Did you know that essential oils have a long history of use for treating wounds, ailments, and enhancing beauty? Each essential oil imparts specific properties that make it unique and extraordinaryโone may zap acne in its tracks, while another provides the skin with an antioxidant boost. Thereโs an essential oil for every skin type so letโs break down a few of my favorite essential oils for acne.
3 Best Essential Oils for Acne
1. Melaleuca
Also known as tea tree oil, the benefits of Melaleuca are countless. But when it comes to treating acne and oily skin, weโre all about its skin-supporting antibacterial properties [source]. These benefits and more are what make it a great choice for treating minor cuts and scrapes.
It also has natural antifungal abilities [source], which is why it features heavily in anti-dandruff hair productsโa couple of drops added to your weekly coconut oil mask is a great way to condition hair and cleanse your scalp. Who doesnโt love a multipurpose product?
The history of melaleuca and its healing abilities goes way back. Its purifying benefits were first discovered by the indigenous people of Australia [source]. The leaves and bark of the tree were used to speed up healing and detoxify minor wounds.
While melaleuca is highly effective, it also has a high risk of causing irritation and allergic reactions of the skin. So when in doubt, remember that a little goes a long way, and the use of a carrier oil to dilute it is recommended.
2. Lavender
Lavender essential oil is well-known as a multipurpose essential oil and is frequently used in skincare formulations. In fact, research has found that lavender can help promote collagen synthesis [source], making it beneficial for wounds, acne, and more! It can be used on all skin types and is a great essential oil to use in soaps, lotions, serums, and spot treatments.
What sets lavender essential oil apart from others is its versatility and the fact that it can be used by just about anybody. It happens to contain antioxidant properties as well [source]. Antioxidants do a lot to heal and protect skin. One of the main ways they do this is by helping to defend skin cells from harmful free radicals which cause damage, resulting in premature agingโnot the look weโre going for!
Lavender is frequently used in formulations for dry, itchy skin, and when diluted with coconut oil, it creates a beautifully simple body oil that may be beneficial when dealing with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
3. Lemongrass
Acne and large pores can be difficult to treat, but with lemongrass essential oil, they donโt have to be. This bright, citrus-like essential oil contains the potent anti-inflammatory [source] and antioxidant properties [source] of the herb species that can help support skin health and overall skin appearance. It also makes a great astringent skin toner!
Like melaleuca, lemongrass essential oil is antibacterial [source], making it a good option for eliminating any acne-causing bacteria on the skin. Itโs a great oil for cleansing and purifying the skin.
Along with its antimicrobial abilities, lemongrass essential oil has natural anti-inflammatory abilities [source] that are just as important for helping to get rid of some of the bad acne side effects. When skin gets inflamed because of a zit, it is then more likely to leave scars (aka, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation).
If you can tackle inflammation as soon as it starts, youโre doing some super helpful things for your skinโitโs no lie that inflamed pimples hurt. We all know the feeling of a deep and painful zit, right? Itโs this same inflammation that encourages hyperpigmentation to form and leaves a tiny reminder of where a zit once was.
(As always, read labels and dilute concentrated oils before applying them to the skin to avoid harmful reactionsโyouโll definitely want to dilute lemongrass essential oil! Hereโs a list of carrier oils you can use for every skin type.)
Melaleuca Acne Mask with Clay
When it comes to the clay mask itself, this is one of my favorite face masks to useโever. Aztec clay and apple cider vinegar are already a potent combo for detoxing and improving the health of the skin [source], [source], and adding a skin-supporting essential oil like melaleuca takes it to the next level.
I know, I know, youโre probably thinking that apple cider vinegar is a little too strong for skin. Shouldnโt I just use water instead? Actually, raw ACV is the perfect thing to mix Aztec clay with, and hereโs why: unlike filtered ACV, raw ACV has the โMotherโ included in it (the cloudy stuff floating around), and itโs amazing for your skinโs microbiome [source].
Yes, it is acidic, but when itโs combined with the more alkaline Aztec clay, they basically neutralize each other and create a perfectly pH-balanced clay mask.
Using raw ACV also ensures that your mask is super smooth and easy to make. Iโve made the mistake of trying to use water before and ended up with a lumpy, unusable mess! Read on for my favorite DIY Clay Acne Mask recipe to promote clear, glowing skin. I love to use it as a spot treatment, too. Just dab a little where needed, and wipe away after 15 minutes.
By using this base recipe, you can personalize it by adding a skin-specific essential oil, which I love. Always remember that a little essential oil goes a long way. Too much can be irritating and defeat the purpose of using it!
Why is this? Well, when essential oils are processed from plant parts (whether itโs leaves, roots, bark, seeds, anything!), all of the amazing benefits become very highly concentrated in the resulting essential oil product. When it comes to essential oils, itโs easy to underestimate how potent they really are. So while one drop doesnโt necessarily sound like a lot, itโs the perfect amount to help you get the results you want without overdoing it.
I hope youโll enjoy this DIY Melaleuca & Clay Acne Mask as much as I do. Drop me a comment if you do, and let me know your favorite essential oils to customize it with.
Melaleuca & Clay Acne Mask
Equipment
- Small bowl
Materials
- 1 tablespoonย Aztec clay
- 1 tablespoonย activated charcoal
- 1 probiotic capsule
- 2 tablespoons organic raw apple cider vinegar
- 1 drop tea tree essential oil
Instructions
- Combine activated charcoal, clay, and probiotic powder in a small bowl.
- Add ACV to make a paste. Itโs okay to use more when needed to get a smooth paste.
- Add essential oil and stir. With clean fingers, spread over your face and let sit for 15 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water and apply moisturizer.
Notes
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glowโs medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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Nice post! Will definitely try Melaleuca acne mask. I'm positive that it will help me with acne. Also, have you tried argan oil for acne? I stumbled upon a post about <a href="https://skinseas.com/argan-oil-acne/">argan oil and acne</a> that says it can help you get rid of acne? Can you shed some light?
Thanks!
Never heard of some of this, gonna have to have a beauty night soon!
I also have oily skin, thank you for sharing this information. However, I still don’t know how often do we need to use this mask to see its effect on acne?
Essential oils are the most powerful thing I have ever used for acne and skin problem. But, what is more, it helps me improve the quality of my sleep, boost immune system and mood.
Moreover, if you suffer from varicose veins, some essential oils can help!
I use lavender for so much! It’s my favorite oil!
Just tried this mask, and the apple cider vinegar burned my face. Like a sunburn. I would recommend DILUTING the acv with a lot of water (like maybe 1 tbsp to 1 cup water) and then using 2 tbsp of that dilution in this mix.
I hope you guys edit this blog post with a warning about this because the acv is way to strong in this recipe!
This is a pretty awesome mask recipe! And I concur… Lemongrass essential oil is one of the absolute best antibacterial, anti-fungal and antimicrobial essential oils. So it can definitely kill the bacteria that causes acne. Plus tea tree oil is great too.
HI!
How often do we need to use this mask to see its effect on acne, specially hormonal acne??
Thanks !