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A debate for the ages!!
When it comes to Essential Oils in skincare, there is quite a range of opinions. Do they have God-like powers? Do they irritate your skin? Are they only for scent? Do they have medicinal qualities?
Here at the Potion we believe in skin diversity, that all skin is unique and different ingredients will have varied results for different people. We also believe that you know your skin best, so when creating our formulas, we listen to your requests and feedback. This is why you’ll find both naturally scented and unscented Potions in our lineup. We understand that each person has unique needs, preferences, and skincare philosophies.
Unsurprisingly, you won’t find us advocating for either side of the Essential Oil debate. Mama Joy loves Essential Oils in her facial care both for the spa-like experience they help create and for the results they produce for her skin. Sylvan prefers unscented Potions for her everyday skincare, but finds Essential Oils work better than any other treatment for dealing with her breakouts. Also, we often receive feedback that for many people, a beautiful scent is THE reason they enjoy a skincare routine. It seems our customers are split down the middle as well; our two bestselling Face Potions are Youth (with Essential Oils) and Freedom (unscented).
One thing we can definitely agree on is that Essential Oils are powerful and must be treated with respect. Essential Oils consist of many different chemical constituents that can affect your body. They have been used in beauty rituals for centuries and there is evidence to support their use in skincare (see HERE for a collection of relevant studies). We think of them as powerful plant medicine and like with any medicine, dosage makes all the difference. Often, Essential Oils are used in too high of a concentration, the wrong blend of oils is used, or the quality and freshness are not suitable for skin. Some essential oils are even irritating or dangerous if applied to skin prior to sun exposure or if combined with certain other oils. At The Potion, most of our formulas for skin are either unscented or have less than 1% Essential Oils. Each oil is used at the concentration that provides maximum effectiveness with minimal risk for sensitivity.
Essential Oils can have beautiful qualities for the skin when fresh, but become irritants if they are old and have started to oxidize. There are also a lot of fake or adulterated Essential Oils on the market masquerading as natural. We purchase from suppliers with transparent and impeccable freshness, quality, and regulatory information. All of our ingredients are stored under refrigeration and we don’t use any ingredient that has less than 18 months left in its shelf life.
Essential Oils are chemicals (naturally occurring chemicals) and it is important that if you are using products with them on your skin that they have been formulated by someone with the right education and experience to ensure safety and effectiveness. Sylvan has certification in Fundamental Organic Chemistry, Essential Oil Safety, and Natural Skincare Formulation. You can trust that when you purchase a product from The Potion Masters, it has been formulated with care, purpose, and your skin health in mind.
It is important to note that even if your skincare is fresh, perfectly formulated, well suited to your skin type and the finest quality, a product with Essential Oils still may not be for you. Sometimes people with very sensitive skin, with compromised skin barrier function, or who suffer from allergies will have negative reactions to Essential Oils. People who react poorly to synthetic perfumes can also react to Essential Oils. If this sounds like you, sticking with unscented formulas will be your best option. (Shop our Unscented Collection HERE). This doesn’t mean that they aren’t good for other people. Example: Sylvan is highly allergic to Garlic. She has terrible reactions if she even comes into contact with it, but for people who aren’t allergic, Garlic has many health benefits! The same goes for cosmetic ingredients, one person’s Lavender is another person’s Garlic…..or something like that 😉
The most important thing to remember with any type of personal care is that it is PERSONAL. You know your skin better than anyone else, so listen to it, feed it what it likes, and let others do the same.
How about you? Do you enjoy Essential Oils, or do you prefer unscented skincare? Let us know in the comments!
Xoxo
Sylvan & Joy
*Information contained in our blogs is designated for education purposes only. The opinions are of us, our families, friends, customers and human testers. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.*
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