About Just the EssentialsHardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Harper Wave (March 7, 2017)
The author of Skin Cleanse returns with a comprehensive guide to the ultimate ingredient for living an all-natural, plant-based lifestyle: essential oils.
For millennia, essential oils have played a key role in health and beauty rituals. From references in the Bible (frankincense and myrrh) to Hippocrates (who documented the effects of oils from over 300 plants) to Ancient Egypt (Cleopatra pioneered the use of fragrance), essential oils have been revered throughout human history for their healing powers and their unparalleled scent.
But in modern times, they’ve often been misunderstood, underappreciated, even cast as "dangerous"—and relegated to the dusty shelves of health food stores. That is, until recently. Today they’re back in the spotlight as increasing numbers of consumers are looking for all-natural alternatives to skincare products and opting for fragrance-free detergents and soaps, natural remedies for common ailments, and toxin-free home cleaning solutions.
Enter Adina Grigore, owner and founder of the wildly popular all-natural skincare line SW Basics. A former essential oil skeptic, Grigore learned everything she could about these potent plant-based compounds when she began formulating her products. And what she learned was that essential oils are some of the most powerful, healing, health-promoting compounds found in nature. That, and they smell pretty great too.
In Just the Essentials, Grigore offers a 21st-century guide to these ancient oils, offering a fresh, fun, and authoritative overview of what they are and how they can be easily incorporated into anyone’s life. From plant-based medicine to all-natural skincare to safer and cleaner household products to aromatherapy, this handy and entertaining guide provides detailed advice for a wide array of oils, safety guidelines, and a range of do-it-yourself recipes to get started. Inside you'll discover such fun facts as:
- Tea tree oil is a powerful antibacterial that is proven to be as effective for treating acne as benzoyl peroxide; it also kills oral bacteria and is a life-saver for tooth infections.
- Cinnamon oil is a circulation-booster that helps to ease everyday aches and pains as well as headaches (even migraines).
- Peppermint oil is brimming with antimicrobial properties; peppermint oil can be used for everything from alleviating digestive problems to cleaning your kitchen counters.
I love essential oils and have used about ten of them over the last fifteen years. I already know they work so my interest was in learning more about them and possibly branching out. That is exactly what this author encourages in her book! She starts with the background and history of essential oils and does it in an interesting way. I enjoyed her writing style as I felt she was having a discussion with me so I got a lot out of it.
She also shares the benefits of using essential oils (and points out how much we are already using them since they are in a lot of products), and simple ways to use them, like through diffusing, cleaning with them, adding them to your daily moisturizer, or simply sniffing them. She also lists her top ten oils and shares simple ways to incorporate using them in your life.
Then, it's on to the DIY section, which was the most interesting to me. She shares recipes for skincare, perfume, personal care (shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash and more), home care (cleaner, furniture polish, candles and more), and aromatherapy blends.
The author does have her own company and promotes it throughout the book, but I felt like she gave great basic information that can be utilized no matter where you purchase your oils. It's a great resource for people that are just starting to use essential oils and, even though I've used them for years, I felt like I got great ideas on new ways to implement them in my life. It's written in a way that is interesting and easy to understand. This is a book I will keep on hand and refer to often!
My Rating=4 Stars
Source: I received an ARC via TLC Book Tours, which did not affect my review in any way
Purchase Links
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| Photo by Liz Andrien |
Adina Grigore is the founder and CEO of the all-natural, sustainable skin-care line S.W. Basics, which she started out of her kitchen in 2011. A graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Adina has worked in the wellness industry since 2007 as a private holistic nutritionist, a personal trainer, and a workshop coordinator teaching people about the DIY nature of wellness. S.W. Basics products are now sold internationally and have been featured in Vogue, O Magazine, W Magazine, the New York Times, InStyle, Real Simple, and Martha Stewart Living, among others.
Follow Adina on Instagram.
Tour Schedule:
Tuesday, March 7th: Just Commonly
Wednesday, March 8th: Sapphire Ng
Thursday, March 9th: Ms. Nose in a Book
Friday, March 10th: Wall-to-Wall Books
Monday, March 13th: Reading is My Super Power
Tuesday, March 14th: Luxury Reading
Wednesday, March 15th: Dreaming Big
Monday, March 20th: Rebecca Radish
Tuesday, March 21st: All Roads Lead to the Kitchen
Wednesday, March 22nd: Mel’s Shelves
Thursday, March 23rd: Library of Clean Reads
TBD: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
2 comments:
I'm glad to hear that there is something in here for experienced users as well as beginner to the essential oil world.
Thanks for being a part of the tour!
I feel just as you do about this book. It's a great resource and I can't wait to try more of the DIY recipes.
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