Essentials oils are the latest superheroes in the beauty world. Be it skincare or makeup products, many of them harness the skin- loving properties of essential oils to boost their effectiveness. From reducing dryness, combating acne to eliminating serious skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis, essential oils can do it all.
And guess what? All this hullabaloo around essential oils is not for nothing. These little babies are completely natural and have many potent skincare ingredients that work wonders to treat, heal and repair your skin. If you are someone who prefers to use natural skincare remedies, we highly recommend that you give essential oils a try, in case you haven’t already.
But it would be super unwise to use essential oils on the skin blindly. Since essential oils are super concentrated, using them directly on your skin could cause irritation, redness and in some cases, lead to burnt skin. Yikes! Therefore, it is always advised to dilute these oils with carrier oils such as coconut oil, argan oil or almond oil to reap their maximum benefits without causing harm.
Let’s find out about the best essential oils for the skin and some simple ways in which you can use them to heal, nourish and improve your skin.
- 1. Lavender essential oil
- 2. Tea tree oil
- 3. Rosehip oil
- 4. Lemon essential oil
- 5. Rose essential oil
- Frequently asked questions about essential oils for skin:
1. Lavender essential oil
Thanks to its invigorating fragrance, this is the most commonly used essential oil. All of us will have at least one product on our beauty shelves that smell of fresh lavender fields. But lavender essential oil is not just added to these products for its fragrance (although, we’d agree that it’s a good enough reason), bjt it also contains a plethora of skincare benefits that are too good to be true. It has immense calming, nourishing and healing properties that leave your skin feeling super soft and supple. Plus, if applied as a spot treatment with a carrier oil, this essential oil is really effective at reducing blemishes and acne scars.
2. Tea tree oil
Do you have oily, acne-prone skin? If yes, we are sure you’ve been recommended to use tea tree oil as a spot treatment on more than one occasion. If you’re wondering how this oil is going to benefit your acne situation, when a lot of other things haven’t, well, here’s why: tea tree oil is brimming with a lot of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-microbial properties. These skin-loving qualities help heal and inhibit acne, making them disappear and prevent them from reappearing in the future. Hence, the next time you spot that pesky pimple, just mix a little tea tree essential oil with another carrier oil, and use it as a spot treatment and you’re good to go!
3. Rosehip oil
If you call yourself a beauty junkie, we are sure the benefits of rosehip essential oil for your skin haven’t skipped your watchful eye. From brightening your skin, smoothening the texture as well as offering unparalleled anti-ageing benefits, rosehip essential oil has a lot of skincare benefits. The nourishing fatty acids in this essential oil, helps moisturize skin and makes it look super plump. Additionally, being a rich source of vitamins A and C, rosehip oil reduces wrinkles and fine lines to give your face a smooth appearance. Simply add a few drops of this essential oil to your regular moisturizer and apply it all over your face and neck to reap maximum benefits.
4. Lemon essential oil
If your skin appears dull and lacklustre, you definitely need a good dose of vitamin C. And what better way to deliver this than through lemons? But applying lemon juice directly to your skin is something we definitely don’t recommend, so what’s a girl to do? Well, turn to lemon essential oil instead! The astringent properties in this oil help detoxify your skin and prevent acne. Additionally, everyone knows the amazing skin brightening properties of lemons. Applying a little bit of lemon essential oil helps reduce tanning, improves your complexion and makes it appear clear AF! This essential oil is amazing to deal with skin problems such as acne and acne scars. Simply mix this essential oil with another non-comedogenic carrier oil such as argan or coconut oil and apply it to the affected area with a cotton pad. Wash it after ten minutes and notice the difference in just a few weeks, with regular use.
5. Rose essential oil
Using rose essential oil for skin has a huge number of benefits. Rose essential oil is chock-full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that penetrate deep into your skin to make a real difference. This essential oil is very popular for its amazing skin nourishing, hydrating and moisturising properties, and is an absolute boon for people with dry and dull skin. Additionally, applying rose essential oil to your face also reduces acne and acne scars, fine lines, wrinkles and other signs of ageing over time. If you have rosacea, eczema and other skin issues, the soothing properties of rose essential oil will calm your skin and keep the itching and irritation at bay.
Frequently asked questions about essential oils for skin:
Q. Can I apply essential oils directly to the skin?
A. Absolutely not! Essential oils are really potent and when applied directly, could irritate your skin and in some cases, even burn it. It is always good to dilute the essential oil with a carrier or cold-pressed oil that targets your particular skin concern and then apply it. Apart from this, it is also really important to carry out a patch test to see if your skin reacts adversely before including essential oils into your routine.
Q. What essential oils are safe for facial skin?
A. Most essential oils work really well on the face; but the best ones that show quick results are tea tree, lemon, rose, rosehip and chamomile essential oils.
Q. Do essential oils repair and reverse signs of ageing?
A. Yes, essential oils work really well when it comes to repairing and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Essential oils such as jojoba oil, lavender oil, pomegranate seed oil, rosehip oil, and frankincense oil rejuvenate your skin and help revive the youthful glow.
Q. What are the best carrier oils to use with essential oils?
A. Most carrier oils work wonderfully when paired with essential oils. But if you have oily, acne-prone skin, it would be wise to avoid oils that are comedogenic in nature. Some of the best carrier oils are coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, avocado oil and argan oil.
Written by Urvi Dalal on Apr 03, 2020
Writer, avid reader and hardcore beauty enthusiast is the best way to describe Urvi Dalal. With over 5 years of writing experience in the beauty industry, you can trust her to have the latest skin, hair and makeup tidbits on her fingertips. In her time working as a beauty writer, she has had the opportunity to interact and work closely with a string of dermatologists, makeup artists and hairstylists. All that knowledge exchange, coupled with her flair and love for writing make it possible for her to bring you some authentic yet fun beauty content. When Urvi isn’t working, you’d usually catch her curled up with a big, fat book, drinking a cup of tea or practising her makeup skills; there is no in-between!