and then rub it behind the ears and into the rest of the neck and shoulders.

Peppermint + Rosemary

I love this blend for its powerful uplifting properties. It’s an instant mood booster that I love for mid-morning to afternoon time to keep me motivated.

The ritual: Put 5-7 drops of each essential oil in a diffuser and place in an area nearby in your house or workplace.

Black Spruce

You guys already know about my love for this oil as it’s the key ingredient in our body oil. It’s a powerful warming oil that soothes and relaxes the mind and muscles. There is also evidence that it supports the endocrine system.

The ritual: Place 1-2 droppers of our Black Spruce Body Oil into cupped hands. Inhale three deep breaths and then apply all over the body (and face if needed). Massage into areas that are tense and sore.

Blue Tansy

A key ingredient in our brand new cream and body oil, this ingredient is incredibly sedative and calming to the mind. It’s a healing oil that has amazing anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties and has been used for years to calm allergies, burns, and the central nervous system. It’s truly my go-to for times of stress and anxiety.

The ritual: Apply our Blue Tansy Cream to entire face and neck, massaging gently into the skin. Work into the shoulders and take a moment to breathe in the deeply relaxing properties of this oil.

Pro tip: If you choose to diffuse blue tansy essential oil, it blends really nicely with frankincense.

Vanilla

Ahhh, who doesn’t love this beautiful warming oil? Not actually considered an essential oil due to it’s limitations in extraction, the absolute is nonetheless powerful and beautiful. It is an aphrodisiac and has rich anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also very calming and boasts major benefits for skin health. These reasons alone we enough to choose it as a key ingredient for our Matcha Mask.

The ritual: Snag our Matcha Mask and be sure to apply it on the upper lip to receive the amazing relaxing aromatherapy properties of this ingredient.

Do you have favorite essential oils that you use daily? Join the conversation with us over on Instagram — we’d love to hear from you!

Be well,

— Monica, Founder + CEO