22 Essential Oils for Skin Conditions and Types, and How to Use Them

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Essential oils are plant extracts made from flowers, leaves, and seeds. Some may have properties that can treat certain skin conditions.

If you’re interested in trying essential oils specific to your skin concerns, consider talking to your dermatologist about the following options.

Dry skin can occur during certain times of the year, as well as in desert-like climates. You may even have dry skin naturally from age or reduced activity in the sebaceous (oil) glands in your pores.

Dry skin is often remedied with creams and moisturizers, but some essential oils could provide relief.

Lavender

You may have heard about using lavender for sleep and relaxation, but this multipurpose oil may also help balance out moisture levels in your skin. It’s an anti-inflammatory that can reduce redness and a natural hydrator that can repair dry skin without making it too greasy.

Chamomile

Chamomile oil contains azulene, known for increasing moisture and reducing inflammation. However, you may want to avoid it if you have ragweed allergies, as chamomile may be a trigger.

Sandalwood

Sandalwood contains compounds known for reducing inflammation while promoting moisture in the skin.

If you have oily skin, your sebaceous glands are in overdrive, creating excessive oil on the surface of your skin. Factors like humidity, heat, and hormones can make oily skin worse. The following essential oils may help alleviate oily skin issues.

Clary sage

Containing active compounds like linalyl acetate and geranyl, clary sage is known as a go-to essential oil for controlling excess sebum. Clary sage may also help control acne and reduce the appearance of wrinkles in mature skin.

Rosemary

Rosemary oil is noted for its anti-inflammatory, stimulating, and analgesic properties. Its key ingredients, such as esters, may help keep excess sebum at bay. In fact, researchers have noted it can help with both greasy hair and dandruff, and may even stimulate hair growth.

Frankincense

Although research of frankincense in skin care is lacking, advocates say it can help alleviate oily and acne-prone skin while providing lipids for aging skin.

Geranium

With its alkaline properties, geranium is said to help balance out skin oils. Such alkalinity makes geranium a key addition to soaps, and it’s helpful in evening out hydration levels.

Neroli

Neroli is another essential oil that contains citral. It may help balance out sebum without drying your skin.

Sensitive skin can be either dry or oily, and can sometimes occur alongside allergies, eczema, and other skin conditions.

If you have sensitive skin, you’ll want to steer clear of oils that are highly acidic, such as lemon and lemongrass. The following oils are considered safe for all skin types:

• lavender
• frankincense
• sandalwood

With acne, it’s crucial that you remove excess oils and bacteria without drying the skin, as this can lead to increased oil production. Inflammation can be another contributing factor to acne breakouts.

Both rosemary and frankincense are known for treating acne by reducing microbials and inflammation. Clary sage is also used for acne and on oily skin. The following oils may also help acne-prone skin types.

Lemon

Lemon essential oil, derived from the peel of the citrus fruit, can help fight inflammation and free radicals that can contribute to acne and photoaging.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass also has natural astringent properties. These can help fight pimples by acting as an antimicrobial while also removing excess dead skin cells.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon essential oil is also considered a powerful anti-inflammatory thanks to key antioxidant compounds like cinnamic acid. This may help inflammatory acne symptoms like cysts, nodules, and pustules.

Tea tree

Derived from the melaleuca tree, tea tree oil is one of the most notable antiseptics in alternative medicine. It helps fight bacteria and inflammation, both of which can contribute to acne breakouts.

Certain essential oils also have the ability to balance out moisture and alleviate itchiness of skin rashes. These include atopic dermatitis (eczema) and psoriasis.

One 2015 study found that combining thyme with lavender helped treat eczema in mice, leading researchers to believe that this essential oil blend could benefit humans with the skin disease, too.

Other potential essential oils for skin rashes include:

• lavender
• cinnamon
• geranium

Another consideration is the pain that can sometimes occur with skin rashes. In this case, you might consider the following essential oils that have pain-relieving properties:

Peppermint

You may have heard of drinking peppermint tea for headaches, but the benefits of peppermint oil may also extend to skin health. The natural menthol content provides an analgesic effect on the skin. It cools down hot rashes, too.

Wintergreen

Containing methyl salicylate, wintergreen has similar properties to peppermint. It may act as a soothing agent on painful skin rashes.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is another oil noted for its pain-relieving qualities. It may also provide moisture to itchy, painful skin rashes.

Patchouli

Patchouli oil is known for reducing both pain and inflammation. These qualities are especially helpful for treating eczema rashes.

Whether you have acne scars or age spots from sun exposure, certain essential oils may help even out your skin tone when used as a serum.

Pomegranate

Pomegranate oil has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can promote healthier, more even skin.

Carrot seed

Carrot seed oil is used to decrease scarring. It may also help reduce the appearance of wrinkles in mature skin.

Tangerine

Tangerine oil also has a high antioxidant profile, which makes it useful for promoting smoother, more toned skin.

Ylang ylang

Known for its ability to create balance mentally and physically, ylang ylang may also help inhibit skin pigmentation, according to a 2015 study.

Other essential oils for pigmentation

• frankincense for age spots
• geranium to even out tone
• lemon to fight free radicals
• lavender for reduced redness

Your skin naturally loses elasticity and collagen as you age, which can lead to sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles. The following essential oils have been studied for their potential anti-aging benefits.

Rose

With antioxidants like vitamins A and C, rose oil can help promote skin cell turnover, which often slows down with age. In turn, this could create younger-looking skin with fewer lines.

Myrrh

Historically, myrrh was used by Egyptian women for anti-aging skin care regimens. This antioxidant-rich oil is thought to promote circulation, creating brighter, more refined looking skin.

Other anti-aging oils

• lavender
• frankincense
• neroli
• carrot seed
• clary sage
• patchouli
• tangerine

Essential oils are either inhaled or used directly on the body. It’s not safe to ingest them. When applying the oils topically to your skin, be sure to use a patch test ahead of time to make sure you’re not allergic, and don’tuse them around your eyes.

A patch test involves placing a small amount of the diluted essential oil on your skin, say your forearm. Wait 24 hours to check for allergic reaction before using on a larger area of skin.

Diffuser

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.

Massage and direct application

When treating skin conditions, essential oils are most likely to work best topically. This entails using small drops of an oil. You must also first dilute the oils with a carrier oil, such as almond or olive oil.

Use a few drops per tablespoon of carrier oil for best results, then massage into your skin until fully absorbed.

Bath

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.

Topical uses of essential oils may lead to rashes and irritation if you don’t dilute them beforehand with a carrier oil, such as jojoba or olive oil.

Before using the oils, place a small amount of diluted essential oils on your skin — say on your forearm — and wait 24 hours to check for an allergic reaction.

Many citrus essential oils like lemon, grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, and lemongrass may cause a skin irritation when exposed to ultraviolet light. Take appropriate precautions with these.

While essential oils are natural, they can be just as powerful as traditional medications. Don’t take them by mouth, and you shouldn’t attempt to self-treat any underlying medical condition. Ask a doctor before using essential oils if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Essential oils are widely available at naturopathic outlets, natural food stores, and even drugstores. You can shop online for essential oils at the following websites:

• Amazon
• Eden Botanicals
• Mountain Rose Herbs

Keep in mind that not all essential oils on the market are created equal. Many of the brown bottles you see on shelves may contain added materials such as synthetic fillers, extenders, or fragrances.

Some will also come with a carrier oil already added, which may or may not be helpful, depending on your needs. Be sure to check the ingredient list before you buy anything.

With their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and soothing properties, essential oils are used for a variety of skin care concerns. While research into the efficacy of essentials is ongoing, advocates say oils can help dry, oily, and acne-prone skin.

Before using essential oils, seek input from your dermatologist, especially if you have any underlying conditions like eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis. Stop using essential oils immediately if you experience any negative reactions.

6 Cooking Oils You Can Use on Your Skin

Chances are, you’ve got a cornucopia of incredibly beneficial skin care products sitting in your kitchen cupboards – especially if you tend to buy organic and plant-based. If you put effort into a clean and sustainable diet, the foods you’re nourishing your body with are likely multi-use: equally as good drizzled on a salad as they are added to a DIY face mask. Which brings us to the point of today’s deepdive: oils.

Common household oils have a variety of skincare benefits, and can help combat everything from acne to eczema on the face and body. The role of facial oil in skincare has gotten serious buzz this year, as people have realized that oil is not the enemy, but rather a skin-loving tonic that can work as both a moisturizer and a cleanser. Here we’ve raided the kitchen cabinet, and have put together a breakdown of cooking oils.

PRO TIP: Oils can be used either as a deep treatment mask, or an overnight moisturizer. If your skin type is slightly more acnegenic or prone to sebum overproduction, try applying a facial oil for a period of 10-15 minutes, and relaxing with a warm washcloth over your face to increase absorption. Try using Puristry’s Nopal Cactus Cleanser for rinsing off the mask, and follow with Puristry’s Seaberry Moisturizer to lock in nutrients and moisture. Voila, you have a DIY facial at the ready.

So let’s dive in! Which cooking oils are the best for YOUR skin type? Read on for our favorite multi-tasking kitchen oils, packed with with some serious skin benefits.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is naturally packed with super nourishing squalene, a highly effective emollient that mimics our skin’s lipid composition, meaning that it’s able to absorb and penetrate deep into the epidermal layer. It’s rich in vitamins A and E, which are beneficial to those dealing with eczema, and it’s an ultra moisturizing tonic to apply after sun exposure. If you’re dealing with congested pores, sometimes a less is more approach with olive oil, given that its texture is quite thick and viscous.

Canola Oil

Canola oil contains a high level of essential fatty acids, which moisturize the skin and enhance the strength of skin tissue. It’s also rich in Vitamin K, which helps keep the skin supple and smooth, and linoleic acid, which forms a barrier on the skin to keep moisture from escaping. Try a small test patch of skin before applying canola oil overnight as a moisturizer, as it can cause slight skin irritation for those with especially sensitive skin. If you tolerate it well, green light on the application, as it’s a surprisingly inexpensive anti-aging boost and skin softener.

Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed oil is a holy grail for treating fine-lines and wrinkles, thanks to its ridiculously high antioxidant content and the presence of resveratrol, an active compound that reduces oxidative damage in the skin. It also contains high amounts of linoleic acid, a fatty acid that’s important for your skin’s cell membrane integrity. People suffering from acne have seen excellent results from grapeseed oil, thanks to linoleic acid also playing a role in the skin’s natural exfoliation process. Plus it’s high in vitamin C, so it can be a helpful brightening tonic for those with age spots as well as acne scarring.

Almond Oil

The small and mighty almond unsurprisingly produces an oil with a long list of skin benefits. It contains the powerful antioxidant Vitamin E, which fights off free radical induced aging and oxidative damage–so this is a particularly good oil for mature skin types. It also contains fatty acids which helps skin retain moisture, and is effective at healing any chapped or flaking skin. And because almond oil is mild and has hypoallergenic properties, it can be used by even those with the most sensitive skin.

Sesame Oil

Sesame oil might not be the first oil that you think of for skin care, but in fact it has been used as a healing skin oil for centuries. The inflammatory and antibacterial properties in sesame oil mean that it can work as a spot treatment for live blemishes, and its high content of Vitamins E, B, and D means that it can be helpful in a scar-fading routine. Because sesame oil is so gentle, and because of its silky and emollient texture, it’s an excellent carrier oil that can be used for diluting other more concentrated essential oils. If you’re making your own facial oil blends, sesame oil is a must-have base.

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is a seriously good choice for anyone suffering from dry and mature skin. It’s ultra rich in essential fatty acids and oleic acid, which can promote collagen synthesis and aid in the regeneration of healthy skin tissue. This process is bolstered by the presence of sterolins: naturally occuring steroids that soften skin and reduce the appearance of age spots. The healthy fats in the oil help mature skin retain density and elasticity, and lecithin acts as an effective emulsifier that allows your skin to absorb all of the oil’s nutrients. If you suffer from particularly oily skin, try using avocado oil as a mask (rather than an overnight treatment) to reap the benefits while maintaining a healthy lipid balance on your dermis.

Using a facial oil is the best way to get that coveted “inner-glow”, so don’t hesitate to get creative with these oils from your kitchen!

BENEFITS OF COSMETIC OILS / Teana Labs Beauty Studio

Estimated time to read 4 minutes

The main mission of natural oils is to complement our own oils. After all, the skin naturally produces oils and lipids, which serve as a reliable defense against infections and moisture loss. It is they who provide adhesion between skin cells, not passing excess through the stratum corneum. If there is not enough natural lipids – and this, alas, happens at least sometimes with everyone – the skin loses its protective properties. And here cosmetic oils come to the rescue. They can be both in the composition of the cream, and in pure form. The main thing is to learn how to cook them correctly.

CLEANING

We all know that oil is not friendly with water. At the same time, by attracting like, it effectively removes excess sebum and waterproof makeup from the surface of the skin and from the pores. But if you apply ordinary oil to the skin, it will, of course, dissolve impurities, but it will not be washed off the skin with plain water. For this, there is a hydrophilic oil for the skin – this is a kind of “semi-finished product” for creating an emulsion. Due to special emulsifiers in the composition, which bind oil and water into a homogeneous mass, upon contact with water, it turns into a light milk and is washed off with water without residue. Hydrophilic oil is ideal for washing or removing makeup, especially if you are familiar with the problem of skin tightness. It acts extremely gently and leaves behind a feeling of soft, nourished skin.

Which hydrophilic facial oil to choose: Deep cleansing hydrophilic oil from the Royal Formula series

FACIAL

Oils are the perfect addition to any skin care routine. The lighter ones, such as avocado or sunflower oil, are ideal even for those who usually panic at the word “oil”. They are quickly absorbed, non-comedogenic (with moderate use) and perfectly nourish the skin. You can start by adding 1-2 drops of oil to your favorite cream if you feel like your skin needs extra protection. You can also include an oil facial serum in your care. Follow the general rule for applying makeup: lighter textures first, then denser ones.

Which oil-based serum to choose for the face: oil serum from the Royal Formula series

FACIAL OIL

Even if you do not have the opportunity to regularly get out for a massage, you can do it yourself. Firstly, in the process of cleansing the skin and during the application of care products, try to stick to the massage lines and not rush anywhere. This will enhance the effectiveness of cosmetics, help relieve muscle hypertonicity, reduce puffiness and give the face a healthy color. And secondly, the massage itself is useful and pleasant, so at least once a week, set aside 5 minutes for a light self-massage with the help of oils.

COCONUT OIL

Rich in vitamins E and K, has antibacterial properties and perfectly softens and restores the skin. It is better to choose unrefined cold-pressed oil. Use with caution if your skin is prone to comedones and inflammation.

JOJOBA OIL

One of the lightest oils, suitable for all skin types. Its composition is similar to the composition of sebum, so the use of jojoba oil prevents the sebaceous glands from overactive work (the skin “understands” that it has enough of everything). It also works as an antioxidant and protects the skin from premature aging.

OLIVE OIL

Rich in oleic acid esters and vitamins. And its bitter taste is due to the content of oleuropein, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Suitable as an addition to lifting care.

SUNFLOWER OIL

An ideal choice for sensitive skin. Light in texture and rich in vitamin E, sunflower oil is often included in cosmetic creams. In number, it helps to restore the balance of moisture in the skin, relieve it of peeling and soften irritated areas.

SWEET ALMOND OIL

It generously gives the skin the benefit of vitamins and minerals (zinc, potassium, calcium, selenium), omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. It will be an excellent choice if your skin is prone to oiliness.

BLACK CUMIN OIL

A well-known fighter against inflammation and acne. It has a strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. Can be applied topically or mixed with other base oils. Use cumin oil as an express facial mask for inflammation, applying to problem areas for 15 minutes, and then removing residue with a tissue.

Which oils are good for facial skin

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• Essential oils
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By finding out which oils are good for the face, you can prolong youth

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Vegetable oils

Vegetable oils are obtained by cold pressing from the seeds, grains and sprouts of oil plants, fruits, vegetables and nuts. The unique properties of oil elixirs are due to the high content of antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and other micro and macro elements essential for the skin.

The most effective and beneficial oils for facial skin are the following:

• Shea butter. Moisturizes, nourishes and restores dehydrated skin, fights inflammation, premature aging and flaking. Despite the dense texture, the oil does not clog pores, improves complexion, tightens and rejuvenates the skin of any type.
• Grapeseed. One of the best oils for oily and problematic skin. Normalizes fat balance, eliminates inflammation, tightens pores and mattifies the skin. The oil evens out the complexion, increases the elasticity and firmness of the epidermis.
• Almond. Light oil for normal, dry and combination skin, ideal for the eye area. Eliminates wrinkles, nourishes, moisturizes and softens the skin.
• Jojoba. A valuable oil that actively renews the epidermis and slows down aging. Used to treat inflammation and dermatitis, eliminate sagging, dryness and flaking. Suitable for dull, tired, aging and dry skin.
• Rosehip. Light oil with a record content of vitamin C, quickly removes wrinkles, age spots, puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. Suitable for nourishing, moisturizing and restoring dry, normal and combination skin.
• Apricot. One of the “richest” oils, containing many vitamins and minerals. Actively slows down aging, saturates, nourishes and strengthens the skin, quickly improves complexion, eliminates dryness and excessive oiliness. Suitable for all skin types.

Vegetable oils are basic and can be used both as part of various masks and in pure form

Essential oils

When discussing which oils are good for the skin, one cannot fail to mention essential oils obtained from medicinal plants. The most effective remedies include:

• oils for normal skin – orange, vanilla, rosemary, chamomile, sandalwood, neroli;
• oils for dry skin – lavender, carrot, ylang-ylang, sandalwood, jasmine, lemon, geranium;
• oils for oily, combination and problem skin – camphor, rosemary, tea tree, mint, lemon.