In the past, Big Walnut area folks who wanted to spend a few hours at a spa for skin care and treatments typically had to drive to Westerville or Columbus, sometimes even farther, depending on the services desired.
But that’s not true anymore, because spa services, and a whole lot more, are available in eastern Delaware County at The Oil Apothecary in Kingston Township.
Erica Cornwell, a certified medical aesthetician, opened The Oil Apothecary in 2013 as a way to provide relief from skin discomfort through custom essential oil blends.
“I call this the beauty and wellness barn,” Cornwell said. “My mission is to supply holistic remedies for everyday afflictions in the home for every family member to use. I do skin care and treatments, facial care, makeup and waxing, using all natural and 100 percent organic oils and substances, 70 percent of them from Ohio.”
Cornwell uses only doTERRA certified pure therapeutic grade essential oils that are grown indigenously around the world – free of fillers, artificial ingredients, contaminants, pesticides and chemical residues.
All of the body scrubs and salves Cornwell uses at The Oil Apothecary are made in-house with natural and organic ingredients.
“I initially discovered the therapeutic benefits of natural essential oils after being diagnosed with hypothyroidism and sensitivity to gluten and dairy,” Cornwell said. “We should use what nature uses to heal our bodies, understanding that our skin is our largest organ. What we put on our skin goes into our bloodstreams. To avoid contaminants I have developed my own formulas and use them to help people treat problems such as dry skin and cracked or chapped lips while providing aromatherapy in the process.”
Cornwell not only does skin and body treatments at The Oil Apothecary, she also teaches people to make their own skin care and household cleaning products.
“I do a lot of workshops, teaching people how to do things for themselves,” Cornwell said. “I teach classes in pet care, beauty care, green cleaning, gardening and how to make your own products at home.”
While Cornwell started The Oil Apothecary in 2013, she has been a skin care professional for the past 14 years – even working with cancer patients, who often develop severe skin reactions to chemotherapy. Cornwell said those early days of helping people with medically induced skin problems became a stepping stone, leading to her passion for helping people directly, and teaching them how to help themselves.
The Oil Apothecary does not have regular business hours, Cornwell said; she works on an appointment-only basis at her country mini-farm and retreat on State Route 521 in Kingston Township.
“I can even accommodate ‘girls night out’ events here at The Oil Apothecary,” Cornwell said. “It’s a private country spa retreat, right here in the heart of the Sunbury and Big Walnut area.”
Cornwell said The Oil Apothecary also features a host of artisan products, including hand-poured soy candles; and gift certificates are available, including Mother’s Day Specials.
For more information about The Oil Apothecary, its products, services, wellness advice, green cleaning tips and more, go to theoilapothecary.com; on Facebook, search for The Oil Apothecary – Beauty & Wellness Barn.
To arrange an appointment, call Cornwell at 614-264-0120, or email her at [email protected].
