We’ve all heard of acne, rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis. If you’re reading this, chances are you or a loved one struggle with some type of skin condition, if not one already mentioned. Statistics say one in three Americans struggle with skin conditions, so know you’re not alone (1).

As a teenager, I had perfect skin. A pimple would appear once in a blue moon, but I never broke out. Not until years of birth control destroyed my hormones, that is! Now, as an adult, I’ve struggled with hormonal acne. No matter what medication I’ve been prescribed (including permanent antibiotics before I knew better), the blemishes just don’t stay away.

I’ve tried many skincare routines focusing on waterless skincare regimens, but still, the blemishes always come back, even when I am eating insanely clean. My acne was one of those things that, for a while, really dampened my self-esteem (and sometimes still does), but I am taking charge of my skin health and am learning how to manage it. At this point, the only steps left to try are getting to the root cause by balancing my hormones (I want to start seed cycling for that reason) and making homemade skincare products.

Of course, I could try premade options, but I have an aloe vera allergy, making it very difficult to find clean skincare products I can use. Plus, let’s face it, not everything on the market will work for all skin types.

So, instead, I will try to curate my own skincare regimen. The first step to a successful outcome is research, so, of course, I started researching essential oils and herbs for skin health (we’ll save the herbs for another day).

Please remember to successfully remedy an ailment with essential oils; you must use them properly, so let’s discuss some quick essential oils dos and don’ts.

✅ DO dilute all essential oils as directed on the bottle.
❎ DO NOT ingest essential oils.

✅ DO use essential oils topically, but always dilute them accordingly.
❎ DO NOT apply neat (directly on the skin).

✅ DO use caution around pets and children.
❎ DO NOT disregard safety information.

This list is just a brief rundown; for more details and a dilution chart, I recommend checking out my post, How to Practice Essential Oil Safety!

I trust, use, and recommend Plant Therapy essential oils. Plant Therapy’s Kid-Safe Essential Oils are specifically formulated for children ages two and up. Although I’ve never used them, I’ve also heard great things about Simply Earth Essential Oils. Now, let’s discuss why you’re here: essential oils for skin health.

Blue Tansy Essential Oil

Blue tansy essential oil has two components known for anti-inflammatory properties – sabinene and camphor (2,3). Its anti-inflammatory properties, paired with camphor’s wound-healing and anti-wrinkle properties (identified in mice studies post-UV radiation exposure), make it great for skin health (4). Blue tansy’s skin health benefits have been successfully used by radiologists treating radiation-induced skin burns in cancer patients (5).

Trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins cautions that blue tansy may interact with drugs metabolized by CYP2D6 (6). Plant Therapy’s Blue Tansy Essential Oil and Organic Blue Tansy Essential Oil are safe for kids, breastfeeding, and nursing with a 2 to 4 percent dilution. Still, it is unsafe for pets, no matter the dilution.

Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender essential oil is best known for its calming and soothing properties, but it’s so much more than that. Studies suggest lavender essential oil may have analgesic or pain-relieving effects and reduce inflammation (7), which may help improve symptoms of irritated skin by reducing pain and swelling.

Trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins indicates no special precautions when using lavender essential oil (8). Plant Therapy’s Lavender Essential Oil and Organic Lavender Essential Oil require a 2 to 5 percent dilution and are safe for kids, pregnancy, nursing, dogs, and horses.

If you’ve heard rumors surrounding lavender being unsafe for pre-pubertal boys, I recommend reading my Benefits of Lavender post to learn the truth (it’s not what you may think).

Neroli Essential Oil

Neroli essential oil is expensive but has many purposes beyond skin health! Neroli is best known for promoting emotional comfort during grief, nervous tension, or mind exhaustion. Neroli also has antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, making it great for skin health (9). Neroli’s anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties can make all the difference when struggling with painful, inflamed skin conditions (10).

Trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins indicates no special precautions for Neroli essential oil (11). Plant Therapy’s Neroli Essential Oil is safe for kids, pregnancy, nursing, dogs, and horses when diluted at 0.5 to 3 percent.

Rose Essential Oil

If you read my Benefits of Rose post, you know how beneficial the herb can be, especially for anti-aging purposes. Rose or rose absolute essential oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it a great candidate for many skin issues (12). Studies also indicate rose essential oil can relieve pain, making it ideal for painful skin concerns, just from inhaling it (13).

Trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins indicates no special precautions for rose essential oil (14). Plant Therapy’s Rose Absolute Essential Oil should have a 2.5 percent dilution rate and is safe for kids, pregnancy, nursing, dogs, and horses.

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea tree essential oil is well-known for its many health benefits. One study notes that a compound called alpha-sabine in tea tree oil is responsible for its antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties (15). Tea tree oil’s anti-inflammatory properties may also reduce inflammation, which could help painful, inflamed skin (16).

Trusted aromatherapist Wendy Robbins indicates a low risk of skin sensitization when using tea tree essential oil. Wendy Robbins also recommends a dermal maximum of 15% and precautions against using oxidized tea tree essential oil (17). Plant Therapy’s Tea Tree Essential Oil and Organic Tea Tree Essential Oil are safe for kids, pregnancy, and breastfeeding but not for dogs and horses.

Remember, many oils are not kid, breastfeeding, pregnancy, or animal-safe at any dilution. Plant Therapy is a reputable online resource dedicated to practicing essential oil safety. Plant Therapy has a list of constituents in oils that should be avoided with children, plus even more kid-safe oils in their article Essential Oils for Kids: What’s Safe and What’s Not.

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