Peppermint essential oil is one of the most useful essential oils available. To reap all the benefits the product has to offer, it is essential to have an understanding of what it is, how it's made, and how it can be used to potentially improve your well-being.

Lucky for you, WOW Skin Science has everything you need to know about essential oils. If you are curious about whether peppermint essential oil may be the right product for you, we recommend reading on for a complete overview.

Table of contents:

• First Off, What Are Essential Oils?
• What Is Peppermint Oil?
• How To Use Peppermint Oil
• Dilute
• Apply Topically on the Skin
• Aromatherapy
• Benefits of Peppermint Oil
• Indigestion
• Head and Neck Tension
• Fatigue
• Our Peppermint Oil

First Off, What Are Essential Oils?

Essential oils are found in the bodies of plants. These oils are complex mixtures of different compounds that are small and light. The majority of which are either terpenes or aromatic compounds.

Terpenes are naturally occurring chemical compounds that consist of chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Aromatic compounds are carbons and hydrogens arranged in a flat ring. Though there are a few different methods for acquiring these compounds, distillation is one of the most common practices.

Distillation separates substances from liquid mixtures like water or steam. The terpenes and aromatic compounds can be used to create mixtures.

The mixtures of these chemicals form oils ranging from lavender oil to rosemary oil. Then, they are put in skin care products such as lotions or soaps or even toothpaste or massage oil. These oils are often combined with a carrier oil to be safely used as-is. 

Carrier oils, e.g. sweet almond, olive oil, and jojoba are base oils intended to dilute these mixtures, making them safe to use. Sometimes, more than one oil is combined, resulting in an essential oil blend.

The benefits of using essential oil can vary widely depending on the plant extract. For example, lavender essential oil promotes relaxation, while some people use rosemary essential oil to help with hair growth. 

Some of the most common purposes of using essential oils are to help support sleep quality, calm emotions, maintain brain health, support smoother skin appearance, and help temporarily soothe joint discomfort.

What Is Peppermint Oil?

Peppermint essential oil comes from, you guessed it, peppermint. 

Peppermint, formally referred to as Mentha piperita, is a hybrid plant consisting of watermint and spearmint. This blend results in an herb with dark green leaves, a smooth square stem, and pinkish or purplish flowers. 

Peppermint plants are native to areas that include the Middle East, Southern Africa, and Europe. They have a strong, sweet smell, often described as fresh and sharp. Similarly, the plant is known to have a minty, cooling, candy-like taste. 

The flowers of the peppermint plant are often cut and dried and used as a flavoring for different foods and beverages. However, the plant can also be used to create an essential oil. This is accomplished through the process of low-pressure steam distillation. 

Steam is passed through a vat filled with the aromatic plant. Upon exiting the large container, the pressurized steam, now enriched with the peppermint essential oil, passes through a coil for condensation. The water and essential oil are split and collected separately. 

In its pure form, peppermint essential oil is nearly colorless. The two main components of peppermint essential oil are menthol and menthone.

How To Use Peppermint Oil

There are various methods for applying peppermint essential oil, or any essential oil for that matter, that you are welcome to employ. 

• Dilute

The most direct way to use peppermint essential oil is to apply it topically. Before using it on your skin, it is of the utmost importance that your essential oil is diluted. 

There are essential oils on the market that are safe to use directly on your skin without any necessary additional steps. However, some are unsafe to use undiluted, or you risk side effects, such as skin irritation. If your essential oil is extremely concentrated, it will need more dilution than the average pure essential oil.

• Apply Topically on the Skin

Once you are sure that your essential oil is safe to use on your skin without any risks of irritation, you can massage the product into your skin. While essential oils are safe to use on any area of your body, there are specific spots we suggest targeting for better results, like behind your ears, where the mastoid pressure point lives. 

The skin behind your ears is more absorbent than other sections of skin on your body. Applying peppermint essential oil behind your ears makes it easier for the product to physically permeate your skin and potentially help offer you temporary joint pain relief.

Another area is your temples. They are located on the sides of your forehead. It is already common practice for people to massage their temples when dealing with head and neck tension and stress. You can elevate the effects of your temple massage by adding peppermint essential oil into the mix for feelings of relaxation. 

Another spot to target on your body is your feet, specifically the bottom. There are several different reflexology points on the bottom of your feet. Some people believe that massaging peppermint essential oil strategically into your feet can garner positive results. 

It is also worth noting that the pores on your feet are larger than the pores on most other areas of your body. Similar to how quickly essential oil is absorbed on your temples, using your oil on your feet may speed up the process.

• Aromatherapy

Aside from massaging peppermint essential oil into your skin, you can also use your product for aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is a holistic practice that uses plant extracts as a key to improving one's overall health and well-being. 

The treatment typically involves the diffusion of essential oils. Essential oils are inserted into diffusers or aroma lamps for evaporation. After being heated, the scent is expelled into the air for your inhalation.

Benefits of Peppermint Oil

There are several different potential benefits to using peppermint essential oil. It is a popular essential oil for treating various ailments and improving your overall quality of life. Here are three afflictions that can be helped by using peppermint essential oil.

• Indigestion

Some people use peppermint essential oil for treating indigestion. Indigestion is described as discomfort in the abdomen. The most common symptoms of indigestion are immediate fullness after eating, a burning sensation above your belly button, and uncomfortable bloating of the stomach.

• Head and Neck Tension

Peppermint essential oil is used by some people to relieve head and neck tension. As previously mentioned, one of the main components of peppermint oil is menthol. It may support the circulatory system and provide you with a cooling sensation.

Some believe inhaling peppermint oil or applying it to your temples may help reduce head and neck tension or migraines. Other people use peppermint essential oil to relieve feelings of overwhelm and help calm emotions.

• Fatigue

Some people find peppermint's sharp aroma particularly useful for improving energy and boosting alertness. They believe that diffusing peppermint essential oil improves feelings of alertness.

Our Peppermint Oil

WOW Skin Science offers our own refined Peppermint Essential Oil. Our product has a fresh, cool, and minty aroma that is cooling and refreshing. 

Peppermint essential oil has a refreshing scent. It's no wonder that people believe this oil can work in ways that range from insect repellent to beauty products to aromatherapy. Some people believe peppermint essential oil is an easy way to help potentially support brain health, maintain mental wellness, and help support sleep quality.

For your safety, we recommend performing a skin patch test to check for any peppermint sensitivities or irritation before using the product in its entirety. For topical application, don't use pure peppermint oil. You'll want to use this oil when well diluted. 

Peppermint essential oil is an extremely versatile product. As with most essential oils, there are several different ways in which the product can enhance your life so long as it is used safely and appropriately. 

Now that you know everything there is to know about peppermint essential oil, if you feel that the product may be able to help support your wellness, we definitely suggest giving it a try!