Episode 130: Essential Oils for Your Skincare Routine Plus a History of Lime

doTERRA: Your skin is your body's largest organ, with the average adult having about eight pounds of skin. And with all that your skin does to protect you from the outside world, you should make sure that you're showing it a little bit of love.

Welcome back to Essential Oil Solutions with doTERRA, the podcast where you'll hear exciting, useful, and simple everyday uses for essential oils from experts in the field. If you like what you hear today, rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen. We always appreciate hearing from you.

Today, we're excited to talk to Samantha Lewis, a member of the doTERRA product marketing team, about using essential oils as part of a natural skincare routine. Samantha, thank you for sitting down with us today.

Samantha Lewis: Thanks so much for having me.

doTERRA: Now, my first question is, what are some of the benefits that essential oils can have for my skin?

Samantha: The possibilities are really endless, but the most prominent skin benefits you could experience from essential oils are improved skin texture, soothing irritated skin, and overall skin nourishment. When it comes to skincare, I group skin essential oils into three categories, which tend to overlap in a Venn diagram type of way. You have your trees and resins—which tend to help improve the look and feel of your skin—then the florals—which often are associated with a glowing complexion and soothing irritated skin—and then you have your herbs—which generally helps to skin while providing powerful cleansing benefits.

doTERRA And what are some oils you recommend using as part of my personal skincare routine?

Samantha: Within each of the categories mentioned, there are a few hero oils that I recommend as a starting point for most people. I also like to suggest starting with blends and then picking one or two ingredients out of a blend you found beneficial to help target specific concerns you might have.

In the trees and resins category, a staple I think everyone should have in their arsenal is Frankincense. It's usually pretty gentle to those with sensitive skin, but always dilute if you have more sensitive skin.

In the floral category, I love Helichrysum. This is a daily use for me.

Neroli Touch is actually part of the florals group too and can be very soothing to the skin. Plus, it's prediluted for sensitive skin users. I love using the floral touches, like Neroli or Rose, for spot treating.

And then getting into the herbs category, Cilantro is a great addition to a facial cleanser.

If you're not the biggest fan of the smell Cilantro, I'd suggest trying out Tea Tree for its cleansing benefits, even though it's not technically in the herb category.

doTERRA: Samantha, my last question for you is how do I incorporate essential oils into my routine? When do I apply them?

Samantha: This is a great question, and I really think it all depends on the benefit you're looking for. My general practice is anything I want a long-lasting benefit from, I apply it after my cleanser, usually mixing a few drops of each oil into my serum or moisturizer.

If I'm looking for more enhanced cleansing benefits, then I'll add a couple of drops into my skin cleanser before application.

For spot treatment situations, whether it's a blemish or helping to improve skin texture, I think at the end of your nighttime routine would be best. But as always, do your own research, figure out your skin type, and identify your core skin concerns. If you do have specific concerns, I suggest sitting down with your dermatologist to see what's going to work best for you.

doTERRA: Samantha, thank you so much for being here with us today.

Samantha: Thanks so much for having me!

doTERRA: This special citrus fruit has a unique, refreshing aroma. When you smell it, you’re immediately taken back to warm, relaxing summer days spent with the people you love—perhaps on the beach. Its delicious tangy flavor is the highlight of many drinks, desserts, and dishes. This fruit is lime, specifically key lime.

Now the word lime comes from the Arabic word līma. And key refers to the Florida Keys, where this specific kind of lime was naturalized. The first known mention of key lime was in 1905, and it was referred to as “the finest [fruit] on the market.” This particular lime is also known as the West Indian lime, the bartender’s lime, the Omani lime, and the Mexican lime. Its scientific name is Citrus × aurantiifolia, and it’s a part of the Rutaceae family, which also includes oranges, lemons, and grapefruits.

The lime tree is unique in appearance. Its trunk is often slanted or curved, and multiple branches emerge near the base of the tree. There are dwarf species of lime trees that can be grown indoors, but when outdoors the tree normally grows up to 16 feet tall. The leaves are a beautiful shade of emerald green. In the late spring, delicate white blossoms begin peeking out from the foliage. And these blossoms ripen during the summer into the luscious green citrus fruit we’ve come to know and love.

History of the Key Lime

Citrus × aurantiifolia —like most species of limes—is native to Southeast Asia. Centuries ago, it was spread across the world through trade and migration. Spanish explorers brought it to the West Indies, and Henry Perrine, a noted physician, and horticulturist is said to have introduced it to Florida. But it wasn’t yet known as the key lime.

In the late 1800s, this species of lime wasn’t considered valuable. In fact, many thought of it as a weed. But that changed when the Great Freeze took place in 1894, destroying many Florida lemon groves. Farmers replanted this species of lime instead. It soon became known as the key lime, and it’s now celebrated as an important regional crop. In fact, in 2002, Key West, Florida, began holding an annual key lime festival over the July 4 weekend. This festival celebrates all things key lime, including a variety of food and drinks.

Of all the species of lime, you may wonder why we chose the key lime. Well, one reason is key limes are highly sought after for their strong, robust flavor and zesty fragrance, which is due to their higher acidity compared to other limes.

Traditional Uses of Lime

Traditionally, limes have been used for food. In the nineteenth century, British sailors were given a daily allowance of limes to encourage good health. In Ayurveda, it’s believed that lime can calm vata and stimulate kapha. Today, you can find lime’s sweet and tangy flavor in everything from salad dressings and smoothies to the iconic Key lime pie. Lime is often the highlight of Mexican, Persian, and Southwest American dishes.

With its refreshing aroma and delicious taste, we’re sure you’ll find joy in using Lime in your life and around your home.

Thanks for joining us and congratulations on living a healthier lifestyle with essential oils. If you liked what you heard today, rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen. Also, if you want to try any of the products you learned about, go to doterra.com or find a Wellness Advocate near you to place an order today.