A Guide to the Best Essential Oils for Skin & How to Use Them

New to essential oils? These pure, powerful products offer tons of all-natural health benefits and uses, from stress relief to cleaning tools (plus, they smell amazing). Read on to discover essential oil basics and learn how to use them to elevate your everyday life. 

First, Remind Me...What Are Essential Oils, Exactly?

Essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile (as in easily changed or evaporated at lower temperatures) botanical extracts. When used correctly, they can be highly beneficial for skin care. 

If you’re on the hunt for the best essential oil for glowing skin, looking to soften some fine lines and wrinkles, or (perhaps most importantly) you’d like to learn how to use essential oils for skin care safely, we’ve got you covered.

How to Use Essential Oils for Skin Care

Essential oils are quite potent and should not be applied directly to the skin. Follow these tips to use essential oils for skin care safely:

• Dilute. The purity of the oil is important, but make sure to dilute it properly using a chart or guide to learn how to do this according to your skin type and the size of your dropper.

• Use carrier oils for dilution. Non-volatile natural oils such as jojoba, olive, or coconut oil are commonly used as carriers for essential oils.
• Incorporate a hydrosol. A hydrosol is the pure, condensed water collected during the distillation of essential oils. We recommend using hydrosols as an easy, safe way to reap all the nutrients and skincare benefits of essential oils.

Below you’ll find our short-and-sweet guide to the best essential oils for skin and how to use them.

1. Best Essential Oil for Glowing Skin

Lavender oil. Lavender has many skincare benefits, including increased circulation and oxygenation of skin cells. This promotes cell regeneration, which is what gives skin a youthful, healthy glow. So when it comes to the best essential oil for glowing skin, lavender is #1. 

2. Best Essential Oils for Skin Aging

Rose oil. Vitamins A and C in rose oil help boost collagen production, making rose oil a natural enemy of fine lines and wrinkles. It also works as a great emollient, locking in moisture and nutrients for a more youthful look.

Also try: Lavender oil (again, it's been proved to assist with collagen production!)

3. Best Essential Oil for Acne & Breakouts

Tea Tree Oil. With highly effective antimicrobial properties, tea tree oil works wonders for acne, breakouts, and blemishes. Some studies even show that products containing tea tree oil treat acne more effectively than antibiotics (!).

4. Best Essential Oils for Skin Tightening

Cucumber seed oil. The cooling, calming, and soothing properties of cucumbers make their seed oil the best for skin elasticity and firmness. A pure cucumber hydrosol mist tightens and brightens the skin with its quick-and-easy application of vitamins A and C.

Bonus: It’s also a proven antimicrobial and suitable for all skin types!

Also try: Grape seed oil and Neroli oil

5. Best Essential Oil for Sunburn & Other Irritations

Peppermint oil. The anti-inflammatory properties of peppermint oil help soothe skin irritations and sunburn. It’s also an effective treatment for pruritus, a common condition causing skin to become itchy and irritated.

As always, it’s best to do a quick patch test before diving into any new skincare product. If your skin reacts well, you’ve got hours of exploring essential oil beauty products ahead of you! (You’re welcome.)

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