Susan F.

 Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil Uses And Benefits Pink champagne, strawberries, lip gloss, Valentine decorations, pink sapphires, roses, satin sheets, cocktail dresses – so many of the things that bring a smile to my face happen to be pink. Besides being merely pretty, pink is a power color for women, a symbol of our uniquely feminine strengths and insights. For men, wearing pink can reaffirm self-confidence and comfort with nonconformity. In either case, pink isn’t nearly as soft and demure as we are often led to believe, and neither is another of my favorite pink things – pink grapefruit essential oil. Pressed from the rind of her namesake fruit, pink grapefruit essential oil possesses a certain sparkling effervescence. She inspires joy and youthful exuberance about life. Let’s get you two better acquainted! Description Botanical Name: Citrus paradisi Origin: United States, South Africa Extraction Method: Cold Pressed/Expressed Plant Parts Used: Rind Note Classification: Top Scent: Sweet, fruity, citrusy, fresh Blends Well With: Bergamot, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Mandarin, Peppermint, Rosemary, and Ylang Ylang Shelf Life: 6 months - 2 years Cautions: Avoid direct sunlight exposure for 12 hours after topical application. High risk of oxidation – do not use old oils. Not suitable for use during first 16 weeks of pregnancy. Do not use if you are taking HIV medications or calcium channel blockers like heparin or warfarin. Maximum Dilution: 4% maximum topical dilution for adults and 1% for kids 4 Benefits of Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil Now that you have a little backstory on where pink grapefruit comes from, it’s time to share what she would love to do for you. Pink grapefruit oil has been wonderfully effective for nurturing our skin and hair, maintaining our mental and emotional wellbeing, supporting our physical health, and revitalizing our homes. Pink Grapefruit Oil For Skin And Hair Radiant skin and lustrous hair look and feel amazing. When we are on top of our game and feeling like we can take on the world, pink grapefruit echoes that vibrant enthusiastic energy. She nurtures our skin and hair, helping us to look just as fabulous as we feel. Smooth Dimpled Skin With Pink Grapefruit As we mature, we may notice ourselves suddenly developing puckered, dimpled patches of skin. What is the deal with these and what can we do to minimize their appearance? The irregular texture is caused by body fat pushing against connective tissue and forming bulges. The resulting bumpy texture is often nicknamed “cottage cheese” and most women would like nothing more than to banish it from their thighs and butt permanently. There isn’t a magical cure or cellulite preventer, but pink grapefruit oil can help by reducing the water retention and inflammation which make cellulite more noticeable. Massage is also beneficial for improving skin appearance, so coupling massage techniques with the use of pink grapefruit oil provides the ultimate synergistic effect your skin will love. Pink Grapefruit Oil Cleanses And Tones Skin Citrus oils like pink grapefruit are exceptional cleansers and toners. They encourage our skin to flush out toxins, they increase circulation, and they heighten the rate of cell turnover to reveal fresh glowing skin. Looking for a product to attack free radicals? A scientific study found that pink grapefruit essential oil exhibited high levels of “free radical scavenging activity.” [1] Breakup With Your Blackheads With Help From Pink Grapefruit Pesky blackheads appear when our pores get clogged with excess oils and dead skin cells. The black color is caused by the oil’s exposure to oxygen. Pink grapefruit oil helps to break up the clog and clear our pore so our skin may breathe freely once again. Enlist Pink Grapefruit Oil To Help Fade Skin Spots Another “gift” that comes with age and wisdom is the oh-so-joyous skin spot. These discolorations just appear seemingly out of the blue and advertise our age to everyone. Want to fade them? Try adding a couple drops of pink grapefruit and bergamot essential oils to your facial and hand lotions. Va-Va Voom Hair Is A Grapefruit Away Ask most women what they would change about their hair if they could and you start noticing a few common themes. Some of us wish for shinier, more voluminous strands. Others just want to be able to go 24 hours without starting to resemble a grease ball. For all of us, our bubbly friend, pink grapefruit, has got our back and will help us to look our very best. Pink grapefruit has been known to add shine and volume to dull, lifeless hair. It also helps to balance oil production which alleviates the overly greasy scalp and hair situation. Best Ways To Use Pink Grapefruit For Skin And Hair 1. Smooth Skin Massage Oil Blend 1 ounce of walnut carrier oil (Juglans regia) and 1 ounce of grapeseed carrier oil (Vitis vinifera). Add 8 drops each of pink grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), and juniper (Juniperus communis) essential oils. Massage into dimpled skin daily. Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. After the first 16 weeks this recipe may be used by eliminating the cypress essential oil and adding 4 drops each of the pink grapefruit and juniper essential oils. 2. Pink Grapefruit Clarifying Facial Mask Using a hand whisker or blender, whisk 1 egg white until light and fluffy. Add 1 teaspoon of sour cream and 6 drops of pink grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) essential oil. Apply to freshly cleansed face and leave mask on for 20 minutes. Gently rinse with cool water and pat face dry. Note: Excess may be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. 3. Pink Grapefruit Healthy Hair Serum Mix 2 tablespoons of argan carrier oil (Argania spinosa) with 2 drops each of pink grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oils. Massage mixture into scalp and dry hair. Leave in for 30-60 minutes, then shampoo and condition your hair as normal. Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. After the first 16 weeks this recipe may be used by eliminating the rosemary essential oil and adding an additional 2 drops of one of the other oils in the blend. Pink Grapefruit Oil For Mental And Emotional Wellbeing Bubbly exuberance, shimmering charisma – pink grapefruit excels in many ways, but her primary calling is bringing joy and happiness to all she comes in contact with. Pink Grapefruit Obliterates Stress When stress hits, we often find ourselves mentally, if not physically, curled up in a ball. We are filled with dread and succumb to inaction as even making a decision seems difficult. Pink grapefruit breaks through that negative energy spiral. She reminds us that often any direction is better than remaining mired where we are. Pink grapefruit shines a beautiful, uplifting beacon of light which encourages us to breathe deeply and release the stress so we can relax into the peace. Banish Sadness With Pink Grapefruit We all face periodic sadness and sometimes it lingers, impacting our lives and the lives of those we love. When we feel lost in the depths of despair, pink grapefruit is a sparkling reminder that happiness is still out there, waiting for us. She reflects the positive energy of better, happier times and urges us to imagine all the ways our lives can bring us joy. Let Pink Grapefruit Help Break Through That Brain Fog It is so frustrating when we need to focus and utilize all the potential and information stored in our brains but they just won’t cooperate. Whether our brain fog comes from lack of sleep, poor diet, limited exercise, stress, or something else, pink grapefruit can help cut through it and return us to a state of clarity. Just as her punchy, citrus aroma cleans our skin, our hair, our homes, so too can she refresh our minds. Best Ways To Use Pink Grapefruit For Mental And Emotional Wellbeing 1. Stress Reduction Diffusion Blend Featuring Pink Grapefruit Pour in enough distilled water to fill your electric diffuser to the fill line. Add 3 drops each of pink grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), bergamot (Citrus bergamia), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and vetiver (Vetivera zizanoides) essential oils. Turn diffuser on and allow to run as long as you like. Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. After first 16 weeks this recipe may be used by eliminating the vetiver essential oil and adding 1 additional drop of each of the other 3 oils. 2. Mental Focus Oil Warmer Aromatherapy Pink Grapefruit Blend Add 1 tablespoon of grapeseed carrier oil (Vitis vinifera) to your oil warmer along with 2 drops each of pink grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), bergamot (Citrus bergamia), and peppermint (Mentha piperata) essential oils. Use your oil warmer as you normally would. Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. 3. Happy, Bubbly Pink Grapefruit Perfume In a small glass spray bottle, combine 4 ounces of vodka with 2 drops each of pink grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), bergamot (Citrus bergamia), and mandarin (Citrus reticulate) essential oils Spritz on and bask in all the happy, sparkly fragrances. Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. Pink Grapefruit Oil For Physical Health Remember the whole buzz about the “grapefruit diet”? That diet really put grapefruit on the map as far as physical health goes. Personally, I am not inclined (and don’t recommend) to eat solely grapefruit every day regardless of how delicious they are. That said, both the fruit and essential oil do have wonderful physical health benefits when incorporated into a healthy lifestyle. Accelerate Fat Loss With Pink Grapefruit Some people call pink grapefruit a “dieter’s friend” and science says that they just may be right. One rat-based study found that grapefruit oil kept preadipocyte (pre-fat) cell from turning into fat cells. [2] Another study also noted that merely the scent of grapefruit oil increases lipolysis (the burning of stored fat) in mice and rats. [3] Even more exciting are the results of a human study in which lucky participants received a weekly 1 hour long full body massage for 6 weeks along with completing 2 daily abdominal self-massages 5 days a week. This study found that creating a 3% dilution of grapefruit, cypress, and 3 other oils resulted in significant decreases in both the participants’ waist circumference and abdominal subcutaneous fat. [4] Bonus Recipe: Try emulating this technique at home by adding 9 drops each of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) and cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) essential oils to 1 ounce of grapeseed carrier oil (Vitis vinifera). Massage this blend into desired areas daily. Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. After first 16 weeks, this recipe may be used by substituting an additional 9 drops of grapeseed oil in the place of the cypress oil. Pink Grapefruit Can Regulate Appetite In keeping with the “dieters’ friend” trend, scientists found that the scent of grapefruit oil resulted in a decreased food intake in mice and rats. If this translates to humans, scientists speculate that the results would show that pink grapefruit is able to help reduce the urge to over-eat. Crave Pink Grapefruit Instead Of Sugar When you find yourself faced with a powerful sugar craving, try diffusing some pink grapefruit essential oils instead. It is believed that the oil’s tangy tartness helps to reduce sugar cravings. Reduce Hangover Symptoms Using Pink Grapefruit Those bottomless mimosas that were so fun from 9 am until noon feel pretty miserable by the time you get to 3 pm, don’t they? Your head is pounding, you feel sluggish, and find yourself craving something – anything – to get rid of the pain. Next time (if there IS a next time, since if you are like me you are sternly reminding yourself to never, ever put yourself through this again) reach for a bottle of the OTHER pink sparkly which is much kinder to you than the excessive champagne was. Pink grapefruit is believed to stimulate our gallbladder and liver so that they are able to flush the alcohol out of our bodies sooner and we can get back to our pre-hangover happy selves. PMS Can Be Less Miserable With Pink Grapefruit’s Help Hey you – yes you on the couch with the pint of ice cream and the empty bag of chips – PMS is never going to be fun, but what about trying some natural means of mitigating the symptoms? In homeopathic circles, pink grapefruit oil is often used to aid with reducing cramps, headaches, fatigue, and muscle pain which are the hallmark symptoms of PMS. It is believed that pink grapefruit helps dilate blood vessels and this is what is responsible for symptom improvement. Pink Grapefruit Beats The Bloat Whether it is that time of month or you are just feeling a little bloaty after eating too many salty foods, pink grapefruit can bail you out. Pink grapefruit has shown herself to be an effective diuretic so she is a perfect oil to turn to when you need to reduce a little excess fluid retention. Pink Grapefruit Supports Your Lymphatic And Immune Systems Pink grapefruit’s ability to help the body flush out toxins plays into her finesse at bolstering our immune systems. When we get a cold, we may notice that our lymph nodes swell and become tender. This is because they are filtering out the germs and attacking them with white blood cells. This whole process is much appreciated by our immune systems. When pink grapefruit helps our lymphatic system operate efficiently, that in turn supports our immune system and our whole body thanks us. Best Ways To Use Pink Grapefruit For Physical Health 1. Pink Grapefruit Hangover Helper Bath Oil Blend 2 tablespoons of jojoba carrier oil (Simmondsia chinensis) with 2 drops each of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), cedarwood atlas (Cedrus atlantica), juniper (Juniperus communis), lemon (Citrus limonum), and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oils. Fill your bathtub with warm water and add the oil blend to the bath. Soak and relax for at least 20 minutes. Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. After the first 16 weeks this recipe may be used by eliminating the rosemary essential oil. 2. Pink Grapefruit Inhalation Blend Add 3-4 drops of essential oils to a small cotton gauze pad. Hold pad under your nose and breathe deeply and slowly. Continue for as long as desired/needed. Suggested oils: For Headache: 1 drop each of pink grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and peppermint (Mentha piperata) For Curbing Appetite: 2 drops each of pink grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) and patchouli Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. 3. Pink Grapefruit Cramping & Bloating Relief Compress Fill a bowl with warm water. Add 2 drops each of pink grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), and rosemary essential oils. Dip a washcloth into the water, wring out the excess, and apply to abdomen. Refresh compress as needed. Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy. Pink Grapefruit Oil For Our Homes Our closest friends are those we feel comfortable inviting into our homes and our lives when we are at our worst. We trust them to forgive our shortcomings and to support us in becoming a better version of ourselves. Imagine pink grapefruit as just that kind of amazing friend. She doesn’t judge our crumb sprinkled counters, grease encrusted pans, or odiferous trash cans. Instead she walks in with confidence, gives us a much needed hug, and waves her shimmering wand to transform our home into an oasis of peaceful order and tranquility. Clean It Up With Pink Grapefruit Cleaning is so much more fun with natural products that smell amazing! It is empowering to breathe in the scent of your freshly cleaned room and know that it wasn’t produced using chemicals, but rather all natural goodness. A home cleaned with pink grapefruit smells amazing. It vibrates with happy, sparkly, positive energy that your family and company will instantly be drawn to. Pink Grapefruit’s Degreasing Superpower Are you tired of manually scrubbing at the greasy film left on old crusty frying pans? It can be tempting to just purchase the most industrial chemical degreasing product in the store, but what if you want to stick with a natural option? The fruit rind from which pink grapefruit essential oil is derived actually contains limonene, a wonderfully effective natural degreaser. It is so effective that limonene is actually included in the chemical degreasers. We can just skip right to the source and make dish soap with pink grapefruit essential oil to cut right through the baked on grease. Fight The Stench With Your BFF Pink Grapefruit By Your SIde Trash cans, diaper pails, soccer cleats, dog beds, moldy chicken nuggets expertly wedged under the backseat of the SUV – the stench is enough to make us gag. Short of falling back on chemical laden air fresheners, what are we to do? Time to enlist the services of our best friend, pink grapefruit. Her airy citrus aromatic particles attach themselves to the offending odors and banish them leaving behind only sweet, juicy deliciousness. Add pink grapefruit to homemade cleaning sprays, deodorizing tablets, and air freshening sprays to change the way your whole life smells. Pink Grapefruit Is Tough On Mold And Mildew If you find yourself with a mold and mildew science experiment growing in your shower or those damp corners of the basement, pink grapefruit and her fellow citrus cohort, bergamot, are eager to vanquish it for you. Harness their cleansing powers and add them to some white vinegar to craft a natural mold and mildew spray. Let Pink Grapefruit Chase The Bugs Away Does an insecticide that smells wonderful and is made of natural ingredients sound like a mystical unicorn? Maybe, but we all love the smell of pink grapefruit, right? Pink grapefruit’s primary constituent is limonene and limonene is used as a botanical insecticide. This makes pink grapefruit oil a great natural way to repel and kill unwanted bugs around our homes. Try adding it to your homemade bug sprays and insecticides. Best Ways To Use Pink Grapefruit For Our Homes 1. Pink Grapefruit Dish Soap Mix 7 drops of pink grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), 6 drops of bergamot (Citrus bergamia), and 5 drops of mandarin (Citrus reticulate) essential oils with 1 cup of unscented castile soap. Use as you would a normal dish soap. Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. 2. Pink Grapefruit Mold & Mildew Spray Add 1 cup of white vinegar to a glass spray bottle along with 10 drops each of pink grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) and tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oils. Spray onto affected area and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Wipe up with damp cloth Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. 3. Pink Grapefruit Air & Fabric Freshener Spray Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to a glass spray bottle with 2 cups of distilled water, 10 drops of pink grapefruit essential oil, 5 drops of bergamot essential oil, and 5 drops of lavender essential oil. Use as you would your usual air & fabric spray. Safety: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil Safety Essential oils are potent, so it is important to learn and follow safe use guidelines. Important safety information for pink grapefruit essential oil includes: Phototoxicity: Risk of phototoxicity when used topically. Do not expose skin to direct sunlight for 12 hours following topical application. Skin Sensitization: Topical application of higher concentrations or use of old, oxidized oils may lead to skin sensitization Dilution: Maximum dilution percentage for topical use is 4% for adults and 1% for children Oxidation: High risk of oxidation. Keep bottles sealed and in a cool, dark location. Do not use old oils, especially for topical application as it may lead to skin sensitization. Pregnancy: Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. Contraindications: Do not use if you are taking HIV medications or calcium channel blockers like heparin or warfarin. The Bottom Line Pink grapefruit is referred to by the botanical name: Citrus paradise. The essential oil is extracted from the rind of the pink grapefruit via a cold press method. The scent of pink grapefruit is classified as a top note. Pink grapefruit essential oil smells sweet, fruity, citrusy, and fresh. Pink grapefruit pairs well with bergamot, cypress, frankincense, geranium, juniper, lavender, lemon, lime, mandarin, peppermint, rosemary, and ylang ylang. The average shelf life of a bottle of pink grapefruit oil ranges from 6 months to 2 years. The maximum topical dilution is 4% for adults and 1% for kids. Pink grapefruit oil has been effective at nurturing skin and hair, maintaining mental and emotional wellbeing, supporting physical heath Pink grapefruit nurtures our skin and hair by smoothing, cleansing, and toning our skin. It helps open clogged pores and fade skin spots. Our hair loves pink grapefruit’s ability to add shine and volume as well as to minimize greasiness. Try making your own pink grapefruit skin massage oil, clarifying facial mask, and healthy hair serum. Pink grapefruit helps maintain our mental and emotional wellbeing by obliterating stress, banishing sadness, and breaking through brain fog. You can make your own pink grapefruit stress reduction diffusion blend, mental focus oil warmer aromatherapy, and happy, bubbly perfume. Pink grapefruit supports our physical health by accelerating fat loss, regulating appetite, curbing sugar cravings, reducing headaches/sluggishness/cramps/fatigue/muscle pain/bloating, and supporting our lymphatic/immune systems. Check out some DIY recipes for a pink grapefruit hangover helper bath oil, inhalation blend, and cramping/bloating relief compress. Pink grapefruit revitalizes our homes by cleaning, degreasing, deodorizing, removing mold/mildew, and repelling bugs. Make your own pink grapefruit dish soap, mold/mildew spray, and air freshener/fabric spray. Pink grapefruit essential oil is a potent substance. Follow safety guidelines for successful use: After applying topically, do not expose skin to direct sunlight for 12 hours due to risk of photoxicity. Topical application of higher concentrations or use of old, oxidized oils may lead to skin sensitization High risk of oxidation. Keep bottles sealed and in a cool, dark location. Do not use old oils, especially for topical application as it may lead to skin sensitization. Not suitable for use during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. Do not use if you are taking HIV medications or calcium channel blockers like heparin or warfarin. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/- [2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/- [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/- [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/-