Add sparkle with citrus

The zesty scent of lemon essential oil is not only refreshing; it’s a blues-buster as well.

A study published in Neuroimmunomodulation shows that depressed patients who inhaled lemon oil each morning needed fewer antidepressant drugs than those who did not; other research suggests that lemon oil improves mood, concentration, and accuracy. It is thought that the smell stimulates the hippocampus, which is the part of your brain that is responsible for short-term memory, alertness, and physical balance. Get your day off to a great start with this zingy, citrus-y treatment:

Sprinkle 10 drops of lemon essential oil into a washbasin filled with warm water. Dip a clean face-washer into the water, wring it out, and proceed to briskly massage your body with it, using small firm circles. Start at your feet and move upwards, always moving towards your heart, which stimulates your circulation.
Sprinkle another 5 drops of lemon oil on the face-washer and place it over the grating in the shower recess. Run a warm shower (if you make it too hot, you will feel lethargic afterwards, rather than invigorated) and step in. Steam from the warm water disperses the oil and spreads the aromatherapeutic benefits, without any extra effort on your part. (Note: Placing the oil on the face-washer rather than on the shower floor reduces the risk of slipping.)
Finish with a short blast of cold water at the end of your shower for a dynamic morning wake-up call. Make sure you let the water play on the nape of your neck and chest for a super-stimulating effect. This shakes off morning grogginess and also closes your pores, which protects your immune system. When you get out of a steaming-hot shower, your pores are left wide open, allowing the heat to leave your body.
Towel off – and resolve to keep that fresh, focused feeling with you all day.