No shade to coconut oil, but we hear about it all the time as a coveted oil with many skin, hair, and health benefits. However, besides coconut oil, lots of beautiful and amazing things from the earth can be beneficial to us in a multitude of ways. Example? Lavender oil. This pretty purple plant has powerful benefits. Some studies have shown it's even an effective treatment for medical conditions dealing with neurological disorders of the nervous system, while others have shown that lavender essential oil can help with insomnia, hair loss, anxiety, stress, and postoperative pain.
The hardworking herb comes in many forms, so we talked to holistic skincare expert Mariska Nicholson, who founded Olive + M, an ethical and all-natural skincare line, about how to navigate the lavender-oil pool. "Not all lavender is created equal," says Nicholson. "The kinds that can be found at many drugstores and grocery stores are made with low-grade oils that aren't pure or have been diluted with fillers and synthetic ingredients. Be sure to do your research."
Fortunately, Nicholson pointed out the major difference between types of lavender oils that's important to be aware of. "There's a difference between lavender essential oil and lavender oil," she says. "If a label does not clearly state that it is an 'essential oil,' then it is not an essential oil and should not be used or treated as such. Lavender oils are simply perfume oils that are unlikely to contain any beneficial properties that are found in lavender essential oils. Lavender oil is not even derived from a lavender plant."