There is no need of saying much about the fact that essential oils have been used for as long as we can know the history of human kind. And they were used heavily in a cosmetic preparations back in Ancient Egypt. Everybody knows something about Cleopatra and her love of self-care routine.
Essential oils are very potent in many ways including skin care. Usually they are used in their pure form in botanical skin care preparations which you can find these days easily by using internet.
One of my favorite ways is to use face oils because I just love how my skin feels afterwards, it is so soft and smooth and nourished. Especially they can do magic when combined with a gentle face massage after the cleansing (you can see how to make facial oil at home here)
The important part here is of course to pick the right base for your face oil, as there are so many oils to choose from. I had an article earlier about my top base oils for the face which you can read here. Essential oils, even though they are not oils as it is in our understanding, can also play a major part in a skin care. They are strong and potent, and usually used in a combination with the base oils.
Either you choose to buy a ready facial oil (which is so popular these days) or make it yourself (which is very easy in fact) you really need to know which one to use for your skin with your specific issue and results you want to get.
Sometimes I see that some women, like me, just get so amazed about the face oils when other may say it doesn’t work. The reason here I see is that you may use the wrong oil. That’s why I really want to share with you the list of essential oils for different skin types and problems.
To make it even more clear, I’d like you to consider that our skin type may change from time to time, especially during certain days of the month. What is affecting these changes are simple factors such as lifestyle, healthy and not so healthy habits, weather, sleep, stress, hormonal changes, what we eat or drink, dehydration. All of these can literally so much affect the way out skin feels and looks.
Essential oils for normal balanced skin:
- Chamomile German (Matricaria recutita)
- Chamomile Roman (Anthemis nobilis)
- Frankincense (Boswelia carterii)
- Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum/officinale)
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Lemon (Citrus limon)
- Neroli (Citrus aurantium)
- Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii)
- Rose (Rosa damascena)
Essential oils for normal to dry skin:
- Chamomile German (Matricaria recutita)
- Chamomile Roman (Anthemis nobilis)
- Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)
- Carrot Seed (Daucus carota)
- Frankincense (Boswelia carterii)
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- Ho Wood (Cinnamomum camphora ct. linalool)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Neroli (Citrus aurantium)
- Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii)
- Rose (Rosa damascena)
- Sandalwood (Santalum album)
Essential oils for normal to oily skin:
- Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Chamomile German (Matricaria recutita)
- Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
- Frankincense (Boswelia carterii)
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorun/officinale)
- Juniper (Juniperus communis)
- Lemon (Citrus limon)
- Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)
- Marjoram sweet (Origanum majorana)
- Niaouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia)
- Orange sweet (Citrus sinensis)
- Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii)
- Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
- Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium)
- Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
- Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata)
Essential oils for sensitive skin:
- Chamomile German (Matricaria recutita)
- Chamomile Roman (Anthemis nobilis)
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Neroli (Citrus aurantium)
- Sandalwood (Santalum album)
Essential oils for aging skin:
- Carrot Seed (Daucus carota)
- Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
- Chamomile German (Matricaria recutita)
- Cistus (Cistus ladaniferus)
- Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)
- Coriander Seed (Coriandrum sativum)
- Frankincense (Boswelia carterii)
- Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum)
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- Jasmine (Jasminum grandiflorum/officinale)
- Juniper (Juniperus communis)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Marjoram sweet (Origanum majorana)
- Neroli (Citrus aurantium)
- Orange sweet (Citrus sinensis)
- Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii)
- Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
- Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium)
- Rose (Rosa damascena)
- Rose absolute (Rosa centifolia)
- Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
- Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora)
- Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi)
- Sandalwood (Santalum album)
- Ylang Ylang (Canaga odorata)
Essential oils for problem skin really deserves a separate article as there are many different issues that must be addressed like blemished skin, acne, broken capillaries, blackheads or whiteheads. However I still want to share at least the basic set of essential oils that are known to be helpful for problem skin.
Broken capillaries:
- Chamomile German (Matricaria recutita)
- Chamomile Roman (Anthemis nobilis)
- Cedarwood Atlas (Cedrus atlantica)
- Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)
- Juniper (Juniperus communis)
- Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum)
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- Rose (Rosa damascena)
Acne:
- Chamomile German (Matricaria recutita)
- Chamomile Roman (Anthemis nobilis)
- Cedarwood atlas (Cedrus atlantica)
- Cypress (Cupressus sempervirence)
- Eucalyptus Radiata (Eucalyptus radiata)
- Frankincense (Boswelia carterii)
- Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii)
- Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
- Ylang Ylang (Canaga odorata)
Special note: before mixing or applying oils there are few things you need to remember, like:
- do not apply neat (undiluted) essential oils on your skin unless it’s only for a single pimple for short term use with a cotton stick or swab;
- when blending your facial oil consider the possibility of phototoxisity and the safe limits of photosensitive essential oil (read about it here);
- for face keep the ratio low (1-1.5% – 5-8 drops for 30 ml of base oil) as there is no need to use high percentage of essential oils (they are potent enough) and use only high quality essential oils (synthetic essential oils can be very harmful)
I hope you find this information helpful. Feel free and confident in using the nature’s gifts for your health and wellness as well as for beauty care. But use it smart.
Yours,
Anna