No shade to coconut oil, but we hear about it all the time as a coveted oil with many skin, hair, and health benefits. However, besides coconut oil, lots of beautiful and amazing things from the earth can be beneficial to us in a multitude of ways. Example? Lavender oil. This pretty, purple plant has powerful benefits. Some studies have shown it's even an effective treatment for medical conditions dealing with neurological disorders of the nervous system, while others have shown that lavender essential oil can help with insomnia, hair loss, anxiety, stress, and postoperative pain.
Records of lavender being used botanically date back to 2,500 ago in the Mediterranean, Middle East, India, and also in Ancient Roman bathing practices to keep bacteria away. Soldiers in World War I carried the oil with them, to use as an antiseptic on wounds.
The healing powers of these purple buds was initially discovered by French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé in 1910, thanks to a lab explosion. Upon plunging his burned hand into a vat of lavender oil, he noted how well the skin healed with barely any scarring. Since then, lavender has been used as a tool for aiding skin recovery as well as providing relaxation with its soothing scent.
Along with the other benefits commonly found in botanical ingredients (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial), lavender is unique in its proven ability to boost blood circulation. This enables more brightening oxygen and nutrients to reach the skin’s surface. It can also protect and promote the skin’s natural barrier, plus balance its pH levels.
A word of warning: lavender essential oil is only safe to use in a carrier oil like jojoba or almond, and can cause irritation and minor burns to skin if used neat. All our products use essential oils diluted within these carrier oils.
Those pregnant or with sensitive skin should avoid using it, as goes the advice from health professionals.
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