One of the most popular essential oils in the world is lavender. It’s known for instantly calming and relaxing your senses. Obtained by the process of distillation from purple lavender flower spikes, lavender oil is colourless and insoluble in water. Apart from using lavender oil for hair and skin, it is also used in perfumes and aromatherapy in spas. Interestingly, lavender is also available in a capsule form and is prescribed to patients with anxiety. However, one must always loop in their doctor before consuming the pill. While using lavender oil for the skin, it’s important to understand that lavender oil must never be directly applied to the skin since it’s too strong and can burn the skin. To reap its benefits, it needs to be mixed with a carrier oil such as coconut, argan or almond oil. Together, with these oils, it will moisturise the skin and treat other skin conditions. Read on to learn about all the wonderful things lavender oil is capable of doing for your skin!
The benefits of lavender oil for skin
Apart from keeping you calm and helping you get a good night’s sleep, here are a few key benefits of using lavender essential oil for the skin.
Note: Before you use lavender oil for the skin, make sure that you consult your dermatologist once. If not reachable, always to do a patch test to be safe.
Lavender oil for acne
Did you know that lavender essential oil can be used to treat acne? It not only helps to kill the bacteria on the skin’s surface but also heals acne breakouts and scars. Here’s how to use lavender oil for face – If you have inflamed skin or clogged pores, lavender oil will soothe and deep cleanse the pores. To treat acne and fade away blemishes, simply dilute 3 drops of lavender essential oil in ¼ cup of coconut oil, soak a cotton ball into the mix and gently rub it on your zits post washing your face. What you can also do is mix lavender oil with argan oil and apply it directly to the acne. If done twice a day, your acne will shrink in size and eventually heal.
Quick relief for eczema
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Dry skin and eczema can lead to severe itchiness, red spots and flaky skin. It can appear on any part of your body and it worsens during the monsoons for some. To treat this skin condition, you will have to moisturise that patch of skin daily and resist the urge of scratching the skin. Three drops of lavender essential oil mixed with three drops of tea tree oil and three tbsps of coconut oil will help to kill bacteria, moisturise the skin and calm the redness and irritation. However, if the rash is fresh, don’t apply coconut oil or this mix directly to the skin. Since coconut oil tends to trap heat, it can cause a painful burning sensation to the wound. You will have to wait till the wound cools down before you apply this mix on it.
Brightens up dull skin
Inflammation usually causes discolouration of the skin, resulting in dark spots and scars. Lavender oil helps to heal the skin and lighten the scars naturally. Speaking of healing, did you know that ancient Greeks used lavender oil to treat skin injuries, heal burns and clean wounds? Since lavender oil has antiseptic properties, lavender would help to heal the wounds faster and prevent new bacteria from further infecting the skin. However, don’t expect lavender oil to show instant results. You must be consistent and patient for lavender oil to improve the skin’s texture. Always dilute the product first before applying it on the skin and observe how your skin reacts to it. If this treatment works for your skin, you can gradually add more lavender into your carrier oil.
Slows down ageing signs
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Every drop of lavender oil is loaded with antioxidants and phytochemicals. These ingredients prevent free radicals from damaging the skin and causing premature ageing. If you need to apply lavender oil on your wrinkles, make sure that you mix it with coconut oil so that the essential oil won’t burn the skin. Apply twice daily and catch up on some sleep and we bet, after a couple of months, you will see a noticeable difference.
Helps to detoxify and energise the skin
If you use lavender oil as an ingredient in your bath salt, it will surely ease sore muscles, detoxify the skin and relax a tired mind. To make your own DIY lavender bath salt at home, simply add 8-10 drops of lavender essential oil into a bowl of Epsom salt and add 4-5 drops of purple soap colouring to give it that purple colour. You can use the bath salt either in a bathtub or if you don’t have a bathtub, let us tell you that it makes a great foot soak as well. To scrub off the dead skin on the feet and heal cracked feet, soak your feet in a tub that contains lukewarm water, antiseptic mouthwash, vinegar and a couple of drops of lavender essential oil. Thank us later!
Using lavender oil on the skin
There are many different uses of lavender oil. Here are some ways to use this ingredient.
- If you have to use lavender oil for face, then you mix it with a carrier oil such as coconut or argan oil.
- If you want to use lavender as aromatherapy in your bath, then you will have to add 2-3 drops of it into your bath salt or foot soak.
- For a lavender steam facial, you can also add lavender oil into your facial steamer machine. While it clears out all the gunk stuck in your pores, the scent will also keep you calm and relaxed.
- You can also make a face mist of it by mixing lavender oil with witch hazel. Whenever your skin looks dull and drained, spritz some of it to bring it back to life!
Side effects of lavender oil
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As amazing as lavender oil is, it does not agree with everyone. Here are some of the side effects of lavender oil:
- It may cause skin irritation or trigger an allergic reaction.
- The scent of lavender can also make some people feel nauseous and experience a headache.
Note: If you experience any of these side effects, it’s best to avoid using lavender essential oil for the skin.
The right way to apply lavender essential oil
As mentioned earlier, since lavender in its pure form can be too strong for the skin, to reap its benefits, it must be mixed with a carrier oil such as coconut oil, argan oil and sweet almond oil. However, it’s also wise to do a patch test first and see whether lavender oil agrees with your skin or not. If it flares up or your skin starts to become irritated and itchy, wash it off immediately with lukewarm water and refrain from using it in the future. Also, always check the label of the essential oils.
If it’s pure lavender oil, it should contain only one ingredient that’s called ‘Lavandula Angustifolia’ or ‘Lavandula Latifolia’ and no other oil. Lavandula Augustifolia makes a great harmonizing oil and helps to treat headaches, respiratory concerns and anxiety while Lavandula Latifolia is known for its antibacterial properties and its healing abilities to treat burns, acne and rashes. In order to treat specific conditions related to the mind or skin, one must always read the labels to prevent spending on the wrong product.
Lavender oil to reduce anxiety
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Stress is one of the main causes of premature ageing as it shortens DNA telomeres. One way to instantly calm down is to sniff on some lavender essential oil. It helps to balance your mood and puts you into a relaxed state of mind. Not only will the oil keep you calm, but will also help to get better sleep at night.
Essential oils to use with lavender oil
Since lavender essential oil by itself has a calming and soothing effect on the mind and skin, you want to mix with a scent that’s equally relaxing. Other essential oils to mix lavender oil with include bergamot, patchouli, ylang-ylang, neroli and sandalwood.
Cocktailing these essential oils can help you make your own signature essential oil scent. However, keep in mind that the lavender essential oil should be the dominant scent and the other essential oil shouldn’t overpower it. If that happens, then the entire benefits of using lavender essential oils in the first place will be lost.
By now you’ve come to understand that lavender oil is a versatile ingredient and how to use lavender oil. You can use it for your face, in your bath, on your skin and even on your hair. Especially during this pandemic when one feels anxious and restless, lavender oil can improve the mood and maintain a healthy and positive mind. Hope you have now learned how to use lavender for skin like a pro! Good luck.
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