Essential oils for skin: are these all-natural cure-all plant oils capable of helping with any and all health concerns? An unregulated irritant that you should avoid at all costs? Maybe a little bit of both?
Here’s what you should know about essential oils and incorporating them into your skincare routine.
Essential Oils for Skin: The Basics
Essential oils, as the name suggests, are the essences of plants that can be extracted from its flowers, bark, leaves, stems, roots, and fruit.
No matter what plant they come from, these oils are always a complex mix of compounds - and these compounds can cause both positive and negative reactions in the human body.
The History of Essential Oils for Skin
On one hand, the fragrances have been known to be quite therapeutic. That’s why essential oils have been used for aromatherapy for thousands of years. In fact, the first uses of essential oils are documented to go back to 3000-2500 B.C. in India, China, and Egypt. The Egyptians, in particular, used essential oils for medicinal benefits, beauty care, spiritual enhancement, and in literally all aspects of their daily life.
Aromatherapy
Today, some studies suggest that aromatherapy can help with:
- Relief from anxiety and depression
- Improved quality of life, particularly for people with chronic health conditions Improved sleep
- And while there isn’t much science to give a definitive therapeutic diagnosis here, most physicians agree that aromatherapy, at the very least, doesn’t hurt.
That said, things get a little bit more complicated when it comes to finding the best essential oils for skin.
How to Use Essential Oils on Skin
The benefits of essential oil for skin are only reaped when it's been mixed and applied properly. Here's how you use essential oils topically:
- Dilute the essential oil in a carrier like coconut or jojoba oil for skin.
- Perform a patch test to ensure your skin doesn't react to the oil.
- Apply to the desired areas of your skin.
Pregnant women and individuals with specific health conditions should consult with their doctor to ensure essential oil use is right for them.
What Essential Oils Are Good for Skin?
The best oils for skin care can vary depending on things like skin type, skin concern, individual preferences, and scent preference. Read below for a breakdown of the essential oils we use in our products.
Lemon Peel
Our Most Loved Starter Routine is easily the best face oil for oily skin out there - and we have lemon peel to thank for that. This natural ingredient reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while improving overall elasticity and glow. An absolute must-have!
Ginger Root
When it comes to essential oils for itching skin, ginger is a go-to. As an anti-inflammatory, it's effective in limiting things like redness, puffiness and irritation. It's also one of several core natural ingredients included in our Cloud Whip Face Cream!
Ylang Ylang Flower
The Ylang Ylang flower originates from the Philippines and Ylang Ylang essential oil benefits include its hydrating properties. We use this essential oil for face care in combination with others in our Bright Side Cream Cleanser to provide a gentle, yet effective cleanse.
Frankincense
Frankincense is a key ingredient in EightSaints' No Plans Clay Mask. As one of the best essential oils for itching skin, this natural ingredient is also great for reducing the appearance of scars and acne. Plus it smells amazing - what's not to love?
Lavender
Lavender is among the most important essential oils for dry skin. We include it in our Chase The Sun SPF 30 Face Moisturizer for many reasons, including its ability to reduce inflammation and improve skin hydration.
Geranium
Essential oils for itching skin like geranium are effective in relieving skin irritation. This oil has antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help to cleanse the skin, as well as nourish and regenerate it. Included in our Pep Rally Face Serum, it's perfect for keeping eczema at bay!
Neroli
Looking for essential oils for dry skin? Try neroli. It's a natural ingredient that helps to reduce inflammation and nourish dry skin. Our High Society Face Oil is specially formulated with neroli oil to help soothe irritated skin.
Rose Hip
Those who use All In Eye Cream are well-aware of the benefits of rosehip. This is easily one of the most impactful essential oils for dry skin there is - particularly great for sensitive areas of the face.
Clove
On the topic of essential oils for dry itchy skin, acne sufferers need to know about cloves. We include it in the Quality Control Acne Spot Treatment to bacteria and keep breakouts at bay.
Bergamot Peel
Bergamot peel contains effective anti-bacterial agents that can help restore balance to skin. It's a top contender for the title of 'best face oil for oily skin' - and a key ingredient in Down To Earth Gel Cleanser.
Melissa
Melissa is an essential oil for face skin care. It's known for its calming, nourishing and anti-inflammatory effects - perfect if you have rosacea or eczema! We love adding it to our Soulmate Brightening Treatment for this very reason.
Neem Seed
Essential oils for skin allergies like neem seed are also great for soothing and calming inflammation. Neem oil's antibacterial properties help to reduce redness and irritation caused by skin allergies - making it an invaluable part of our Welcome To The Scrub Coconut Body Scrub and Island Time Spray Lotion.
Ho Wood
Ho wood is widely considered the best oil for skin stress relief. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties that can actively improve skin inflammation and promote healing. Eight Saint's Seeking C Face Serum targets age spots, acne scars, and reduces inflammation with the help of this stress relieving essential oil for skin.
Cinnamon Leaf
This essential oil for face care can be found in our Seeking C Face Serum. Cinnamon leaf comes from the bark of a tree and is known for its anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antimicrobial properties. It's perfect for reducing puffiness around the eyes while soothing dull, tired skin.
Tangerine
Tangerine is the best oil for skin exfoliation. With a natural, uplifting aroma that helps to lift the spirit, it's one main reason why our Zen Out Of Ten Face Scrub is so popular.
Common Essential Oils' Benefits for Skin
Soothe Dry Skin
What essential oils are good for dry skin, you may ask?
The best essential oils for itching skin are those that contain fatty acids - such as sunflower oil, rosehip and geranium oil. Lavender is also helpful when it comes to reducing irritation. You can find all of these ingredients in our Daydreamer Natural Face Moisturizer. It’s by far the best oil cleanser for dry skin sufferers - or really anyone who could use a natural boost.
Relieve Itching
Knowing what essential oils are good for itchy skin can help you find relief in a natural way. The antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties in essential oils are great for dry itchy skin. Popular essential oils for skin allergies and their carriers include eucalyptus, chamomile, and geranium. These are all super helpful in combating irritating conditions like eczema, rashes, and allergies. Our Daydreamer Natural Face Moisturizer contains rosehip, which fights the bacteria behind these problems.
Banish Acne
Some essential oils have been found to be beneficial for the skin. Essential oils for acne-prone skin, in particular - like rosemary, lemongrass, thyme, cinnamon, and tea tree - have been shown to effectively address acne-related concerns.
This has to do with the fact that essential oils are rich sources of antioxidants (like caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid) and antibacterial ingredients that protect against fungal, yeast, and bacterial skin issues.
You have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to essential oils for face care. Lightweight, non-comedogenic oils like marula, hemp seed, safflower, sunflower, grapeseed, argan, sweet almond, tea tree and jojoba may be good options for those with oily or acne-prone skin. These rich sources of antioxidants also protect against fungal, yeast, and bacterial skin issues. They're all included in our High Society Botanical Face Oil, too!
Withstand Aging
The best essential oils for skin aging are those that contain antioxidants. Eight Saints' Seeking C Face Serum is blended with Gotu Kola. Benefits for skin include acting as a powerful antioxidant that works well in tandem with Vitamin C and E. Lemongrass oil is also an excellent antioxidant; not only does it strengthen the skin barrier, but its antifungal properties make for a cleaner base and reduce redness and the risk of breakouts.
Fade Away Sun Spots
Beyond essential oils that are good for skin, ingredients like Willow Bark - which contains the natural salicylic acid derivative beta hydroxy acid - also helps to gently exfoliate the skin, removing sun spots. Reishi is also known as a powerhouse anti-aging ingredient due to its ability to reduce redness and wrinkles. Both are included in our Soulmate Brightening Treatment.
Brighten and Tighten Eye Areas
Geranium is one of the best essential oils for skin tightening. It balances oil production while promoting even skin tone. Evening Primrose Oil and Macadamia Oil for skin are also great - high in fatty acids and essential for maintaining skin elasticity as well as collagen production. You can find these beneficial ingredients in our All In Eye Cream, which helps to brighten and tighten the skin around your eyes.
Stay Safe with Natural Pre-Mixed Products
Be aware that many of the compounds in essential oils can also significantly irritate and damage the skin - particularly those that are highly fragrant.
Doctors also see significant issues with citrus oils - including lemon, lime, tangerine, grapefruit, mandarin, and bergamot - and mint oils such as peppermint, wintergreen, pennyroyal, and balm mint. What’s worse - the skin can hide this irritation so you won’t be able to see that there’s a problem.
That’s why many experts maintain that the cons are much more substantial than the pros, claiming that essential oils alone are not the best oil for skin and shouldn't be used as face products.
Adding The Benefits of Essential Oils in Your Skincare Routine
Read below to learn how you can incorporate these oils into your skincare with Eight Saints.
Deep Clean
Eight Saints’ Down To Earth Cleanser is packed with a long list of benefits. This is the best cleansing oil for dry skin!
Our Bright Side Cream Cleanser combines the best natural oil: rosemary leaf extract, and neem seed oil, and sunflower oil for skin - to reduce irritation.
Stay-at-Home Pampering
Exploring self-care? Try Eight Saints' Best Week Ever Routine. It contains the best oils for skin there are, including Witch Hazel, Geranium and Lemongrass oil. The addition of essential oils for healing skin effects, like Helichrysum, Lavender, Rose, Patchouli and Frankincense gives the mask an extra boost of power.
Anti-Ageing Serum
With the question 'are essential oils good for skin?' out of the way, start experiencing the benefits of one of the best. Gotu Kola nourishes the skin on a deep level. An alternative to our Coast is Clear Face Toner is our Pep Rally Face Serum which uses Gotu Kola as a main ingredient.
Nourish Your Dry, Tired Skin
Essential oils for dry skin, such as Bergamot and Melissa, can be found in our Soulmate Brightening Treatment. This moisturizer helps unclog pores and fight acne while also promoting moisture retention. The added antioxidants from Licorice, Willow Bark and Dandelion further boost the anti-ageing effects of this product.
All About the Senses
When we talk about essential oil for face care, we aren't just talking about the cheeks and forehead. Eyes and lips deserve some love too! Our All In Eye Cream and Lip Trick Lip Treatment contain enriched ingredients like castor seed oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and Helichrysum oil.
Make Nighttime All About Skin
Looking for the best essential oil for skin before bed? Eight Saints' Night Shift Hydration Gel is the perfect choice. This product contains Marula and Pumpkin seed oil, zinc, and omega 3 and 6. It, along with our High Society Botanical Oil, delivers antioxidants that your skin will love.
A Skincare Answer for Everything
We have a skincare cocktail to help you!
If you're not sure where to start in terms of skincare, our blog on skinamilism has more information about this.
Healing essential oils for skin are just the beginning, too. Eight Saints products also include natural ingredients from nature that can detoxify your skin.
Do Your Homework to Find the Right Essential Oils for Skin
After all, we don’t think that you should add essential oils to your list of no-no ingredients altogether. As we said, some essential oils for skin - like tea tree, rosemary, and lemongrass - have been shown to help with inflammation and blemish-prone skin (which is why many skincare companies incorporate them into their products). The key is to find high-quality, pure oils and to ensure that they’re present in small quantities - less than 1%.
That means you can’t go to your local health food store and slather 100% pure tea tree oil on your face. It will be too strong and irritate your skin. Instead, look for clean products that have essential oils at the bottom of their ingredient lists. That way, you should get the benefits without any irritating drawbacks.