Did you know that the skin is your body's largest organ and our immune system's first line of defense? The skin has an immense and natural capacity to protect us from pathogens and germs. An effort to use skin care to maintain a healthy environment is very much worth the effort. And if you find yourself in a situation where your skin or the skin of someone close to you becomes irritated, it never hurts to get a little boost from nature.

But finding the right essential oils to support the skin is not always easy. As you may know, there is a profusion of essential oils that are beneficial for so many different skin issues and understanding which essential oils to use can seem like a daunting task. This post will help you untangle the dos, don'ts and ins and outs of the best essential oils for glowing skin.

So what are the best essential oils for healthy, glowing skin and how do we use and apply them? Let's take a dive into skin issues, look at a few exemplary essential oils and some of the research that backs them up - all the while getting a peak at Edens Garden expertly crafted Best Skin Ever essential oil blend. 

What Essential Oils Are Best For Glowing Skin? 

Essential oils are made from different plant parts and contain constituents that have been shown to pacify inflammation, redness, itchiness, dryness, irritation and even tonify, tighten and control oily skin. Of all the essential oils out there, floral, wood and resin oils have long been known to promote a lustrous and healthy glow and soothe and soften skin irritation. 

Here is a breakdown of essential oils that Edens Garden holds in high regard and their properties when it comes to healing and assuaging skin issues:

 Floral

• Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum) this potent and powerful skin care oil has a number of beneficial properties. Its constituents include curcumene, neryl acetate and smaller compounds that give this star oil its “tissue remodeling effects”[1]. With the clinical application of Helichrysum, the research found that when diluted in a Rosehip carrier oil after cosmetic surgery, Helichrysum reduced inflammation, swelling and bruising. 
• Properties: calms allergic reactions, reduces inflammation, reduces pain, antibacterial, wound healing and skin healing. 
• Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii) This oil is a powerhouse due to its content of geraniol, geranyl acetate and linalool. It calms a number of topical skin issues including wound healing via cell regeneration and balancing our natural sebum production keeping hydration and skin oil levels optimal. Ideal for dermatitis, acne, eczema and psoriasis to reduce inflammation it also protects and adds moisture to dry skin and can battle topical fungal infections. 
• Properties: pain-relieving, reduces inflammation, antibacterial, antifungal, cooling, skin healing.
• Rose - Moroccan absolute (Rosa centifolia) Rose oil is one of the most precious essential oils in the world and regardless of its price tag is worth every penny. Rose is a natural antioxidant and helps to control free radical skin damage giving it a leg up in healing dry, damaged skin as well as skin sensitivities and reducing signs of aging. Its antianxiety effects help you to relax and therefore thwart future stress-related and inflammatory skin eruptions.
• Properties: pain-relieving, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, skin healing, anti-anxiety
• Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) Lavender oil is by far the most studied essential oil on the market. Its makeup in a large part stems from the compounds linalool and linalyl acetate and other ester and sesquiterpene components which have phenomenal face and skin care talent. Lavender is not an oil to ignore in the skincare routine as its outstanding skills can be used for everything from healing burns, small wounds, and insect bites to calming inflamed, red areas and even assist in healing topical ulcers. Its anxiety-soothing effects are an added benefit. 
• Properties: pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, skin and wound healing and helps to reduce allergic response.  

Leaf

• Patchouli - Dark (Pogostemom cablin) Patchouli is one of a kind. It also only gets better with age, lasting years and years when kept in a cool, dark environment. Its high content of sesquiterpene and sesquiterpenols give it its healing anti-inflammatory love and as a heavier base note, makes it exceptional for all skin types - oily or dry. It balances well in a blend supported by floral oils and base notes such as Frankincense and Cedarwood. Patchouli is used often in blends for treating skin disorders including fungal infections, fortifying aging skin, repelling insects, reducing irritation from bug bites and controlling oily skin, oily hair and even dandruff.  
• Properties: pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, cooling, skin and wound healing  

Wood

• Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica): The strength of the Cedar tree transposes itself into its essential oil counterpart. Grown in Morocco, the Cedarwood Atlas tree has a protective nature and can reach a height of more than 140 feet. Just breathing in this oil has been shown to alleviate pain due to its Sesquiterpene content. Cedarwood has been used for a variety of skin issues including toning and tightening the skin, deterring biting insects and even stimulating hair growth. 
• Properties: antibacterial, pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, astringent, insecticide, wound healing

Resin

• Frankincense CO2 (Boswellia carterii): Frankincense is often used in skincare and body care blends to enhance one's health for its immune-modulating properties. Due to this, it is very skin protective, reducing inflammation in those who have issues with repeat skin irritations such as eczema and psoriasis. Its anxiety and stress relieving effects can also deter further skin irritation and breakouts from dry skin conditions. 
• Properties: pain relieving, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, skin and wound healing, immune-stimulating, tonic, antibacterial and antifungal. 

Is It Good To Rub Essential Oils On Your Skin? 

It takes an enormous amount of plant material to make essential oils and therefore, essential oils are highly concentrated. If used undiluted, topical ‘neat’ application can cause skin irritation in the form of allergic reactions, burns, rashes, redness, itchiness, etc - especially for those who have sensitive skin. By appropriately diluting essential oils for topical use into a carrier oil or unscented cream or other topical application product, you will avoid further skin irritation and save yourself a lot of money in the process! 

A few cautionary notes: 

• Always skin patch test diluted essential oil products on the inner arm of the skin to rule out irritation or allergy.
• For sensitive and dry skin conditions, dilute essential oils into a carrier oil at a 1% dilution. 
• Don't use essential oils with children under the age of 2. Their little bodies are more sensitive to aromas and the products may overload their systems. 
• Use only gentle essential oils on children between the ages of 2-10. 
• Hot oils such as Cinnamon, Clove bud, Oregano and others should be diluted to a maximum of 1% in blends. 
• Never ingest essential oils or put them inside your mouth, nose, eyes, or private parts.

What Are The Best-Smelling Essential Oils For The Skin? 

Each of us has our own preferences for aromatics. Sometimes the love (or hatred) of an aroma will come from childhood or life experience. When formulating essential oil blends, we base much of our science on single oil benefits. How they mesh in a blend is also very important. What is so special about Best Skin Ever is that it was formulated to effectively address a broad range of skin concerns and works across the board for all skin types. If you tend to like wood oils and floral oils blended together, Best Skin Ever should be right up your alley aroma-wise.

What Essential Oils Are Bad For The Skin? 

There are a few ways to look at this question, on the one hand, you have hot oils if used in too high of a dilution can easily irritate the skin such as Cinnamon Bark, Cinnamon Leaf, Clove Bud, Oregano and Thyme ct thymol. And on the other hand, it's about how your skin will react to the product due to allergic reaction or too high of a dilution of certain oils. Either way, it is recommended to not only perform a skin patch test when using new essential oils but to always blend essential oils to a maximum of 1-5% dilution with a carrier oil or unscented cream. 

Blending Essential Oils With Carrier Oils 

Many of us like to try our hand at making and handcrafting our own skin and facial oil products. It's a fun undertaking. There are also an endless number of products you can make! For your skin type, you can start with an essential oil roller to tackle acne and blemishes or a facial oil blend. Carrier oils are varied and highly versatile for different skin types including combination skin. A knowledge of some of these skin and face oils can further your foray into handcrafting with carrier oils naturally loaded with essential fatty acid compounds.  

A lot of how you choose a carrier should be based on skin type or issue to resolve. For dry skin conditions such as eczema & psoriasis, you want to use essential oils blended with a carrier oil that is considered an emollient. Emollient carrier oils add moisture and then seal the skin to lock it in. For those with oily skin, you should lean toward oils that are more astringent that assist with toning and tightening the skin. A few of our favorites are highlighted below.

• Baobab Seed oil: Great for acne-prone skin and maintaining healthy pores; comedogenic rating of ⅖ and for those with sensitive skin, it's worth testing on a small area first.
• Camellia Seed oil: Noncomedogenic rating of 0; astringent quality and excellent for those with oily skin; apply directly on rough, dry patches.
• Cucumber Seed oil: A cooling carrier oil that reduces inflammation and aids dry skin conditions, especially eczema and psoriasis but doesnt leave the skin feeling greasy. Its cooling quality helps to nurture sunburns. 
• Guava Seed oil: Studies have shown that it can encourage moisture retention and inhibit infections, wound healing, reduce redness, maintain elasticity, tone loose skin and improve skin texture by hydrating which helps to prevent early signs of aging via topical application. 
• Meadowfoam oil: Considered an emollient for the skin which naturally creates a protective seal on the skin to lock in moisture and is noted for its use with dry skin conditions.
• Pomegranate Seed oil: Noted for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, it is touted for its ability to protect collagen fibers that enhance skin elasticity, as well as wound healing and reducing the appearance of scars.  
• Tamanu oil: Loaded with naturally derived vitamin E, it has a medium viscosity and a light nutty aroma that absorbs somewhat easily into the skin. It is often used to treat scars and issues like stretch marks. It keeps a thin barrier over the skin to retain moisture and is well known for its strengths as a wound and scar healer.

Using Diluted Essential Oil Products On Your Skin

To use the blend you created, first wash the skin gentle cleanser and then massage the oil blend or cream gently to the skin. 

Handcrafted Products

1. Face Wash: Make a 1oz face wash with .5 oz of liquid Castille soap, .5 oz of witch hazel and 12 drops of Best Skin Ever.
2. DIY Face Serum Oil: Place 12 drops of Best Skin Ever into one of the carrier oils above or into an unscented cream. After combining, massage a small amount of the blend into your skin. 
3. Whipped Body Butter: For those willing to work a little harder for homemade body butter, try making this whipped delicacy. Melt .25 oz of beeswax and .75 oz of shea butter in a double boiler. Remove from the heat and pour into a glass or ceramic bowl. Let cool slightly then stir in 3 oz of carrier oil of your choosing. Blend in 40 drops of Best Skin Ever and whip with a whisk or an immersion blender. Transfer to a 4 oz container and let cool and set in the fridge overnight. 
4. Shaving oil: Soften skin and hair and boost your shave by combining 12 drops of Best Skin Ever and 1 oz of carrier oil such as Jojoba oil. Lubricate your skin with shaving oil and use your favorite razor to trim hair.

After using the product, let us know what you think - we would love to hear about your experience!

SOURCES:

1. Chemical composition analysis and in vitro biological activities of ten essential oils in human skin cell 
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805555/
2. Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils from Palmarosa, Evening Primrose, Lavender and Tuberose
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2839398/
3. The Effect of Essential Oils from Tea-tree and Palmarosa on the Acne Skin https://www.e-ajbc.org/journal/view.php?number=678
4. Therapeutic efficacy of rose oil: A comprehensive review of clinical evidence https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5511972/
5. Rose Flowers—A Delicate Perfume or a Natural Healer?  https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/1/127
6. Rose essential oil https://examine.com/supplements/rose-essential-oil/research/#plqV326-interactions-with-aesthetics_plqV326-skin
7. Effect of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) Essential Oil on Acute Inflammatory Response 
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5878871/
8. Patchouli Oil Benefits and Uses 
   https://www.healthline.com/health/patchouli-oil
9. Inhalation of Cedrus atlantica essential oil alleviates pain behavior https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378874115301161
10. Antifungal and Cytotoxic Activities of Sixty Commercially-Available Essential Oils https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6100473/
11. Enhanced skin structure through innovative anti-aging treatment https://dermaviduals.de/english/publications/anti-aging/enhanced-skin-structure-through-innovative-anti-aging-treatment.html