Essential oils are plant extracts made from flowers, leaves, and seeds. These plant extracts are widely known to support health and well-being and have healing properties that can treat certain skin conditions. These oils are obtained through distillation (either steam or water) or mechanical methods, such as cold pressing. These oils should not be used straight away but only after diluting them, usually with other carrier oils or creams. You can create a solution that only has a little bit – 1% to 5% – of the essential oil.
How to use Essential Oils
Essential Oils works wonders on any skin type. For dry skin mix a few drops of any of the below mentioned essential oil with a moisturizer or carrier oil like coconut or almond oil and apply it to your face or skin once a day. For oily skin mix a few drops of essential oil with your toner, or sunscreen or natural face mask like neem, clay or multani mitti (fuller’s earth). You can also add 4-5 drops of any essential oil to an ice cube before putting it to freeze and once frozen, rub the ice cube on your face once or twice a day.
Best Essential Oils for Skin
1. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifornia, a small tree which is native to Australia. It is a powerful immune system stimulants and helps fight viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Tea Tree oil has antiseptic properties and helps fight acne and oily skin. This oil also soothes dry skin and can also help heal infections that cause itchy skin.
2. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender oil is antibacterial in nature and works great for healing painful acne breakouts. Just like Tea Tree oil, Lavender oil works wonders for both dry and oily skin and helps with itchy skin. This oil is a great source of antioxidants and is useful in battling signs of premature aging.
3. Rose Essential Oil
Rose Essential Oil has deep nourishing properties that improves your skin health and makes it look healthier and brighter. It is a great ingredient to promote a youthful complexion. Rose Oil also has anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce the appearance of redness and puffiness.
4. Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile Essential Oil has skin repairing, regenerating, and strengthening properties, which helps keep your skin young and supple. Just like drinking Chamomile Tea relaxes your mind and body, using Chamomile Oil on your skin relaxes and calms your skin. Regular application of chamomile oil helps improve skin tone.
5. Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus Essential Oil has natural anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and analgesic properties which makes this oil a very powerful natural healer. This oil is known for its moisturizing properties. skin. It provides intense hydration to the skin, and locks in moisture and enables healthy and glowing skin.
These essential oils can do wonders to your skin health, making it look radiant and youthful. However, be very careful when using these oils around the eye area. Do not put it in the eye or swallow it. It should not be ingested as it is highly concentrated. It is recommended to do a patch test before using any of these oils to make sure your skin doesn’t react to these oils.