How to Use Essential Oils for Skincare
First things first, how do you add essential oils into your skincare routine? The secret is...carrier oil! Essential oils are extremely potent and shouldn’t be applied directly to your skin, let alone your face since the skin on your face is thinner. Instead, essential oils should be mixed with what is called a carrier oil. This is how the real magic happens!
Best Carrier Oils for Skincare Benefits
A carrier oil is just another fancy term for any oil you mix essential oils with to put on your skin. The carrier oil works as a carrier for essential oils. By diluting the essential oil in a carrier oil, you ensure that it's not too harsh on your skin once applied.
Although there are many carriers and oils you could use on your skin, some are better than others for use on facial skin. This is because some carrier oils are more comedogenic (clog the pores more) than others. Below are some of the best carrier oils for facial skincare that are non-comedogenic, each of which also have their own skincare benefits:
Jojoba oil
Great for oily skin, balances sebum production and has a pH value that’s very close to your own skin’s pH.
Blueberry seed oil
A soothing oil with the added benefit of being rich in omegas and antioxidants.
Grapeseed oil
Moisturising and good for acne and oily skin.
Olive oil
A light oil that has been used for its skin benefits for thousands of years (think ancient Greece).
To use essential oils on your face, simply mix one drop of your favourite essential oil with one tablespoon of carrier oil. You can use one carrier oil, or even mix a few of your favourites. All carrier oils have different characteristics and benefits, so choose one that suits your skin type. Once you’ve tried this dilution ratio at least once with good results, you can always try increasing the amount of essential oil or carrier oil based on your needs and preferences.
💡 Tip! Before using essential oils on your face make sure to do a patch test. Put a little bit of your diluted essential oil on your jawline for a patch test. If you notice a reaction, add more carrier oil to dilute the essential oil even further.
Tea Tree Oil to Reduce Acne
When it comes to skin benefits, tea tree oil is the star of the show! Tea tree is one of the most powerful essential oils and is best known for its incredible ability to combat acne.
Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties and has been shown to suppress skin inflammation. Skin inflammation can lead to redness, sensitive skin, and uneven skin. Just like you don’t want inflammation in your body, you don’t want inflammation in your skin.
Research suggests that this is the reason why tea tree oil is so effective in reducing acne. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, the control group that applied a diluted tea tree oil gel saw a reduction in whiteheads, blackheads, bumps, and pimples. Now that's impressive! Tea tree oil has been proven to be a safe, effective and natural alternative to harsh over-the-counter acne treatments.
Tea tree oil is one of the best essential oils for skin problems such as acne, blackheads, and inflammation. But since it’s also one of the most powerful oils, remember that a little goes a long way!
Tea Tree Essential Oil for Acne
Tea tree essential oil blends well with jojoba oil, and together they work amazingly to reduce acne. Jojoba oil is non-comedogenic, meaning that it moisturises without clogging pores, and it’s the best oil for acne-prone or unbalanced skin.
Face Oil for Acne
0.5% strength
- 12 drops of tea tree oil
- 120 ml jojoba oil
Lavender Oil to Soothe Skin
Just like tea tree oil, lavender essential oil is naturally antibacterial, meaning that it can help to prevent breakouts and skin inflammation. Lavender might be best known for its calming and relaxing scent (and yes, it works perfectly to create that spa feeling in your home), but the calming benefits of lavender also work on our skin! There are so many reasons to use lavender oil for skin benefits:
- Combats ageing by protecting your skin against free radicals. Lavender is a powerful antioxidant and can help prevent signs of ageing by protecting your skin against environmental factors.
- Soothes and calms the skin. The antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties of lavender oil can help reduce skin inflammation.
- Prevents acne thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. By reducing inflammation and bacteria, lavender oil may help in reducing and preventing acne.
- May help prevent bacterial and fungal disorders of the skin. Some studies show that lavender has antifungal properties.
💡 Tip! Put a few drops of lavender in your diffuser and a few drops in a carrier oil to use on your skin, and get ready to experience complete relaxation!
Lavender Essential Oil to Soothe Irritated Skin
Mix lavender essential oil and blueberry seed oil for a calming and hydrating face oil.
Face Oil to Soothe Skin
1% strength (low)
- 24 drops of lavender oil
- 120 ml blueberry seed oil
Eucalyptus Oil to Balance Skin
One of my favourite ways to use Eucalyptus oil is by adding a few drops in the corner of my shower, and then taking a steamy hot shower to soak up the benefits! Eucalyptus is a potent essential oil with many benefits.
But Eucalyptus essential oil also has many benefits for your skin! If you experience dry patches or dry skin, adding Eucalyptus oil to your skincare routine might be the solution to your problem.
Eucalyptus has been found to boost skin ceramide production, and ceramides are important for retaining moisture and protecting your skin. This is why Eucalyptus oil has so many benefits for your skin. Ceramides are a type of fatty acid in your skin that works to retain moisture and create skin barrier protection. Increasing ceramide production will help calm and moisturise your skin, making
Eucalyptus one of the best essential oils for glowing skin!
Eucalyptus essential oil is great for both dry and oily skin since it can balance the moisture levels in your skin. If your skin is dry, Eucalyptus will help by improving your skin’s ability to retain moisture. If you suffer from oily skin, Eucalyptus can help balance the production of sebum and keep your skin hydrated, and not oily!
Eucalyptus Essential Oil for Balancing Skin
Balance your skin with this blend of Eucalyptus essential oil and jojoba oil. It’s refreshing, cleansing, and soothing!
Face Oil for All Skin Types
0.5% strength
- 12 drops of Eucalyptus oil
- 120 ml jojoba oil
Frankincense to Heal Your Skin
Frankincense is quite different from most essential oils because it’s made from the resin of a tree - namely, the Boswellia tree that grows in the mountains of India, Africa, and the Middle East.
The smell of frankincense can be described as woody or spicy, and its aroma has been used in spiritual ceremonies for thousands of years. Used by the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and Israelites and still used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, frankincense comes from a long tradition of healing.
Make your skincare routine more meditative, calming, and present by adding a few drops of frankincense essential oil to your favourite carrier oil. Using frankincense for skin benefits can help calm your skin and even out your skin tone. Frankincense essential oil is anti-inflammatory meaning that it’s great for treating issues like acne, skin inflammation, or uneven skin.
Remember that health and beauty start from within, and sometimes a few moments of relaxation might be the best thing you can do for your skin.
💡 Tip! Try meditating whilst diffusing frankincense essential oil for a spiritual and calming experience.
Frankincense Essential Oil Blend
Frankincense blends well with jojoba oil. This blend can help restore your skin after sun damage, add moisture and reduce hyperpigmentation. Use this face oil in the evening to help restore and replenish your skin.
Face Oil for Ageing Skin
1% strength
- 24 drops of frankincense oil
- 120 ml jojoba oil
Ylang Ylang for Glowing Skin
Luxurious and absolutely fantastic, ylang ylang essential oil has so many benefits for skin health. It’s used in many perfumes and skincare products for its health benefits and aroma. Try combining aromatherapy and skincare for a rejuvenating experience.
The reason ylang ylang essential oil has so many benefits for skin is because of its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Ylang ylang essential oil is becoming increasingly popular with more and more people being aware of its benefits.
💡 Tip! Mix a few drops of ylang ylang essential oil with plum oil and give yourself a luxurious face massage. Breathe in the light and flowery smell of the ylang ylang whilst you lightly massage your skin. You can even use a gua sha tool for that spa feel!
Best Essential Oil for Glowing Skin
Mix two of the most potent and luxurious oils for an oil blend that will make your skin glow! Plum oil has some of the most amazing skin benefits, and it’s known for its ability to protect your skin against oxidative stress, boost cellular repair and increase collagen production. Ylang ylang essential oil blends well with plum oil, and together they create a smooth and restoring face oil!
Face Oil for Glowing Skin
2% ratio
- 48 drops of ylang ylang
- 120 ml plum oil
How to Choose Essential Oils for Your Skin
When choosing what essential oils to use on your skin, it’s really important to choose a brand that sources the purest essential oils. Why? Because when using essential oils on your skin, you want to make sure that they have no harmful additives or toxins.
Always choose organic and natural essential oils, and make sure they have no additives. The same goes for choosing the best carrier oils. Choose a 100% natural oil to mix with your essential oils.
Essential Oils for Skincare
Essential oils have so many benefits, making them the perfect addition to your beauty routine. And yes, essential oils can be used on your face! Whether you are looking to treat acne and reduce inflammation, or rehydrate and add moisture to dull, dry skin, there is an essential oil for you! Just treat essential oils with the respect they deserve, and remember that a little goes a long way. Ready to revamp your facial skincare?
