Going Natural: Do Essential Oils Improve Your Skin? (2024)
Essential oils get a ton of hype. These relaxing fragrances are great for diffusing throughout your home, but are essential oils bad for skin? While many people advocate for the “natural healing properties” of essential oils in skincare, many medical professionals, such as dermatologists, beg to differ.
If you’re not familiar with essential oils, they are essentially (no pun intended) volatile essences of various plants that produce intense fragrances. The oils are extracted from the plants’ roots, flowers, leaves, fruits, etc. These concentrated oils produce fragrances that offer benefits such as headache relief, relaxation, insomnia relief, stress relief, and some even provide an energy boost. Although these are great benefits, these intense fragrances can be especially dangerous if you directly apply them to your skin, especially to your face.
This is what makes the essential oils debate so confusing—how can that sweet-smelling eucalyptus provide so many other benefits but not for your skin? However, if you’re aware of how irritating fragrances can be, essential oil or not, you’re probably not surprised that dermatologists warn against using most essential oils on the skin. Again, aromatherapy can be incredibly beneficial if you’re suffering from anxiety, stress, and headaches, so there’s no need to get rid of your diffuser!
There are a few oils packed with powerful antioxidants like rosmarinic acid and caffeic acid, or with antibacterial properties that can protect your skin from fungi and yeast. Although these are great pros, using products that contain other oils like citronellol, linalool, limonene, and more on a long-term basis will most likely cause irritation and damage to your skin.
Many modern skincare products advertise essential oils like tea tree, rosemary, lemongrass, and more to help relieve acne-prone skin. While some research shows they can help, these essential oils have also proven to be extremely irritating for many patients, even if your skin doesn’t show it at first. If you’re going to treat acne, dermatologists recommend ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, which have proven time and time again to reduce acne significantly. Even if you have sensitive skin and cannot tolerate these ingredients, the more “natural” ingredients aren’t always the best way to go.
Which Essential Oils Are Safe for Skin?
In short, are essential oils bad for skin? The short answer is yes, although there are some exceptions. When it comes to using essential oils, it’s best to stick to the diffuser. And by no means should you apply essential oils directly to your face!
Certain essential oils can be beneficial or just not harmful to your skin. Skincare that contains 0.1% of an essential oil is likely non-irritating. Still, once a product contains several different essential oils with much more than that percentage, there’s a higher risk of an adverse reaction from your skin. This irritation will cause premature aging and long-term damage, even if you don’t see the irritation in your skin for a while.
We recommend avoiding essential oils like lemon, camphor, clary sage, jasmine, ylang-ylang, eucalyptus, ginger, and several others. Oil in and of itself is not necessarily harmful, as many non-essential oils can do wonders for your skincare routine. Remember to always check in with your dermatologist before using products that make you feel too unsure.
In order to cater to pretty much any and every skin type, we have a large array of products in our very own skincare line. Whether you have sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, dry skin, or any other type, we have something for you here on our Dr. Longwill Skincare shop. Almost all of our products are fragrance-free, essential oil-free, and non-irritating! Check out our entire collection of skincare products in our online shop.
Many modern skincare products advertise essential oils like tea tree, rosemary, lemongrass, and more to help relieve acne-prone skin. While some research shows they can help, these essential oils have also proven to be extremely irritating for many patients, even if your skin doesn't show it at first.
Pure, professionally formulated, organic essential oils can play a significant role in supporting skin health due to their diverse healing and antioxidant properties. However, the key lies in proper usage and ensuring the oils meet certain criteria, including purity, freshness, and appropriate concentrations.
When looking for the best oil to help repair damaged skin, you can't pass up rosehip oil. While lesser known than vitamin E or argan oil, rosehip oil is a powerful natural oil for stretch marks, scars, and damaged skin.
Results of lab studies are promising — one at Johns Hopkins found that certain essential oils could kill a type of Lyme bacteria better than antibiotics — but results in human clinical trials are mixed. Some studies indicate that there's a benefit to using essential oils while others show no improvement in symptoms.
Thyme essential oil had the most effects, reducing COX-2 levels by nearly 75 percent . The National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy also lists many oils that may reduce inflammation, including: roman chamomile. ginger.
Summary. Natural oils like coconut oil, tea tree oil, jojoba oil, and shea butter may have properties that are good for your skin. Some can work as antioxidants or anti-inflammatory agents to promote healing of damaged skin, moisturize, reduce scarring, or treat skin conditions like acne.
The best oils for very dry, mature skin are rosehip, sea buckthorn and macadamia. This is because they provide rich moisture and tackle signs of aging all at the same time — simplifying your skincare routine while leaving your skin soft, glowing and rejuvenated.
The number 1 essential oil for skin care, known for its regenerative properties, is Helichrysum. This oil comes from a daisy like flower of an herb. It is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and has been known to increase collagen production, relieve skin rashes, and speed the wound healing process.
Be cautious about broad health claims about essential oils. Scientific research on the efficacy and safety of essential oils for specific health conditions is limited and more evidence is needed. Some research even shows adverse health outcomes from essential oil use.
The best face oils for aging skin include ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, and natural oils such as rosehip, argan, and coconut because they are excellent choices for combating wrinkles.
Frankincense oil is a well-known essential oil that comprises several benefits. It comprises skin tightening ability and lifts saggy skin, fades wrinkles, and is recognized as one of the best essential oils for skin tightening.
“Using them on your skin almost insures that some of it will get into your bloodstream,” Dr. Petrillo said, listing a skin-crawling list of common side effects, including redness, chemical burns, headaches, swelling and blisters.
These highly concentrated and potent essential oils can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The inhalation of VOCs commonly has negative effects on the respiratory system. Individuals can have different reactions to essential oils, just like they might to other medicines, products, allergens or irritant triggers.
Our skin is permeable, meaning it absorbs substances applied to its surface. This includes essential oils, which are made up of plant compounds that can be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, essential oils can travel to different parts of the body and deliver therapeutic benefits.
Skin Application: Essential oils can be applied in the skin through ointments, lotions, creams, massage and compresses. The power of penetration is great and the time of absorption is between 20 to 70 minutes.
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