Essential oils can be effective wellness and beauty ingredients. The aromatherapy properties of essential oils can help you relieve stress, sleep better, focus, feel energized, and more. And when it comes to beauty, they have some formidable benefits when it comes to anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and soothing properties. Many essential oils are great for combating dryness, skin texture, and changes in elasticity, which are some skin care problems you may encounter as you age.
“Essential oils are alternative medical therapies that can be useful for individual antiaging skin care regimens. You can think of essential oils as an extra aid to add to an existing beauty regimen, but it’s a supplement that needs to be used cautiously, “explains Vanessa Coppola, FNP-BC, Registered Nurse, Aesthetist and Owner of Bare Aesthetic Medical Spa. “It is important to note that essential oils are derived from fruit, vegetable or plant sources and retain many of the properties of their original host. Put simply, this means that if you have responded to the host source – for example, lemons – Then it would not be a good idea to use an essential oil made from lemon as it contains many of the same properties and could cause a person to have a sensitivity or allergic reaction. “
If you want to use essential oils in your skin care routine, Atelier Beauté esthetician and co-owner Aneta Zuraw says you should keep in mind that each essential oil can have different chemistries and different therapeutic effects and strengths. It is important to mix the essential oil with a carrier oil as it can be very potent and irritating to the skin if used directly.
“A safer thing is to choose a pre-formulated face cream or lotion that already has an essential oil in it,” says Coppola, “but if you want to take a do-it-yourself approach, a reasonable rule of thumb is about five to six drops Applying essential oil to about half an ounce of the wearer – either a facial serum oil such as jojoba, argan, or almond oil, a face cream, or a face lotion.It is important (no pun intended) to do a spot test first and for at least 72 hours watch to identify reactions or sensitivities when essential oils are included in your treatment. “When well tolerated, skin care benefits include fighting free radical damage, promoting collagen formation, and improving clarity and texture Increasing your complexion’s hydration and providing antioxidant benefits.
The story goes on
Check out some of the essential oils with anti aging benefits below.
The best antiaging essential oils
1. Lemon
Airome Lemon Essential Oil ($ 10)
“Lemon oil is a rich source of vitamin C, which, with its lightening properties, is known to improve skin tone and improve collagen production. It also has antimicrobial properties, ”says Board-certified internist Sunitha Posina, MD.
Vitruvi Lemon Essential Oil ($ 13)
2. Frankincense
Aba Love Pharmacist Body Tonic ($ 42)
Aba Gyepi-Garbrah, certified aromatherapist and founder of Aba Love Apothecary, says frankincense can help with dryness, skin tightening, skin cell rejuvenation and repair, and wound healing.
Handcraft Blends Frankincense Essential Oil ($ 19)
3. Neroli
Aba Love Apothecary Flower Crown Facial Serum ($ 22)
Coppola says neroli is a bitter orange oil extract known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. “It can be useful on acne-prone skin and, if used sparingly, it can help reduce the incidence of fungal breast acne,” she adds.
Gya Labs Neroli Essential Oil ($ 20)
4. Helichrysum
Herbal Therapy Helichrysum Essential Oil ($ 25)
Gyepi-Garbrah explains that Helichrysum has skin regenerating and scar healing benefits. It is ideal for sensitive, scarred and severely damaged skin.
Healing Solutions Helichrysum Essential Oil ($ 14)
5. sandalwood
Essence-Lux Sandalwood Essential Oil ($ 6)
“Sandalwood has anti-urticarial properties (anti-itching) and is a wonderfully soothing essential oil for dry, sensitive skin,” says Coppola. “It also has anti-inflammatory properties that can be useful for skin conditions like mild eczema and rosacea. Sandalwood helps attract and hold water to the skin by maintaining a healthy moisture balance – this results in smoother, plumper, and healthier skin. It’s gentle and calming and can also help cell renewal. “
Sun Essential Oils Australian Sandalwood Essential Oil ($ 9)
6. Carrot seeds
SVA Organics carrot seed oil ($ 15)
“Carrot seeds have some antioxidant effects. The antioxidants could help prevent aging by stopping the breakdown of healthy cells in the skin,” explains Atelier Beauté beautician and co-owner Darya Rzaca.
Leven Rose Carrot Seed Oil ($ 14)
7. Rose
Gya Labs Rose Otto Essential Oil ($ 20)
“Rose oil could be particularly helpful in renewing skin cells, which makes the skin look younger for longer,” says Rzaca. “Rose essential oil heals scars, moisturizes, fights inflammation, relieves stress and promotes blood circulation.”
Essence-Lux Rose Essential Oil ($ 7)
8. Geranium
Vitruvi Geranium Essential Oil ($ 18)
Posina says it is known as a natural scar agent (skin healing) and can promote wound healing and aid in the process of skin cell regeneration.
Healing Solutions Geranium Essential Oil ($ 9)
9. Pomegranate
Mary Tylor Naturals Organic Pomegranate Seed Oil ($ 10)
“Pomegranate has been shown to contain a potent antioxidant profile that can help protect skin from free radical damage and potentially prevent premature photoaging (also known as premature wrinkles and collagen loss),” says Coppola.
Horbaach pomegranate seed oil ($ 6)
10. Rosemary
Quelle Vital Apothecary Rosemary Essential Oil ($ 15)
Rosemary has antibacterial properties and can stimulate your skin by promoting blood circulation and improving inflammation, says Posina. And Gyepi-Garbrah that it can also detoxify and tighten the skin.
Soil Organics Organic Essential Rosemary Oil ($ 9)
11. Ylang-ylang
Vitruvi Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil ($ 18)
“Ylang-ylang is an essential oil that is often used in perfumes. However, according to a 2015 study, ylang-ylang has shown some antioxidant effects that could aid in skin renewal, ”explains Rzaca. “In particular, ylang-ylang has been shown to help rebuild proteins and fats in the skin while reducing the number of free radicals.”
Plant Therapy Ylang Ylang Essential Oil ($ 14)
12. Cypress
Artizen Cypress Essential Oil ($ 25)
Cypress oil can detoxify, relieve water retention, and smooth the skin, according to Gyepi-Garbrah.
Soil Organics Organic Cypress Essential Oil ($ 13)
13. Lavender
Cliganic Organic Lavender Essential Oil ($ 9)
“Lavender is known for its antibacterial properties and for helping with acne. It’s also non-comedogenic, which means it won’t clog pores. It can help people with dry skin or people with eczema,” says Posina.
Vitruvi Lavender Essential Oil ($ 18)
Do’s and Don’ts when using essential oils
Now Solutions Jojoba Oil ($ 27)
We have already learned that essential oils can be highly concentrated and potent, which can irritate the skin. Before using them in your routine, the experts gave us some recommendations that you should follow:
Do not use directly on the skin: This is not meant to sound like a broken record, but you should always use a carrier oil with an essential oil.
Check the labels: Posina recommends checking the quality of the oil and introducing it based on the properties of the oil.
Do not use if very old: If you’ve had an oil for a long time, you will likely want to buy a new one. Also, you shouldn’t use it if it’s not properly stored. Zuraw recommends storing your oils in a cool, dry place out of the sun.
Do not apply without doing a patch test: Test a small area of skin for allergies before applying it all over the body.
Be careful if you have acne prone skin: “Because oils also provide an occlusive barrier to the skin, they are best tolerated in the cooler winter months and should be used carefully and sparingly in those prone to breakouts,” says Coppola. “When used modestly, skin compounds formulated from essential oils in very small amounts can be beneficial for those suffering from pimples, such as geranium essential oils.”
Be careful in the sun: Coppola says that any lemon or fruit-based essential oil (like lemon or grapefruit) should be used with caution in high sun exposure, such as on the beach. This is because these essential oils can cause increased photosensitivity to UVA and UVB rays. Posina says you want to avoid them altogether during the day.
Pure Silk Slip Pillowcase ($ 110)
Apply with caution: You should be careful not to get any of this in your eyes.
Apply based on your skin’s needs: How often you use an essential oil depends on your skin type. “Essential oils are very effective, so start low and go slow. Excessive use of essential oils can increase the risk of side effects. In most cases, a drop or two is enough, and using more can result in waste products, ”says Zuraw. And if you don’t see results quickly, be patient – Coppola says it usually takes at least 30 days to see results, with the best results appearing after 12 weeks.
Change your pillowcase: Posina explains that they can pick up the oil and also collect dirt.
Do not use on babies or young children: You should also be careful if you are pregnant as some oils cannot be applied topically if you are expecting them to. So talk to your doctor first.
Next: These 9 essential oils are the secret to longer, healthier hair
This article originally appeared on The Thirty
Read more from The Thirty
