Aromatherapy | My Mills Baby

Locc comms logo colour NEW Tis the Season of the Gift with LOccitane

Christmas is upon us and this means all my favourite skincare brands have gift sets aplenty to help the men in our lives treat us to something really special (*cough cough Craigy*).

Although I’m regularly spoilt by PRs and am always receiving the latest in skincare technology, sometimes it’s nice to strip things back to basics and smother myself in almond oil before bed. In fact, my love of organic skincare is deeply linked to the principles of aromatherapy - I strongly believe the power of scent can cure ills, relax and invigorate. L’Occitane and their Provençal style, obsession with scent and intimate knowledge of nature and its bounty of benefits, therefore strikes a chord with me.

Getting us in the mood for the festive season they’ve created an ad which really encapsulates the opulence of the brand. The sumptuous colours and flashes of skirt as we follow the dancer though cobbled French streets into a stunning shop with sunlight streaming through the windows… it’s so pretty, and every inch the L’Occitane experience.

The ad is to introduce their Christmas collections - and they certainly deserve all the fanfare.

luxury1 Tis the Season of the Gift with LOccitane

They’re stuffed with products to make you feel special. From scent collections, to signature ranges all in stunning presentation boxes that you won’t need to hide in swathes of wrapping paper. They haven’t been ungenerous either, with plenty of full-sized products for those home spa sessions.

Christmas Tis the Season of the Gift with LOccitane

The Almond and Shea Butter Collections look divine and promises to hydrate and firm up tired skin. Their Corsican Immortelle anti-aging range has also had rave reviews in the press and has been on my wishlist for a few months now. Immortelle is known as the everlasting flower: it never fades, even after it has been picked. Its organic essential oil is rich in active molecules and has been proven to have unique anti-aging properties. I’m just seduced by the story and can’t wait to see if it lives up to the hype.

So as if that wasn’t enough of a hint, I’ll be leaving this post open on the laptop for the next few days. No Craig, I don’t want a blender for Christmas, I’d like some L’Occitane please.

In association with L’Occitane

I’ll soon find out as the fabulous folks at Amphora Aromatics have given me all this loveliness to try!

What better way to kick off Day 1 of #OpBabyWeight than to surround myself with beautiful smells?! Talk about easing yourself in gently! After the shock of the scales and dreadful pre-diet pics, this is just what I need.

^ I didn’t need anymore motivation on a Monday than this! ^

But I’m not just simply making my home smell gorgeous, apparently essential oils also play their part in weight loss. Yep, I was skeptical too. I still am! But who am I to argue with science?

Aromatherapist Eugeny Couture has developed the following advice for any would-be dieter who wants to keep those hunger cravings at bay.

Keep a bottle of Grapefruit oil in your handbag and take 3 to 5 deep breathes of it at least 6 times a day to regulate your appetite.
Use a combination of the following oils in a burner: 4 drops of Mandarin, 3 drops of Bergamot, 2 Clove, 1 Cinnamon, 1 Chamomile.
Add two handfuls of Epsom salts to a hot bath infused with 5 drops of Juniperberry and 3 drops of Grapefruit. You can also add 2 drops of Lavender.
If you enjoy having a massage, change the oil you use to this appetite suppressing blend: 40ml of Sweet Almond oil, 4 drops of Rosemary, 4 drops of Fennel, 3 drops of Juniper, 3 drops of Grapefruit, 2 drops of Rose Geranium.

Sound like a ploy to shift essential oils to you? Well you’d be surprised. Scientific research into weight loss and aromatherapy goes back some way with Grapefruit essential oil in particular being singled out for its extraordinary properties.

Toxins in the body are one of the main problems of retained weight. Cellulite alone is a sign that fat is storing waste in an ineffective way. Grapefruit essential oil helps internally to cleanse the body, especially the liver, riding the system of toxins which would contribute to unwanted pounds and undesired cellulite. It also works topically, when mixed with coconut oil and rubbed into troubled areas, to eliminate cellulite over time. Stasia Bliss: Grapefruit Essential Oil May Trump Fruit in Dieting

In addition to Stasia’s claims above, there’s a wealth of research out there that suggests a few deep sniffs a day may help suppress food cravings and trick the body into feeling satisfied. Part of this may be due to the fact that grapefruit essential oil also contains Limonene and Myrcene which are known antidepressants and mood enhancers.

So right now, on Day 1, I’m sat at my desk with a burner with 3 drops of Grapefruit, 2 drops of Mandarin and 4 drops of Bergamot in a bid to cleanse my kidneys, lymphatics and my vascular system, and stave off my hunger. It’s way too early to say if it’s working yet - but my home smells like a spa!

I’ll be following Eugeny Couture’s tips above in conjunction with the diets listed HERE. Oh and trust me, I’m giving that coconut oil / grapefruit concoction a good go on my cellulite too! I’ll report back on my findings so keep your eyes peeled for the #OpBabyWeight hashtag for updates.

If you want to give this a try with me, head to amphora-retail.com, or check out all their great aromatherapy tips, advice and research on Twitter & Facebook.