Facial oils make your skin feel softer, smoother, more resilient and give a natural-looking glow. They are helpful in keeping your skin’s vital hydration locked and have instantaneous, incredible skin soothing properties.
Using facial oils may be that missing step in your beauty routine says, top dermatologists. Ancient Egyptians kept their skin flawless and vibrant using facial oils.
This old-school beauty secret is making a comeback right now. Keep reading to see why oils should be the next page in your beauty playbook and which ones could work best for you.
What are Facial Oils?
Essential or fragrant plant oils, non-fragrant plant oils or synthetic oils such as mineral oils can be said as facial oils. Synthetic oils have a bad rap in the world of skin care.
Despite the name facial oils, you can use these oils anywhere on your body. Essential oils are very pure, so it can’t be used directly on your skin. You can mix it with base oils or carrier oils and apply it on your skin.
Benefits of Facial Oils
Free radical protection. Ultraviolet light can cause free radical damage to your skin. Many botanical oils like argan, African marula oils, and passion fruit are potent antioxidants. Massage a few drops of these oils to clear skin in the morning. Wait for 2-3 minutes and apply sunscreen or foundation as usual.
Improves skin tolerance. Many oils have anti-inflammatory properties helping to soothe your irritated skin. Oils can prevent irritation caused by some anti-aging ingredients. Argan, yangu and borage seed oils all contribute to decreasing inflammation.
Plumping your skin. In your late 30’s you may suddenly develop wrinkles because your skin’s natural oils reduce, the moisture barrier breaks down, and this results in dry skin.
Oils are lipolytic or fat loving. They can penetrate deep into your skin trapping in water and other moisturizing goodness. Thus, plumping up your skin with moisture. Coconut and olive oils are great moisturizers.
Good for dry skin. Facial oils are the ideal antidote for dry, flaky skin and rough cheeks. They are more helpful at moisturizing your face than over the counter standard lotions and creams. Coconut oil is good for dry skin. Almond oil with hydrating Omega 3 fatty acids is an excellent choice for sensitive skin.
What is Your Skin Type
It helps to know your skin type to choose the right kind of facial oils. Skin types include normal, dry, oily and sensitive. Some people have combination skin. Skin types vary depending on the water content, lipid content and level of sensitivity.
Normal Skin
You’re lucky to have a normal skin because it has a right balance and the right amounts of water and lipids. Your skin has no or only a few imperfections, barely visible ones, no severe sensitivity and a radiant complexion.
Facial Oils for Normal Skin
Frankincense Eessential Oil. It is a powerful astringent meaning it helps protect your skin cells. It reduces blemishes, the appearance of large pores and prevents wrinkles. Frankincense oil naturally lifts and tightens your skin and slows down the signs of aging. You can use the oil anywhere where your skin becomes saggy such as jowls, under your eyes and abdomen.
- How to apply: In a dark-colored dropper bottle, mix 11/2 tbsp. each of jojoba oil and grapeseed oil to 5 drops of frankincense essential oil, three drops of rose oil and three drops of lavender essential oil. Massage a small amount of oil on your face to hydrate and plump up your skin.
Jasmine Essential Oil. Jasmine essential oil is rich in antioxidants and protects your skin from environmental stress. It fights free radicals so gives your skin a youthful appearance. It evens out your skin tone and significantly reduces the appearance of age spots. It provides moisture to your skin and will not clog the pores. The lovely scent of jasmine essential oil reduces your stress levels.
- How to apply: Mix 2 drops of jasmine oil to 1 tablespoon of virgin coconut oil. Gently massage it on your face.
Lavender Essential Oil. Lavender essential oil helps to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet. It reduces laxity and prevents early signs of aging.
According to a study published in the BMC, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, lavender oil heals wounds in just four days after application. It increases the number of fibroblasts that produce collagen, thus making your skin firm and prevents sagging.
Researchers from Portugal’s University of Coimbra found that lavender oil keeps the fungal cells from escaping into the bloodstream thereby preventing severe infections.
- How to apply: Add 20 drops of lavender oil, and 20 drops of myrrh oil and 30 drops of jojoba oil to a small glass bottle to produce skin serum. Take a few drops and massage it onto your face.
Rose Essential Oil. It takes tens, and thousands of rose blossoms picked as they are unfolding in the early hours of dawn to give you one ounce of rose essential oil. It contains an array of minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins.
Rose essential oil has great emollient properties for moisturizing your skin. It possesses astringent properties to treat acne-prone skin. Because of its excellent anti-inflammatory properties, it soothes your red and inflamed skin.
- How to apply: Massage one to two drops of rose essential oil to your face and neck twice daily.
Dry Skin
Characteristics of dry skin include dry, rough complexion, red patches, less elasticity, almost invisible pores and more visible lines.
Facial Oils for Dry Skin
Cedarwood Essential Oil. Cedarwood has a warm, balsamic and woody aroma. Pure forms of cedarwood oil contain vitamins A, B, C, D and F which promotes the hydration of your skin. It has anti-inflammatory, toning, and antiseptic qualities. It has astringent properties and is caring oil for acne-prone skin.
- How to apply: Mix 4 drops of cedarwood oil, two drops each of sandalwood and tea tree essential oils and four tsp jojoba essential oil. Take three drops of this blend and massage it into your face.
German Chamomile Essential Oil. Regular application of German chamomile essential oil gets rid of the crow’s feet and dark circles hampering the beauty of your eyes. It reduces blemishes and evens out your skin tone. It helps to regenerate and strengthen your skin and keeps it looking young and refreshing.
German chamomile essential oil hydrates and moisturizes your skin and adds radiance.
- How to apply: Mix 3 to 4 drops of German chamomile essential oil with coconut oil and massage it onto your face.You can also blend it with bergamot, lavender, clary sage, tea tree and rose essential oils.
Geranium Essential Oil.
Geranium oil is an astringent. It can minimize the look of wrinkles because it tightens your facial skin and slows down the effects of aging. The antibacterial properties found in geranium oil helps to protect your skin from infection.
Geranium essential oil promotes cell growth. It contributes to recycling dead cells and supports the regeneration of new cells giving your face a youthful glow.
- How to apply: Soften three tablespoons of raw cocoa butter in a double boiler. Add 5 to 7 drops of geranium essential oil and five drops of lavender essential oil. Store in a small container. Massage it onto your face after cleansing.
Hyssop Essential Oil. Hyssop essential oil promotes blood circulation and brightens your dry, dull skin. It has antiseptic properties, so it fights infection and kills bacteria.
Hyssop is a cicatrizant which means it is useful in treating skin problems. It promotes cellular regeneration as well as the growth of new cells. It reduces the appearance of blemishes and acne scars.
- How to apply: Dilute 2-3 drops of hyssop essential oil with the same amount of jojoba oil and massage it onto your face.
Oily skin
Oily skin is a more common occurrence in your youth. It can produce enlarged pores, dull or shiny, thick complexion, spots, blackheads and other blemishes.
Facial Oils for Oily Skin
Bergamot Essential Oil. Bergamot essential oil is a natural cleanser. It helps to remove dirt and impurities. It unclogs the pores and tones your skin by making the supply of melanin equal.
- How to apply: Mix 3-4 drops of bergamot oil with olive oil and massage it onto your face.
Cypress Essential Oil. If you want to reduce the sticky glow of your oily skin, then add cypress oil to your daily skin routine. The astringent properties of cypress oil can clarify oily and congested skin. It reduces inflammation when applied topically.
- How to apply: Mix 3-4 drops of cypress oil with the same amount of olive oil and 2-3 drops of lemon oil and apply it on your face.
Palmarosa Essential Oil. Palmarosa essential oil hydrates, stabilize and rejuvenate your skin. It stimulates skin cells and regulates skin imbalances like acne and dryness. It increases circulation and healthy growth of cells.
- How to apply: Mix 10 drops of palmarosa oil and almond oil in a small bottle. Take a little amount and apply it after cleansing your face.
Marjoram Essential Oil. Marjoram essential oil is a cousin of oregano. It is rich in antioxidants and efficiently balances your skin tone as well. It has antibacterial and fungicidal properties and helps to fight acne.
- How to apply: Take 2-3 drops of marjoram oil, mix it with argan oil or sweet almond oil and apply to skin twice a day.
Combination Skin
If you have combination skin, your skin may be dry or normal in some areas and oily in others, such as the T-zone. Combination skin can cause blackheads, overly dilated pores, and shiny skin.
Facial Oils for Combination Skin
Lemon Essential Oil: It contains helpful ingredients like antioxidants, vitamin C, and citric acid which can fight off acne-causing germs and boosts collagen production. It prevents premature aging and excess oiliness.
- How to apply: Mix 3-4 drops of lemon oil with argan oil or rosehip oil and massage it onto your face. Repeat it twice a day.
Neroli Essential Oil. Neroli essential oil has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. It regenerates skin cells and improves the elasticity of our skin. It helps to maintain the right oil balance for your skin.
- How to apply: Mix a couple of drops of neroli essential oil with a carrier oil like almond oil and apply it onto your face at bedtime.
Patchouli Essential Oil. It helps in the maintenance of healthy skin and protects your facial muscles from free radical damage. Patchouli essential oil tones your muscles and tightens your skin. It boosts the production of red blood cells and enhances blood circulation.
- How to apply: Add a few drops of patchouli essential oil with hazel oil and apply it onto your skin.
Orange Essential Oil. If you use orange essential oil topically, it enhances the synthesis of collagen. It reduces inflammation, improves blood flow and clears clogged pores. It is rich in antioxidants, improves the radiance of your skin and fights premature aging.
- How to apply: You can dilute the orange essential oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil or jojoba oil in a 1:1 ratio and gently massage it on your face for 2 minutes.
Sensitive Skin
Your skin may be sensitive for a variety of reasons but often about particular skin care products. Sensitive skin can show up as itching, redness, burning, and dryness.
Facial Oils for Sensitive Skin
Sandalwood Essential Oil. It has astringent properties which shrink the open pores and calms the irritated skin. It acts as a cicatrizant and promotes healing. If you have blemishes, scars, spots or eczema on your skin, sandalwood oil gets rid of them and prevents its re occurrence.
- How to apply: Use a few drops of sandalwood oil with jojoba oil or witch hazel oil.
Peppermint Essential Oil. If you use peppermint oil daily in your beauty routine, it will make your skin radiant and healthy. Peppermint essential oil controls the secretion of excess sebum. It prevents clogging of pores and acne outbreak.
- How to apply: Mix peppermint essential oil with your cream or moisturizer and use daily to get the desired result.
Hemp Seed Oil.
The fats and lipids in hemp seed oil are like those found in your skin. It acts as an effective moisturizer and increases the elasticity of your skin. It oxygenates your skin and reduces irritation.
- How to apply: You can directly massage hemp seed oil onto your skin for 2-3 minutes, twice a day.
Evening Primrose Oil. It is considered as one of the best remedies to cure eczema and other skin related problems. The GLA and fatty acid content in this oil are essential for skin health. Evening primrose oil is gentle, and you can use it as a moisturizer. It boosts your blood circulation and is helpful to treat tired eyes and skin.
- How to apply: Use it twice a day with a cotton ball for best results.
Face Oils for Individual Skin Conditions
If you suffer from mature skin, you can use
- Frankincense essential oil
- Rosehip seed oil
- Carrot seed oil
- Apricot kernel oil
Acne prone skin needs special care.
- Tea tree essential oil
- Clove essential oil (use it with carrier oil and wash it 15 minutes after application)
- Oregano essential oil
- Clary sage essential oil works best for treating acne.
Conclusion
Undiluted essential oils can be harmful to your skin. So dilute the essential oils with a carrier oil. The carrier oils make the essential oil comfortable to your skin. Before you apply, do a patch test to make sure that your skin does not have any adverse reactions to the oils. You can do the patch test on your inner forearm.
Pregnant women, infants, and young kids should avoid certain essential oils. Be smart to do your homework beforehand. Always keep your face oil bottle away from light.
These plant oils may act as a booster for your skin care routine, but they don’t replace many other essential ingredients for your skin. A healthy nutritious diet, good sleep, and exercise all go hand in hand to have a gorgeous looking skin.
