Find out which essential oil is the Best Essential Oil for Your Skins
Essential oils are plant
extracts made from flowers, leaves, and seeds. Some may have properties that
can treat certain skin conditions. If you’re interested in trying essential
oils specific to your skin concerns, consider talking to your dermatologist
about the following options.
Dry skin can occur during certain times of the year, as well as in
desert-like climates. You may even have dry skin naturally from age or reduced
activity in the sebaceous (oil) glands in your pores. Dry skin is often
remedied with creams and moisturizers, but some essential oils could provide
relief.
Lavender
You may have heard about using lavender for sleep and relaxation, but this
multipurpose oil may also help balance out moisture levels in your skin. It’s
an anti-inflammatory that can reduce redness and a natural hydra tor that can
repair dry skin without making it too greasy.
Chamomile
Chamomile oil contains azulene, known
for increasing moisture and reducing inflammation. However, you may want to
avoid it if you have ragweed allergies, as chamomile may be a trigger.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood contains compounds known for
reducing inflammation while promoting moisture in the skin.
If you have oily skin, your sebaceous glands are in
overdrive, creating excessive oil on the surface of your skin. Factors like
humidity, heat, and hormones can make oily skin worse. The following essential
oils may help alleviate oily skin issues.
Clary sage
Containing active compounds like inalienably acetate and geranyl, clary sage is known as a go-to essential oil for controlling excess sebum. Clary sage may
also help control acne and reduce the appearance of wrinkles in mature skin.
Rosemary
Rosemary oil is noted for its
anti-inflammatory, stimulating, and analgesic properties. Its key ingredients,
such as esters, may help keep excess sebum at bay. In fact, researchers have noted it
can help with both greasy hair and dandruff, and may even stimulate hair
growth.
Frankincense
Although research of frankincense in skin care is lacking,
advocates say it can help alleviate oily and acne-prone skin while providing
lipids for aging skin.
Geranium
With its alkaline properties, geranium is said to help balance out skin oils. Such alkalinity makes
geranium a key addition to soaps, and it’s helpful in evening out hydration
levels.
Neroli
Neroli is another essential oil that contains citral. It may help balance
out sebum without drying your skin.
Best essential oils for sensitive skin
Sensitive skin can be either dry or oily, and can sometimes
occur alongside allergies, eczema, and other skin conditions.
If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to steer clear of oils that are highly acidic,
such as lemon and lemongrass. The following oils are considered safe for all
skin types:
- lavender
- frankincense
- sandalwood
Essential oils for acne-prone skin
With acne, it’s
crucial that you remove excess oils and bacteria without drying the skin, as
this can lead to increased oil production. Inflammation can be another
contributing factor to acne breakouts.
Both rosemary and frankincense are known for treating acne by
reducing microbials and inflammation. Clary sage is also used for acne and on
oily skin. The following oils may also help acne-prone skin types.
Lemon
Lemon oil, derived
from the peel of the citrus fruit, can help fight inflammation and free radicals that can
contribute to acne and photo aging.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass also
has natural astringent properties. These can help fight pimples by acting as an
antimicrobial while also removing excess dead skin cells.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon essential oil is also considered a powerful anti-inflammatory thanks to
key antioxidant compounds like cinnamic acid. This may help inflammatory acne symptoms
like cysts, nodules, and pustules.
Tea tree
Derived from the melaleuca tree, tea tree oil is one of the most notable antiseptics in alternative
medicine. It helps fight bacteria and inflammation, both of
which can contribute to acne breakouts
Certain essential oils also have the
ability to balance out moisture and alleviate itchiness of skin rashes. These include
atopic dermatitis (eczema) and psoriasis.
One 2015 study Trusted Source found that
combining thyme with lavender helped treat eczema in mice, leading researchers
to believe that this essential oil blend could benefit humans with the skin
disease, too.
Other potential essential oils for
skin rashes include:
- lavender
- cinnamon
- geranium
Another consideration is the pain
that can sometimes occur with skin rashes. In this case, you might consider the
following essential oils that have pain-relieving properties:
Peppermint
You may have heard of drinking peppermint tea for headaches, but the benefits
of peppermint oil may also extend to skin health. The natural menthol content
provides an analgesic effect on the skin. It cools down hot rashes, too.
Wintergreen
Containing methyl salicylate, wintergreen has similar properties to
peppermint. It may act as a soothing agent on painful skin rashes.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is another oil noted for its
pain-relieving qualities. It may also provide moisture to itchy, painful skin rashes.
Patchouli
Patchouli oil is known for reducing both pain and inflammation. These qualities
are especially helpful for treating eczema rashes.
Whether you have acne scars or age spots from sun exposure, certain essential oils may help even out your
skin tone when used as a serum.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate oil has antioxidant and
anti-inflammatory properties that can promote healthier, more even skin.
Carrot seed
Carrot seed oil is used to decrease scarring. It may also help reduce the
appearance of wrinkles in mature skin.
Tangerine
Tangerine oil also has a high antioxidant profile, which makes it
useful for promoting smoother, more toned skin.
Ylang Ylang
Known for its ability to create
balance mentally and physically, Ylang Ylang may also help inhibit skin
pigmentation,
Other oils for
pigmentation
- frankincense for age spots
- geranium to even out tone
- lemon to fight free radicals
- lavender for reduced redness
Your skin naturally loses elasticity
and collagen as you age, which can lead to sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles. The following essential oils have
been studied for their potential anti-aging benefits.
Rose
With antioxidants like vitamins A and
C, rose oil can help promote skin cell
turnover, which often slows down with age. In turn, this could create
younger-looking skin with fewer lines.
Myrrh
Historically, myrrh was used by Egyptian women for anti-aging skin care regimens.
This antioxidant-rich oil is thought to promote
circulation, creating brighter, more refined looking skin.
Jojoba
Jojoba oil has been noted for repairing
the top layer of skin, thanks to its natural fatty acid content Trusted Source. Other oils that
provide similar results include argan, coconut, and sunflower seed oils. Jojoba
is also known for being lightweight, which makes it a good choice for oily
skin.
Other anti-aging
oils
- lavender
- frankincense
- neroli
- carrot seed
- clary sage
- patchouli
- tangerine
Essential oils are either inhaled or
used directly on the body. It’s not safe to ingest them. When applying the oils
topically to your skin, be sure to use a patch test ahead of time to make sure
you’re not allergic, and don’t use them around your eyes.
A patch test involves placing a small
amount of the diluted essential oil on your skin, say your forearm. Wait 24
hours to check for allergic reaction before using on a larger area of skin.
Diffuser
Diffusers are rising in popularity as
tools to help disperse essential oils in a room so that you can breathe in the
steam. This practice is also known as aromatherapy.
Still, while inhaling the essential
oils can be relaxing (or invigorating, depending on the oil used), you won’t
necessarily reap the skin benefits using them this way.
Massage and direct
application
When treating skin conditions,
essential oils are most likely to work best topically. This entails using small
drops of an oil. You must also first dilute the oils with a carrier oil, such as almond or olive oil.
Use a few drops per tablespoon of
carrier oil for best results, then massage into your skin until fully absorbed.
Bath
Bathing in essential oils can also
work well for a variety of skin conditions, especially if you’re trying to
treat hard-to-reach areas like your back. Simply add up to 10 drops of oil to a
running bath. Take your time getting out of the tub, as the oils can make the
surfaces slippery.
Topical uses of essential oils may
lead to rashes and irritation if you don’t dilute them beforehand with a
carrier oil.
Before using the oils, place a small
amount of diluted essential oils on your skin — say on your forearm — and wait
24 hours to check for an allergic reaction.
While essential oils are natural, they
can be just as powerful as traditional medications. Don’t take them by mouth,
and you shouldn’t attempt to self-treat any underlying medical condition. Ask a
doctor before using essential oils if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Where to get essential
oils
You can shop online for essential oils at the
following websites:
·
Amazon
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