Best Essential Oils For Skin Treatments
Each drop of an essential oil consists of plant hormones, therapeutic chemical compounds and a highly volatile aroma. It is quite an understatement to say that an essential oil is a plant product, because it is not just a product from a plant but in fact the life-force of the plant itself. Certain types of essential oils can help oxygenate, heal, rejuvenate and nourish your skin. Their great advantage in therapeutic skin treatments is that unlike most synthetic ingredients in skin care products that remain primarily on the skin’s surface, essential oils can penetrate all the way to the subcutaneous tissue layer.
Keep in mind that most essential oils are not supposed to be used “neat” or undiluted. You can dilute it in a base or carrier oil (almond, avocado, hazelnut, jojoba, olive, soybean, etc.) or water (for a bath). Below you will find a list of essential oils that are highly beneficial for the skin, tips on how to choose and store them, and some easy essential oil recipes for effective skin treatments.
Carrot Seed Essential Oil (Daucus Carota)
Carrot seed essential oil is yellowish-orange in color, and has a unique spicy-sweet fragrance. It is very high in beta-carotene, and therefore extremely nourishing for the skin. With its ability to stimulate skin elasticity, carrot seed essential oil has been used in a number of skin care products.
Caution – Epileptics and pregnant women should not use this type of essential oil.
Essential oil recipe for facial massage
Combine 2 tablespoons jojoba oil and 6 drops carrot seed essential oil in a small dark glass bottle. Shake well to blend. Use about 1 teaspoon at a time for a 5-minute daily facial massage. (You should not use this massage oil if you have very oily skin.) This homemade massage oil is supposed to improve blood circulation and moisture retention, resulting in healthier and smoother skin. Keep it in a dry, dark cabinet for its maximum shelf life.
German Chamomile Essential Oil (Matricaria Recutita)
The German chamomile essential oil is so intensely blue that it normally turns many cosmetics teal, and so aromatic that it usually overpowers any formula it is added to. As a skin care medicine, it is extremely soothing, anti-inflammatory and antifungal. It can be used for all skin types even sensitive ones. From my personal experience, German chamomile essential oil is best for a sunburn home remedy.
Essential oil recipe for sunburn
Combine ¼ cup distilled water, ¼ cup aloe vera juice and 5 drops of German chamomile essential oil in a small spray bottle. Shake well and spray directly on the sunburned skin a few times a day. It really soothes the irritated skin and effectively prevents peeling. This homemade sunburn spray can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 5 months.
Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Augustifolia)
Lavender essential oil is one of a few essential oils that can be directly used on the skin without diluting. It is a powerful, yet gentle antiseptic that is good for all skin types and safe for everyone, even children and pregnant women. It has been widely used as an effective home remedy for minor burns, sunburn and bee stings.
To heal a minor burn, you can dab lavender essential oil on it directly, using cotton, or you can add about 10 – 15 drops of lavender oil to a cool bath, which will create a very soothing sensation to the burned area and relax your whole body.
Lemongrass Essential Oil (Cymbopogon Citratus)
Lemongrass essential oil has a very refreshing lemony aroma and yellowish-brown color. In the skin care industry, it has been added to skin cleansers and moisturizers due to its mild astringent property. Lemongrass essential oil can also help the skin eliminate wastes and toxins, therefore it is supposed to revitalize sagging, sallow skin such as that of smokers and people with repetitive stress.
To improve your skin condition, simply add about 10 drops of lemongrass essential oil to your bath and enjoy the refreshing sensation it gives you.
Caution – Should not use on sensitive skin.
Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia)
Distilled from the leaves of an Australian tree, tea tree essential oil has a clean, medicinal scent and a pale yellow color. It is a powerful antibacterial and antieptic essential oil. That’s why it has been a popular ingredient in a lot of skin care products used for treating acne.
Essential oil recipe for skin toner
Boil 2 cups of water. Add 3 teaspoons dried yarrow. Remove from heat and let stand for about half an hour. Strain and let cool. Add 12 drops of tea tree essential oil. Keep refrigerated in a jar or bottle. This homemade toner is an effective herbal antiseptic to get rid of bacteria that encourages acne development. It can be refrigerated for up to a month.
Other good essential oils for skin treatments
Antiseptic and/or antibacterial essential oils - calendula, immortelle, inula, juniper berry, oregano, peppermint, spike lavender, thyme
Antiviral essential oils - blue cypress, oregano
Skin-regenerative essential oils - rosemary, spike lavender
Tips on buying and storing essential oils
- Quality essential oils are available in most health food stores and herb shops. They are unlikely to be cheap, as essential oil production is pretty labor-instensive and involves a lot of costly materials. There are also plenty of low-quality essential oils out there. It is therefore very important for you to be able to differentiate between low-quality and high-quality essential oils.
- Before buying an essential oil, always test for allergic reactions. Mix 1 drop of essential oil with 1 teaspoon base oil and dab it on your wrist or behind your knee. If no allergic reaction occurs within 24 hours, that essential oil is safe for you to use.
- An essential oil is actually not an “oil”, as it contains no fatty acids. Accordingly, it should not feel greasy or slippery the way vegetable oil does, but should be more like water. If it feels oily on your finger as you touch it, that means it is probably not a pure essential oil.
- To ensure that you are buying a pure and high-quality essential oil, look for “vintage”, “organic” or “g&a” (genuine and authentic) on the label.
- To maximize your essential oil’s shelf life, keep it in a bottle with a plastic screw-top cap, instead of a rubber top, as the strong vapors from the essential oil can gradually weaken the rubber and allow air into the bottle.
- Keep essential oils out of reach of children and pets, because they can be very harmful if ingested.
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Comments
Hi C.S. Alexis, thanks for stopping by. I'm not a professional esthetician or beauty therapist. But I am really interested in natural skin remedies, and have read many books about essential oils. So here I'm just sharing what I think is interesting. As for the 3 recipes, I got them from a friend who works at a spa.
Some essential oils I've been using myself are the lavender and lemongrass. (luv them!) Oh, and the german chamomile sunburn spray also works really well; you may also add 2 - 3 drops of peppermint essential oil to it for cooling effect. =)
What an interesting and informative hub. I was introduced to essential oils a few years ago by a cousin of mine who is a physical therapist and uses them in her practice. The only one I have really used much is lavender but I like it a lot....great for minor burns, but I like to put a few drops in bathwater--very relaxing and when I have a cold or cough I find breathing in lavender fumes clears my head-- thanks so much for this:-)
Hi, robie2. Lavender is one of my favorite essential oils too. It just smells sooooo lovely, doesn't it? Some experts said it also helps with insomnia and muscle cramps. =)
I am a lover of lavender! I have to say it's my number one favorite for many reasons. Camomile is great, especially on hives and sensitive skin. And tea tree oil is something no one should be without, great healing properties! As for carrot seed oil, I just purchased a lotion with that in it and I am amazed with the results. I'm totally hooked!
Really interesting hub. Great info. Thanks for sharing!
Hello, Frieda, good to know you are also a lavender lover :) I guess there's something very special about its soothing aroma that makes so many people (even those who are unaware of its medicinal properties) fall in love with it. Anyway, thanks for stopping by and welcome to hubpages!
You are providing the most essential (oil) information. Thank you for the great HUB
Thank YOU for reading my hub :)
I am 40 years old and the skin on my belly is begining to sag. As well, my sister had a baby and her belly is doing the same. What would you reccomend?
Hi Teya, sagging skin on the stomach is hard to reverse. A lot of people solved this problem by having a plastic surgery. But if you don't want to do that, I suggest you should exercise regularly and avoid sudden weight loss. You may also try skin-firming body wraps; most spas offer this kind of treatment. It could be a bit pricey but a lot of people said it really works for sagging skin that is not severe. Good luck :)
Hi! Om. How are you doing lately? I've been so busy working on my exhibition and it's great to be back on hub writings and catching up all other friends' hubs. Nice work. I really need to have a treatment like this.
Hey Lauren! I've been doing very well. Thanks. Glad to hear that you are back on hub writing again! :)
Thanks for your lot of informations about different types of essential oils which can be used for skin treatment. Great Hub!
Another great skin care Hub! I am a definite fan of yours! I love to use oils ;)
Yeah, and they're good for aromatherapy, too. I'm so in love with lavender oil. =D
I also love essential oils, thanks for the great hub!
I was surfing the net for essential oils and guess what, yours tops the list and of course, I clicked and found my old friend! Nicely done as usual and I learned lots. Thank you
Hehehe that is so cool. I haven't been hubbing for a few weeks. Maybe I should write a little hub this weekend. Anyway, good to see you and thanks for the read. :)
I too am a big fan of essential oils, and found this hub to be very informative. We use a lot of essential oils in our skin care products ,and just this past year I have planted over 300 lavender plants. I plan on planting another 300 this year and would eventually love to learn how to distill our own lavender essential oil. great hub.
Wow! 300 lavender plants! That's very cool. Hope your business is doing well. :)
Hi Everyone!
Very informative hub... since Indians are quite aware of the oils, but truly speaking, because of the price, and lack of knowledge as where one can get the essential oil... most of them are refrained to use that...
Pls let me know in Kolkata where one can get pure essential oil... for hair what essential oil one can use, though am having good hari growth, but front it is not think right now... and am having grey hair too
Thanks and best wishes
banerji_priya@yahoo.com
I love the recipes and uses of essential oils.Im tryng to start using all natural remedies and therapies and found this helpful
Hi, Om! I love lavender. I use a few drops of lavender essential oil on the inside of my wrists and 2 drops under the 2 holes of my nose whenever I have difficulty in sleeping.It helps.
Nice explanations and thanks for the recipes. It helps to know how to use them, not just what to use.
good
I am a natural soap maker and the user of many essential oils. Lavender is also a favorite of mine it does no harm and is wonderful for everything. This is my first time using a Hub, but this is great. If anyone knows how to purchase, 100% pure essentional oils direct from the supplier please let me know, I need to buy in bulk.
Enjoy This--SCRUB FOR DRY COMPLECTION--2-Tbl Oatmeal-1Tbl-Yellow stone ground cornmeal-1tsp ender,Chamomile,Lavender or Elder flower--6 drops Lavender Essential Oil Grind together dry herbs and mix well. Store in glass container --To use,moisten 1 tsp of powder with enough water to make a paste. Moisten face with warm water and apply scrub gently. Rinse with warm water
Hi Lynn, thanks for sharing the oatmeal scrub recipe. It sounds great! :)
Ur piece is really informative,pls I have dis reddish skin n rash,dats so itchy n keeps re-occuring,pls help
@funmi - That doesn't sound good. German Charmomile or lavender oil can relieve itchy skin, but I'm not sure if they can help with the rash. I think you should consult a dermatologist.
great hub! I love essential oils too, and have been working with them for over 15 yrs. I am still learning something new about them every day, they are true wonders!
Thanks for dropping by and commenting, yellowstar! Essential oils are true wonders indeed :)
C.S.Alexis 3 years ago
Your article is full of information. Do you work with these oils on a regular basis?