Here are some of the best essential oils for skin to use in your DIY beauty and skin care recipes.
With so many essential oils available, it's not really practical to own all of them. I use oils for my job, and I still only own about 30 different oils.
Each oil has its own unique properties. Some are better suited for different types of skin or for different skin needs. Some oils work with with two or more types of skin.
Since you probably don't a lot of oils in your stash, learn which are the best essential oils for skin so you can pick the right oils for your skin care needs.
If you're trying to follow one of my DIY beauty recipes or one from another blog, you can generally substitute these oils for the oils listed with good results.
I could devote an entire 1,000+ word blog post to the skin benefits of each of these essential oils, but I'm going to keep it fairly short and sweet for a quick reference.
Most essential oils need to be diluted with a carrier oil before you use them. Applying them directly to the skin can cause irritation and sensitization, so I always recommend using a carrier oil. You can learn more about sensitization from Aroma Web.
If you're applying essential oils to your skin you should dilute them with a carrier oil before you apply them. Generally, you should dilute 1 percent for the face and 2 percent for the body.
(I don't offer any advice on using essential oils for children, so these are recommended amounts for adults 18+)
If you're mixing a small amount of essential oils, use the following dilutions:
Lavender essential oil
is generally well tolerated by all skin types, so it's often included in DIY beauty recipes for the skin.
Use it in recipes for acne-prone skin because it's naturally antibacterial, so it can kill the bacteria that causes acne. It also moisturizes the skin without making it oily, which can contribute to more acne.
Lavender can help keep your skin's moisture barrier balanced so your skin doesn't get too dry or too oily.
It's anti-inflammatory properties make it a good choice for promoting healing, but don't use it on open skin.
As if that's not enough benefits, lavender is also high in anti-oxidants to fight the effects of free radicals.
Frankincense essential oil
is another popular oil to use in DIY skin care recipes. It's naturally antiseptic, so it can help treat and prevent acne.
It can also help improve tone and lift the skin, so it's a good choice to use for anti-aging properties.
Frankincense is also said to help fade scars and blemishes, so it's a good oil to use if you have acne prone skin to prevent blemishes.
Clary sage essential oil
is often used to balance oil production, so it's good for both oily and dry skin. It also acts like a natural astringent to tone your skin.
Geranium essential oil
is often used in skin care products for dry skin or for aging skin. It's said to tighten facial skin, so it's a great oil to use in anti-aging products.
It's also naturally antibacterial and an antifungal, so it is a great essential oil for acne-prone skin because it can treat and prevent acne and other blemishes.
Use ylang ylang essential oil
for acne prone skin because it's antimicrobial to kill germs that can cause acne. It's also a natural anti-inflammatory, so it can reduce the appearance of blemishes.
Tea tree oil essential oil
is one of my favorite essential oils for acne prone skin because it's antifungal and antibacterial. It can help clear acne blemishes and prevent new ones from forming.
I usually mix it with another essential oil because it has a strong medicinal smell.
Lemongrass essential oil
has astringent like properties, so it can be used to tone the skin and clear out large pores. It can also help make skin look fresher.
I use chamomile essential oil
fairly often. It's naturally antibacterial and a anti-inflammatory, so I use it for both my face and body.
Even though it's generally used on sensitive skin, it's also a good essential oil for acne because it's antibacterial.
I use it a lot in DIY beauty recipes for dry skin or eczema because it's fairly gentle.
Chamomile can treat a variety of skin conditions which include: cracked, acneic, eczema, inflammation, sensitive skin and rosacea.
Carrot seed oil
is great for aging skin. It boosts cellular turnover, so it can help tone skin and fade scars.
It's also high in antioxidants to help prevent damage from free radicals. Over time, this can have anti-aging effects for your skin.
Myrrh essential oil
is also great for mature skin. It's a natural anti-inflammatory. It also helps boost skin elasticity, firm the skin, and reduce the signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.
Myrrh is also a great essential oil for eczema and for sun damaged skin.
Neroli essential oil
isn't a popular oil, but it's wonderful for your skin. It's often used for sensitive, oily, or aging skin. It can help tone the skin to reduce the signs of aging. It also helps boost cellular turnover.
It's naturally antiseptic and can help balance oil production. It can help reduce the appearance of pores without over drying your skin.
Patchouli essential oil
is also good for mature skin. It can reduce the signs of aging and boosts cellular turnover. It's antibacterial and antifungal to help prevent acne.
It's a great oil for eczema or psoriasis since it boosts cellular turnover and has antiseptic properties.
Rose essential oil
is great for dry or mature skin. It is said to promote healing because it's anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. It's said to tone the skin and improve skin texture.
Lemon essential oil
isn't used very often for the skin, but it's a good oil to mix with other oils. It's a natural antiseptic. It's also hydrating the nourishing for damaged skin. It can also help reduce damage from free radicals because it's an antioxidant.
Lemon is often used for oily skin and acne prone skin. It's also good for mature skin because it helps reduce the signs of aging.
Now that you know the best essential oils for skin, you can use the best essential oil for your skin type in DIY skin care recipes.
Here are some DIY recipes that use essential oils to help you get started:
With so many essential oils available, it's not really practical to own all of them. I use oils for my job, and I still only own about 30 different oils.
Each oil has its own unique properties. Some are better suited for different types of skin or for different skin needs. Some oils work with with two or more types of skin.
If you're trying to follow one of my DIY beauty recipes or one from another blog, you can generally substitute these oils for the oils listed with good results.
THE BEST ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SKIN
I could devote an entire 1,000+ word blog post to the skin benefits of each of these essential oils, but I'm going to keep it fairly short and sweet for a quick reference.
HOW TO DILUTE ESSENTIAL OILS
Most essential oils need to be diluted with a carrier oil before you use them. Applying them directly to the skin can cause irritation and sensitization, so I always recommend using a carrier oil. You can learn more about sensitization from Aroma Web.
If you're applying essential oils to your skin you should dilute them with a carrier oil before you apply them. Generally, you should dilute 1 percent for the face and 2 percent for the body.
(I don't offer any advice on using essential oils for children, so these are recommended amounts for adults 18+)
- For facial skin at 1 percent, use 3 drops of essential oils per 2 teaspoons of carrier oil.
- For the rest of your body at 2 percent, use 6 drops of essential oils per 2 teaspoons of carrier oils.
You can mix essential oils to create the 3 or 6 drops. I often combine carrot seed oil with other oils and use chamomile and lavender together. Most essential oils will mix well together.
Before you use an essential oil on your body for the first time, do a patch test to see how well your skin tolerates it. Dilute the oil with a carrier oil and put 1-2 drops of the diluted oil on the inside of your arm. Keep an eye on it for 24 hours and note any reaction. If you have a reaction, do not use the essential oil.
WHICH CARRIER OIL SHOULD YOU USE?
Well, that depends. I go into the details of several carrier oils and their benefits in another post. I also have a book available with more than 40 carrier oils and their benefits for hair and skin.
My favorite all purpose carrier oils are fractionated coconut oil
and sweet almond oil
. Both are fairly light oils that are inexpensive to use to dilute your essential oils with.
and sweet almond oil. Both are fairly light oils that are inexpensive to use to dilute your essential oils with. LAVENDER
Lavender essential oil
is generally well tolerated by all skin types, so it's often included in DIY beauty recipes for the skin.Use it in recipes for acne-prone skin because it's naturally antibacterial, so it can kill the bacteria that causes acne. It also moisturizes the skin without making it oily, which can contribute to more acne.
It's anti-inflammatory properties make it a good choice for promoting healing, but don't use it on open skin.
As if that's not enough benefits, lavender is also high in anti-oxidants to fight the effects of free radicals.
FRANKINCENSE
Frankincense essential oil
is another popular oil to use in DIY skin care recipes. It's naturally antiseptic, so it can help treat and prevent acne.It can also help improve tone and lift the skin, so it's a good choice to use for anti-aging properties.
Frankincense is also said to help fade scars and blemishes, so it's a good oil to use if you have acne prone skin to prevent blemishes.
CLARY SAGE
Clary sage essential oil
is often used to balance oil production, so it's good for both oily and dry skin. It also acts like a natural astringent to tone your skin.GERANIUM
Geranium essential oil
is often used in skin care products for dry skin or for aging skin. It's said to tighten facial skin, so it's a great oil to use in anti-aging products.It's also naturally antibacterial and an antifungal, so it is a great essential oil for acne-prone skin because it can treat and prevent acne and other blemishes.
YLANG YLANG
Use ylang ylang essential oil
for acne prone skin because it's antimicrobial to kill germs that can cause acne. It's also a natural anti-inflammatory, so it can reduce the appearance of blemishes.TEA TREE OIL
Tea tree oil essential oil
is one of my favorite essential oils for acne prone skin because it's antifungal and antibacterial. It can help clear acne blemishes and prevent new ones from forming.I usually mix it with another essential oil because it has a strong medicinal smell.
LEMONGRASS
Lemongrass essential oil
has astringent like properties, so it can be used to tone the skin and clear out large pores. It can also help make skin look fresher.CHAMOMILE
fairly often. It's naturally antibacterial and a anti-inflammatory, so I use it for both my face and body.Even though it's generally used on sensitive skin, it's also a good essential oil for acne because it's antibacterial.
I use it a lot in DIY beauty recipes for dry skin or eczema because it's fairly gentle.
Chamomile can treat a variety of skin conditions which include: cracked, acneic, eczema, inflammation, sensitive skin and rosacea.
CARROT SEED OIL
Carrot seed oil
is great for aging skin. It boosts cellular turnover, so it can help tone skin and fade scars.It's also high in antioxidants to help prevent damage from free radicals. Over time, this can have anti-aging effects for your skin.
MYRRH
Myrrh essential oil
is also great for mature skin. It's a natural anti-inflammatory. It also helps boost skin elasticity, firm the skin, and reduce the signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles.Myrrh is also a great essential oil for eczema and for sun damaged skin.
NEROLI
Neroli essential oil
isn't a popular oil, but it's wonderful for your skin. It's often used for sensitive, oily, or aging skin. It can help tone the skin to reduce the signs of aging. It also helps boost cellular turnover.It's naturally antiseptic and can help balance oil production. It can help reduce the appearance of pores without over drying your skin.
PATCHOULI
Patchouli essential oil
is also good for mature skin. It can reduce the signs of aging and boosts cellular turnover. It's antibacterial and antifungal to help prevent acne.It's a great oil for eczema or psoriasis since it boosts cellular turnover and has antiseptic properties.
ROSE
Rose essential oil
is great for dry or mature skin. It is said to promote healing because it's anti-inflammatory and antiseptic. It's said to tone the skin and improve skin texture.LEMON
Lemon essential oil
isn't used very often for the skin, but it's a good oil to mix with other oils. It's a natural antiseptic. It's also hydrating the nourishing for damaged skin. It can also help reduce damage from free radicals because it's an antioxidant.Lemon is often used for oily skin and acne prone skin. It's also good for mature skin because it helps reduce the signs of aging.
DIY SKIN CARE RECIPES USING ESSENTIAL OILS
Now that you know the best essential oils for skin, you can use the best essential oil for your skin type in DIY skin care recipes.
- Bath Melt Recipe With Essential Oils
- Liquid Hand Soap Recipe
- Strawberry and Clay Face Mask
- Anti-Aging Serum
- Essential Oil Serum Recipe
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