Essential Oils and Skin Care: An Overview

Do you suffer from acne or dry skin? Are you looking for an alternative solution to expensive artificial face cleansers or moisturizers?

There are plenty of skin care options on the market and many have unhealthy ingredients which can make skin problems worse.

Aromatherapy essential oils have come to the forefront as an effective and natural health solution for a range of problems, including beauty and skin care. The oils can be used topically so long as they are diluted with carrier oils. Even using them in an aromatherapy oil diffuser can bring many health benefits.

If you’re looking to learn more about how to use aromatherapy oils for skin care, read on for some tips on which oils are best for your skin type.

Essential Oil Tips and Safety

In general, you’ll want to be adding about 10 drops of essential oil for each ounce of carrier oil. You can always add more later if you’re sure it doesn’t cause irritation. And always start by using a small quantity on a small area of skin to ensure that it doesn’t cause irritation.

You’ll also want to use 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils.

The Best Essential Oils for Normal, Combination or Aging Skin

If you have normal skin or occasional problems, if you have normal skin, or if you are starting to see some fine lines or wrinkles, you’ll want to consider using a light base like jojoba oil.

Then, you can mix it with aromatherapy essential oils like lavender, chamomile, frankincense, or grapefruit. A few drops of any of these oils will be both cleansing and balancing. Grapefruit and most of the citrus oils can also brighten dull or patchy skin.

For older skin, consider using a more nourishing oil such as argan oil and mixing it with heavier, grounding types of oils like patchouli and ylang ylang which can both protect and restore your skin.

Using Essential Oils for Dry Skin

For dry skin, you can simply create a DIY moisturizer using shea or coconut oil, then adding a moisturizing, replenishing essential oil. Examples of these include cedarwood, palmarosa, sandalwood, and chamomile.

A moisturizer that works well on normal to dry skin is made with a base of 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil and about 30 drops of your favorite oil or blend. Test your lotion small portions before putting the oil on your entire face.

Essential Oils for Discolored Skin

We all get redness and dark patches from time to time and they can be caused by a number of things, including cold weather, hot weather, food allergies and aging.

You can use aromatherapy essential oils like lavender, frankincense, and citrus oils to tone and brighten the skin. Smooth gently onto affected areas once or twice a day.

If you find that you have tense facial muscles which create wrinkles or lines, consider adding a few drops of your favorite calming oil to a nebulizing aromatherapy diffuser and putting it by your bed at night for an all-night mini-facial!

How Essential Oils Work on Oily and Acne-Prone Skin

It may seem strange to think of putting oil on skin that’s already oily since oil tends to clog pores and cause acne. Aren’t clogged pores something you would like to avoid? Well…clogged pores aren’t really caused by oils.

What can make your skin worse is using products which are drying or can otherwise irritate the skin and create conditions for bacteria to thrive.

These oils are anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, which means they are good picks for oily skin:

• Tea tree
• Clary sage
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Geranium

Add a few of any of these to a hot bath or sink full of hot water for the ultimate pore-cleansing experience. Or, you can create your own home spausing a glass essential oil nebulizer.

The Bottom Line

When choosing an essential oil to add to your skin regime, it may require a bit of touch and go, and what works for you may not work for another. You really can’t go wrong with purchasing aromatherapy essential oils to use for all kinds of health and home care.

Home fragrance diffusers offer a wonderful, healing atmosphere and can be used with any oil. For more information on the benefits of home fragrance diffusers, be sure to check out our website today.