Did you know that essential oils aren’t just for making your home smell good? The precious oils from various plants and herbs can also help improve your skin and beauty!
Now I realize the combination of oils + skin in a sentence can send people into a bit of a panic. Our conventional mindset is that oils are BAD, hence all the emphasis on stripping them out! This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Our skin needs those beneficial oils, and stripping them away with harsh astringent cleansers only makes our skin produce MORE oil, worsening the problem. This can lead to even bigger breakouts, clogged pores, and only serves to perpetuate the issue. Nourishing our skin with certain plant oils can help break the cycle.
That said, not all oils are ideal for skincare. Some oils are comedogenic, which means they can tend to clog our pores. We definitely don’t want that! More on that topic later. Today, we’re talking about essential oils. These are actually “volatile organic compounds” and completely unlike the fatty carrier oils you’re probably thinking about! If you left a bottle of 100% pure essential oil open for a few days, it would actually evaporate. Coconut oil is definitely not going to do that, since it’s a fatty oil. But I digress!
The History of Essential Oils in Skincare
Essential oils for beauty and skincare is not a new concept. Did you know that some of the oldest known cultures, like the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, used essential oils over the centuries? Yes, really! Even the biblical figure Esther and the well-known Queen Cleopatra used essential oils in their beauty regimens.
While oils have become much more popular in recent history, the current “fad” is simply a resurgence of age-old practices (with some modern science thrown in).
Let’s take a look at some of my favorite essential oils that can help to protect skin from UV rays, reduce the signs of aging, manage acne breakouts, rebalance your skin’s moisture naturally, and sooo much more!
But first. I’m sure this goes without saying, but not all essential oil brands are created equal. Fakes abound – especially with the pricier oils! Many companies use cheap filler ingredients to dilute their oils, and these can irritate or even damage the skin. So make sure you’re getting the real thing if you decide to incorporate any of these into your skincare routine, and always use a carrier oil.
Frankincense
We’re starting with my favorite: Frankincense. This incredible resin is affectionately known as “the coconut oil of essential oils” and even “liquid gold” because it’s good for alllll the things! If you want to hit the rewind button on your skin … look no further.
As a natural astringent, frankincense helps heal skin imperfections. This anti-inflammatory essential oil also rejuvenates damaged skin and reduces the appearance of stretch marks and scars. It can even strengthen skin and improve its tone, elasticity, and defense against intrusive bacteria that causes breakouts.
Frankincense Frereana in particular is prized for its skin rejuvenating properties. When added to a carrier oil, it smooths the appearance of wrinkles, scars, dry and damaged skin.
Blue Tansy
Many of the most coveted luxury beauty items on the shelf contain this decadent essential oil. As you can probably guess from the name, it’s a vibrant shade of blue. It also smells divine!
Blue tansy is your skincare oil BFF when it comes to getting that coveted dewy glow. The camphor concentration in blue tansy oil can help repair damaged skin, especially damage from UV radiation.
Besides that, its most popular use is for calming irritated or troubled skin. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties make it a great resource for soothing acne flair-ups especially. If you already have a night cream you like, consider adding a drop or two right to the container!
Ylang Ylang
When you are making your own skin or beauty products, a lot of recipes will call for ylang ylang. This valuable essential oil is amazing for reducing the signs of aging. It is often found in face creams, hand lotions, and elixirs that are marketed to help to naturally reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Ylang ylang essential oil is also helpful if you have acne-prone or oily skin. Beware though – this oil is known as a potent aphrodisiac (and I can say from personal experience that is accurate). Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Lavender
Lavender is my all-time favorite oil for anything skin. If you have any kind of irritation like a bug bite, burn, cut, or scrape, try using a drop of lavender essential oil! I can tend to be pretty accident-prone, so I keep a bottle right in my kitchen specifically for this reason.
There are all kinds of recipes for making your own spritzes and sprays that use lavender to help soothe your skin. In fact, I have an entire post dedicated to this incredible plant! Check it out here.
Geranium
A highly underrated essential oil is geranium. Known as “poor man’s rose,” this powerful coagulant is budget-friendly and great for all skin types. It is ideal for nourishing dry, irritated skin and balancing proper hydration levels.
Egyptian Geranium in particular is a marvelous skin-balancing oil that can improve the overall skin complexion. Try making a balancing facial mist by adding a few drops to a spray bottle with rose water inside!
So there you have it! If any of these essential oils intrigued you, definitely consider adding them to your skincare regimen. I love to make a DIY glow serum with a few drops of each oil mentioned above, plus a skin-nourishing carrier oil like rosehip seed oil or jojoba (or both)!
Less is more with oils, so if you don’t already know your skin’s toleranc levels, be sure to start off “low and slow” with extra carrier oil. If you do notice a mild reaction like redness or sensitivity, this could be due to a detox reaction as you swap out more conventional products for natural ones. Simply ease up on the amount you’re using or try diluting more next time.
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