Best Essential Oils for Acne
Natural Skin Care for Acne Prone Skin

using tea tree oil

Essential oils for acne are simple, non-invasive natural skin care treatments that help treat both the external and internal causes of acne.

While hormonal imbalances appear to be the main villain in most cases of acne, stress, diet and accumulations of toxins are also key contributors to breakouts.

Essential oils for acne help address the three main causes of blemishes and breakouts by:

  • Balancing hormones
  • Reducing Stress
  • Regulating Oil Production

Oily skin usually gets a bad rap for causing acne, however, any skin type can be affected. It's best to select acne fighting essential oils that not only fight acne, but also work to address your specific skin type.

If you are looking for natural ways to get rid of acne, consider the following essential oils for acne.


Essential Oils for Acne: All Skin Types

These essential oils for acne are effective for use on all skin types.

lavender oil

Geranium
Geranium Oil for Acne
Antiseptic and astringent, geranium essential oil promotes healing, normalizes sebum production, and relieves mature and congested skin.

Lavender
Lavender Oil for Acne
Women have used lavender oil for centuries to keep their skin clean, clear, and soft. Lavender oil calms and soothes the skin, balances oil production, heals blemishes, and stimulates the circulation of the skin. This oil is considered to be safe for all skin types, and can be applied directly to the skin.

Neroli
Neroli Oil for Acne
This gentle, antiseptic essential oil is suitable for all skin types, and is commonly used to treat acne, mature skin, scars, and stretch marks.

Sandlewood
Sandlewood Oil for Acne
Far more than a popular perfume, sandalwood is also an astringent and powerful antiseptic. Sandalwood is effective at treating a variety of skin types and conditions including dry, dehydrated, and acne prone skin.


Essential Oils for Acne: Oily Skin

lemon

These essential oils for acne have antiseptic and drying properties making them perfect for oily skin.

Cedarwood
Cedarwood for Acne
Antibacterial, antiseptic, and astringent, cedarwood helps tone skin by tightening pores, shrinking tissues, and increasing skin's elasticity. Applied to the skin, cedarwood also helps regulate excess sebum production.

Clary Sage
Clary Sage for Acne
Clary Sage helps oily skin and hair by controlling excessive oil secretions. Clary sage also promotes the regeneration of skin cells, helping keep wrinkles at bay and skin looking healthy.

Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus Oil for Acne
Eucalyptus oil has analgesic, anti-fungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. It is commonly used to treat black heads, acne, and blemishes. Eucalyptus decongests sluggish skin especially for cigarette smokers.

Lemon
Lemon Essential Oil for Acne
Lemon essential oil oil balances overactive sebaceous glands, helps clear acne, and encourages the exfoliation of dead skin cells. Lemon essential oil is also eliminates wastes and tones the kidneys and liver. Long-term use of lemon oil can help soften scar tissue. Avoid applying lemon essential oil up to 12 hours before UV light exposure.

Tea Tree
Tea Tree Oil for Acne
Tea tree oil is great for use on acne prone and oily skins, however it is not recommended for people with Acne Rosacea. Tea tree oil is one of the most widely known essential oils for acne, and rightfully so.

A 1990 study conducted by New South Wales Royal Prince Alfred Hospital determined tea tree oil, though slower acting, to be just as effective as benzoyl peroxide while causing less dryness, stinging, and redness.

Tea tree oil is very simple to use, and can be applied directly to acne and pimples with a cotton ball.


Essential Oils for Acne: Dry Skin

dry

These essential oils are perfect for treating acne breakouts on dry and aging skin types.

Fennel
Fennel for Acne
Fennel encourages cell repair and refines complexions. It has been used for centuries in anti-wrinkle creams.

Frankincense
Frankincense for Acne
Frankincense helps relieve dry, sensitive, mature, sun damaged skin, and acne. Frankincense also helps relieve acne, pimples, and scars by helping repair and heal the superficial layers of the skin.

Juniper Berry
Juniper Berry for Acne
Juniper berry has antiseptic and astringent properties, and is commonly used to treat acne, blocked pores, eczema, and psoriasis.

Pachouli
Pachouli Oil for Acne
Antiseptic, astringent, and anti-fungal, Pachouli is commonly used to treat acne, oily skin, dry skin, scars, eczema, dermatitis, and mature skin.

Rosemary
Rosemary Essential Oil for Acne
Rosemary essential oil stimulates cell renewal. It improves dry or mature skin, eases lines and wrinkles, and heals burns and wounds. It can also clear acne, blemishes, or dull dry skin by fighting bacteria and regulating oil secretions.


Using Essential Oils For Acne

The use of essential oils is generally safe. There are, however, a few precautions. Before you get started, there are a few things you'll want to know to ensure your safety.

If you have high blood pressure or epilepsy, avoid rosemary.
If you have sensitive skin, avoid lemon, peppermint, and eucalyptus.
If you are pregnant, avoid juniper, rosemary, peppermint, basil, Atlas cedar, clary sage, and marjoram.
If you plan to be in the sun avoid orange, lemon, and bergamot (these can cause skin sensitivity).

This is just a partial list of precautions. For more information, the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) provides an excellent list of frequently asked questions regarding essential oil safety.

Disclaimer
This site was created in order to share information about the benefits of choosing natural skin care, and should not be construed as a substitute for medical treatment or diagnosis. The claims about ingredients and products throughout this site have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration, and are not intended nor approved to treat, cure, diagnose or prevent disease.