People are always surprised when I tell them that I don’t use face wash, moisturizers, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, hair dye, lotions, creams, or any other over-the-counter products on my body (or on my kids). Many times they think I am gross or stink really bad, have greasy hair, and am some backwoods hippy. Those that finally meet me actually end up hugging my neck a little bit longer to breath in my Sandalwood essential oil, rubbing their hands through my naturally-dyed hair and complementing the color, and touching my cheek and telling me how baby butt soft my skin is.
You see, you don’t need all that stuff. When I finally gave up all those unnecessary products and started using natural essential oils to clean and freshen my body, I knew I was actually giving my body nourishment instead of toxic chemicals to try to unload.
We use essential oils for everything. Not only has our health improved, but our pocketbook has too!
Many have asked me how I use the oils daily on myself and on my family. This routine changes when there is a sickness or something else that we are trying to get rid of. So, I wanted to share a daily oil journal on which oils I used and why! I hope it inspires you to do the same.
CLICK HERE to learn more about essential oils
My Chemical-Free Daily Routine
Wake up and shower. I do the “No Poo” shampoo method on my hair using a baking soda wash to shampoo and an apple cider vinegar wash to condition. In my conditioning apple cider vinegar rinse, I add a few drops of Wild Orange essential oil. The oil acts as a serum and, also, leaves a nice, fresh smell in my hair. If I was to shave my legs on this particular day, I rub a scoop of coconut oil on my legs and use it like shaving cream! You will be impressed at how awesome coconut oil works for shaving!
Wash my face. I scoop out a marble-sized amount of coconut oil and put it on my hand. Then I add a drop of Cedarwood and a drop of Geranium essential oil to the coconut oil. I rub this mixture all over my face and let it sit on my face for a minute. I then take a HOT washcloth and set it over my face to lightly steam and open my pores. I then sure the washcloth to remove the oil and rub circular motions over my face. Pat dry with a towel and then make my husband feel how soft my skin is!
Get dressed. I have my favorite everyday oil on my dresser, Sandalwood! I love the woodsy smell of it and I add a few drops to my neck and wrists and sometimes my diffuser necklace.
Brush teeth. I use my homemade remineralizing toothpaste with Peppermint. Click here for the recipe.
Get kids up and ready. I apply a roller bottle blend on my kids (to the back of their neck)as they are eating breakfast. I use a “focus” blend and it’s great for calming and for enhancing a healthy thought process throughout the day. I, also, apply this to myself when I am sitting at my desk and working (like right now!)
Turn on diffuser. I use a diffuser daily (I like this one) and add different essential oils to it. In the morning I like to diffuse citrus oils, which is a very uplifting blend that smells delicious.
Morning supplements. I take a multi-vitamin, fish oil, and different essential oils in the morning. I apply 2 drops of grapefruit essential oil under my tongue and then swallow. Grapefruit helps to balance progesterone. When our bodies are under stress cortisol inhibits our production of progesterone; grapefruit prevents cortisol from blocking progesterone production.
Throughout the day. I drink water a lot throughout my day and most the time I add lemon essential oil to it. Lemon helps to assist in riding your body of toxins and it tastes so good too! I use peppermint for head and neck tension and on my belly when it’s upset. If you are feeling unwell, I use OnGuard daily on my family till everyone is feeling better. I, also, use my homemade all purpose Salve for minor skin irritations.
At night and for bedtime. My kids love their nightly oil routine. Some nights they get a detox bath using whatever oils I feel like putting in there. Click here to see how to do a detox bath for kids. When they get out of the tub, they each get Lavender on their feet. We used Cedarwood and Geranium to knock out my daughter’s dry and irritated skin on her hands and face, and use that as needed. I apply Frankincense on the back of their neck, down their spine to promote a healthy, growing body! When the kids are in bed I like to diffuse my calming and drink a hot tea with ginger essential oil and lemon essential oil added to it.
That’s it! Like I said above, we adjust this when there are things going on that we need to relieve with oils.
Why not give essential oils a try? I recommend taking it one step at a time. Slowly get rid of one item, like your face wash, and try my method! You will not be sorry!
Click here to start using essential oils on your family!
Jackie, Thank you for posting your routine, i learned something new about grapefruit oil. But I am curious if you are taking a multi and fish oil in addition to the LLV?
Another question I have is about the coconut oil going down your shower drain. In oil pulling it is important to get rid of the oil in the trashcan to avoid plumbing problems. i brush my teeth with coconut oil at times and wonder if its a bad idea to spit into the sink. Same idea as using it for shaving. have you noticed any issues with that?
Janis – I just ordered the LLV and will start taking them when my previous multi vitamins are out. I’m not sure if I will take fish oil or fermented cod liver oil with it. My doctor said you can’t OD on fish oil though. I haven’t noticed any issues with the coconut oil down the drain. With oil pulling, I spit it out into the trash.
I love the idea of using essential oils for my daily beauty routine! I have been slowly trying to get rid of all my chemical-induced moisturizers, face wash, etc. However, I have tried using coconut oil as a face wash, and also as a moisturizer, but I begin breaking out about day three. So, then I go back to my old stuff, and my skin clears up. I have never in my life, even while going through puberty, had a problem with acne. The only time I break out is when trying to use coconut oil (or other blends of natural oils) on my face. Am I the only one with this problem? Can you help? Am I doing something wrong? I really want to stop using chemicals!
I have read multiple places that coconut oil is comedogenic and will clog pores on the face very easily. I have the same problem; anything on my face with coconut oil plugs up SO many pores. It’s not normal acne, they are white bumps ALL OVER; nearly every pore. I tried “sticking it out” for almost a month and it never got better.
I now use grapeseed oil for my face and it has never been happier!! I put a few drops of tea tree oil in my daily mousturizer (Burt’s bees with clary sage). Wonderful combination for my skin!
I too can NOT use coconut oil on my face. I love it for a body moisturizer. Coconut oil is quite “comedogenic” which means it clogs pores. Coconut oil is a 4 on the 1-5 scale! Hemp oil is what I use on my face. It is a 0 on the scale, which means it does not clog pores. Here is a link to a chart listing the comedogenic properties of many oils. Hope this helps! https://www.beneficialbotanicals.com/facts-figures/comedogenic-rating.html
I’m sad because I’m very interested in the whole EO movement, but I’m not on FB so I don’t get in the “club” to learn of all your wonderful secrets.
Enjoy those of you on social media and learn, learn, learn!!
I love your posts and encouragement! <3
Love your articles!
What do you use for deodorant?
I use melaleuca in a spray bottle. I have some Primal Pit Paste I use when I need a little extra.
Thank you for posting! Just curious, what do you use as a moisturizer? Or do you not need one after you wash? Thanks, love your posts!
The coconut oil I wash my face with acts as a moisturizer and a cleanser. It leaves it very soft and no need for anything more.
I had a great reading time… I am in love with the health benefits of essential oils. They are simply amazing 🙂
I was wondering if you could share how you used the oils for your daughters excema? I’m struggling with a skin condition around my mouth and can not get rid of it. I bought the family pack because someone told me frankincence would cure it for sure and it didnt help.
How do you cleanse your face at night? The same way?
Yes the same way!
Hello Jackie,
Any suggestions for my daughters acne? She is 16 and in sports so I think all the sweating in addition to the hormones is not helping her. I’ve read different oils for acne but was wondering if you had any suggestions for cleansing and what to apply after?? Thanks so much.
Debbie
My granddaughter had bad acne also and I gave her Melaleuca essential oil and it cleared it up right away. She just uses itneat
Read my blog on using henna: https://thepaleomama.com/2013/11/henna-hair-dye-safe-nontoxic/ I use both regular coconut oil and the fractionated version because I love the smell of both, but there may be others who have had the same dislike to it that you do who can comment here to help you.
I am afraid to use the coconut oil on my face because I have really oily skin. Do you think that it makes your skin oily?
It hasn’t made my face oily and I’ve never heard others say it has. However each skin type is a bit different, so do a test for a few days and see what happens for your skin.
Hello! I started using coconut oil for just about everything, including as a face wash – however, I’m nervous about using EO’s with the oil while washing my face, as I always wear eye makeup and need to rub the oil over my eyes to get the makeup off. Do you recommend leaving the oils out and just sticking with the coconut oil alone as a face wash in this case?
Thanks!
Yes, if you are rubbing your eyes with the oil you need to leave off the eos
I use coconut oil to make a body lotion with olive oil and beeswax, adding whichever eo’s I choose at the time but do not use it on my face. I watched your video and decided to try cleaning my face the way you described only I used hemp oil and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the way my skin feels. Thank you so much for that video! I do love the coconut oil on my body, just not on my face.
How did you use the eo for your daughter’s exzema? Did you put it in the detox bath?
Where did you get your information on grapefruit oil, cortisol and progesterone? Thx!
online research, one starting point is https://www.drlam.com/blog/progesterone-and-adrenal-fatigue/961/
I just want to ask what you do in the morning before going out for work? Do you also just use oil to cleanse your face with the hot towel or splash your face with water or with natural soap? Do you also wash/wet your hair everyday using the baking soda and acv rinse?
Hi Jacqui, This post is brilliant! I am new to essential oills.
What do you use as a body moisturiser? Do you mix an EO with coconut oil?
Cheers
I don’t use a body moisturizer, but I have several recipes for body butters. One of my favorites is this:
https://thepaleomama.com/2015/05/lavender-body-butter/
Thank you so much for this post. I read elsewhere that essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin neat, and that they should be diluted. Do you agree with that? If so, how do you dilute the nighttime routine with your kids application of oil rubs?
I definitely do agree! We always dilute with our kids. Just add a half teaspoon for each drop of oil.