In my quest to be more conscious of what I am putting on and in my body (except for beer, please don’t ask me about beer), I recently purchased a very highly rated organic-vegan-cruelty free face wash. Upon using it for the first time, I BURST INTO FLAMES. Okay, not actual flames. But when I looked in the mirror post-shower, I was terrified. Was I dying? Had the vitamin-C that was supposed to rejuvenate my tired skin turned against me? Maybe I overreacted just a bit, like that’s not unusual. But when something is labeled organic-vegan-cruelty free and is basically made of cloud whispers, I expect it NOT to burn off my skin.
This quest to avoid ALL THE BAD THINGS can be challenging and most of the time I take the easy way out. And most of the time I avoid getting roped into “things.” But let me tell you about essential oils…
No really! Please let me tell you. Because I am currently in a state of constant confusion and overwhelmed-ness about them. And as an educated woman with a biology degree, I *know* I shouldn’t let these magical oils BUT I AM. A large population of similarly well-educated females at my place of employment are into them. Like IN-TO them. And they have been so kind and generous with their samples and education and oil-party nights in which I get to smell all the things and do a scan test that told me my main life problems. And hot damn if that scan test didn’t hit a few (of the many) issues right on the head. For myself AND my friends. And perhaps maybe one or two of those scans showed weight management issues and I was like, I GET IT. Do I rub the oils on my fat to make it disappear? (The answer is no, especially since I learned the hard way that some oils are “hot” and will “burn” your skin...akin to the holy water facewash I tried this morning).
Yes, I understand multi-level marketing companies (Hi, Avon!). I also understand that essential oils are not going to cure cancer; but if they can help out with the blues and a bit of the sniffles (and a bit of the snoring) then I am SOLD. Also, some just smell really great. Also, some just don’t (meat marinade...you get it).
I sense that my issue here is classic avoidance. I know what is going on with my body. I fell off the wagon after the wedding. Nay, I leapt off the wagon screaming NO SALADS NO PAIN and never looked back. And here I am 10 months later chubby and constantly battling low energy and summer colds. If I could just get back on that stupid miserable wagon, I would be fine. I wouldn’t need any magical oils to cure my various ailments.
But like what IF they work, you know? WHAT IF? Don't worry, you'll be sure to hear back from me about this either way.
