It’s hard to interpret the ingredient list on most skincare products. We all know what we want our skin to look like and feel like, and a long, convoluted list of synthetic ingredients is hard to correlate with the purported benefits of many skincare products. 

We know what natural ingredients do in their purest forms, which is precisely what makes essential oils so appealing. Why do we need preservatives and additives just to experience the benefits of a small amount of essential oil?

If you know exactly what you want your skincare to do, you can go the DIY route and institute an essential oil regimen. If you’re looking for active botanicals without any fillers, preservatives, or synthetic ingredients, you can also turn to Caldera + Lab’s The Good Serum for a much simpler solution. 

What Is an Essential Oil?

All plants contain oils, terpenes, and fatty acids within their greenery or flowers. These oils are the source of the plant’s active compounds. 

Many plants only contain a small amount of these oils. It takes 15 pounds of lavender to make a single ounce of lavender essential oil. Roses are delicate and contain even less oil. A single ounce requires 650 pounds of roses. 

Essential oils are extremely concentrated.  A single drop is the equivalent of a bouquet of active botanicals. People who want to enjoy the fragrance of a plant for its aromatherapeutic properties or enjoy the medicinal qualities of a plant by applying it topically turn to essential oils. They’re highly potent single ingredients.

What Is an Active Botanical?

Active botanicals are plants that work to provide some kind of benefit to the skin or body. Some active botanicals are used exclusively for their antioxidant properties. Other active botanicals can stimulate processes within the skin. They may reduce the appearance of dark spots or help to soften the appearance of fine lines. There are active botanicals that fight swelling and redness, manage bacteria, and help to control acne. 

Active botanicals aren’t necessarily a replacement for dermatological care, but they can be a valuable addition to the skincare routines of people with otherwise healthy skin who are looking to improve the way they look and feel. 

Can Essential Oils Be Applied to the Skin?

Most essential oils can be applied topically to help with irritation and various skin conditions. Before you decide to use anything on your skin, be sure that it is 100% pure. Some products appear to be essential oils, but they’re actually fragrance oils. 

Fragrance oils are neutral oils that have been infused with artificial fragrances. These will irritate your skin rather than deliver benefits because they have no actual benefits within. 

Essential oils are extremely concentrated. They aren’t like seed oils or skincare serums in their pure state. They’re the strongest form of the plants they’re derived from. For that reason, you shouldn’t apply essential oils directly to your bare skin. 

Essential Oils Need To Be Diluted

Since a single drop of essential oil can contain as many active compounds as an entire pound of plant, it’s not wise to slather your skin in essential oil. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and this becomes radically apparent when you apply undiluted essential oils.

The active botanicals are so concentrated that they may irritate, sting, or burn when topically applied. They may also incite an allergic reaction like rashes. One drop of oils like tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, or citrus oil may be too much for your entire face, especially if you have sensitive skin or dry skin.

Essential oils need to be diluted into something called a carrier oil. 

Carrier oils aren’t necessarily a filler ingredient. You can choose a carrier oil based on the benefits it imparts. The carrier oil can work in conjunction with your essential oils to improve the way your skin looks and feels, like boosting its moisture or diminishing the appearance of wrinkles, acne scars, and stretch marks. 

Most people use oils like sweet almond oil, which is very neutral in its aroma and gentle to the skin due to its high levels of naturally occurring vitamin E. 

Ingredients like grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, and hemp seed oil are also popular carrier oils for their skin healthy properties.

Essential oils should be diluted in differing amounts depending on the type of essential oil. Some oils, like camphor, are naturally stronger than others. You should use no more than six drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil when you begin using essential oils on your skin. Always patch test on your forearm before applying a new oil to your skin.

If your skin tolerates the essential oil blends well, you can gradually increase the number of drops. Do not exceed 15 drops of essential oil per one ounce of carrier oil.

Beneficial Essential Oils for Your Skin

Essential oils can offer many benefits to the skin. Some are antimicrobial, helping to manage breakouts and quash acne-causing bacteria in acne-prone skin. Others provide gender-specific benefits, like jasmine essential oil for women, or they primarily benefit oily skin by regulating sebum production. Some essential oils even provide protective and anti-aging benefits to all skin types, all skin tones, and all genders. 

Frankincense Essential Oil

Frankincense has been used as a natural skincare remedy for thousands of years. It has a rich history as one of the world’s first skincare products. Frankincense has been clinically demonstrated to be an effective anti-inflammatory and to promote skin healing. Studies suggest that it may even mildly reduce the appearance of scars. 

Echinacea Essential Oil

Echinacea is well documented for its abilities as an immunomodulator and for its anti-inflammatory properties. It can help to hydrate, soothe, and smooth the appearance of skin. 

Yarrow Essential Oil

Yarrow essential oil is utilized in skincare products for its cell regenerative properties. It helps to balance skin, and in the process, it may reduce the appearance of certain signs of aging. Yarrow is often used to help combat uneven skin tone and dark spots. 

Deciding which oils to add to your skincare routine can be overwhelming, but the oils above can be a helpful starting point. Still, there are additional oils you can consider like rosemary oil, orange or lemon citrus oils, lavender oil, grapefruit oil, lemongrass oil, or bergamot oil that may benefit your specific skincare needs.

Keep It Simple With the Good

The Good is formulated exclusively of botanicals. Every single ingredient in our serum comes from a plant. Our serum is clinically demonstrated to improve the health and appearance of all skin types within 60 days of use, and we’re very candid about what’s in the bottle. Our botanicals are sustainably harvested from the wild or organically grown for our skincare products. 

The Good is designed to deeply hydrate the skin while improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reducing the appearance of dark spots, and promoting smooth skin with a firmer appearance. 

Antioxidants, like vitamin C, work to prevent oxidative damage to skin cells when your skin comes into contact with air pollution or environmental stressors. In addition to its benefits to the overall health of your skin, The Good boasts a lot of antioxidants. 

Our serum contains over 3.4 million antioxidant units per drop. 

It’s an all-encompassing active botanical solution to address the health and appearance of your skin while protecting the things that mean harm to your face. There’s nothing to dilute or mix. Just a few drops provide a whole array of benefits to your face.

Sources:

1 Pound of Essential Oil = 250 Pounds of Lavender | EcoWatch

Essential Oil Methods of Application and Dilution | National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy

Biological activities of frankincense essential oil in human dermal fibroblasts | Science Direct

Anti-inflammatory effects of essential oil in Echinacea purpurea L | PubMed

Yarrow Essential Oils, A Pretty Healer | Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers