What are essential oils? Essential oils are volatile compounds of aromatic plants. A plant contains many complex substances that are often used in skin and body care, and one of these is essential oil. An essential oil is the purest form of aroma you can imagine. It is extracted from the plant in various ways, but the most common procedure is steam distillation. To obtain 1 liter of essential oil, for example from sage, you need as much as 700 kg of leaves. So it is not a simple process.
Essential oils in skincare
Why do we use essential oils in cosmetics?
For the wonderful scent that we can add in this way. Nothing can match the scent of pure essential oil, they bring the essence of the flowers and plants from which they were extracted to life. Moreover, they are all-natural. Plant, distillation, and then you have the essential oil, that’s it. This is in contrast to fragrances and perfumes that are entirely chemical and therefore can never pass the natural test.
In addition to using an essential oil for its scent, some essential oils also have skin-enhancing effects when used in sufficient concentration.
Which essential oils do we use at Self?
At Self, we use mandarin and geranium oil to create that typical Self scent. Citral and geraniol, two components of mandarin and geranium oil that we use at Self, are found in numerous other essential oils and are also widely used in skincare.
Why are essential oils so controversial? And what about Self?
As with many ingredients, essential oils can cause a reaction in some people if used in a high percentage. There is sometimes criticism from some quarters regarding the use of essential oil in skincare, but keep in mind that this is usually when it is used in a higher percentage. Some essential oils have skin-improving properties when used in certain concentrations.
We specifically chose these oils because of their good properties.
Mandarin oil works against tired skin, stretch marks, and scars, improves elasticity, and promotes skin healing. Geranium oil has antiseptic and antifungal properties; the oil also promotes skin healing and regulates the skin's sebum production.
Self mainly uses the oils for the pleasant scent they provide, so the concentration of the specific components (citral and geraniol) is so small that reactions are rare! But because I find transparency very important, you can find the full INCI list of our products in the e-shop. There you will also find a mention of the use of these essential oils (mandarin and geranium oil).
Essential oils can, therefore – like many other ingredients – provoke reactions, but because we at Self choose a very low percentage, the chance is very rare. The discussion that sometimes rages is mainly about use at high concentrations where skin irritation can occur more quickly.
