How to Use Essential Oils in Your Skin Care Routine

If you’re looking to replace synthetic ingredients in your skin care routine essential oils could be the answer. They’ve been used for centuries across different cultures for their healing and beautifying properties.

They can help with everything from reducing inflammation and fighting acne to improving hydration and skin elasticity. By incorporating essential oils into your skincare routine, you can tap into nature’s power for healthier, more radiant skin.

Finding the Right Essential Oils for Your Skin Type

So which oils should you be using? Note: always perform a patch test before using any new essential oil to ensure you don’t have a reaction.

Dry or Dehydrated Skin

If your skin feels tight or flaky, look for these essential oils:

Rosehip oil: Packed with vitamins C and E plus essential fatty acids, rosehip oil is excellent for deep hydration.
Argan oil: This luxurious oil is rich in antioxidants and vitamin E, making it perfect for restoring moisture balance.
Frankincense oil: Renowned for its anti-aging properties, frankincense oil can improve elasticity while reducing fine lines.

Oily or Acne-Prone Skin

If you have excess oil or breakouts, these options are great:

Tea tree oil: Known for its powerful antibacterial properties, tea tree oil can help reduce acne.
Lemon oil: This bright citrus oil helps regulate oil production and gives your complexion a refreshing lift.
Geranium oil: It works to balance sebum production while soothing any redness or irritation.

Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin that reacts easily, try these gentler oils:

Chamomile oil: With calming properties, chamomile oil can soothe irritated skin effectively. (Be aware that if you’re allergic to ragweed, you can also be allergic to chamomile. Do a test patch before using.)
Lavender oil: Its mild scent and nourishing qualities make lavender a great choice for sensitive skin types.
Helichrysum oil: Rich in antioxidants, this oil promotes healing while reducing inflammation.

Mature or Aging Skin

If you want to combat signs of aging, consider these oils:

Carrot seed oil: High in vitamins A and E, it helps improve elasticity and reduces fine lines.
Neroli oil: Known for its ability to enhance skin tone and texture while providing uplifting aromatherapy.
Sandalwood oil: This earthy oil nourishes the skin while imparting a soothing scent.

Ways to Use Essential Oils in Your Skincare Routine

These oils are powerful! Believe it or not, you want your essential oils to make up no more than 1.5% of any skin care application you use daily. Just a drop or two to an eight ounce container is often enough.

If you want to apply them directly on skin, remember to always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil first. Start small and increase the amount as your skin gets used to it.

1. Facial Oils and Serums

Mix a drop or two of your chosen essential oil with a carrier oil””like jojoba or rosehip””and apply it to your face. This blend can deeply nourish your skin while enhancing its glow.

2. Facial Mists and Toners

Create a refreshing facial mist by combining purified water with a few drops of essential oils like lavender or rose. Mist this blend over your face throughout the day for hydration and balance.

3. Cleansers and Exfoliants

Enhance your regular face wash by adding a couple of drops of tea tree or lemon oil. You can also mix essential oils into a gentle exfoliating scrub for added benefits.

4. Moisturizers and Creams

You can mix essential oils directly into your moisturizer or create your own face cream at home. This boosts hydration while addressing specific skin concerns like dryness or aging.

5. Bath and Body Products

Essential oils are perfect for bath time! Add a few drops of relaxing lavender or invigorating peppermint oil to your bathwater to create a soothing atmosphere. You can also put them into homemade body lotions or scrubs.

Safety Considerations

These oils are pretty safe, but using too much or using one that doesn’t agree with your skin can lead to some unpleasant reactions. Be aware of the following safety tips!

Patch Test First

Always perform a patch test before using any new essential oil. Apply a diluted drop on a small area of your arm or behind your ear and wait 24-48 hours to check for any adverse reactions.

Dilution is Key

Essential oils should always be diluted before applying them to the skin. A concentration of 1-2% is generally safe””this means mixing about one drop of essential oil with a teaspoon of carrier oil.

Watch Out for Photosensitivity

Some oils, especially citrus ones like lemon, can increase sensitivity to sunlight. If you use these oils, make sure to wear sunscreen when you’re heading out into the sun.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, consult with a healthcare professional before using any essential oils, as some may not be suitable during these times.

Existing Skin Conditions

If you have any pre-existing skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis, consult with a dermatologist before using essential oils in your skincare routine.

Proper Storage

Store essential oils in a cool, dark place away from children and pets. Always wash your hands after handling them to avoid getting any in sensitive areas like your eyes.

By following these safety guidelines, you can reap the benefits of essential oils while keeping your skin healthy and happy.

My Personal Experience

I’ve had dry skin for most of my life, so I’ve tried a lot of oils over the years, with good results.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is one of the safest oils to use anywhere on your body, if you’re concerned about breakouts. It’s chemically very similar to sebum, the oil our skin produces, so the body tends to accept it without reacting badly.

There are so many uses for jojoba, ranging from cleaning off eye makeup to conditioning your hair. It actually cleans pores, so no worries about clogging.

But it’s a powerful, highly penetrative moisturizer, too. Over the years I’ve used a lot of products with jojoba over the years and always had good results. I’ve also mixed it directly into products and that works well, too.

Sesame Oil

I’ve used food grade sesame oil in place of moisturizer before – all over my face and body. It’s naturally antioxidant, anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiviral. Because of how it’s processed, you don’t need to mix it with a carrier oil.

You’ll also find it as the main ingredient in most commercially sold body oils (like Neutrogena’s Body Oil). It’s a lightweight oil that absorbs quickly, doesn’t clog pores, etc.

Note: it’s usually much cheaper to buy sesame oil marketed for cooking rather than skin care, and it’s exactly the same stuff. If it’s safe to eat, it’s definitely safe to put on your skin.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is drying. You should never use it undiluted. If you dilute it on a 1:1 ratio of oil to water, it can be a great spot treatment for acne and ingrown hairs.

But don’t use it at that strength for many days in a row, or on large areas of skin. I have combination skin and have found tea tree oil drying, no matter how I dilute it, but many people with oily skin find it invaluable.

Try adding just a few drops of it into a bottle of lotion.

Lavender Oil

Now, lavender oil is what I use to dry up pimples. It’s drying but soothing and healing, all at the same time. You can dab lavender right onto a spot and it will not only dry up but heal rapidly and leave less scarring.

I recommend this one if you have dry or combination skin with occasional pimples, but it can also be good for oily or acne-prone skin if you mix it into lotions.

Chamomile Oil

Chamomile oil is a skin soother. It speeds healing time and softens the skin. For sensitive or stressed skin, chamomile renews tired cells.

But I’m allergic to ragweed, so chamomile gave me a mild rash over time, and I don’t use it anymore.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is extremely deep-down moisturizing. For skin, you want a cheap extra virgin olive oil.

It’s an intense moisturizer. A dermatologist recommended adding it to bathwater and soaking every day for a couple of weeks. But no more, of you start getting pimples.

I have dry skin, but I can’t use olive oil more than a couple of times a week without breaking out in pimples. I like using soaps that include it, making them more gentle yet still cleansing, like Kiss My Face’s Olive Oil Soap.

Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil has a high concentration of Omega 3 oils. Once again, you want to buy the food version, not the skin care version to save money. It soothes inflammation and has healing properties.

It helps prevent the clogging of pores. It’s a good moisturizer, but it stands out even more on problem skin – eczema, psoriasis or other inflammatory conditions.