People who live in northern climates love to escape to sunny destinations during the coldest months of the year. What a pleasure it is to experience longer days and the warmth of the sun! Sunshine and warm weather are an excellent antidote for seasonal depression, too.
When travelling to a sunny destination with your oils, there are some important things to know. First of all, it is very important to protect your skin from the sun. UV radiation from the sun can burn the skin, and even it it doesn't burn, it certainly ages skin faster than we want.
While it is possible to make your own sunscreen (I used to teach a class on this topic!), doTERRA now has a full line of excellent, mineral-based sunscreen products. Make sure you order these before you travel to a southern destination!
I especially love the sunscreen stick, and the spray-on version of the sunscreen--but, every single item in this product line is amazing and protects the skin exceptionally well. Of course they are Reef-Safe, Cruelty-Free, Water Resistant, and vegan friendly. Make sure you apply them before going out in the sun, especially when you are in a place that is so much closer to the equator than you are used to.
Other sun safety practices are important, too!
Avoid the peak UV hours: 10 am - 4 pm
Wear sunglasses that will protect your eyes from UV radiation
Wear a wide-brimmed hat to shade your face
Wear UPF-50 clothing to further protect your skin
When your day in the sun is winding down, make sure to treat your skin with an after-sun potion that will soothe and help it to counteract any ill effects from the UV rays it has been exposed to. dōTERRA has a beautiful ready-made after-sun mist, but you can also make one for yourself with your essential oils and a spray bottle.
SUN SAFETY & ESSENTIAL OILS
Here is something really important to know about essential oils:
some oils have compounds that increase the effect of UV radiation on the skin. This applies to natural sun exposure as well as to tanning booths.
If you apply these oils to skin that is exposed to the sun, the skin will burn more easily and may also darken in the area where the essential oil was applied.
I don't think anyone wants burned or splotchy skin, so be aware of this effect! Be sun safe.
If you need to use these oils topically, put them "where the sun doesn't shine" or, wait at least 12 hours before any sun exposure
This is not a finite list, as dōTERRA releases new blends frequently. Always check the label for usage information.
Are you missing a few oils to make a recipe? Log in to your dōTERRA account to place an order. If you don't have an account yet, let's fix that! Get 25% off plus loads of other benefits with a wholesale account.