The Complete Guide to Using Essential Oils for Gorgeous Skin

For centuries, people have been using essential oils to maintain health and treat various ailments and conditions. These botanical extracts can be used in a variety of ways, but because they’re so concentrated and powerful, they’ll always need to be diluted in a carrier oil or a butter like shea or cocoa butter.

As an esthetician, I’ve spent a lot of time researching the most beneficial essential oils for skin, and these are the ones I use most with my clients.

The Best Essential Oils for Your Skin Type

These are my favorite oils for every type of skin, along with recipes to use them in your own homemade beauty products.

Keep in mind that the topical application of anything has the potential to cause an allergic reaction. Essential oils should always be used with a carrier oil or in a dilution blend to avoid a skin reaction. You should do a patch test with any oil blend before applying it to a larger area of skin.

And while it is rare, if you develop any adverse reaction, such as a rash, itching, or burning at the site of application, discontinue the oil and bring this to the attention of your doctor.

For All Skin Types and Sensitive Skin

Essential oils: geranium, helichrysum, lavender, neroli, Roman chamomile, rose

Carrier oils: jojoba, sunflower seed

1. Geranium

Geranium is a versatile oil that balances oil production, conditions skin, and works well for all skin types. This essential oil (EO) can be added to moisturizers to help with the over- and underproduction of oils from the skin.

Geranium has antibacterial properties [source] and a delightful floral aroma with hints of rose in it. Not only can it boost the oil-balancing effects of any moisturizer, but it can also boost your mood at the same time!

Recipe to try: Add geranium EO to mineral water for a moisturizing face mist.

2. Helichrysum

A tiny bottle of honey-scented helichrysum is an investment. The nicknames for this healing oil are “everlasting” and “immortelle,” which are perfect because helichrysum is an anti-inflammatory with abundant antioxidant effects for restoring the skin [source].

Recipe to try: Add helichrysum to a calendula-infused oil and apply to bruises, scars, burns, or eczema. It also makes a great addition to homemade face oil.

3. Lavender

This essential oil helps heal skin irritations, and because it is so versatile, it can be used for all skin types. It can cleanse cuts, scrapes, burns, and irritations and can also calm super stressed skin.  

It’s considered beneficial for acne [source] and redness and is often used in DIY body products. It can be especially helpful for sensitive or problem skin but can be used for any skin type, including mature skin.

Recipe to try: Soothe and cool skin with a lavender lemonade body spray.

4. Neroli

Neroli is a wonderful essential oil used to treat devitalized, mature, aging, and sensitive skin types. Due to its regenerative properties, you can also use neroli as a skin toner to tighten aging skin.

It has antibacterial properties [source] and is considered useful for acne, scarring, and stretch marks. As you can see, it would be a fantastic addition to your natural skincare routine.

Recipe to try: Make an anti-stretch mark oil with avocado oil and neroli EO.

5. Roman chamomile

Chamomile can treat a variety of skin conditions, including cracked skin, burns, acne, eczema, inflammation, sensitive skin, and rosacea—just to name a few. It’s naturally anti-inflammatory [source] and calming [source], making it a great choice for sensitive and allergic skin.

Recipe to try: Relax in a bath with this calming bath oil that won’t irritate your skin.

6. Rose

Intensely hydrating and naturally anti-inflammatory, rose oil plumps and moisturizes your skin without any chemical side effects. Rose essential oil can be used as a natural substitute for hyaluronic acid, a common ingredient in anti-aging beauty products. An added bonus is that it is also known to elevate your mood [source].

Recipe to try: The hydrating effects of rose oil will plump up pesky lines around your eyes and mouth, so add it to your custom facial oil or make a serum with rosehip oil.

For Oily or Acne-Prone Skin

Essential oils: basil, cedarwood, clary sage, cypress, geranium, grapefruit, juniper, lemon, tea tree

Carrier oil: tamanu oil, apricot kernel, grapeseed

7. Basil

Basil contains anti-inflammatory properties that make it a great option for many inflammatory issues. It is wonderful for soothing insect bites and irritation and is ideal for sensitive skin when properly diluted. It’s also great for overworked muscles, and its sedative effects [source] may even help headaches and migraines. Please note that basil should be avoided if pregnant.  

Recipe to try: Add a couple of drops to a carrier oil, and apply directly to an insect bite or sting. If you are feeling sore from a tough workout, add a few drops into a massage oil to massage tired muscles.

8. Cedarwood

Cedarwood has the highest level of the anti-inflammatory substance known as sesquiterpene, of any essential oil, according to the book Essential Oils. That's why it works so well on inflamed and acne-prone skin. Cedarwood is also an effective toner on oily skin and hair.

Recipe to try: This calming bath oil doubles as a skin-soothing body oil. Cedarwood oil's anti-itch and anti-inflammatory properties are especially helpful in this homemade eczema balm.

9. Citrus

Citrus oils like lemon and grapefruit are natural astringents that work to cleanse oil-prone skin while toning and tightening. Their antiseptic properties [source] also help protect against acne-causing bacteria. Grapefruit oil is especially helpful in breaking down cellulite.

Recipe to try: Add a couple of drops of lemon to a foaming face wash, or use grapefruit in a cellulite body oil. And this lavender lemonade body spray is the perfect pick-me-up on a hot day.

10. Cypress

Cypress oil can not only help repair capillary vein damage often found around the nose area, but it also shrinks swollen blood vessels. It’s considered beneficial for varicose veins, according to The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. This essential oil is also a good choice to use as an astringent on the skin, to kill bacteria [source], or to tackle cellulite.

Recipe to try: Add cypress to homemade deodorant for a naturally spicy aroma. Or apply it directly to cracked cuticles in a nail oil.

11. Juniper

Juniper is a cleansing oil, and when diluted (as is always necessary) and applied to wounds, its antimicrobial properties [source] can speed healing time and help prevent infections [source]. It’s a great choice for many different skin issues, including oily skin and acne. The Art of Aromatherapy considers it beneficial for toning the skin and for use with skin disorders associated with irritation.

Recipe to try: Attack lumps and bumps with a DIY anti-cellulite oil that uses juniper oil to clear waste from the body and increase circulation.

12. Tea tree 

The uses for tea tree oil for skin are countless [source]. A few of them include its antifungal and antibacterial properties. This means it’s a first choice for acne and oily skin. Tea tree oil can also treat minor cuts, scrapes, and just about any other skin condition you may experience. 

Recipe to try: Make your own make-up remover wipes.

For Dry Skin

Essential oils: clary sage, lavender, sandalwood, ylang ylang

Carrier oil: avocado, sweet almond, argan

13. Clary sage

Various benefits to skin health can be observed when using clary sage EO. It not only can fight the visible signs of aging and reduce puffiness, but it also regulates the production of oil for both dry and oily skin. This makes it useful for all skin types. And due to its antibacterial properties [source], it’s considered useful for treating acne as well [source].  

Recipe to try: Try a DIY deep hair conditioner to strengthen and repair hair.

14. Sandalwood

This restorative oil effectively soothes the inflammation caused by dry skin [source]. And it's an antiseptic with pretty powerful antibacterial properties [source]. It has been said that this EO can also reduce hyperpigmentation and the appearance of scars.

Recipe to try: Add 6–10 drops of sandalwood oil to one tablespoon of almond oil and use it as a post-shave body oil to reduce irritation. To fight age spots or other skin discoloration, dab the diluted oil onto the skin each night before going to bed and leave on overnight.

15. Ylang ylang

Ylang ylang is excellent for treating oily or dry skin while still helping to stimulate cell growth and fight the effects of aging [source].  It’s a wonderful oil to add to any skincare routine. And with its exotic aroma, it’s also great at boosting your mood.  

However, a little goes a LONG way with ylang ylang’s powerful aroma, so only a very small amount is needed. If too much of it is used, it can even cause headaches or nausea. I like to combine it with other essential oils beneficial for skin health to create a luxurious and effective product.

Recipe to try: Add ylang ylang to almond oil for a moisturizing face oil.

For Aging/Mature Skin

Essential oils: clary sage, frankincense, helichrysum, myrrh, neroli, rose

Carrier oil: rosehip seed, pomegranate

16. Frankincense

Frankincense is an incredibly popular essential oil, and it’s no wonder. If you are treating aging skin [source], have elasticity issues, or need to regenerate skin cells, frankincense is your ideal oil. It can even help with pigmentation, as well as tone and tighten skin.

It’s also useful for treating cuts, wounds, and infections [source] due to its powerful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties [source]. Since it has a distinct woody aroma, I like to combine it with other essential oils that support skin health.  

Recipe to try: Make your own hand sanitizer + antiseptic spray.

17. Myrrh

Myrrh has long been added to skincare products to heal wounds and chapped skin [source], prevent sunburn, and restore sun-damaged skin [source]. Its skin-toning ability is especially helpful in fighting fine lines and other signs of aging. 

Recipe to try: Add myrrh to a simple homemade Aztec clay mask for dry skin.

This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Holly Smith, a board-certified physician in nephrology and internal medicine with a background in nutrition. Learn more about Hello Glow's medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

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