I love essential oils but they are not all made equal. Firstly, they are all super potent. So the good and the bad can be extreme. Many essential oils offer numerous benefits for the skin—nourishing and healing— while others can be super irritating or even harmful when applied topically. Let's get into the best essetial oils for the skin, which to only use with the right formulation and which essential oils could be bad for your skin.
Here are my tips for this strongly scented world:
The Good, Skin-Friendly Essential Oils
1. Lavender Oil
Calming and soothing, lavender oil helps reduce redness and irritation while promoting relaxation. This and others are on my high-vibrational ingredients list too!
2. Helichrysum Oil
This oil is an exceptional wound healer and skin regenerator. It’s super moisturizing and it has anti-inflammatory properties.
3. Frankincense Oil
This oil is known for its anti-aging properties, helping to reduce the appearance of scars and wrinkles.
4. Rose Oil
Rose is top of my list but Rose Otto in particular. This is extracted from the Rosa Damascena Rose. It’s what we use in BeautyGrass. This oil is known for its ability to hydrate and soothe the skin, promoting elasticity and reducing redness.
5. Clementine Oil
This is an amazing, gentle citrus oil. Clementine is harmonizing and can uplift the mood while being safe for skin application. But, a word of caution, this is one of the only citrus oils I recommend for the skin.
6. Conifer Forest Oils
Think pine and cypress. These oils are great during cold and flu season because they are good for the lungs and respiratory system. You can use Cypress on the skin too. Skip to the end to see why!
The Cautionary: Oils not to DIY on the Skin
1. Cinnamon Oil
This oil can be extremely irritating and may cause redness or burning sensations. This can have great benefits; it fights free radicals therefore it’s great for wrinkles, but it has to be formulated very carefully. Don’t DIY.
2. Clove Oil
Highly potent clove oil can cause skin irritation and should be used with caution. It also has to be carefully formulated, but it’s great for sore joints.
3. Oregano Oil
Strongly anti-bacterial so it’s great for cystic acne, but it can be too harsh for topical use without proper formulation, potentially leading to irritation or allergic reactions.
4. Peppermint Oil
While invigorating, peppermint oil can be too strong and irritating for sensitive skin. Peppermint is incredible to put on your feet to reduce a fever but avoid the face.
The Bad: Oils to Avoid on Skin
1. Citrus Essential Oils
While some citrus oils can be beneficial, they are often phototoxic. Oils like lime, grapefruit, and lemon can cause photosensitivity, leading to burns or rashes when exposed to sunlight after application. Be ultra careful.
✨Jenny Jewel✨
My little secret for broken blood vessels or capillaries around the nose is Cypress Oil. Using Cypress Oil directly on the skin can improve the appearance of broken capillaries, it flushes the blood out and helps encourage circulation.
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