I have been looking for an easy and natural way to look younger, healthier, and more vibrant without spending a ton of money. Thatโs when I discovered that frankincense essential oil not only has a gorgeous woody aroma, but it’s also one of the most widely used essential oils for skin care!
For thousands of years, people have used frankincense oil for a plethora of reasons [source]. And to this day, it remains a beloved oil that many individuals regularly incorporate into their skincare routines.
Although studies are somewhat lacking on the use of frankincense essential oil, many believe it to contain numerous properties that can help support healthy skin and hair.
Frankincense is widely believed to be a natural astringent, and it also contains properties that are beneficial for wound healing and tissue remodeling [source]. This is especially useful if you have injured skin or even if you struggle with acne.
Additionally, the boswellic acids found in frankincense oil and used in Ayurvedic medicine have been found to largely contribute to its awesome anti-inflammatory actions [source].
Like many essential oils, it also contains potent antibacterial properties [source]. All of these reasons and more are why frankincense is such a fantastic oil to help support healthy skin. And to get you started, here are a few tips to help you take your skin care to the next level for a more radiant complexion.
Tips For Mixing Frankincense Oil Into Your Skincare Products
It’s actually incredibly easy to add frankincense to your daily skincare regimen. Simply adding a few drops of frankincense essential oil to your existing moisturizer, shampoo, body lotion, or virtually any other beauty product is all you need to reap the countless benefits of this precious ancient oil.
1. Use ~ 6 drops per ounce for face products.
2. Use ~ 12 drops per ounce for body lotions.
3. Use ~ 20 drops per ounce for shampoos, hair masks, and products you rinse off.
4. Always dilute essential oils first in the proper proportion, do not add directly to the skin.
5. Always do a patch test first to check for skin sensitivity.
6. For liquids, shake well before use.
Recommended for:
- Mature skin
- Prematurely aging skin
- Acne-prone skin
- Injured skin
If you are anything like me, youโre not entirely sure whatโs in your store-bought skincare products and worry you might be rubbing harmful chemicals onto your skin every day. Fear not!
You can tailor make your products and know exactly whatโs in them if you make them at home. Remove the mystery, and try these simple DIY recipes for yourself.
Fresh-Faced Moisturizer
As I mentioned above, frankincense is believed to be a natural astringent and is frequently used in formulations to reduce the appearance of aging. Itโs also used for evening out skin tone and when dealing with any wounds or sores.
- 1 ounce of grapeseed oil or your own facial moisturizer (just make sure to keep the same proportion of carrier oil to essential oil)
- 6 drops of frankincense essential oil
Mix well and store in a dark glass container.
Beautifying Body Butter
Not only does frankincense support healthy and glowing skin, but it smells great, too! The ingredients in this rich body lotion can help to reduce the appearance of scars, stretch marks, and dark spots.
As an added bonus, frankincense contains anti-inflammatory properties [source], which is great if you’re dealing with inflamed, irritated skin.
This DIY lotion has found its way to my beauty regimen and my medicine cabinet. I use it every day, right after the shower, to lock the moisture into my skinโand I love the youthful glow it gives me!
- Heat a large pot of water on the stove.
- Put 3 ounces of virgin coconut oil in a glass container.
- Place the glass container in the warm water until the coconut oil melts to a liquid.
- Add 20 drops of frankincense essential oil and mix well.
- Store in a dark glass container.
- Enjoy your glowing skin!
Frankincense Face & Body Spritz
Frankincense oil mixed with pure water makes a simple and fragrant skin toner and refresher. I love to set my makeup with a few sprays of this refreshing oil mix.
Iโve also started using it after washing my face at night to wake up with radiant, glowing skin. If you have sensitive skinโno problem! Just add a few drops of lavender oil. I simply love this stuff!
- Fill a dark glass squirt bottle with pure water.
- Add 6 drops of frankincense oil per 1 ounce of water.
- Mix well before each use, or add 3 drops of vodka to prevent separation.
- Spray onto face & body whenever you want a refresher.
In Summary
Let’s do a quick recap. Frankincense is a wonderful choice for natural skincare since it contains numerous therapeutic properties that can help support healthy skin. Some of the benefits of frankincense essential oil include:
It’s useful for many different skin types.
It’s a natural astringent.
It’s anti-inflammatoryโmaking it a wonderful choice for eczema, burns, bites, rashes, and other inflammatory skin conditions.
It’s antibacterialโmeaning it’s great for killing germs, preventing infection, and eliminating unwanted bacteria from the skin.
It can help with evening up skin tone.
It’s useful when dealing with bruises, wounds, and other skin injuries.
And so much more!
Now that you know why and how to use frankincense essential oil to boost your skincare products, letโs get glowing!
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 review board here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
249
I started to use Frankincense oil diluted in almond oil a soulless of days ago…
I guess it is too early to start noticing any visible changes in my skin, however, I noticed that my pores are larger, is it due to the almond carrying oil? I read itโs rank 2 in skin comedogenic rating of carrying oils, shall I mix castor oil as well ( rating 1).
Also considering adding a capsule or 2 of Vitamin E to the mix, your feedback is appreciated !
Susana
I tried few drops of Frankin on my face ,neck n hands n inhaled the woody scent for the first time few minutes after dozed off like a lulaby i slept like a baby.next morn I was alive,super cool check it out.
I was wondering if the body butter that reduces scaring can be used on your face as well as the body?
Yes a lot of people aren’t aware of the destruction of these beautiful trees .so definitely only use Frankincense from sustainable tree farms .like Doterra. They might cost more .but they’re well worth it for there purity and quality .mel
I am 16 weeks pregnant and my husband bought me a neals yard remedies frankinscense collection I am wondering if this are ok to use?
I am 67 and have crepey arms and legs! (Probably result of sun and age) will Frankincense help me? I hate this floppy arm and leg thing going on!!
The essential oil is amazing however the really good stuff is in the resin!! ……………there is a broad range of constituents that is not being captured through the steam distillation process .. (the essential oil represents only the volatile portion of the oil constituents) (a very small % of the total range of constituents) … for example the Boswellic acids would be absent from the distilled essential oil .. … there are oil soluble and water soluble constituents … “oleo-gum resin” .. . .. Look up Frankincense Water for an example. … (you can make this and use this in your skincare also … and you can also drink it — if you buy the best stuff. .. and it is good for the brain)
Great to hear you say this! So many people have no idea that boswellic acid isn’t in frankincense oil and if you want it, you kind of have to extract it yourself! I use crazy amounts of boswellic acid (extracted myself) in almost all of my skincare products (Surreal Skincare) and I eat it every day too! Try mixing it 1:1:1 with flax seed oil and sunflower lecithin and heat to 85ยบC for 30 minutes :)
Morgan, How does one extract all the goodness from Frankincense resin?
Debora
Please let me know how to use Frankincense with Bio Oil on face as a cream.
Thank you.
Just tried Frankincense for the first time and the smell is incredible. I added a little grapeseed oil and a few drop of the Frankin and applied it directly to my face. I was a fraud id have a reaction and my face would swell but so far so good. The oiliness of it absorbs fast and doesn’t leave your face too greasy. Its been pleasantly surprising. Id highly recommend this product if you struggle with acne scaring.
If interested in the best, purest frankincense…..
I applied frankincense oil directky on my face and went to sleep. In the morning, my face was puffy and al red. I think I burnt my skin. Now two weeks after the application of the oil, my face has wrinkles noticeable especially on my cheeks. What I can donto return my skin back without wrinkles. I am onky 30 years old. Please help!
To Patsy:
You can try coconut oil with lavender to calm & soothe your skin. Never use essential oils full strength on your skin…they are very potent & need to be diluted in a carrier oil or moisturizer. I have very sensitive skin & successfully use Frankincense oil in a mixture of coconut oil and castor oil.
Iโm not a dลTerra rep but I do know they are very good with great resources. Visit there web site. For any questions you have.
what brand do you recommend
Young Living has the best most purest true Frankincense. It’s not cheap. But I’ve literally reversed my dog’s stage 5 cancer with it. Even Doterra can’t match up…
Did you apply the frankincense topically to your dog, or use it internally? Just curious since I’ve heard of using frankincense essential oil on skin cancers. Thank you.
Selena
Do you have a print feature for just text? I keep a book for all my favs but like conserving paper.
Thanks
Frankincense trees are endangered because of the overuse of the essential oil in beauty products and perfumes. If you are going to buy frankincense, be absolutely sure that it is coming from a sustainable source. The ingredient is sacred and must be treated as such.
I feel the same way, so how do I differentiate between the real brands and the fluffers should I buy through an essential oil company like Doterra or do you have an opinion?
I use Doterra and I believe this is a credible company. They source the oils from the original place each oil comes from. Doterra oils have helped me and my family
I highly recommend Young Living oils. They have their own farms around the world to naturally source the oils. I have been using YL oils and products to help our family be chemical free in our home and our personal care.
I use easecox for their purest essential oil and Origin from Germany. Pure and Safe with laboratory-based GCMS confirmation with paper of proof. Contact me if you wish to buy as I am a distributor from them. :) splendiday80@gmail.com
You can check out plant therapy
Thank you for this information, I didn’t know frankincense had all these benefits.