DIY beauty treatments can be just as effective as store-bought products. From everyday ingredients in your kitchen (like lemon juice, yogurt, and honey) to powerful natural ingredients (such as organic essential oils), DIY skincare can improve the texture and appearance of your skin. To boost your natural beauty, here is a couple of my favorite essential oils that are anti-aging, anti-bacterial, and enhance skin cell rejuvenation.
DIY Skincare with Natural Essential Oils
Why I Decided To Use Essential Oils as Skincare
To prove the efficacy of natural essential oils, I’m wearing no makeup (and have not Photoshopped) any of these photos. If you follow my Instagram stories, I recently shared that I had an allergic reaction to something, which resulted in puffy, red, dry eyelids, and some form of dermatitis on my smile lines.
As a result, I underwent a series of in-office allergy tests to determine what I’m allergic to. I suspect it started with an imbalance in my gut and was exacerbated by external allergens (such as dust and pollen), as the puffiness on my eyelids became worse after going hiking one day. Over the course of 6-weeks, the condition improved and then worsened, and then repeated the cycle. I was so frustrated with the situation, that I decided to take matters into my own hands. In addition to boosting my internal wellness (through detoxifying herbal teas and daily green smoothies, to improve my gut health), I also decided to minimize all ingredients that I put on my skin.
Since my eyelids, especially, became hypersensitive to my usual skincare products (which are non-toxic anyhow), I had no choice but to simplify my skincare routine during this time period. That meant, stick with natural carrier oils (such as jojoba oil and coconut oil), and using a few drops of essential oils to enhance their performance.
Within a few days of using carrier oils with select essential oils, my eyelids returned to normal, and the redness and bumps I experienced on my smile lines started disappearing.
What is a Carrier Oil?
Because essential oils are so potent, they must be diluted with a carrier oil prior to applying to the skin. As shared in the book Plant-Powered Beauty, “carrier oils are obtained from the fatty portion of a plant, such as the nut or seed. Some examples of carrier oils are almond, apricot kernel, avocado, baobab, coconut, borage, hemp seed, jojoba, oil, sesame, and sunflower. In addition to their ability to safely dilute and solubilize the molecules of essential oils so they may be ‘carried’ into our skin, these vegetable oils can also provide a nice source of vitamins (A, D, and E, to name a few) and a rich array of essential fatty acids, which are needed for skin to stay healthy and hydrated.”
For years I have regularly used Jojoba Oil for all types of beauty treatments – from nourishing and hydrating my hair to moisturizing and cleansing my skin. I especially like it for my skin, as it unclogs pores, balances the moisture level in the skin, and doesn’t leave behind a greasy residue, as it absorbs quickly and easily into the skin. This is why it’s my go-to carrier oil when combining with essential oils.
What are Essential Oils?
As reported by Hopkins Medicine, “Essential oils are basically plant extracts. They’re made by steaming or pressing various parts of a plant (flowers, bark, leaves or fruit) to capture the compounds that produce fragrance. It can take several pounds of a plant to produce a single bottle of essential oil.”
Essential oils are very powerful ingredients, which is why you only need 1 or 2 drops (at most!) in combination with a larger amount of carrier oil. Essential oils can be inhaled (by using a diffuser), can be used topically (as skincare), and can sometimes be consumed (however, not all essential oils are suitable for consumption).
For the purpose of this beauty guide, I’ll share a few popular essential oils that are ideal for skincare.
It’s also important to note that when shopping for natural essential oils that you choose wisely, as some brands (such as Aura Cacia, DoTerra, and Cliganic) source higher quality ingredients than others. In addition to which, always shop for “organic essential oils” (preferably with a “certified organic” label on it), as you don’t want to buy an essential oil with toxic, chemical-based ingredients.
The Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil
In addition to its calming, relaxing, and soothing properties (which are often used in aromatherapy treatments), a lavender essential oil is also beneficial for the skin in a variety of ways. As explained in Plant-Based Beauty, it is “antibacterial, antimicrobial, nervine, pain-relieving, wound healing” and more.
How To Use Lavender Essential Oil for DIY Beauty
I mix 2 tsp jojoba oil with 1 drop of lavender essential oil and apply it on my face 2x a day (especially on acne-prone areas, breakouts, and on the atopic dermatitis I’ve been dealing with). Over the course of a few days, I noticed that my skin started clearing up and the dermatitis started to diminish.
The Benefits of Frankincense Oil
As one of the world’s most prized essential oils (that dates back thousands of years, and has even been referenced in The Bible), Frankincense Oil is often called “liquid gold” by skincare experts. As shared in Plant-Based Beauty, Frankincense is “antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, cell regenerative, and affinity to respiratory and central nervous systems.” For these reasons, it’s considered to be an excellent essential oil for anti-aging purposes, as it can help to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and reduce puffiness.
How To Use Frankincense Oil for DIY Beauty
I mix 2 tsp jojoba oil (or 1 tsp coconut oil) with 1 drop of Frankincense oil and apply 2x per day to my eyelids and any areas that show fine lines or wrinkles. After a few days of using this on my eyes, I noticed the redness, dryness, and puffiness went away. I have continued using it regularly to promote healthy, youthful, radiant skin.
In addition to these essential oils, a few other essential oils I’ve come to love and use regularly are Tea Tree, Orange, Eucalyptus, Lemon, and Rosemary. If you’re curious about how to use essential oils for DIY Beauty treatments, I highly recommend the book Plant-Powered Beauty as it offers lots of DIY Beauty recipes. I also suggest buying the Cliganic Essential Oils kit, which contains 8 organic essential oils (for under $20!). This is a great, budget-friendly way to get started on using non-toxic home-made skincare that can enhance your natural beauty.
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[Disclosure: Affiliate links included. This post is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice.]
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