How Do You Get Essential Oil Off The Skin?

The application of both essential oils and aromatherapy has attracted significant attention from people because they offer so many benefits. Lotions, scrubs, perfumes, and massage oils are used for all kinds of things. Although they are helpful, they tend to deposit on the skin surface as an oily layer, thus the need for an effective removal process. Read on to learn different techniques for removing essential oil from the skin as fast as possible.

Knowledge of Essential Oils and their Impact on the Skin

Composition of Essential Oils

Essential oils are complex mixtures of various chemical compounds based on monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, phenylpropanoids, aldehydes, ketones, esters, alcohol, and ethers. These components preach the typical fragrant distributions and beneficial uses of the essential oils. Because the essential oils are very concentrated, they can be sticky once applied to the skin, and this may form a sticky feeling on the skin or even cause irritation depending on the technique used in applying the oil.

Reactions to Essential Oils

People will have different reactions for the essential oils. Some individuals might get a reaction to it being such as hay fever while others might just not like the feeling of the oil left behind. Thus, you still need to know how your skin reacts to essential oils and what steps should be taken to wash them off.

Steps on How to Remove Essential Oils from the Skin

Washing with Soap and Water

First, they are the most straightforward and most conventional processes for eliminating essential oils from the skin. 

Follow these steps:

• Wet your skin with the lukewarm water.

• Wash with warm water and a very slight soap with no perfume or dye added.

• Rub the soap with your fingers in a circular motion on the skin, paying special attention to areas where the essential oil has been applied.

• Wash the skin under lukewarm water to make sure there is no soap and the scent of the essential oil left.

Using a Gentle Cleanser

For a more thorough and less drying option, use a gentle, non-comedogenic facial cleanser:

• Rub a pea-sized amount of the cleanser in your fingers or on a suede-like fabric.

• Lightly rub the cleanser on the skin and rub more vigorously around the areas still greasy with the essential oil.

• Removing the soap – wash the skin with clean water, preferably warm water.

Diluting with a Carrier Oil

Diluting the essential oil with a carrier oil can help reduce its potency and make it easier to remove from the skin:

• Select a suitable carrier oil, such as sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil.

• With your fingers, try to spread the oil well by moving your palms to and fro.

• Lightly rub your hands in circles onto the skin remineralized with oil.

• Allow the carrier oil to be on the skin for at least a few minutes.

• Gently wash the skin with soap and water.

Using a Tissue or Cotton Ball

If you have accidentally gotten essential oil on your clothes or surrounding surfaces, you can use a tissue or cotton ball to remove the excess oil:

• Grab a tissue or a cotton ball, and then in a small cup of water wet the tissue or a cotton ball.

• To remove the essential oil damp the tissue or a small piece of cotton and press it lightly against the skin.

• This needs to be repeated until no more oil is absorbed.

Using a Barrier Method

Applying a barrier method, such as shea butter, coconut oil, or a light oil like sweet almond oil, can help protect your skin from the effects of essential oils.

Choose a barrier method and rub a thin layer of the one you picked over the area of the skin where you will be applying the essential oil. That helps reduce skin rash and discomfort and eases future removal of the essential oil.

Supplemental Recommendations and Cautions

Always Perform a Patch Test

Before applying essential oils to your skin, it is crucial to perform a patch test to ensure that you do not have an allergic reaction:

• Pat a dime-sized amount of the essential oil or the product containing this oil on your skin- on the inner area of your wrist

• See if there is any redness, itching, or irritation before proceeding to the next step – wait 24 hours.

• If nothing happens, you can apply the essential oil to your skin.

Select only the best quality for your essential oils.

When purchasing essential oils, opt for high-quality, pure, and organic oils to minimize the risk of irritation or adverse reactions:

• Choose those who are made by known manufacturers 

• Know from reading the label the source of the oil and the level of purity.

Use Proper Dilution Ratios

Follow recommended dilution ratios when using essential oils topically to minimize the risk of skin irritation:

• One rule of thumb is to mix essential oils with a carrier oil in a ratio of 1 to  2 % depending with the skin sensitivity.

• For instance, add 2 drops of essential oil and 1 tablespoon of carrier oil.

It is essential to wash essential oils off your skin because they can cause skin reactions, rashes and the like. It should be noted that all of the methods described above are very effective in removing oils from your skin. Therefore, you can use oils to your advantage without having to worry about any side effects. You should always do the skin patch test, use good quality essential oils, and use the proper concentrations of the blend of essential oils to avoid rashes or irritation.