Essential Oils For Smooth And Radiant Skin
For centuries, people have been using essential oils to maintain health and treat various ailments and conditions. These botanical extracts can be used in a variety of ways, but because they’re so concentrated and powerful, they’ll always need to be diluted in a carrier oil or a butter-like shea or cocoa butter.
You may enjoy using your facial and skincare products, but how many ingredients are listed on there that are not natural? Let’s take a step back, and look at some natural, essential oils instead. It’s surprising how many ailments and issues these oils can help alleviate.
On a quick note, let’s get to know first what essential oils are?
Essential oils are compounds extracted from plants. The oils capture the plant's scent and flavor, or "essence." Unique aromatic compounds give each essential oil its characteristic essence. Essential oils are obtained through distillation (via steam and/or water) or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing. Once the aromatic chemicals have been extracted, they are combined with a carrier oil to create a product that's ready for use. The way the oils are made is important, as essential oils obtained through chemical processes are not considered true essential oils. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that retain the natural smell and flavor, or "essence," of their source. Now that we know about essential oils, let’s get to know their uses for smooth and glowing skin.
17 essential oils for your skin :
For all skin types and sensitive skin:
Essential oils: Geranium, helichrysum, lavender, neroli, Roman chamomile, rose
Carrier oil: Jojoba oil, sunflower seed
1. Geranium: Geranium is a versatile oil that balances oil production, conditions skin, and is great for all skin types. Geranium can be added to moisturizers to help with over and underproduction of oil. Geranium is antibacterial and has a delightful floral aroma that has hints of rose in it. Not only can it boost the oil-balancing effects of any moisturizer, but it can also boost your mood at the same time!
Recipe to try: Add geranium to mineral water for a moisturizing face mist.
2. Helichrysum: A tiny bottle of helichrysum is an investment. The nicknames for this healing oil with a honey-like scent are ‘everlasting’ and ‘immortelle.’ Which is perfect because helichrysum is a go-to oil for restoring the skin.
Recipe to try: Add helichrysum to a calendula-infused oil and apply to bruises, scars, burns or eczema. It also makes a great addition to homemade face oil.
3. Lavender: This essential oil helps heal skin irritations and because it is so versatile, it can be used for all skin types. It can cleanse cuts, scrapes, burns, and irritations and can also calm down stressed skin. It’s considered beneficial for acne and redness and is often used in DIY body products. It can be especially helpful for sensitive or problem skin but can be used for any skin type, including mature skin.
Recipe to try: Soothe and cool skin with a lavender lemonade body spray.
4. Neroli: Neroli is a wonderful essential oil used to treat devitalized, mature, aging, and sensitive skin types. You can also use neroli as a skin toner to tighten aging skin, due to its regenerative properties. It has antibacterial properties and is considered useful for acne, scarring, and stretch marks. As you can see, it would be a fantastic addition to your natural skincare routine.
Recipe to try: Make an anti-stretch mark oil with avocado oil and neroli.
5. Roman chamomile: Chamomile can treat a variety of skin conditions which include cracked skin, burns, acne, eczema, inflammation, sensitive skin and rosacea—just to name a few. It’s naturally anti-inflammatory and calming, making it a great choice for sensitive and allergic skin.
Recipe to try: Relax in a bath with calming bath oil that won’t irritate your skin.
6. Rose: Intensely hydrating and naturally anti-inflammatory, rose oil plumps and moisturizes your skin without any potential chemical side effects. Rose oil can be used as a natural substitute for hyaluronic acid, a common ingredient in anti-aging beauty products.
Recipe to try: The hydrating effects of rose oil will plump up pesky lines around your eyes and mouth so add it to your custom facial oil or make a serum with rosehip oil.
Oily Or Acne-prone Skin
Essential oils: Basil, cedarwood, clary sage, cypress, geranium, grapefruit, juniper, lemon, tea tree
Carrier oil: Tamanu oil, apricot kernel, grapeseed
7. Basil: Basil contains anti-inflammatory properties that make it a great option for many inflammatory issues. It is wonderful for soothing insect bites and irritation and is ideal for sensitive skin when properly diluted. It’s also great for overworked muscles and even headaches and migraines. Please note that basil should be avoided if pregnant.
Recipe to try: Add a couple of drops to a carrier oil and apply directly to an insect bite or sting. If you are feeling sore from an extra hard workout, add a few drops into a massage oil to massage tired muscles.
8. Cedarwood: Cedarwood has the highest level of the anti-inflammatory substance, known as sesquiterpenes, of any essential oil, according to Essential Oils. That’s why it works so well on inflamed and acne-prone skin. Cedarwood is an effective toner on oily skin and hair.
Recipe to try: This calming bath oil doubles as a skin-soothing body oil. Cedarwood oil‘s anti-itch and anti-inflammatory properties are especially helpful in this homemade eczema balm.
9. Citrus: Citrus oils like lemon and grapefruit are natural astringents that work to cleanse oil-prone skin while toning and tightening. Their antiseptic properties also help protect against acne-causing bacteria. Grapefruit oil is especially helpful in breaking down cellulite.
Recipe to try: Add a couple of drops of lemon to a foaming face wash or use grapefruit in a cellulite body oil. And this lavender lemonade body spray is the perfect pick-me-up on a hot day.
10. Cypress: Cypress oil can not only help repair capillary vein damage often found around the nose area, but it shrinks swollen blood vessels. It’s also considered beneficial for varicose veins, according to The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. This essential oil is also a good choice to use as an astringent on the skin or to tackle cellulite.
Recipe to try: Add cypress to homemade deodorant for a naturally spicy aroma. Or apply it directly to cracked cuticles in a nail oil.
11. Juniper: Juniper is a cleansing oil and when diluted (as is always necessary) and applied to wounds it can speed healing time and help prevent infections. It’s a great choice for many different skin issues including oily skin and acne. The Art of Aromatherapy considers it beneficial for toning the skin and for use with skin disorders associated with irritation.
Recipe to try: Attack lumps and bumps with a DIY anti-cellulite oil that uses juniper oil to clear waste from the body and increase circulation.
12. Tea Tree (Melaleuca): The uses of tea tree oil are countless. A few of them include its antifungal and antibacterial properties. This means it’s the first choice for acne and oily skin. Tea tree oil can also treat minor cuts, scrapes, and just about any other skin condition you may experience. As a bonus, it’s safe to use around most individuals.
Recipe to try: Make your own make-up remover wipes.
Dry Skin
Essential oils: Clary sage, lavender, sandalwood, ylang-ylang
Carrier oil: Avocado, Sweet almond, Argan
13. Clary sage: Various benefits to skin health can be observed when using clary sage. It not only can fight the visible signs of aging and reduce puffiness, but it also regulates the production of oil for both dry and oily skin, making it useful for all skin types. And due to its antibacterial properties, it’s considered useful for treating acne as well.
Recipe to try: Try a DIY deep hair conditioner to strengthen and repair hair.
14. Sandalwood: This restorative oil effectively soothes the inflammation caused by dry skin. And it’s an antiseptic that can reduce hyperpigmentation and the appearance of scars.
Recipe to try: Add 6-10 drops of sandalwood oil to one tablespoon of almond oil (or make this cooling body splash) and use it as a post-shaving body oil to reduce irritation. To fight age spots or other skin discoloration, dab the oil onto the skin each night before going to bed and leave on overnight.
15. Ylang-Ylang: Ylang ylang is great for treating oily or dry prone skin while still helping stimulate cell growth to fight the effects of aging. It’s a wonderful oil to add to any skincare routine. And with its exotic aroma, it’s also great at boosting your mood. However, a little goes a long way with ylang ylang’s powerful aroma, so only a very little amount is needed.
Recipe to try: Add ylang ylang to almond oil for a moisturizing face oil.
Aging/Mature Skin
Essential oils: Clary sage, frankincense, helichrysum, myrrh, neroli, rose
Carrier oil: Rosehip seed, pomegranate
16. Frankincense: Frankincense is an incredibly popular essential oil and it’s no wonder. If you are treating aging skin, have elasticity issues, or need to regenerate skin cells, frankincense is your ideal oil. It can even help with pigmentation, as well as tone and tighten skin. It’s also useful for treating cuts, wounds, and infections since it has powerful antiseptic properties.
Recipe to try: Make your own hand sanitizer + antiseptic spray.
17. Myrrh: Myrrh has long been added to skincare products to heal chapped skin and restore sun-damaged skin. Its skin-toning ability is especially helpful in fighting fine lines and other signs of aging. It is non-irritating so it can be applied neat to the skin.
Recipe to try: Add myrrh to a simple homemade Aztec clay mask for dry skin
Essential oils are overall very beneficial as they have a lot of uses. Using them in skincare routine is helpful as they help in maintaining the skin in the healthiest way possible and have other uses also.
