5 Best Essential Oils for Acne You Need to Know

We have seen many controversial topics about acne. This is one of the most common skin condition people are wrestling with in the United States. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 50 million Americans suffer from acne per year. Particularly, lots of recent studies indicate a noticeable increase in female adult acne.

I think some of us used to have this type of clinging acnes which are normally deep, inflamed blemishes, cysts and lumps. There are numerous reasons to get “adult-onset acne.” That can be determined by genetics, hormonal imbalance, emotional stress, sleep deprivation or inappropriate skin care products and medications. Hilariously, sometimes I think breathing can also make my acne.

Virtually, a plethora of chemical, over-the-counter products or prescription medications to treat acne is more likely to contain harsh elements. And, cause side effects afterward, like more purging, extreme dehydration, allergic reactions and even, severe breakouts.

I have a case here that candidly shares a horrific story, a girl got a horrendous allergy from acne chemical medication. The worst condition that I’ve ever known; so, take a deep breath when watching this, girls! My Horrific Post-Facial Experience. You Need To Read This.

Otherwise, there is still another way to improve your complexion naturally and safely. The essential oil is what I’m gonna come up here. Essential oils are merely extracted from natural ingredients and recommended by Dermatologists as well. Instead of aggravating the condition, the oils tend to gently calm down and soothes the inflamed pimples. And, prevent bacteria breeding. Apparently, there aren’t any skin purging theories here. This post is about 6 essential oils to treat your adult acne.

A few things you need to remember when using essential oils! You should use non-comedogenic (non-acnegenic) or oil-free moisturizers alongside the essential oils. That helps you to avoid dehydration and flaccidity (saggy surface). Besides, wearing sun protection (sunscreen or sunblock) every morning is must-do since your skin somehow become a little bit sensitive than usual, while using the oils. Chances are your skin could get more damage from sun exposure.

Furthermore, don’t get full-strength essential oils to directly apply all over your face, especially delicate skin, easily getting irritated. Essential oils should be definitely diluted prior to applying and used for spot treatment. Importantly, before using any essential oil home remedy for topical application to treat acne, you need to test a small amount on skin areas below ears or chin. This is to make sure your face won’t suffer from unnecessary herb allergy.

1. Tea Tree Essential Oil

Tea tree has been well-known and traditionally used by its’ powerful healing properties for centuries. It’s clinically tested as having excellent anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects that can resolve clogged pores by bacteria. Its oil extract can cure not only acne, but also bacterial and fungal infections, cold sores, chickenpox, psoriasis, dry cuticles, head lice, insect bites and sores and sunburns. The University of Maryland Medical Center’s study reveals the tea tree oil is able to treat acne as efficiently as the benzoyl peroxide. Even, causes the least hazards of sides effects.

Typically, astringents contained products used for acne treatment tend to cause skin dryness unnecessarily. Worsens the condition, the skin becomes more damaged and sensitive. In contrast, tea tree oil is 100% natural, made by the steam distillation of the leaves of tea tree, called Melaleuca Alternifolia. Originates from Australia. The tea tree oil is precedently proven as one the most common method of self-treating acne for its’ mild-antiseptic and soothing properties. Particularly, utilized in case of mild to moderate acne vulgaris (blackheads, whiteheads and pimples).

How to use it

This is highly suggestive for normal, combination and oily skin types. Sensitive skin may have to be more cautious when applying.

• Tea tree oil and water: Mix 5 drops of pure tea tree oil with approximately 8 drops of water. Dip a cotton swab to the mixture and after cleansing your face, directly tab on blemishes or affected areas. Once it dries down, apply moisturizers. Do it twice a day, morning and evening. If your skin is too sensitive, reduce to 2-3 drops of the oil.
• Tea tree oil and manuka honey: Manuka honey is incredibly rich in nutrients, 4 times more than normal honey. Moreover, contains an enormous amount of enzymes as a powerhouse of antibacterial rather than regular honey. Mix 3 drops of Melaleuca oil with 2 teaspoons of manuka honey. Saturate a cotton swab to the mixture and apply to pimples and other infected areas on your cleansed face. Leave it for 20-30 minutes and rinse off by warm water. After that, apply moisturizers. It’s ok if you don’t have manuka honey. You can use raw, organic honey as an alternative. This can be done 2 – 3 times weekly.
• Tea tree oil and coconut oil: Similar to the oil and honey, coconut oil has antifungal action against acne; but also nourish skin. Can’t miss to add it into top list of acne treating ingredients. Blend 1 teaspoon of virgin coconut oil with 2-3 drops of tea tree oil. Apply it into affected areas and leave for 30 minutes. Then, wash off with warm water and put moisturizers. Do the remedy 2-3 times per week.
• Tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar: there are several benefits of cider vinegar to skin as having excellent antiviral and antimicrobial properties. Also, includes an excellent source of alpha hydroxy acids to remove dead skin cells causing acne. The vinegar can regulate pH levels of your skin. This ingredient is really preferable for oily skin. Mix 1 teaspoon of raw cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of water. Then, add 2-3 drops of Melaleuca oil. Use a cotton ball to apply the mixture to blemishes and infected areas after cleansing your face. Leave for 30 minutes and rinse off with cool water. Apply moisturizers later. Do this 2-3 times per week.

2. Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender has been a worldwide natural ingredient taken in the beauty industry. In diverse types of products, we can see lavender in soaps, fragrances, bath gels, lotions, face moisturizers or hand and foot creams. Lavender oil is a wonderful skincare element because of its’ superb antifungal and antibacterial to naturally treat acne, eczema and psoriasis. It’s extracted by steam distilling the fresh purple flowers of lavender plant, called Lavandula Angustifolia or Lavandula Officinalis. It’s native to mountain zones of Mediterranean and now, grown through Australia, the U.S. and Southern Europe.

Lavender oil is one of the most gentle essential oils for physical and mental well-being. So, it’s really go-to oil for sensitive, fragile skin. Can’t overlook how amazingly it accelerates the healing process of wounds, cuts, sunburns, scar tissues and dry, flaky skin. Also, alleviates body pains (tired muscles and insect bites) as well as depression, anxiety and nervous disorder, “aroma soothing.” Alongside its’ stimulating skin restorative-ability, Lavender oil contains anti-aging compounds, which diminish wrinkles and fine lines for youthful looking skin. There are still tons of benefits lavender oil brings about; but, I intend to boil down main points around acne treatment.

There are a logical theory and evaluation that sounds really persuasive to me about treating acne indirectly by Lavender oil. Many studies have found out a positive correlation between distress, depression or anxiety and the severity of acne vulgaris. And, emotional fatigue by external factors significantly influences acne condition. Furthermore, Dr. Josh Axe, DNM, DC, CNS believes that inhaling vapours of lavender oil can considerably level down adult’s headache, depression anxiety and insomnia. Hence, reduces acne in the long-run.

How to use it

You can make homemade remedies of lavender oil in same ways as tea tree oil. Otherwise, you can mix with tea tree oil or your moisturizers. Lavender oil remedies are proper to all skin types.

• Lavender oil, tea tree oil and aloe vera: I used to mention how surprisingly aloe vera improves your complexion for effective pain relief and anti-inflammation in homemade remedy. So, go for it, girls! Add 10 drops of lavender oil and 10 drops of Melaleuca oil into 2 ounces of aloe vera. Blend the mixture totally. Thus, pour it into a bottle and put into the fridge. To apply, get a little bit out and dab onto pimples or affected areas. Rinse off with warm water after 30 minutes and do it 3 times a week.
• Lavender oil and moisturizer: Get an adequate amount of moisturizing cream or lotion in your hand. Add 1-2 drops of lavender oil and blend totally. Then, apply all over your face to prevent breakouts and provide antioxidants. That can be done sparingly, like 2 times per week. This remedy is go-to for all skin types, even sensitive.
• Lavender oil, honey and sweet almond oil: Some of us might not know that almond oil has an incredible benefit to treat acne. However, there are two types of it, including sweet and bitter. The sweet almond oil is usually used into skin and hair care products. It contains fatty acids that decrease swelling and dissolve excessive sebum. Another one is bitter, normally taken for its’ flavour and scent. Put 3-4 drops of lavender into 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 tsp of sweet almond oil. Blend the liquid well. Dab onto blemishes or infected areas twice a week. Leave for 20 – 30 minutes and rinse off with cool water. This remedy may be not for girls who have nut allergies.

3. Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon essential oil seems to let us get closer to more convenient and multi-functional uses of lemon at home and even, on the go. It’s also called as the Citrus Limonum or Citrus Limon. Derived from the cold pressed lemon rinds. It’s sort of fussy processes to do high pressures upon lemon rind to force out its’ pure, yellow and highly concentrated liquid essence with a fresh, lemony aroma.

The lemon essential oil is one of the most powerful essential oils that provides a vast variety of benefits without a doubt. People have used it for thousands of years to treat diverse health conditions and illnesses. So great that we have been still using it until now. The most flattering about oil is its’ astonishing antibiotics and antimicrobial, which effectively devastate bacteria, viruses and fungi.

The oil’s detoxification can excellently flush out toxins from body. Additionally, enriched with a large source of vital vitamins and antioxidants. That can motivate the generation of white blood cells as well as internal circulation. The oil is usually consumed in form of medicine to boost the immune system to combat ailments. Of course, this should follow doctor’s instructions. The lemon essential oil is also carminative in nature that can relieve flatulence. So, it’s commonly utilized for the treatment of stomach issues, acidity, cramps, indigestion and upset stomach.

Moreover, it’s really a can’t miss ingredient that we need to add up into our ideal essential oils to cure acne. Dr. Jeffrey Shapiro, M.D. emphasizes how incredibly lemon essential oil’s antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties eliminate blemishes. Leaves a clear, smooth skin. Besides, it has astringent-like power to regulate overactive sebaceous glands and leave a clean surface. Revitalizes and nourishes skin without looking dull and saggy by its high vitamin content.

I gotta say lemon essential oil is a good remedy for skin to treat acne, but also blur out acne scars and leave brightening skin tone. Similar to lavender oil, aroma of lemon oil can provide the psychological therapy to diminish anxiety, nervousness and depression. That could be potential to reduce the severity of acne vulgaris rooted from mental stress.

How to use it

• Lemon oil, baking soda and honey: Baking soda has become a familiar ingredient for DIY acne treatment. It intensively gets rid of greasy, oil surface to release blocked pores and leave a clean, breathable skin. Also, its’ amphoteric nature tends to neutralize skin’s pH imbalances, which commonly cause acne. Take a small bowl, blend 1 tbsp of baking soda with 1 tbsp of water. Make sure it’ll be a consistent paste. Add 2-3 drops of lemon oil and 1 tsp of raw honey into the baking soda paste. Mix well and dap the mixture on pimples and affected areas. Leave for 15 minutes and wash off. This can be done 3 times a week. Recommend for oily, acne-prone skin. Overusing baking soda can cause extreme dryness so don’t forget to apply moisturizers after. Baking soda remedy may easily cause irritations and redness to sensitive skin.
• Lemon oil and moisturizer: Get out enough moisturizer on your and add 1 – 2 drops of lemon essential oil. Blend well and massage all over your face. This is prone to not only prevent acne, but also replenish nutrients to skin. Enhances skin firmness and elastin and makes an ageless look.
• Lemon oil, honey and oatmeal (exfoliation): Oatmeal has been recently searched for providing a good nourishment to skin. It’s an amazingly gentle ingredient to treat acne so I highly recommend this recipe to girls who have sensitive skin. Many studies have proven the efficient antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds of oatmeal can resolve clogged pores and kill bacteria. Likewise, rejuvenates skin and do mild exfoliation to discard dead skin cells potentially causing acne. Oatmeal tends to bring about relaxing sensation to skin and alleviate redness, itchiness, swelling or irritations. Put one serving of cooked oatmeal into a small bowl. Then, add 2 teaspoons of honey and 5-6 drops of lemon oil. Mix well all the ingredients. Apply all over your face, massage in roll motions and leave for 15-20 minutes. After that, rinse off with water and pat to dry. You can do it once or twice per week.

4. Juniper Berry Essential Oil

Speaking of the essential oils to treat acne, Juniper Berry definitely can’t be overlooked. Conventionally, Juniper oil has been used for medicinal and spiritual purposes. However, It’s massively produced for various reasons in our complicated lives these days. The oil is derived through steam distilling the berries, needles, twigs and wood of Juniperus Communis. The plant can be normally cultivated in Europe, North America and Southeast Asia. However, the point I want to mention here is about Juniper Berry essential oil. So, this is only extracted from berries. It’s gonna be pale, viscous fluid with pure, fresh and fruity scent.

The most glorious part of the oil is its’ extraordinary cleansing and detoxifying agents. The Medical University of Gdańsk in Poland did many experiments and stated the antibiotic and antiviral effects of Juniper Berry essential oil. Regard to its’ health-promoting abilities, the oil is capable to quickly soothes and relieve pains of insect bites or sore muscles. Naturally dampen irritation, swelling and infective condition.

Moreover, the oil is depurative, which is beneficial to blood purification. Detoxifies toxins, harmful substances, poisons and contaminants embedded in blood. Then, stimulates the body’s immune system. Massage the oil over your body can also encourage blood circulation beneath skin. Besides, this is a relaxing, calming oil through vapor therapy to help you overcome distress, nervous disorder, anxiety and insomnia. You can also use the oil to spray for cleansing and purifying the air. Enhances your respiratory activities.

Recently, people have figured out Juniper Berry essential oil can also help to treat acne. A study noted in the Journal of Pharmaceutical Development and Technology 2005 disclosed the examination of Juniper oil contained solid-liquid microparticles as a topical medication of acne vulgaris. The formulation showed a positive expectation of weakening bacteria breeding and rivaling Propionibacterium acnes (P.acnes). Supportingly, A qualified physician, Dr. Joseph Mercola, indicates the anti-inflammation of juniper essential oil is able to prevent skin flare-ups, such as acne, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. Furthermore, it contains natural astringent to regulate oil production. The oil’s prone to result in a clear, radiant looking skin.

How to use it

• Juniper berry oil, jojoba oil and cornmeal (facial scrub): Jojoba oil is extracted from jojoba tree (Simmondsia Chinensis). It’s kinda a golden, liquid wax and non-comedogenic, relatively popular for moisturizing skin, spot treatment and cleansing skin. It’s really gentle without causing any redness, itchiness or irritation. The oil’s base is pretty similar to skin sebum and able to dissolve sebum.

  However, jojoba oil can’t solely work to diminish blemishes. So, it’s only utilized as an oil carrier to deliver main, healing substances deeply into pores. Mix 1 tbsp of cornmeal and 1 tbsp of jojoba oil into a small bow. Then, add 5-6 drops of Juniper Berry oil. Blend well and rub the mixture on your face, especially affected areas. Leave it for 15 – 20 minutes and rinse off with cool water. Do it once to twice weekly. I highly suggest this facial scrub to treat acne on dry skin.

• Juniper berry oil and moisturizer: add 1-2 drops of Juniper berry oil into an adequate amount of moisturizing cream or lotion. Apply all over your face. This tends to restrain sebum excession and purify skin pores. Moreover, slows down the appearance of fine lines and aging signs by the oil’s antioxidants. That provides a smooth, healthy skin.
• Juniper berry oil, honey, coconut oil and live probiotics (facial wash): Dr. Whitney P. Bowe, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York, has stated the revolutionary utilization of probiotics to treat acne. It found out living microorganisms on skin that cause acne to arouse the body’s immune system to spring into actions against their threatening invasion. Causes skin redness, inflammation and lumps.

  So, probiotics sit on skin to intervene the body immune from recognizing bad bacteria. At the same time, it’s antimicrobial property kills these bacteria. Take 1 teaspoon of coconut oil, 3 teaspoons of honey, 1 teaspoon of apple vinegar and 2 capsules of live probiotics. Then, Add 10 drops of Juniper berry oil and blend well. Apply onto skin and massage. Use it like ordinary facial wash.

5. Clary Sage Essential Oil

This is also a wonderful essential oil that has won over people’s admiration for its’ countless advantages. It’s obtained from the clary sage plant, called Salvia sclarea, in the past, grown in Syria, Italy and Southern France. But now, found mostly in central Europe, England, Russia, Morocco and the U.S. Clary Sage is named in Latin word, “Clarus,” meaning “Clear.” It has been used to commonly improve eye visions and address the relating ailments, such as eye strain and fatigue. The oil has a yellowish green hue with nice, balsamic and nutty aroma.

The clary sage oil can bring about the pain relief of respiratory infections, like asthma, cold, sore throat and bronchitis. In addition, it may be one of the most coveted, favourite for females to efficiently release their toleration of menstrual cramp and solve premenstrual syndrome. Dr. Mercola also shares how miracle it is that help European women to deal with menopause symptoms (binge eating disorder or mood swings) and regulate menstrual cycles. Likewise, eases muscle spasms and other physical aches. In terms of spiritual well-being, like other essential oils, it has antidepressant and anxiety-fighting effects through inhalation.

Come to acne treatment, we have another story about it. A 2015 study published in Advances in Dermatology and Allergology revealed clary sage can deliver an active antimicrobial and antibiotic agents. That can work to knock down evil bacteria breeding to cause skin infections, irritations and acne. Besides, speeds up the healing process to treat wounds and cuts. Dr. Cybele Fishman, M.D. board certified dermatologist also admits clary sage is one of the top essential oils combating acne.

The oil consists of a crucial ester, linalyl acetate that does its’ job as an anti-inflammatory element to soothe swelling pimples, blemishes and lumps. When using the oil topically to treat acne, it’s necessary to dilute it by water or oil carrier. I highly recommend using jojoba oil or coconut oil. Jojoba oil may be more preferable for acne-prone skin because it’s non-acnegenic without clogging pores. Coconut is nice as well, it’s more likely to nourish skin.

How to use it

• Clary sage oil and jojoba oil: add 4-5 drops of clary sage oil into 1 tablespoon of jojoba oil. Blend well and apply upon blemishes and infected areas. Leave for 15-20 minutes and wash off. Do it twice a week.
• Clary sage oil and water: dilute the oil into water. Add 2-3 drops of clary sage to one teaspoon of water. Use a cotton ball and dip it into the mixture. Then, tab on lumps and blemishes. Wait until it dries down, then, apply the moisturizer.

Hope this post is helpful somehow to improve your skin condition. If you have any suggestion or ideas, please don’t be hesitate to share. I’d love to hear you out. Thank you so much for spending time with us.