Remember the first time you experienced an essential oil? Maybe someone placed a drop of Peppermint oil into your palms, and after breathing in that cooling sensation, you had to resist the urge to drench yourself in its icy scent. We’ve all gotten a little “essential oil happy” at some point, but properly using these oils can make or break your experience. While many essential oils are safe to use without much precaution, some essential oils—like Peppermint—can cause skin sensitivities if you overdo it. Follow these simple tips and tricks to learn how to keep your skin happy and get the most out of your essential oils

What causes essential oil reactions, and how can you prevent them? 

Many people assume that if they have a reaction to an essential oil, they must be allergic to it. However, that’s not often the case. True essential oil allergies are rare, and reactions are more often the result of improper usage or skin sensitivity.

Here’s how to use essential oils safely, so you can make the most of these powerful little allies.

Pay attention to labels

All of our essential oil bottles are labeled with safety usage information that can help you prevent any mishaps. If an oil label says that it needs dilution when used topically, be sure to follow the necessary dilution requirements.

Disclaimer: When using essential oils around your little ones, you’ll want to dilute even more. Read this blog post for more information on diluting essential oils for children.

Generally, oils require dilution because they are either photoreactive or “hot.” Photoreactive oils contain compounds that can increase your sensitivity to UV rays and cause a reaction similar to a sunburn. Most citrus essential oils are included in this category. These oils will feature a photosensitivity warning on the label, as well as instructions on how to safely apply these oils to the skin. For photoreactive oils, it’s best to stick to the golden rule of avoiding sunlight or UV rays for up to 12 hours after applying. Read this blog post for more information on photoreactive essential oil safety.

“Hot” oils create a warming or hot sensation when applied to the skin, which can cause skin reactions if not diluted properly. Learn more about these types of oils here.

If your label is worn and illegible or you want to double-check the safety warnings, visit the oil’s product page on our website and you’ll find labels for photosensitivity and dilution under the “safety items” section.

Use only high-quality, unadulterated oils

Some companies mix their essential oils with synthetic ingredients to cut costs or increase shelf life. These additives not only reduce the effectiveness of the oil but can also cause skin irritation or other adverse reactions. If the price tag on an essential oil seems too good to be true, double-check that the label doesn’t include any unwanted ingredients. To learn more, check out this blog post on why high-quality essential oils are worth the money.

Patch test to discover skin sensitivity 

We recommend that you patch test prior to your first use of any oil, epecially if you tend to have sensitive skin. To perform a patch test, mix 1–2 drops of essential oil with a carrier oil and apply the diluted oil to a patch of skin that does not have hair, such as the forearm. Observe that area of skin over the course of 1–2 hours for any noticeable reaction. While most reactions will happen shortly after use, some may take time to appear, so be sure to continue to monitor your skin for up to 72 hours.

In some cases, your skin may become less sensitive over time. If you have a reaction to an initial patch test, you can try patch testing again in the future to see if you’ve adapted to the oil. Be sure to dilute with more carrier oil this time and keep a close eye out for any reaction. If you find that a certain oil doesn’t suit you, you may want to switch to a different one with similar benefits.

Wash your hands after handling essential oils

While essential oils offer many benefits for your skin, that doesn’t mean you should put them all over your body. Cleaning your hands with soap and water after topical application can help you keep oil from getting where you don’t want it, such as in your eyes.

Remember that oil and water don’t mix

Some resources suggest diluting the oil with water if you think you’re having a reaction, but water actually drives oil further into the skin. Never use water in an attempt to flush oil off of the skin, as this may increase discomfort. If you experience a hot or burning sensation, have feelings of discomfort and irritation, or develop a rash, saturate the affected area immediately with V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex or another carrier oil like olive oil to dilute the oil. Follow up by washing the area well with mild soap and water. If needed, apply more carrier oil and a cool compress to soothe any irritation.

If your reaction is severe, seek medical help or call your doctor.

While essential oils are well loved for their simple application, our product safety guidelines can help you develop habits that will keep you safe and avoid any potential reactions.

New to essential oils? Learn all the basic tips and tricks in our beginner’s guide to essential oils!

What are your favorite ways to apply oils topically?

Tell us in the comments below.

What are essential oil patents and why do they matter?

Did you know Young Living holds 17 essential oil patents issued from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, more than any other direct sales company in Utah? We know families like yours rely on the essential oil innovation we bring to the table. Protecting those innovations so we can share oils with every home is a top priority for us—which is what makes patents so important.

A patent is a legal safeguard that protects inventions from competitors both inside and outside our industry. Patents give the patent holder the exclusive right to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing a product, process, or design. However, these protections are limited to those products, designs, and processes that meet certain specifications according to their:

• Originality
• Practicality
• Suitability
• Utility

Most importantly, patents are an expression of innovation and proof of a company’s leadership in its field. As we look for new products for you to share and ways to make the most of them, it’s only natural when we take innovative steps and pioneer brand-new technologies and processes.

So, let’s dive into the wide world of patents!

Why patents matter to our Customers and Brand Partners

Patents provide any company with a long-lived competitive advantage that it passes on to its partners. Earning a patent also differentiates that company’s products and brand from competitors. When a patent is awarded to a company, it recognizes the investment that company has made toward expanding an industry’s possibilities and capabilities. That award typically protects an invention for up to 20 years from the date of application.

That’s why it’s no surprise that Young Living’s late founder, D. Gary Young, is listed as an inventor on 14 of Young Living’s patents, and CEO Mary Young is listed as an inventor on four. The company has previously filed 10 other patent applications, and Young Living products are cited on an additional 14 patent applications filed by third parties.

What type of patents does Young Living hold?

Out of the many types of patents out there, Young Living currently focuses on two particular kinds.

First, Young Living holds utility patents, which are issued to those who invent or discover a new process, composition, method, or machine. A utility patent gives the patent holder the exclusive right to prevent others from making, using, or selling the invention throughout the U.S. If the invention is a process, the patent holder has the right to prevent others from using the process, offering to sell it, or selling products created using that process.

Second, Young Living also holds design patents, which are granted to protect a distinctive decoration or design. With a design patent, the patent holder has the right to stop others from reproducing or selling that design throughout the U.S. or importing it into the country.

What has Young Living patented?

Young Living holds patents on a range of processes, products, and designs. Here are only a few of the patents we hold—and please forgive us while we quote the legalese from these patents!

• Blue Spruce essential oil. Two patents for a useful composition of Blue Spruce essential oil. The composition includes essential oils from a tree of the genus Picea or a product of this oil. The essential oil product can specifically come from essential oil from the plant Picea pungens, commonly referred to as Blue Spruce.S. Patent No. 9,066,904 B2 and 9,675,653 B2.
• Dietary supplement. One for a dietary supplement composition that includes omega-3 fatty acids, one or more tocopherols and tocotrienols, and one or more essential oils. S. Patent No. 9,211,277 B2.
• Distillation system. One for apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products involved in a distillation system. S. Patent No. 10,000,723 B2.
• Liquid diffusers. Multiple patents involving liquid diffusers and their apparatuses, systems, and designs.
• Massaging roller-ball application. Multiple patents for massaging roller-ball application for topical oils.

Sharing our innovations with the world

Naturally, we’re proud of our innovations, but what truly matters is sharing these discoveries with the world so that every home benefits from these precious oils, blends, and other products. To help spread the word about our work and the patents that come as a result, we’re updating our Science Is in Our Nature webpage. This page dives deeper into our patents and how they benefit you and the essential oil industry.

For even more details about our patents, be sure to listen to the “Leading the Way in Innovation” episode of our YL Drop podcast!

Sometimes you just have to grab what you can and head out the door.

But instead of fueling your body with foods that are packed with sugars and preservatives, NingXia Greens is here to give you a superfood combo featuring all the fruits and veggies you need to truly power through the day, plus a boost from mushrooms and other nutrient-dense foods.

What does NingXia Greens taste like?

Similar to the taste of matcha, NingXia Greens has a naturally neutral flavor with notes of citrus and grass—but that’s just the base. Create a flavor-bursting combination by mixing the powder into NingXia Red®, juice, or a smoothie.

Benefits of NingXia Greens

• 2–3 servings of fruits and vegetables in every scoop
• Contains more than 60 high-quality vegetables, fruits, herbs, and mushrooms to help you hit your nutrition goals
• Formulated with a proprietary blend of essential oils and 50 whole foods fermented into a prebiotic superfood
• Formulated with maitake, reishi, turkey tail, shiitake, and enokitake mushrooms, which contain beta glucans to support a healthy immune system
• Contains antioxidant- and phytonutrient-dense ingredients to support a healthy immune system
• Features a mix of Ningxia wolfberry fruit powder and Ningxia wolfberry sprouted leaves from an ancient plant that has long been praised for its powerful health benefits
• Formulated with a blend of whole food ingredients that have been fermented into a prebiotic superfood, enabling your body to better absorb nutrients and helping you achieve a more balanced diet and get the nutrients normal diets lack
• Free of artificial colors, flavors, fillers, sweeteners, and added sugar
• Helps support healthy energy levels, digestive wellness, and immune health

Ingredients you may not recognize

 Mother Nature has more to offer than what you can find in the local grocery store. While NingXia Greens is packed with foods you already love—like banana, apple, lemon, and ginger—we’ve also added some exotic foods that are often hard to find but are rich in the nutrients your body craves.

• Amla fruit: Also known as Indian gooseberry, amla fruit is spherical with a light greenish-yellow hue. It tastes sour, bitter, and astringent.
• Secale cereale flower pollen extract: Drawn from the pollen of rye grass, this extract contains amino acids, phytosterols, fatty acids, carotenoids, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that contribute to the health benefits of NingXia Greens.
• Udo: An herbaceous perennial plant native to Japan, Korea, and eastern China, udo is rich in essential fatty acids. Because your body doesn’t make enough fatty acids on its own, udo provides additional nutrients into your diet.
• Kombu: A brown seaweed native to the northern Pacific Ocean, kombu contains iodine, calcium, potassium, vitamins A and C, and iron.
• Green perilla: An herb belonging to the mint family, green perilla has been used throughout Asian cultures to treat a variety of ailments.
• Purslane: A succulent containing omega-3 fatty acids, purslane offers additional support for healthy digestion.
• Moringa: A native Indian tree, moringa has many health benefits and provides a variety of vitamins and minerals.

When is the best time of day to consume NingXia Greens?

There is no particular time or schedule on which you need to consume NingXia Greens, but creating a routine can help you get key ingredients on a daily basis. We recommend taking NingXia Greens first thing in the morning so you can power your day and prep your gut for healthy digestion. NingXia Greens can be taken with or without food.

Which Young Living products pair well with NingXia Greens?

NingXia Greens can act as a nutritional base to your day and can easily pair with a number of juices, smoothies, and even vitamins. Here are a few of our favorite Young Living products to pair with NingXia Greens:

• NingXia Red: Similar to NingXia Greens, NingXia Red is packed with nutrients and superfoods. Blend these products together for a truly powerful beverage.
• Essentialzymes-4: Give your digestive tract an extra boost with Essentialzymes-4, a two-capsule blend heavy in digestive enzymes that aid in the breakdown of dietary fats, proteins, fibers, and carbohydrates.
• Life 9®: A potent probiotic with nine beneficial bacteria strains, Life 9 has over 17 billion live cultures to support healthy digestion.

How to take NingXia Greens 

NingXia Greens is a versatile product with various consumption methods. Here are a few favorite ways to get your greens:

• Mix NingXia Greens with 2 ounces NingXia Red and ½ cup orange juice for a fruity, nutritious start to your day.
• Stir 1 scoop of NingXia Greens into a protein shake made with Pure Protein Complete.
• Add 1 scoop of NingXia Greens to a fruit smoothie for an extra dose of fiber and plant-based omega-3s. Try the recipe below!

Tropical Greens smoothie  

Sip on vacation vibes from the comfort of your own home with a tasty mix of superfoods.

Ingredients:

• ½ frozen banana
• 1 cup frozen tropical smoothie blend (strawberries, peaches, mango, pineapple)
• 1 fresh orange, peeled
• 1 scoop NingXia Greens
• 1 cup milk of choice
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey (adjust to taste)

Instructions:

Simply throw all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Serve and enjoy. This recipe makes two servings.

Looking for more simple tricks to boost your body’s nutritional intake? Try our NingXia Red shots recipes or our Inner Beauty Collagen.

How do you add NingXia Greens into your day?

Let us know in the comments below!

With school starting and the weather cooling a bit, you’re excited to get into the autumn spirit—except that it’s still too hot to break out the hot apple cider and steaming cocoa. An apple pie slushy is the best of both worlds—summer sweet and refreshingly cool for those hot end-of-summer days, with just the right amount of cozy fall flavors to get you in the mood for all things autumn.

Apple Pie Slushy

The sweet, fruity in-between of refreshing summer sippin’ and autumn vibes, this slushy recipe boasts an irresistible apple pie flavor enhanced with Cinnamon Bark Vitality and Nutmeg Vitality essential oils.

This recipe makes two servings.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cold apple cider
• 1 cup ice
• 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality
• 1 drop Nutmeg Vitality

Apple cider is generally naturally sweet, but if you want a super-sweet slushy, add a dash of maple syrup or honey to taste.

Instructions:

Place all of the ingredients into a blender and mix until you reach a slushy consistency. If needed, scrape down the sides of the blender in between cycles to make sure all the ice gets properly blended.

Cinnamon Bark Vitality Whipped Cream

Want an extra creamy touch to top off your apple pie slushy or another fall-favorite treat? Here’s a way to whip up your own Cinnamon Bark Vitality-infused whipped cream. Give it a go—it’s easier than you’d think!

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream or chilled coconut cream
• 2 tablespoons sweetener of choice
• 1 drop Cinnamon Bark Vitality

Instructions:

1. Place all ingredients into a blender and mix on low speed for 5–10 seconds. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the blender’s sides.

2. Blend on high in 5-second intervals, using your rubber spatula to clean the sides of the blender between each interval. It should take about 20–30 seconds of interval blending until you achieve a fluffy, whipped consistency. Avoid overmixing because you can eventually whip the cream into butter if you go overboard.

Looking for more ways to bid summer a sweet goodbye? Try these three fresh watermelon recipes. If you’re more in the mood for an early autumn, remember that these 15 essential oils smell better in the fall.

How do you like to get into the spirit of fall?

Summer is definitely your season, especially when you combine a love for grilling with the yumminess of cooking with essential oil-infused marinades! Explore exciting, new flavors no matter what’s on the grill—from tasty meat-and-veggie kabobs to juicy chicken sandwiches. These fresh summer marinades will take your next barbecue to the next level, no matter what season it is, with an essential oil zing that you and your guests are sure to love!

Why should you use essential oils in your marinades?

When you use Vitality essential oils in your recipes, they allow your flavors to shine. Due to essential oils’ natural potency, it takes less oil to achieve your desired flavor than other types of seasonings, dry herbs, or spices. So, when cooking with essential oils, be sure to take it easy. Start low with only a drop or two and gradually add more to taste. Not only are Vitality oils economical, but when you ingest Vitality oils, you also enjoy their benefits!

Try these essential-oil infused marinade recipes

Everyone’s taste buds are unique. That’s why, for each recipe, be sure to add salt and pepper and any other adjustments to satisfy your tastes. Each marinade recipe should provide enough flavoring for 1–2 pounds of meat or your protein of choice. Not a meat-lover? Try using these marinades on your favorite veggies or meat substitutes!

Citrus Town Spicy Marinade

 Take your taste buds to flavor town with this mix of tangy citrus and spicy ginger! This marinade goes especially well with chicken and tofu.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup olive or other oil
• ⅓ cup soy sauce
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Juice of 1 orange
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 drops Orange Vitality
• 2 drops Lemon Vitality
• 1 drop Ginger Vitality
• Optional: 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients and pour over protein in a shallow glass bowl or baking pan.

2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1–4 hours or overnight before grilling.

3. Discard marinade after use.

Make this dish a meal by adding rice and seasoned veggies to your plate. Top with extra sesame seeds to give it a little extra texture.

Mediterranean Grill n’ Greet Marinade

Give your barbecue a Mediterranean vacation vibe with this delicious blend of classic, flavorful ingredients. It’s perfect for pork, lamb, or chicken kabobs.

Ingredients 

• ¼ cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 drop Oregano Vitality
• 2 drops Lemon Vitality
• 1 drop Black Pepper Vitality

Instructions 

1. Combine all ingredients and pour over protein in a shallow glass bowl or baking pan.

2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1–4 hours or overnight before grilling.

3. Discard marinade after use.

For a delicious meal, add your marinated protein or veggie of choice to pita bread. Toss in your favorite toppings like olives, chickpeas, or feta cheese. Top with fresh lemon juice, parsley, and tzatziki sauce.

Sweet Honey Lovin’ Lime Marinade

This delicious marinade combines fun with yum by bringing together the fresh, citrusy zing of lime with sweet, delicious honey. It’s perfect for seasoning salmon, chicken, or beef.

Ingredients 

• ¼ cup olive or other oil
• Juice of 2 limes
• ¼ cup honey
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 drops Lime Vitality

Instructions 

1. Combine all ingredients and pour over protein in a shallow glass bowl or baking pan.

2. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1–4 hours or overnight before grilling.

3. Discard marinade after use.

Serve this dish with rice or taco style with your favorite toppings. For extra kick, add as much chili sauce or flakes as your mouth can handle to the marinade.

YL tip: Place all marinade ingredients into a mason jar. Top with a lid and shake until everything is well combined for easy mixing.

Feeling too hot to grill? Summer heat getting you down? Cool off with these homemade YL Vitality Drops slushies or mix it up with these three sip-tastic refreshing summer mocktails.

Do you use Vitality essential oils when you grill?

Share your secret recipes with us in the comments!