How mind-soothing aromatherapy products helped save one writer’s sanity
DESPITE being a “beauty guru”, I have quite a confession.
Up until last year, the only products that ever made it into my bathroom cabinet were the latest make-up and skincare launches that promised visible results.
If a product didn’t guarantee glowing skin, plumper lips or glossier hair, I wasn’t remotely interested.
I shunned everything that landed on my desk that claimed to be therapeutic or calming as a complete gimmick.
But maybe that’s because I’d never had a reason to really put them to the test. That was until October 2018, when I was diagnosed with a mood disorder that saw me battle hyperactive behaviour, anger, stress and anxiety.
Fast-forward six months, and I found myself standing in my bathroom, staring past the all-frills foundation and fancy serums I used to think I couldn’t live without.
They were of no use to someone who couldn’t even muster up the energy to leave the house. Instead, I was searching for something that would help me not just physically but mentally, too.
Finally, I succumbed to a sector I’d always thought too far-fetched to be true – aromatherapy. According to Aromatherapy Associates London master blender Luke Taylor, it is a “dynamic, holistic therapy that affects the senses on multiple levels”.
Essential oils are believed to help uplift, renew and balance you both emotionally and physically, and encourage that time-out feeling. “The impact of aromatherapy comes from the emotional connection triggered by our sense of smell,” explains Luke.
“Smell is linked to the deepest parts of the brain – unlocking our basic instincts, feelings and memories and allowing for not only a sedative effect on the mind, but on the body, too.
The scent of essential oils and the way they are absorbed into our bodies through hair follicles once they come into contact with skin, can help ease muscular aches and pains, stimulate circulation, clear sinus congestion and deliver antioxidant benefits.”
I knew nothing would quite work its magic as well as my clinical therapist or prescribed medication, but I was willing to try anything to calm my constantly simmering rage.
My first port of call was Aromatherapy Associates London Deep Relax Bath & Shower Oil, £49. Just two drops in a warm bath made for the most relaxing soak I’ve ever had.
Thanks to its soothing, calming vetiver, sandalwood and camomile blend, I felt some respite for the first time in ages. I was officially an aromatherapy convert.
I guess I learned the hard way that there is way more to beauty than what you see – that it’s just as important, if not more so, for your beauty products to make you feel, as well as look, amazing. And evidently I’m not the only one banging the aromatherapy drum.
Last year, Space NK saw triple digit growth of aromatherapy-based brands, and online retailer Cult Beauty has reported a 240% rise in the number of searches for aromatherapy over the last 18 months.
Tempted? Whether you’re sending out a mental SOS or just want to wind down at the weekend, you’ve got nothing to lose. Here are the products that will always remain on the edge of my bath…
Body Double
TENSION doesn’t just affect your mind, it impacts you physically, too.
“Essential oils are fantastic for treating muscular aches and pains,” says Fran Johnson, natural head development manager at Neal’s Yard Remedies.
- Petitgrain + Thym Body Wash, Honest Skincare, £30 —
- Frankincense & Mandarin Body Lotion, Neal's Yard, 21.50 —
- Calm Roller Ball Ylang Ylang & Mandarin, Botanics Mindful, £4.99 —
- London Deep Relax Bath & Shower Oil, Aromatherapy Associates, £49 —
“As well as healing your mind through relaxation, they also help recovery from muscular injury and tiredness.”
And while this might sound like it only applies to professional sports players, the fact is that all of us can carry tension in our muscles, especially in our upper back, neck and shoulders.
To help release this, Luke recommends ingredients such as frankincense and petitgrain, which is extracted from the bitter orange tree.
My go-to is Honest Skincare Petitgrain + Thyme Body Wash, which also contains thyme essential oil to help with inflammation and boosting the immune system.
A staple in my new routine is Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense & Mandarin Body Lotion, which can help calm all that nervous energy I sometimes feel, thanks to the frankincense essential oil it contains.
On the go? Botanics Mindful Calm Roller Ball Ylang Ylang & Mandarin is great to keep in your handbag to apply to pressure points when you’re in need of a lift.
Tress DE-STRESS
WHEN it comes to your hair, you might not want to veer away from your usual products, but if you’re really looking to unwind a formula containing camomile is a great option.
“It’s a useful essential oil for improving hair growth and deeply conditioning, as well as releasing a comforting scent to relax the mind and body,” says Luke.
- Camomile Shampoo, Aveda, £46.50 for 1L —
- Marilyn Hot Oil treatment, Lush, £7.50 —
My favourite is Aveda Camomile Shampoo, £46.50 for 1L, which works wonders for dryness but also soothes my mind.
To get my hair sleek, I’ll indulge in a Lush Marilyn Hot Oil Treatment, £7.50 (2), which as wellas calming camomile, contains lemon juice and olive oil to add extra radiance to blonde locks.
Face Recognition
FROWN lines, fine lines and a lacklustre complexion can all be worsened by stress. but there’s an essential oil for that! “Most oils have dual benefits,” explains Luke.
“Rose, which is a natural mood lifter, does wonders for your skin, too. It stimulates circulation for a more youthful, radiant complexion.”
- Geranium & Apricot Cleansing Oil, Votary Rose, £45 —
- Frankincense Facial Moisturise, Aromatika, £17.95 —
Votary Rose, Geranium And Apricot Cleansing Oil, £45 (3), may work to improve concentration and cognitive function, as well as keeping your complexion in tip-top condition.
Frankincense is thought to aid concentration when inhaled, but used in skincare it can work as an anti-ager and skin firmer.
My fave fix of this essential oil comes in Aromatika Frankincense Facial Moisturiser, £17.95, which has added hydrating macadamia nut oil to keep skin pillow-plump.
Credits: Wilfried Haubenberger Stockists: Aromatherapy Associates London (), Aromatika (), Aveda (), Botanics (), Honest Skincare (), Lush (), Neal’s Yard Remedies (), Votary ()