We can’t get enough of essential oils. The calming scent of lavender can instantly make us feel relaxed while a sniff of peppermint can perk us up.
While we all know how amazing essential oils can smell, you may not realize the benefits they can have for your skin. From soothing inflammation and fighting off acne to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, essential oils can do wonders for your skin.
Let’s explore the benefits of essential oils for skin and how you can incorporate them into your self-care routine.
There are so many essential oils for skin out there, and they all offer distinct benefits. If you’re just starting your journey with essential oils, choosing products based on your skin type is a great place to start.
Essential oils for dry skin include lavender, rose, sandalwood, and carrot seed oil. These oils all have anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe your skin while keeping it hydrated and balancing moisture levels. Use a few drops of these essential oils on dry skin (making sure they’re properly diluted, which we’ll talk about in more detail), or incorporate them into your moisturizer.
Plus, options like lavender essential oil can help you relax since the scent has been shown to help regulate your body’s parasympathetic nervous system, according to Healthline.
Now, you might think that you shouldn’t use essential oils if you have greasy skin. However, this isn’t always the case. According to Verywell Health, oily skin is often a result of overactive sebaceous glands that produce too much of a waxy, oily substance called sebum.
The right essential oils for your skin can actually help control excess sebum and help your skin find balance again. Tea tree oils are great for leaving your skin feeling fresh and clean since it has antibacterial and astringent properties. Other essential oils for oily skin include geranium, neroli, and rosemary.
Essential oils can also be a game changer when it comes to achieving a clear complexion. When fighting breakouts, you want to cleanse your skin without stripping away its natural oils. Lemon and lemongrass are two hero oils that are great for keeping acne away and improving your skin tone.
A few lemongrass and lemon essential oil benefits for skin include:
Itchy skin can often be caused by dry skin. In this case, you want to find essential oils for itching that both soothe and moisturize your skin.
Some popular essential oils for itchy skin include eucalyptus, lavender, cinnamon, and peppermint essential oils. These essential oils work double duty to provide instant relief while also addressing the root of the problem.
Along with helping your skin achieve balance, essential oils can also be used to treat rashes and fight off signs of aging. For instance, patchouli oil can help reduce both pain and inflammation when treating rashes.
MedicalNewsToday explains that some essential oils can also be used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Some of the best essential oils for wrinkles have already made our list, including:
Similarly, some oils can help reduce dark spots and help you achieve an even skin tone. These include:
Ready to incorporate essential oils for skincare into your self-care routine? Here are some ideas to get you started.
Essential oils are often highly concentrated and potent, which could cause skin irritation. Luckily, diluting your essential oils with a carrier oil (like grape seed or coconut oil) is easy. Healthline offers a handy dilution guide to help you mix essential oils for your skin at home. They also emphasize the importance of conducting a patch test before using any new essential or carrier oil to ensure it doesn’t irritate your skin.
From there, you can add these essential oils to your face and hair! If you don’t want to use them on your face, you can also apply them on other areas like your wrists or behind your ear for aromatherapy benefits.
Speaking of aromatherapy, you can also benefit from diffusing your essential oils. An aromatic diffuser can make your room smell heavenly and set the mood for a self-care night. While this method doesn’t offer benefits for your skin, breathing in the aromatics can help you feel calm, focused, or sleepy depending on the essential oil you choose.
If you want the benefits of essential oils for your skin without having to concoct your own oils and want to feel like you’re at the spa, you can’t go wrong with infused skincare products. Face masks, eye gels, and more made with essential oils are great for delivering targeted treatment to your skin while also smelling great and making you feel relaxed.
Plus, these infused products are a breeze to use and safe for your skin. No diluting or mixing is necessary to experience the benefits of essential oils for your skin with these products:
Happy Place: Made with an uplifting aroma of rose, these tea-infused eye gels deliver so much more than antioxidants. The Rose Oil aromatherapy in these tea-infused eye gels will brighten your under eyes and boost your mood in ten minutes flat.
Happy Place Rose Oil Eye Gels
Chill Mode: Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil and natural Tea Leaves are the hero ingredients in these chill eye gels that will lull stressed skin into a state of total relaxation. The Cannabis Sativa Seed Oil works double duty to reduce inflammation and heal broken or damaged skin
Or, treat your entire face to some extra relaxation with a Chill Mode Calming Hydrogel Face Mask. You’ll be basking in blissful relaxation while your skin soaks up an extra dose of hydration.
Chill Mode Cannabis Sativa Eye Gels and Mask
Perk Up: When you need an energy boost these green tea-infused eye gels can do the trick. Green tea works to de-puff your skin while antioxidant-rich Pine Leaf Extract works wonders to brighten your skin. The extra addition of Bergamot offers a relaxing scent to calm your nerves during your self-care sesh.
Perk Up Green Tea Eye Gels
While essential oils offer powerful skincare benefits, they require careful handling and proper knowledge for safe use. These concentrated plant extracts are potent natural substances that deserve respect and understanding before incorporating them into your skincare routine.
The Golden Rule: Always Dilute
The most critical rule of essential oil use is never to apply them directly to your skin. Essential oils are highly concentrated plant extracts – so concentrated that a single drop of peppermint oil is equivalent to 26 cups of peppermint tea. This potency means they must always be diluted with carrier oils before application. Even traditionally gentle oils like lavender can cause irritation or sensitization when used undiluted.
The proper dilution ratio depends on your intended use:
Sun Sensitivity and Seasonal Care
One often-overlooked aspect of essential oil use is photosensitivity. Certain oils, particularly citrus oils like lemon, lime, and bergamot, can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays. When using these oils, timing matters – avoid sun exposure for at least 12 hours after application. This is especially important during summer months or in sunny climates. Consider using these oils in your evening routine instead of morning applications.
Quality and Storage Matter
The effectiveness and safety of essential oils largely depend on their quality and proper storage. Choose oils from reputable sources that provide pure, therapeutic-grade products with proper labeling. Store your oils in dark glass bottles away from direct sunlight and heat, as both can degrade the oils' properties and potentially create harmful compounds.
Signs that an oil has gone bad include:
Listen to Your Skin
Your skin will tell you if something isn't right. Always perform a patch test before using any new essential oil, even if properly diluted. Apply a small amount to your inner arm and wait 24 hours to check for any adverse reactions. If you experience persistent redness, irritation, burning, or develop a rash, discontinue use immediately and consult a healthcare provider.
Safe Zones and Areas to Avoid
While essential oils can be beneficial for many areas of your skin, certain regions should always be off-limits. Never apply essential oils – even when diluted – around your eyes, inside your nose or ears, or on broken skin or open wounds. Be cautious about applying oils to areas that will be covered by tight clothing or before exercising, as this can increase absorption and potentially cause irritation.
The Professional Alternative
If you're hesitant about mixing your own essential oil blends, professionally formulated products offer a safe and effective alternative. Patchology's essential oil-infused line takes the guesswork out of dilution and compatibility. Our products undergo rigorous testing to ensure stability and safety while delivering the beneficial properties of essential oils in optimally formulated concentrations.
Products like our Happy Place Rose Oil Eye Gels and Chill Mode Cannabis Sativa Eye Gels combine essential oils with other active ingredients in carefully balanced formulations. This professional approach ensures you receive the benefits of essential oils without the risks of improper dilution or application.
Starting Your Essential Oil Journey
Begin your essential oil journey gradually, starting with one gentle oil at a time. Lavender or chamomile are excellent choices for beginners due to their generally mild nature. Keep notes about which oils you use, how you dilute them, and how your skin responds. This documentation will help you identify what works best for your skin and adjust your routine accordingly.
Remember that while essential oils can be powerful allies in your skincare routine, they're not miracle solutions. Pay attention to how your skin responds, be consistent with safe practices, and don't hesitate to seek professional advice if you're uncertain about any aspect of essential oil use.
Essential oils offer a natural approach to achieving healthy, balanced skin when used correctly. Whether you choose to create your own blends or opt for professionally formulated products like Patchology's essential oil-infused line, these powerful botanicals can enhance your skincare routine and provide multiple benefits for various skin concerns.
Remember to always perform a patch test before trying new essential oils and consult with a skincare professional if you have specific skin concerns or conditions.
Explore our skincare favorites at Patchology, including our favorite aromatherapy eye gels, sheet masks, and more.
