Discover the best essential oils for face and give your skincare regime a boost, which can tackle almost all your skincare concerns.
Skincare combined with aromatherapy? Sign us up! As you probably already know, aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils to improve different aspects of your health and aid in your well-being. It is important to dilute your essential oils whenever you use them, especially when you use them for your skincare to tackle skin concerns. In this article, we will delve into the plethora of essential oils for your face that you can use to address skin issues.
Best Essential Oils for Your Face
Everybody’s skin is different, so it is quite obvious that each one of us would be dealing with different skin problems. Here, we will be speaking about the best essential oils that you can use for your face for every different skin concern you may have.
Essential oils for dry skin
For many people, dry skin occurs at certain times of the year or if they live in desert-like climates. But you might also have dry skin naturally due to age or reduced activity in the sebaceous (oil) glands in your skin pores. Though the effects of dry skin can be controlled with moisturizers or creams, here are also some of the best essential oils for dry skin on the face.
1. Lavender
Lavender is well-known for promoting sleep and relaxation, but did you know this multi-purpose essential oil is also great for hydrating your skin by helping balance moisture levels? Besides that, lavender has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce redness without making your skin greasy.
2. Chamomile
Chamomile essential oil contains a compound called azulene, which is known for increasing moisture levels needed in dry skin and also for its anti-inflammatory properties, just like lavender. However, you must avoid using chamomile oil for dry skin if you have ragweed allergies, as chamomile may be a trigger.
3. Sandalwood
Besides the beautiful smell, sandalwood essential oil is great for dry skin. It is known not only for its anti-inflammatory properties but also for hydrating the skin, thus making your dry skin look and feel so much healthier!
Essential oils for oily skin
Oily skin entails overactive sebaceous glands, which create excessive oil on the surface of your face and skin. Environmental factors like heat and humidity and physical factors like hormones can especially make oily skin feel worse. Thus, here is a list of the best essential oils for oily skin that will remove the excess oils without causing it to dry.
4. Clary Sage
Clary sage essential oil contains active compounds such as geranyl and linalyl acetate that help control excess sebum on the face. Because clary sage essential oil can help control excess oil, it can also help control acne while reducing the appearance of wrinkles in mature skin.
5. Rosemary
Rosemary essential oil is especially well-known for its anti-inflammatory, stimulating, and analgesic properties. Besides that, one of its key ingredients, esters, helps keep excess sebum at bay on your face. Rosemary essential oil also has antimicrobial and antiseptic qualities, which make it a great aid in treating skin problems like oily skin and tackling acne, dermatitis, and eczema.
6. Frankincense
Though research on the effect of frankincense is a little lacking, some researchers believe that it can help control excess sebum in oily and acne-prone skin while also providing necessary lipids for aging skin. Moreover, frankincense also has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that help treat acne.
7. Geranium
Geranium essential oil has alkaline properties, which help to balance oils in your face’s skin. Because of this alkalinity, geranium is also a key ingredient in many soaps and helps balance hydration levels in your face. Just like the previously-listed essential oils, geranium essential oil also minimizes the look of aging symptoms like wrinkles and fine lines.
8. Neroli
Sometimes, essential oils can have a bit too much effect on your skin, stripping even the natural oils by gleaning out excessive sebum from your face. This can leave your skin looking dry and dull. To avoid such a thing, opt for Neroli essential oil, which contains citral, to help balance out your skin without causing it to dry out.
Essential oils for acne-prone skin
Acne on the face is caused by excessive oil production and bacteria that may have gotten into your skin. The trick is to remove the excess oils without drying out your skin, thus leaving it healthy and free of acne. Also, remember that if you dry out the skin too much, it might lead to increased oil production, leading to even more breakouts. Another cause for breakouts is inflammation. Here are some of the best essential oils that you can use for acne-prone skin.
9. Lemon
Derived from the peel of lemon fruit, the lemon essential oil is an excellent one for fighting inflammation and free radicals that lead your skin to develop acne and other signs. Moreover, lemon essential oil also boasts antiseptic, antibacterial, and carminative properties that reduce pigmentations in your skin caused by acne, also restoring your skin’s glow. The zesty, citrusy aroma is also an instant boost to your mood, and we do want a bit of that!
10. Lemongrass
Having natural astringent properties, lemongrass essential oil is an excellent antimicrobial agent for fighting pimples and acne. It removes acne-causing bacteria while removing dead skin cells, thus brightening your face.
11. Cinnamon
Suffering from acne caused by inflammation? No worries, because cinnamon essential oil is here to save the day! Besides fighting off inflammation, thanks to its anti-inflammatory compounds like cinnamic acid, it also reduces acne symptoms like nodules, pustules, and cysts.
12. Tea tree
Tea tree oil is derived from the melaleuca tree and is one of the most noteworthy antiseptics prescribed in alternative medicine. It helps fight bacteria on your skin and also reduces inflammation, both of which are the leading causes of acne breakouts.
Essential oils for pigmentation
Whether you have age spots on your face due to excess sun exposure or acne spots, certain essential oils may help reduce their appearance and even out your skin tone, making your skin glow.
13. Pomegranate
With excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can fight free radicals in the skin and inflammation on the face, pomegranate oil is one of the best essentials for your face and for having healthier, more even skin.
14. Carrot seed
For scarring on the face or aging signs like wrinkles, carrot seed oil would be the perfect choice. Since carrot seed oil aids and stimulates the growth of new tissues on your face, especially on darkened spots, it thus promotes a clear and evenly toned complexion. Moreover, carrot seed oil gives all of these benefits without stripping away the natural oils on your face and keeps your skin protected from sun damage!
15. Tangerine
Tangerine oil is yet another essential oil with a high antioxidant profile and can help eliminate toxic free radicals in your skin. It can also help eliminate dark spots on your face, thus promoting smoother, more toned skin.
16. Ylang ylang
According to a 2015 study, ylang-ylang contained compounds like terpenoids that could help treat several types of skin disorders, including concerns such as hyperpigmentation or dark spots on the face. The best time to use ylang-ylang essential oil would be to incorporate it into your nighttime routine.
Essential oils for mature skin and anti-aging
As you age, your face starts to show signs of less elasticity and collagen, which leads to sagging, wrinkles, and fine lines. Here are some of the essential oils that scientists have been researching for their potential anti-aging benefits.
17. Rose
With antioxidants like vitamins C and A, rose essential oil can help in skin cell turnover, which starts slowing down as you age. But with the help of rose essential oil replenishing your skin cells, you can get that clear, youthful skin of your dreams with fewer lines even as you age. Besides that, its anti-inflammatory properties make this oil a liquid healer, diminishing scars and other spots on your face as you use it regularly.
18. Myrrh
History says that Egyptian women readily used myrrh in their anti-aging skincare regimens. Myrrh essential oil is rich in antioxidants that are believed to help promote circulation, thus helping you get clearer, brighter skin.
Side Effects and Precautions
1. Always dilute any new essential oil you plan to use. Then, do a patch test with diluted essential oil on your forearm and wait at least 24 hours for allergic reactions- redness or irritations. If you want to try essential oils specific to your skin concerns, consider talking to your dermatologist about the following options.
2. Many citrus essential oils like lemon, grapefruit, tangerine, and lemongrass, which are highly acidic, can cause bad reactions on sensitive skin. Besides that, even if you do not have sensitive skin, these essential oils can sometimes cause irritations on your skin when exposed to ultraviolet light. Take appropriate precautions with these.
3. While essential oils are natural and derived from plant extracts, they can be quite powerful, similar to traditional medicines. This is why you must never ingest essential oils or try to treat any medical condition with them. It is also important to consult a healthcare professional before using essential oils while pregnant or breastfeeding.
How To Use Essential Oil For Skin?
Essential oils are quite concentrated plant extracts derived from different parts of a plant, such as its leaves, flowers, and even seeds. Many of them have properties that can help treat certain skin conditions. Since these essential oils are so concentrated, you must always make sure to dilute them with a carrier oil. Besides that, it is always recommended that you do a patch test before you go ahead and start using an essential oil for your face.
If you are wondering how to start using essential oils for the face, here are a few easy steps you can try.
1) Massage and Direct Application
When using essential oils to help treat skin conditions, it is best to use them topically. That would mean using only 2-3 drops of your preferred essential oils, diluting them with about 10 drops of carrier oil, and then massaging them into your skin until fully absorbed.
2) Bath
To help treat various skin conditions, you could also consider adding essential oils to your bath water, especially to treat those hard-to-reach places like your back. Add around ten drops of your preferred essential oil to a running bath and absorb all of its goodness into your skin!
3) Add it to Your Skincare Routine
Another way is to add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your skincare routine, such as serums, toners, or moisturizing cream. This will also act as a soothing aroma therapy experience, thus calming your nerves and taking care of your skin issues.