Surprising Skin Care Benefits of Lavender Oil
Lavender has been used for centuries originally dating back over 2300 years ago. It was primarily used in healing, cleaning, bathing, cooking and as perfume by Persians, Romans, Greeks and also for mummification in Egypt. So while the usefulness of lavender is not new, in more modern times, lavender is commonly used to make essential oil for the skin and hair.
How does lavender go from being a flower to an effective essential oil used to treat eczema, rosacea, acne, scrapes and other common skin ailments?
The essential oil is extracted through steam distillation from the flowers. In this process, a large amount of herbs are heated and applied under pressure. The gentle elements of the plant separate from the flower and when the steam condenses, the essential oil remains floating on the top. The oil is then separated from the water.
How can you use lavender?
With natural properties like anti-bacterial, insect repellent, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic – it’s obvious why lavender oil is helpful in dealing with various skin conditions like scars, acne or burns. Applying lavender oil to the skin in a variety of ways can improve skin clarity, speed up the healing process, produce glowing skin, and help fight infections.
Lavender oil which is derived from the lavender plant is found in a variety of forms currently available in the market. Each type can be used to treat different types of skin conditions or to improve overall skin quality. Some of these are:
- Aromatherapy oil
- Tea
- Lotion
- Extracts
- Bath gel
- Soap
Depending on the type of skin condition you are treating or what you are trying to accomplish in terms of improving skin quality, you may choose a variety of forms. But overall, in whichever form you may choose to you, there are great benefits in making lavender oil part of your skin care regimen.
What are the benefits of lavender?
Because essential oils are becoming more popular to consumers, there are often new and interesting ways to use these oils. But because it is possible to have an allergy to lavender, you can do a quick skin patch test. Rub a small amount of lavender oil diluted in coconut oil to the inside skin of your arm. Wait approximately 30 minutes. If you have no noticeable reaction, you should be safe to use it in your skin care routine.
Consider these 10 ways that lavender oil has been found effective in skin care:
1. Detoxifies the skin
Do you live in an environment that is 100% free from pollutants, environmental toxins and bacteria? Chances are, the answer to that question is no. This is why lavender is so important in protecting our skin from what it’s exposed to every day. The environmental toxins that breakdown our skins protective layers cause our skin to deteriorate over time. Lavender oil’s antioxidant properties can fight against those harmful toxins and pollutants to protect our skin. It has also been found to protect our skin against the growth of bacteria. Over time, this will improve the clarity, brightness and overall health of our skin.
2. Helps to treat acne
One of the many benefits of lavender essential oil is the antibacterial characteristics. It can penetrate the pores, killing bacteria and prevent future breakouts. It can also help heal existing blemishes. Simply dab a small amount of lavender oil from a cotton swab on to the affected area. You can also mix a few drops of lavender oil with your daily moisturizer or coconut oil that will not only moisturize your skin, but reduce future breakouts too.
But if the idea of putting oil on your face scares you – it will be okay! Adding oil to the skin won’t necessarily make it oilier. It can actually be greatly beneficial to the oil production on your face. Give it a try and see the results for yourself.
3. Helps treat Eczema and Psoriasis
Just like any skin condition that is visible to the naked eye, it can be embarrassing and often create self-consciousness. Eczema and psoriasis are skin conditions that can be found anywhere on your body. And just like other skin care treatments, lavender oil can be used anywhere eczema and psoriasis is found. The essential oil helps to relieve itching, reduce redness and overall irritation. It adds additional moisture and can accelerate the skins healing process.
4. Prevents wrinkles
Lavender is a circulatory stimulant, which means that it increases blood flow to the skin tissue. This helps your body deliver much needed nutrients as well as oxygen to the skin for a glowing complexion. The antioxidants in lavender also protects your skin from environmental toxins that contribute to the development of fine lines and wrinkles. Try out this anti-aging toner with lavender to make sure your skin is moisturized and protected against wrinkles!
5. Treats sunburn
You spent the day at the beach and end up with a terrible sunburn. First and foremost, rinse the skin with cool water. Use coconut oil with a few drops of lavender oil to the affected area. The lavender will sooth and settle in to your skin and help to relieve the pain as well as reduce the swelling and burning.
6. Helps to lighten skin
Lavender oil is anti-inflammatory therefore it can help reduce redness, blotchiness and overall skin complexion issues. The oil helps to restore a bright skin tone while also reducing dark age spots and perhaps different types of skin discolorations.
If your skin is oily, the lavender oil can also assist with hyperpigmentation working to balance the levels of moisture.
7. Can be used in a facial mist
If you feel like your skin gets dehydrated throughout the day and needs a little pick-me-up, a facial mist can add that mid-day moisture. By adding a few drops of oil to distilled water in a water spray bottle, you can lightly mist your face throughout the day or when necessary. But keep that spray bottle close by during the hot summer months. It can provide incredible relief after you spend time in the sun.
8. Treats skin fungus
As has been identified, lavender essential oil and its antibacterial properties can be used to kill fungal infections. This can also include yeast candida. It also reduces the aggressive progression of fungal bacteria.
9. Massage oil
By a professional masseuse or at home, lavender essential oil helps to relieve joint and tension pain. Not to mention the aroma therapeutic properties make it great for relaxation and stress relief. Or if you don’t have time for the massage, soak a towel in warm water with a few drops of lavender oil. When applied to the area, it provides relief to a sprain or pulled muscle.
10. Helps to heal burns, cuts and insect bites
Summer nights mean summer bites. With its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, lavender oil can develop scarring tissues, reduce swelling and irritation while also minimizing itching and soothe pain.
By adopting lavender essential oil as part of your regular skin care regimen, you invite a whole host of opportunities to see the powerful benefits. If you are interested in trying a few of these applications, explore some of these recipes at home for the best DIY solutions using lavender oil.
DIY Home Solutions using Lavender for Skin Care
Face Mask
- 3-5 drops of lavender essential oil
- 1 Tbsp. organic yogurt
- Mix the ingredients together
- Apply mixture to your face, but avoid the eyes
- Wait 10-15 minutes
- Rinse with warm water
Moisturizer
- 3 drops lavender essential oil
- Egg white of 1 egg
- Mix the ingredients together
- Apply mixture to your face, but avoid the eyes
- Wait 15-20 minutes
- Rinse with warm water
Acne Treatment
- 12 drops of lavender essential oil
- 1 ounce carrier oil like coconut, or your favorite moisturizer
- Mix the ingredients together
- Dab a cotton swab into the solution
- Apply to affected areas on your face. To use as an all over treatment, spread mixture gently across your face, but avoid your eyes. No need to rinse.
Relaxing Bath
- 2 Tbsp. lavender essential oil
- 2 Tbsp. dry oats
- Mix the ingredients in a muslin bag
- Place the bag in your bathtub
- Dissolves almost immediately, soak in the mixture
Natural Deodorant
- 3 drops lavender essential oil
- 1 Tbsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. coconut oil
- Mix the ingredients together in a small bowl
- Rub mixture under your arms to prevent body odor
- Mixture may be used more than once.
Bar Soap
Love lavender? Check out this video on how to make an easy lavender soap bar at home!
Additional Benefits of Lavender
We have identified the powerful effects of introducing lavender to your skin care regimen, but beyond that, lavender essential oil has many relevant uses. Here are several ailments that lavender oil and its incredible healing properties can improve:
- Relieve stress
- Improve mood
- Promote restful sleep
- Sooth itching insect bites
- Sooth respiratory ailments: sore throat and cough
- Heal minor scrapes, burns and cuts
- Improve hair health and help prevent hair loss
- Reduce stomach pains and improve overall digestion (apply to external stomach area)
- Freshen indoor air when used in an essential oil diffuser
- Improve symptoms caused by depression and anxiety
- Alleviate headaches when applied to the temples and other pressure points
- Heal cracked, chapped lips when mixed with organic coconut oil
- Improve mental clarity and focus
- Provide relief of sore achy muscles
- Treat head lice
Let’s explore a couple of these in greater detail to understand even better how using lavender essential oil can improve various symptoms.
Improve hair health and help prevent hair loss
Because lavender oil is effective in helping to manage stress, anxiety, insomnia and stress which are the most common causes of hair loss, lavender essential oil can help to fight hair loss. Regularly massage a few drops of oil onto the scalp to help prevent hair loss and stimulate hair growth by increasing blood circulation.
Sooth itching insect bites
Itchy bites can be distracting and keep you from getting a good night’s sleep. Apply a few drops of lavender essential oil to the bite area. The itching and swelling will subside almost immediately. It can also be used as a natural insect repellent when applied to the skin before encountering the insects.
Alleviate headaches
Lavender has been proven one of the most effective ways to treat migraine headaches naturally. Massaging your temples, neck and forehead helps to promote relaxation and relieve tension.
Treat head lice
Just the word lice can make your skin crawl. But the powerful antiseptic properties of lavender essential oil can both kill lice and nits and also help prevent head lice.
Provide relief of sore achy muscles: After a long day at work or a day of travel, a soothing massage seems like the perfect solution. By adding lavender essential oil to a carrier oil like coconut oil or your favorite body lotion, it becomes a relaxing solution for treating achy muscles.
How to choose the best lavender oil
There are many different types of lavender essential oil and lavender infused products. But be careful, some of these products are not using the truest form of lavender making it less effective. Some of them may be manufactured with artificial ingredients, fragrances or other additives. Do some research, read reviews of different products and companies. You may even want to call a company and find out how the products are made. And if you’re new to purchasing essential oils, ask a knowledgeable friend what company they recommend.
There are so many uses for lavender. It’s a great essential oil to have on hand – with it’s calming, antibacterial, antiseptic and disinfectant properties, it can become an integral component in your daily skincare regimen and you will be well on your way to healthy, glowing skin.
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