You’ve probably heard about the aromatherapy benefits of essential oils, but can they help your skin? Essentials oils, which are extracted from various parts of plants, contain some skin-loving compounds. But even though they might be completely natural, some essential oils can actually harm your skin. So how do you determine which essential oils can help your skin, and which cause irritation? Keep reading to learn which essential oils to use for skin, and which to avoid.
The Best Essential Oils for Skin
1. Helichrysum Essential Oil
Helichrysum has antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it an excellent choice for treating acne. Plus, its healing properties can help to diminish the appearance of acne scarring.
2. Lemongrass Essential Oil
Lemongrass essential oil acts as an astringent, balancing sebum production and shrinking enlarged pores. Dilute 3 drops of lemongrass essential oil into 2 ounces of a carrier oil and distilled water to make a refreshing face mist.
3. German Chamomile Essential Oil
German chamomile essential oil is extra gentle, which makes it an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin. German chamomile is calming, and soothes irritation from skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. Plus, since it promotes moisture retention, it can also be used to hydrate dry skin.
4. Clary Sage Essential Oil
If you wake up with puffy skin, try clary sage. This essential oil has the ability to reduces facial puffiness. Plus, it helps to fight signs of aging.
5. Rose Otto Essential Oil
Rose otto oil is an excellent choice for dry skin because of its impressive moisturizing abilities. Rose otto is also rich in antioxidants, which helps to protect skin from aging free radical damage.
6. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree’s antibacterial and antifungal properties make this essential oil and excellent choice for acne-prone skin. Tea tree can also be used to treat bug bites.
7. Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium oil has the ability to balance oil production, which means that it’s beneficial for both dry and oily skin types. Geranium oil can also act as an astringent to reduce the appearance of fine lines by temporarily tightening the skin.
8. Cypress Essential Oil
Cypress essential oil can reduce facial redness by shrinking swollen blood vessels and repairing capillary damage.
9. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender’s soothing and moisturizing properties make this essential oil a great choice for dry or irritated skin. Plus, lavender oil can be used for cleansing cuts and scrapes.
10. Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense can fight one of the biggest signs of aging: hyperpigmentation. This essential oil evens the skin tone by fading age spots and scars. Frankincense also strengthens the skin, which can protect against sagging.
Which Essential Oils to Avoid
Not all essential oils have benefits for the skin. Avoid using these essential oils on the skin:
- Peppermint
- Wintergreen
- Lemon
- Tangerine
- Grapefruit
- Mandarin
- Eucalyptus
Tips for Using Essential Oils Safely
- Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil like jojoba oil, coconut oil, or olive oil.
- Do a patch test before trying a new essential oil on your skin.
- Do not apply essential oils near the eyes or mouth.
- If irritation occurs, discontinue use immediately.
