Want to know the best essential oils for your skin type? Here’s a quick look at which essential oil you can use to improve the feel, texture, and look of your skin.
Natural skincare is as important to me as a healthy diet. And one thing that I have learned is that natural beauty comes from the inside out. You may have seen my post on 6 Tips for Naturally Healthy Skin. Everything that you put in and on your body goes into your bloodstream. The purity of what you put on your skin is as important as the purity of what you eat. Commercial beauty products are notoriously laden with harmful chemicals that easily pass into your blood stream. Yeah, no thanks!
DID YOU KNOW?
- There are over 10,500 chemicals are in your cosmetics. Only 11% have been tested for safety.
- The average adult uses 12 body care products a day and the average teen uses 17.
- There are major loopholes in the United States in federal law that allow the cosmetics industry to put thousands of synthetic chemicals into personal care products even though these chemicals are linked to cancer, infertility or birth defects.
- The incidence of breast cancer has risen dramatically as untested chemicals have been steadily introduced into our environment.
- Chemicals found in our cosmetics, body care, and consumer products can disrupt normal function of our hormone system. This can lead to increased risk for breast cancer, obesity, early puberty for young girls, and reduce fertility in both men and women.
- Parabens have hormone-disrupting qualities and are linked to cancer. One study showed that 99% of breast cancer tissue sample contained this everyday chemical.
ESSENTIAL OILS FOR NATURAL SKINCARE
Essential oils have been used on the skin for centuries for their regenerating and toning properties. They absorb easily into the skin, helping to improve the feel, texture, and look of the skin. And learning to use them in your natural skincare routine can be easy.
Please note that I am only talking about good quality essential oils, not commercial, fragrance or food grade oils. There is a big difference. You do not want to put these other oils on your skin. There currently is no regulatory standards for essential oils and many that are sold are adulterated with synthetic ingredients and may contain harmful chemicals. You can read about my essential oil of choice HERE.
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The essential oils best suited for your skin type
OILY SKIN:
Oily skin is characterized by the overproduction of sebum, creating a greasy feel and shine to the skin. All of these oils are great for oily skin.
- Geranium
- Cypress
- Orange
- Lemon
- Lime
- Bergamot
- Neroli
- Ylang Ylang
SKIN PRONE TO OCCASIONAL BREAKOUTS:
Breakouts are often caused by skin dryness that causes overproduction of the skin’s natural oil. The skin gets clogged with diet and grime, and this can lead to the growth of bacteria. All of these oils are wonderful for maintaining healthy skin. I also recommend frequent steam treatments to remove dirt and grime trapped inside the pores.
- Melaleuca
- Lavender
- Lemon
- Frankincense
DRY SKIN:
Try these oils for dry skin:
- Geranium
- Frankincense
- Myrrh
- Sandalwood
- Cedarwood
- Palmarosa
- Roman Chamomile
AGING SKIN:
Aging skin requires stimulation of cell growth in order to be healthy, smooth, and nourished. These oils are all perfect for maintaining a toned and healthy glow and enhancing the general appearance of skin.
- Frankincense
- Myrrh
- Carrot Seed
- Lavender
- Patchouli
- Rose
- Palmarosa
- Sandalwood
- Neroli
- Cypress
COMBINATION SKIN:
Combination skin tends to be subject to blackheads and dilated pores in the T-zone area while other areas are partly dry and partly oily. Try these oils to support your combination skin.
- Lavender
- Geranuim
- Patchouli
- Bergamot
RED MARKS:
Red marks can be hard to heal. Using these oils consistently may help enhance the appearance of your skin.
- Lavender
- Frankincense
- Carrot Seed
- Helichrysum
HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SKINCARE
Face Oil:
Making a simple face oil with a carrier oil suited for your skin type and essential oils suited for your skin type is the easiest way to incorporate these healing oils into your natural skincare routine. I recommend starting with a 1% ratio – meaning 1 drop of essential oil to 1 tsp of carrier oil. See how your skin responds. You can work your way up to a 5% dilution ration – meaning 5 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil. Be patient. Essential oils are natural substances that will work slowly to heal and nourish your skin.
Note: Citrus oils can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so I recommend using them in the evening time.
My favorite carrier oil for all skin types is jojoba oil. It absorbs easily and does not clog the pores. I also am a big fan of rose hip seed oil, olive oil, and argan oil for drier, more mature skin. You can read my post on 7 Best Carrier Oils for Radiant Skin HERE.
Be sure to check out my recipes for DIY Hydrating Face Oil and Anti-Aging Face Serum.
THESE
Face Masks:
Making simple face masks with essential oils is super easy. My favorite is one tablespoon of raw honey and 1-2 drops of essential oil suited for my skin. Simple apply to face, leave on for 10-15 minutes, and rinse off with warm water. Your skin will feel amazing! You can also check out 5 Easy DIY Face Masks and DIY Cleansing Clay Mask.
Add to Your Current Skincare Products:
You can also just add a drop or two of essential oil suited for your skin type to products that you already use. I know many women who add Frankincense to their favorite skin oil or cream. Melaleuca A. (Tea Tree) can be easily added to your favorite face wash.
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Do you have a favorite essential oil for your skin? Please share in the comments!
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Concerning aging & mature skin…the most effective facial EOs I’ve used are : Frankicense, Violet Leaf, Rose, Geranium, Helichrysum, Neroli, Carrot Seed, Rosewood, Sandlewood, & if on a tight budget Elemi which works close to Frankincense.
I realise Violet Leaf is difficult to find & costly, but I know a seller who makes this oil at a greatly reduced cost & it is as good as EOs get.
Thank you for all your information. PS~I’m curious why Cocnut Oil & Avacado oil aren’t listed for top Cartier facial oils? Ty, Raven
i, there! Thanks for your comment. The reason I did not mention coconut oil is that I have found that it can be a bit heavy for some people. It actually clogs up my pores a bit. And avocado oil is actually on the list. Love it!
Raven, could you please let me know the name of the seller if possible. I used violet leaf oil 10 years ago and my super sensitive redness prone skin had never felt better, it was magic, and I’ve tried them all, Geranium is my other favourite. I’ve looked for Violet leaf since and can’t find it.
Can you kindly give the seller you use for the Violet Leaf EO? Thank you.
Really nice post, Katja. I’ve found that making a hydrosol spray with helichrysum and rose hydrosol combined with a couple drops of lavender and rose EO works wonders for my skin. Great for itchy skin too.
Hi Katja,
I finally ordered my carrier oils and few extra EOs including rose oil. I’m really excited to start experimenting!
My concern is that I don’t know how many drops of EO to add per ounce of carrier oil and in what ratios to each other. My tendency is to over do it! And do you use the same formula in the day and evening? Do you feel the need to add other moisturisers to your skincare routine?
Thank you for the great articles! I can hardly wait to try my new skin care routine!
Hi, Amalia! I use two different formulas on my face. I use the Hydrating Face oil during the day >>>>> https://www.savorylotus.com/diy-hydrating-face-oil/ AND the Anti-Aging Serum at night >>>>>>https://www.savorylotus.com/diy-anti-aging-face-serum/
As far as ratios go, I always recommend starting small – to see how your skin will react. You could start with 6 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. I usually stick to around 6-12 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. Hope that helps. Would love to hear how it goes. 🙂
Hi Katja,
When mixing oils, how much of each do you recommend using and how many is too many? Thanks for your help 🙂
Michelle
There are no rules. You just have to experiment to see what you like. I have 2 recipes to show what I do:
https://www.savorylotus.com/diy-hydrating-face-oil/
https://www.savorylotus.com/diy-anti-aging-face-serum/
Hello. I was reading your blog regarding which essential oils oils to use with specific skin types. I noticed that you recommend some citrus oils. I too make and sell bath and body products and it is wonderful to help educate people on the dangers of the ingredients in commercial products.
That being said as advocates of natural beauty products we also have a responsibility to correctly inform the public. I noticed that you have recommended citrust oils to add to facial creams. Please make note for future posts that essential oils from citrus can photo sensitization the skin. In other words to can be a toxic to the skin when exposed to the sun and can cause serious skin reactions. Just adding my two cents!!
Hi, Terry!
Yes, citrus oils can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Thank you for the kind reminder. I do address that in my 10 Day Free E-Course. And my E-Book on natural skincare. I will add a note here as well. Good to know for folks just getting started with essential oils. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
This is wonderful! I absolutely love the information you’ve provided, I’ve totally gained a new perspective on essential oils. I am a lover of holistic remedies but I’ve never educated myself on essential oils. I am also a minimalist which makes me a weird mut. I blog about my experiences and I’d love to reference back to your blog! If you wouldn’t mind taking a gander at my website http://www.beingbolens.com and see if I can add to the goodness you’re already sharing!
Thank you!
Found your site while doing some research on essential oils for dry skin. Wow, a world of information here on your site! I’m just learning more about essential oils, and loving more and more of what I learn. I’m a big holistic believer, with natural alternatives. Thanks for sharing this great info. I also have a blog, I’ll be writing some on essential oils and will be sure to link back to this site!! Keep up the great work.
My favorite oils are Grapeseed, Olive Oil, and Hempseed Oil for acne prone skin. Tea Tree is great to use in a face wash, such as Raw Honey, Oatmeal or mixed with Apple Cider Vinegar as a toner. Can also be used in a mask like Turmeric and/or Red Sandalwood. I’ve read great reviews on Pumpkin Seed Oil, which is never mentioned as using on your skin. It’s great for acne prone skin. Anybody know more about Pumpkin Seed? I’m going to give it a try.
What would you recommend as a facial cleansing blend Katia ?
Hi, Mo! I don’t use essential oils to cleanse my face. Can you be more specific about what you are looking for? A cleansing cream?
Would you please give a recommendation of the brands you use and where to purchase. I’m interested in the carrier oils and essential oils for dry and aging skin.
Thanks,
Michelle
Hi, Michelle-
I use Young Living essential oils. You can become a wholesale member and save 24% here —->
https://www.youngliving.com/vo/#/signup/start?isoCountryCode=US&sponsorid=2027458&enrollerid=2027458&type=member&isoLanguageCode=EN
And you can read about the carrier oils I use here—> https://www.savorylotus.com/7-best-carrier-oils-for-radiant-skin/
Hope that helps. 🙂
Hi! I’ve been looking for a product to put on an itchy burn scar and have been extremely underwhelmed with the “unnatural” products on the market. I have just started looking into essential oils and have read great things about broccoli seed oil. What do you think of that oil for healing and moisturizing? What carrier oil would you use, and/or what other oil would you add and in what concentration(s)? Many questions and much appreciation for your help!
I don’t have any experience with broccoli seed oil, so I cannot comment on it. Here’s some info I found online about scars:
https://www.healthline.com/health/essential-oils-for-scars
I don’t see much difference between your two recipes. They are basically the same thing. Can you explain using both?
Which recipes are you talking about? 🙂
hi, I wonder why you didn’t mention about sweet almond oil?
I think it good for dry skin, I’m looking for the information which oil better to mix with almond oil
Yes, some people use almond oil. I don’t have much experience with it, so I can’t really comment. You will just have to experiment to see what combo works best for your skin. 🙂
Hi, after applying your hydrating face oil do you apply some sort of sunscreen?
Sometimes, if I will be spending time outside. My sunscreen of choice is Beautycounter —-> YOou can check it out HERE
I see your recommendation for EO. Do you have a recommendation for bulk carrier oil brand? One that’s good quality?
I don’t. I wish I did. 🙂
What oil do you recommend for the body? I have aging dry skin.
I use shea butter on my body. It works great for dry, aging skin.