In today's hectic and fast-paced life it's important to spend some "me" time pampering and relaxing yourself. Today, there are numerous relaxation options available as well as several ways to relieve stress, enjoy and rejuvenate your senses and body. A great way to experience a heaven-like, self-indulgent beauty treatment is at a day spa or a beauty salon. Beauty professionals use 100% natural and pure oils extracted from plants and herbs, known as essential oils, to cure, heal, and energize your body.

Need for Essential Oils
A good body massage at the hands of an experienced masseur is not just physically rewarding but also emotionally advantageous to your body. Massage and body massage oils are perfect for pampering and relieving the stress and tension of your body and mind. Essential oil blends are the traditional and age-old cures to enhance the feeling of being healthy, vitalized, as well as spread a general sense of positivity and goodwill. Essential massage oils, when used for massages, not only moisturize the skin, but also ease muscle tension and help you de-stress and relax.

Essential oils such as Orange, Lemon, and others are full of rich minerals and vitamins. There composition is such that they can be absorbed by the skin with ease and offer deep-tissue treatments for the body. You can use aromatherapy essential oils as home spa oils as well. These oils are perfect for use as bath oils and after bath moisturizing.

History of Essential Oils
History of essential oils is as unique and interesting as the oils themselves. Used by the early civilizations such as Indians, Chinese, Egyptians, and Babylonians essential oils have also been mentioned in the Bible. The ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics and some Chinese manuscripts have records of physicians and priests using oils extracted from plans to make some of the earliest known medicines. These oils were also used for protection against diseases and for curing wounds and ache as well as during religious ceremonies, embalming the dead, and as perfumes!

Several royalties such as Cleopatra was fully aware of the power of essential oils and would use them to attract men towards her. She also used them for a glowing, supple skin and thick, dark, lustrous hair.

Extraction of Essential Oils
All-natural and pure essential oils are aromatic or fragrant extracts of trees, flowers, herbs, spices, bark, fruits, seeds, and fibers by the process of distillation, or solvent extraction. Since essential oils are essential to the plants’ growth process and to the substances that give them their special fragrance, they are also known as “life force.” There are more than 150 different types of essential oils that are used in aromatherapy. Some of the essential oils are more expensive than others. This could be due to the rarity of the sources or the complexity of the extraction process. Emu Oil, extracted from Emu bird is very expensive but excellent for the skin, wrinkles, and overall beauty. On the other hand, orange, lemon, sage, rosemary, patchouli, and others are fairly inexpensive and easily available in the supermarkets.


Benefits of Essential Oils
Essential oils are wonderful for us. Not only because they are completely natural and don’t have any side effects but also because they give us more than physical relief. If you use essential oils on a regular basis, your will feel healthier, fitter, mentally stronger, psychologically more in control, besides having a higher immunity level against common illnesses such as colds, fevers, allergies etc.

Different essential oils offer different benefits. Some may offer unique healing, antiseptic properties while others may offer anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, expectorating, and diuretic properties. You must seek a aroma therapist before buying an essential oil for treating a serious ailment.

However, you may use the more common essential oils such as Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Rosemary, Tea-tree, Ylang Ylang for relaxation and enjoyment as well.

Some Essential Oils for Health and Beauty
We thought with all this talk about essential oils, you may now just want to know which ones you can buy without having to peel through layers of research for spending money on consulting a professional. And remember, each of these essential beauty oils have their own healing properties that offer your skin a rosy and healthy glow. So here goes:

1. Sunflower Oil – Grown by American Indians for 1000s of years, this oil is extracted from sunflower seeds and is rich in minerals and in Vitamins A, and E.

2. Olive Oil- One of the most cherished, valuable, and powerful multi-use beauty/health oil, it has also been called “liquid gold” do to its miraculous powers for improving the texture and appearance of your skin. Olive oil leaves your skin feeling soft and your complexion glowing due to the high mineral content, Vitamin E, and vital fatty acids!

3. Jojoba Oil – Obtained from the seeds of the desert plant Jojoba, the oil is light and waxy. Excessively being used as a humectant, Jojoba oil creates a protective layer on the surface of your skin to lock the moisture in so that your skin stay hydrated and soft even in winter!

Essential oils are a perfect way to look beautiful and stay healthy for longer!