What Are Essential Oils?
Essential oils are concentrated extracts that are extracted from different plant components, such as leaves, flowers, stems, and roots. These oils preserve the plant’s inherent scent and therapeutic characteristics, making them a popular option for holistic health practitioners.
Steam Distillation and Cold Pressing are two extraction procedures that guarantee the oils preserve their medicinal properties. Essential oils are more than simply lovely fragrances; they are potent instruments for improving your physical and mental well-being. Essential oils for skin have become a household staple in a variety of applications, including cosmetics.
In this article, we’ll take you through the basic essential oils for skin and body to include in your daily skincare routine and a few benefits and guidelines regarding their use.
Benefits of Essential Oils For Skin And Body
- Promotes Healthy Skin: Essential oils, such as lavender and tea tree oil, help soothe irritated skin, reduce acne, and promote a radiant complexion, making them highly beneficial for skin health.
- Hydration and Nourishment: Essential oils like jojoba and rosehip oil deeply moisturize the skin and body, keeping it soft and hydrated.
- Anti-Aging Properties: Oils such as frankincense and sandalwood help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making them ideal essential oils for skin rejuvenation.
- Relieves Skin Conditions: Essential oils like chamomile and calendula are effective in calming inflammation and reducing conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
- Improves Circulation: When massaged onto the skin, essential oils like rosemary and peppermint can stimulate blood flow, revitalizing the skin and body.
- Natural Antimicrobial Effects: Essential oils such as tea tree and eucalyptus combat bacteria and fungi, promoting healthy, blemish-free skin.
- Enhances Relaxation: Essential oils like lavender and chamomile provide therapeutic benefits for the skin and body by reducing stress and tension.
- Detoxifies Skin and Body: Lemon and juniper essential oils support detoxification, cleansing the skin and enhancing its natural glow.
Top 10 Essential Oils for Skin and Body
With many essential oils available on the market, it can get tricky to choose the one best for your skin. However, it shouldn’t be difficult if you take into account the issues you are hoping to treat with the oil.
Let’s go through the list of the top 10 essential oils for the skin to help you out.
1. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil is extracted from the flower spikes of the lavender plant. Lavender essential oil is believed to have antifungal and antibacterial properties and may help improve skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Known for its calming properties, lavender oil can help reduce stress and improve sleep quality. It’s also great for soothing minor burns and insect bites.
Add a few drops to your bathwater for a relaxing soak, or mix with a carrier oil and apply to your skin for soothing relief. You can also place a few drops on your pillow to promote better sleep; be mindful regarding possible stains on the pillow.
2. Tea Tree Oil
Tea Tree Oil is derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant found in Australia and is available both in concentrated and diluted forms. For skin applications, you can dilute it with olive oil, almond oil, or coconut oil.
Tea tree oil has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties and can be helpful for treating fungal, bacterial, viral, and protozoal skin infections. It can be effective against skin conditions like acne vulgaris, seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), and inflammation caused by allergic reactions.
Mix a few drops with a carrier oil to spot-treat acne or soothe irritated skin.
3. Neroli Oil
The bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) tree’s blossom is steam-distilled to create its sweet and metallic aroma. Neroli is excellent for rejuvenating and brightening skin, similar to rosehip oil. It is particularly effective for improving skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of scars and stretch marks.
Neroli oil also has antibacterial and antifungal properties and may be helpful against skin infections like green nail syndrome, toe web infection, hand-foot infection, and external otitis.
Add a few drops to your moisturizer or a diffuser to boost skin elasticity and uplift your mood with its sweet, floral scent.
4. Frankincense Oil
Known as the “king of essential oils,” frankincense is a powerhouse for skin rejuvenation and healing. It is a gum-like material that oozes from Sudanese Frankincense Trees, extracted when hardened. The application of Frankincense is huge; it is used as a fragrance agent in soaps, lotions, and perfumes.
Frankincense oil extract helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, scars, and dark spots, promoting a radiant and youthful complexion. With its calming aroma, it also supports mental clarity and relaxation, making it perfect for holistic wellness.
Blend with a carrier oil and massage onto the skin for a youthful glow.
5. Chamomile Oil
Gentle yet effective, chamomile oil is a must-have for soothing sensitive or inflamed skin. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties help calm redness, irritation, and acne. Beyond skincare, its calming scent works wonders for relieving stress and promoting better sleep, offering a perfect balance of care for the body and mind.
Apply diluted chamomile oil to sensitive areas to calm redness or inflammation.
6. Sandalwood Oil
It is distilled from wooden chips of the heartwood (the dead, innermost portion of a tree’s trunk) of the Indian sandalwood (Santalum album) and Australian sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) trees.
Renowned for its rich, woody aroma, sandalwood oil is a luxurious addition to your skincare and wellness routine. It deeply hydrates and nourishes the skin, helping to reduce dryness, irritation, and the appearance of fine lines. Known for its calming properties, it promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and uplifts the mood, making it a perfect oil for both skin rejuvenation and holistic well-being.
Use a drop of sandalwood oil in your moisturizer for deep hydration, or diffuse its earthy aroma to create a calming and meditative space.
7. Clary Sage Oil
It is extracted from the flowers, leaves, stems, and seeds of the clary sage plant found in the northern Mediterranean basin. Clary sage essential oil can be used for healing wounds and bacterial skin infections. It has proven effective against bacterial strains that cause skin conditions like impetigo, folliculitis, and abscesses.
To use clary sage oil for the skin, dilute it with coconut oil before massaging. You can also add a few drops of this essential oil to your bathwater for relief from aching muscles.
8. Geranium Oil
Geranium oil is extracted from the leaves of the Pelargonium graveolens plant found in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Geranium oil has antioxidant properties and can be used as an anti-aging agent for the skin and as a face oil.
Geranium oil can balance oil production and improve skin elasticity. It’s also known for its ability to reduce the appearance of scars. Rose geranium oil, which is made from a different variety of the Pelargonium graveolens plant, can help reduce inflammation and is safe to use.
Combine geranium oil with a carrier oil for a balancing facial massage.
9. Eucalyptus Oil
Eucalyptus oil is made from the leaves of the eucalyptus tree (Eucalyptus globulus), native to Australia but also found in other parts of the world like Spain, Portugal, South Africa, and the US (California).
Eucalyptus oil can be used for managing acne and against fungal skin infections that occur in areas like armpits, groins, and under the breasts.
Mix eucalyptus essential oil with a carrier like aloe vera gel, coconut oil, or jojoba oil before applying it to the skin.
10. Sweet Orange Oil
The rind, leaves, and flowers of the sweet orange tree (Citrus sinensis) are cold-pressed to extract sweet orange oil. It can be effective in treating inflammatory skin conditions like acne vulgaris and can be used as a face oil.
Sweet orange essential oil consists of approximately 95% D-limonene. When properly diluted, pure limonene is safe for most individuals to use. Oxidized or aged limonene can lead to irritation in individuals with dermatitis or other skin conditions.
Always opt for fresh products and steer clear of old or expired items that contain limonene. Add a few drops to your bath or skincare routine for a refreshing burst of hydration.
How to Use Essential Oils for Skin & Body
Essential oils are either inhaled or applied directly to the body. It is not safe to consume them. Here are some important things to consider:
- Patch Test: Always perform a patch test to check for allergic reactions. Apply a small amount of diluted oil to a discret area of skin and wait 24 hours to see if any irritation occurs. Ensure you are not allergic, and avoid using them near your eyes.
- Dilution: Essential oils are potent and should be diluted with a carrier oil before applying to the skin (massage). A common dilution ratio is 2-3 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil.
- 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.
- Consult a Professional: If you’re pregnant, nursing, or have health concerns, consult a healthcare professional before use. Some essential oils may not be safe for certain individuals.
- 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.
- Storage: Store essential oils in a cool, dark place to maintain their potency. Exposure to light and heat can degrade the quality of the oils.
- Expiration: Be aware that essential oils can expire. Check for any changes in smell or consistency, and discard any oils that have gone bad.
Conclusion
Essential oils are more than just fragrant liquids; they are powerful tools for enhancing your health and well-being. From improving skin health to providing stress relief, the benefits of essential oils are vast and varied. By incorporating the right essential oils into your skin care routine, you can experience their numerous advantages.
If you can’t figure it out on your own, an herbal medicine practitioner may be of help. And lastly, exercise caution about the few things we mentioned to make your essential oil experience truly rejuvenating for your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is essential oil used for?
Essential oils are used by the cosmetics and makeup industry to generate fragrances, infuse body washes and creams with aroma, and even provide natural antioxidants in some beauty care products. Essential oils are used by many practitioners of natural medicine, including aromatherapists.
- Is coconut oil an essential oil?
No, coconut oil is a carrier oil, not an essential oil. Carrier oils operate as a catalyst or support system for essential oils, allowing them to perform optimally. Coconut oil may also be utilized as a nonessential plant oil.
- Which essential oil is good for daily use?
Rose essential oil has anti-aging qualities, while tea tree oil preserves the skin. Peppermint oil may be an excellent addition to your daily moisturizer, uplifting your skin and spirits with its cooling and invigorating scent.
- Can I apply essential oil daily?
Because essential oils are so potent, only little quantities (usually a few drops) should be utilized. It is also a good idea not to use them daily, as your body can get used to them, lowering their effectiveness.
- How do I mix essential oils for skin?
Do this easily by adding 2-3 drops of your essential oil blend to 1 teaspoon of your favorite carrier oil. For sensitive skin, add 1 drop of your essential oil blend to 1 tablespoon of your favorite carrier oil. Some common carrier oils are jojoba, coconut, or sweet almond.
Sources
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9128951/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22961-candida-albicans
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33492004/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2018.00200/full