As an aromatherapist, I’m often asked about the best essential oils for your skin. Essential oils are packed with nutrients, richly moisturizing, can help with dry skin, and help promote skin healing. Oh yes, and they smell fabulous too!
So in my helpful guide, I’ll take you through the best ones so you can get started creating beautiful skin blends straight away!
Here’s the quick answer first, I’ll pop in a handy list you can refer to, then delve into each oil in a little more detail.
Best Essential Oils for Skin
| Best Essential Oils for Skin | Skin Benefits |
| Ylang-ylang | Cleansing, moisturizing, hydrating, good for dry or cracked skin |
| Jasmine oil | Removes dark spots, balances uneven skin, reduces the appearance of age spots gives a youthful glow, helps promote scar tissue, locks in moisture, good for dry skin conditions |
| Chamomile oil | Calms skin irritations soothes eczema symptoms, helps heal acne scars, detoxes skin, hydrates |
| Tea tree oil | Naturally, cleansing, anti-bacterial, good for acne and other blemishes, unblocks pores, calms skin irritations |
| Sandalwood oil | Nourishes, improve skin elasticity, evens out skin tone, calms irritated skin, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles |
| Sweet orange oil | Heals acne, bacterial for spots and blemishes, hydrates, moisturizing, brightens skin tone, tones skin |
| Rose absolute oils | Skin-soothing, moisturizing, helps heal acne scars, soothes irritated skin, promotes cell regeneration, hydrates, especially suitable for dry or mature skin |
| Clary sage oil | Good for both oily and dry skin soothes and helps remove redness and skin blotches, skin balancing, hydrates and locks in moisture, promotes a youthful glow, minimizes pores, fine lines, and wrinkles |
| Helichrysum oil | Antibacterial for skin toning promotes skin glow, increases collagen and skin elasticity, helps to fade blemishes, acne prevention |
| Geranium oil | Tightens, tones and removes dead skin cells, promotes cell renewal, anti-aging, reduce fine lines and wrinkles |
| Lavender oil | Amazing skin healing properties promotes cell renewal, lighten skin, reduce age spots, minimize blotches and recess, reduce acne scarring, astringent and tones skin, good for dry and mature skins |
| Bergamot oil | Helps to unclog pores, is good for oily-combination skin, is a natural cleanser, helps promote an even skin tone, stimulates cell renewal, balances and restores |
| Neroli oil | Reduces acne breakouts, soothes and moisturizes, calms skin redness, hydrates locks in moisture, soften skin minimizes stretch marks and dark spots |
| Lemon oil | Skin lightener, minimize dark spots, astringent toner, hydrates, soothes skin irritation such a sunburn, anti-aging |
| Mandarin oil | Cleansing removes dead skin cells, brightens skin, tightens pores, diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, astringent and toner |
| Petitgrain oil | Brightens complexion, soothes skin irritations such as sunburn, soothes acne irritation, cleanses and removes impurities, balances skin, hydrating |
| Grapefruit oil | Helps to prevent acne, tones, and lightens skin, helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles, brightens skin, cleanses |
| Blue tansy oil | Helps to repair damaged skin, heal and promotes cell renewal, reduces inflammation, soothes and hydrates, helps unblock pores |
| Lotus oil | Natural astringent, good for combination or oily skin, refines skin texture, tightens pores, deeply nourishes, and hydrates |
| Rosemary oil | Natural astringent and tone, hydrates skin, cleanses and removes impurities, helps unclog pores, is good for very dry skin and eczema, helps to reduce eye puffiness |
| Basil oil | Promotes skin elasticity, astringent toner, smooths complexion, boosts skin glow, calms skin irritations |
| Marula oil | Smooths fine lines and wrinkles, locks in moisture, good for dry or very dry skin, hydrating promotes soft supple skin, calm acne breakouts, skin glow |
| Frankincense oil | Heals acne breakouts reduce the appearance of scars, fine lines, and wrinkles, hydrates, moisturizes, calms redness and sunburn |
The best essential oils for skin
Ok so here’s my hit list for anyone wondering which are the best oils for skin. I’ve added each oil’s skin benefits so you can see at a glance how each oil works best for the skin.
So you can also get the most out of these super skin enriching oils for blending some beautiful aromatic, moisturizing, and cleansing blend recipes, I’ve listed which essential oils are best for:
- Cleansing
- Toning
- Moisturising
- Acne
- Anti-aging
Following on I will delve a little deeper into each oil and add in some blends.
In the meantime, if you can’t wait to get started creating your own skin blends then head over to discover my specially curated list of Essential Oil Blends for Glowing Skin’
Discover moisturizers, skin balms, hand creams, anti-aging serums, face toners, and more!
Best cleansing essential oils for skin
- Ylang-ylang oil
- Lavender
- Rose absolute oil
- Clary sage oil
- Bergamot oil
- Mandarin oil
- Geranium
- Grapefruit oil
- Sandalwood
- Lotus oil
- Petitgrain oil
Best essential oils for skin toning
- Tea tree oil
- Sweet orange oil
- Helichrysum oil
- Geranium oil
- Lavender oil
- Lemon oil
- Mandarin oil
- Grapefruit oil
- Blue tansy oil
- Lotus oil
- Rosemary oil
- Basil oil
What are the best essential oils for skin moisturizing?
- Ylang-ylang oil
- Jasmine oil
- Lavender oil
- Geranium oil
- Sandalwood oil
- Sweet orange oil
- Rose absolute oil
- Clary sage oil
- Neroli oil
- Petitgrain oil
- Blue tansy oil
- Lotus oil
- Marula oil
These beautiful hydrating and moisture-giving oils are useful in so many different blends. They work beautifully in Relaxing Bath Blends, and also can help to bring a glow to your whole body in massage recipes and more! Find out Can Essential Oils Firm Breasts?
Best essential oils for acne breakouts
- Tea tree oil
- Lavender oil
- Neroli oil
- Petitgrain oil
- Grapefruit oil
- Rosemary oil
- Marula oil
- Frankincense oil
Best essential oils for anti-aging
- Jasmine oil
- Sandalwood oil
- Rose absolute oil
- Helichrysum oil
- Geranium oil
- Lavender oil
- Lemon oil
- Mandarin oil
- Grapefruit oil
- Blue tansy oil
- Basil oil
- Marula oil
- Frankincense oil
Some of the best essential oils for skin have multiple benefits
You’ll probably notice some of these oils have superpowers and end up in more than 1 category! In fact, some of the best essential oils for skin turn up in three or four categories.
The reason for this is that many essential oils are so perfect for use on the skin, many of them multi-useful.
So it could be said that here is my super list of best essential oils for skin! Not only are they fabulous for your skincare routine, but some of them are also some of the Best Smelling Essential Oils too! head over to my other helpful article to discover the most aromatic, fragrant, and simply delicious-smelling essential oils!
Lavender oil
As the most popular oil that most of us have in our beauty drawers or for home remedies, lavender, of course, needs no introduction. It’s one of the stand out essential oils for skincare
Its purifying, skin healing and cleansing properties are well known and lavender is top of anyone’s list when discussing the best essential oils for skin!
Its clinically researched antibacterial properties mean it not only moisturizes and softens skin, it’s also effective as an astringent and can tone the skin whilst combating skin complaints such as acne and eczema.
To discover lots of beautiful, lavender blends in skin balms, toners, moisturizers, and more pop over and discover which other oils Lavender Blends Well With
“lavender is top of everyone’s list when discussing the best essential oils for skin!”
Sandalwood oil
Sandalwood is another super oil that’s one of the best essential oils for the skin. Its soothing, hydrating, astringent, and anti-aging qualities is why it’s used in many commercial skincare products.
It can even out skin tone, help to promote the growth of new cells, and deeply nourish the skin.
According to Decleor it has an “unparalleled ability to renew the complexion”
It can be used to create skin creams, lotions, and even relaxing bath blends. This slightly woodsy-smelling essential oil really earns its place as one of the best essential oils for skin!
Geranium oil
This is one of my own personal go-to oils for all-around skincare. I love adding it to my favorite anti-aging serums for an added super boost!
Keep reading and discover how best to do this further into the article!
Geranium oil has wonderful skin properties. It’s a brilliant astringent which means it works to tighten pores and increase skin elasticity. It also is wonderful for reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It also helps to promote new cell growth and keeps your complexion fresh and glowing!
To discover the power of this gorgeously softly rose-scented oil, head over to discover other oils it blends with, pillow sprays, diffuser recipes, and more Ways To Use Geranium Oil
Clary sage
This is a superb all-rounder and is perfect for oily and more mature skins. Clary sage contains linalyl acetate, also found in lavender and bergamot. It removes sebum from the skin and unblocks pores, alongside adding hydration to drier or more mature skins giving radiance and glow.
Its powerful benefits for the skin have been documented in several clinical studies which show how it renews cells following wound infections. Its super antibacterial properties also make it perfect for helping with the prevention and healing of acne.
I love mixing 3 drops of clary sage, 3 of geranium with a teaspoon of jojoba oil and applying it to my face in upwards strokes. It helps give me a beautiful morning lift and glow!
I also love to add both oils to a diffuser for an extra skin treat!
Discover more of my Best Essential oils to use in a Diffuser to compliment your skincare routine!
Sweet orange oil
This uplifting citrus oil is used extensively in shop-bought skincare products for both its refreshing sunny aroma and also for its powerful skincare properties.
It works brilliantly on all kinds of skins from excessively oily through to drier more mature skins. Its citrus zing has astringent qualities for helping to deal with acne outbreaks, while its soothing and calming properties hydrate mature complexions.
I love mixing this bright vibrant oil with lentils in an aromatic scented facemask! To discover more ways to use the super cheap but effective store cupboard ingredient to bring its nutrients to your home DIY beauty blends, head over to find out more! Uses of Lentils for Skin
Orange oil is packed with vitamin C
It also smells amazing! So its mere scent is good for frown lines! The vitamin c contained in orange oil also contributes to making it one of the best oils for the skin!
Add orange oil to your favorite toner or create your own using 20 drops of orange oil in a 4oz spray bottle and fill with witch hazel, rose water ( my favorite!) water boiled and cooled from a kettle.
This gorgeous aromatic toner will help to tighten pores and give your skin a beautiful radiance and glow!
To discover more about Blending Orange Oil, pop over to find out more about this skin supercharged essential oil!
“It works brilliantly on all kinds of skins from excessively oily through to drier more mature skins”
Using the best essential oils for skincare in shop-bought products
So now you’ve found out which oil works best for different aspects of skincare, let’s find out how to use the best oils for skin in your shop-bought products!
A good rule of thumb is to use 1 drop of oil for each mL of a shop-bought skincare product. So for instance, if you have a moisturizer that’s 30mL in size, add 3 drops of essential oil to a full container.
Decant your bought skincare product into a bowl
I usually recommend decanting as much of the product as you can into a small clean bowl and adding your oils that way. Then pop it back into a clean container with a lid. There are lots of beauty product containers available cheaply.
However, I do recommend amber glass jars where possible as they help to protect the essential oils from spoiling.
“A good rule of thumb is to use 1 drop of essential oil for each mL of a shop-bought skincare product.”
How else can I use essential oils in my shop-bought products?
So if you don’t want the hassle of completely decanting your shop-bought skincare products, you can add some of the best essential oils for skincare directly to the bottles or jars.
This works best for liquids such as toners or face serums. I usually wait until a little has been used first and then add my chosen oils using the 1 drop per 10mL formula directly to the bottles and shake well.
Safety checks for using the best essential oils for skin
So as with any skincare product, I would always recommend you do a skin test first for any oils you want to use before either using in your own blends or adding to existing skincare products.
Some oils are more potent than others and other than lavender oil, should never be applied directly to the skin without either a carrier oil or other cream/lotion/serum.
If you are taking quite a lot of prescription medication or if you have existing allergies, always do a patch test first.
And to finish on…
So I hope that’s given you lots of information on the best essential oils for skin and also their wealth of benefits!
Use this guide to help you create your own blends and also bring an extra boost of skin glow into your shop-bought creams.
“This content has been checked and verified by a medical professional or aromatherapist The article has been reviewed by our editorial board and has been approved for publication in accordance with our editorial policy.”
