Can You Apply Essential Oils Directly to the Skin? (2024)

FAQs

Can You Apply Essential Oils Directly to the Skin? ›

Final answer:

Essential oils are often too strong to apply directly to the skin and because of this, appropriate dilution is necessary to ensure everyone's safety.

It is therefore important that essential oils are stored securely in a child-resistant container and kept out of reach of children. The use of undiluted essential oils on sensitive skin or in the nostrils can irritate or burn.

Essential Oils Can Negatively Affect Your Health

Essential oils are highly concentrated, so inhaling them directly can irritate the respiratory tract. This may lead to symptoms such as coughing, nose and throat irritation or shortness of breath.

The less carrier oil you use in ratio to essential oils, the more likely you are to become sensitized. The more carrier oil you use in ratio to essential oils, the less likely you are to become sensitized. Generally, we recommend sticking to a 1-2% dilution.

Essential oils can also be absorbed by the skin. A massage therapist might add a drop or two of wintergreen to oil to help relax tight muscles during a rubdown. A skincare company may add lavender to bath salts to create a soothing soak.

Citrus oils such as grapefruit, tangerine, bergamot, grapefruit, lemon or lime have been proven to be quite problematic when applied directly to the skin.

Using pure essential oils on your skin without diluting them can cause irritation and skin damage. If you want to use essential oils for large topical applications, such as a massage, it's better to dilute it to a 1% solution. To do so, use just 1 drop of pure essential oil for every 1 tsp (4.93 mL) of carrier oil.

Essential oils are highly potent and have the potential to irritate skin if not used responsibly. Diluting essential oils prior to topical use helps minimize the risk of skin irritation and optimize the nature of the fragrance.

Select a Carrier Oil: Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils. Popular choices include jojoba oil, coconut oil, sweet almond oil, or grapeseed oil.

Why are essential oils not used directly? ›

People should never apply essential oils directly to the skin without diluting them, unless under the direct guidance of a healthcare professional. It is also dangerous to swallow essential oils. Not only are essential oils extremely concentrated, but they can also irritate the sensitive cells inside the body.

Because essential oils are so potent, it is always a good idea to use a few small doses periodically throughout the day, rather than a single large dose all at once. For topical use, a dose can be repeated every four to six hours as needed.

There is also some evidence that skin irritation may be caused by the combination of Peppermint and Ylang Ylang, or Grapefruit blended with Lemon. It has also been suggested that the combination of Peppermint and Jasmine may cause irritation to the respiratory system.

Essential oils are commonly used as ingredients in intricate skincare formulations. However, most can also be applied independently as needed to the skin. Some, but not all, essential oils can cause irritation when applied directly to the skin, but there's an easy workaround: carrier oils.

Unlike many other essential oils used in aromatherapy, lavender oil is often applied undiluted to the skin. The work of Jager et al. (1992) suggested that essential oils and their components are rapidly absorbed through the skin.

According to many aromatherapy practitioners, Lavandula angustifolia, Melaleuca alternifolia, Helichrysum italicum, and Chamaemelum nobile are the only essential oils that can be safely used undiluted.

You can gently rub oil into places such as your neck, forehead, temples, wrists, chest and stomach. This also includes extremities like your arms, legs and the bottoms of your feet. In fact, the bottoms of your feet are one of the safest places to apply essential oils topically.

When used correctly, essential oils can be extremely beneficial for the skin, soothing for the body, useful for massage, and used in a variety of ways in everyday life. Topical application is unique because it allows the user to target specific areas of the body to achieve a desired effect.

Cotton Ball: For a quick burst of essential oils, place a few drops onto a cotton ball, and then place the cotton ball in your car vent, floor vent, or even on the blade of a fan — just be sure to turn off and unplug your fan before taping the cotton ball to the fan, and completely remove your hands from the fan before ...