If you look at your skincare routine closely, you will find that essential oils are everywhere. They are used in soaps, moisturizers, and facial oils. These plant-based oils are infused with a myriad combination of nutrients and compounds that benefit our skin and mind extensively. There are many essential oils that help to solve skin and hair problems, but what to choose and how to choose? In this article, you will get the best carrier oils and essential oils to lighten dark spots and pigmentations.
Let’s see what the best essential oils are for dark spots, age spots, and pigmentation with their benefits, and how to use them.
What Is Essential Oil?
As the word essential oil suggests, they contain the ‘essence’ or the aroma of a particular plant. Essential oils consist of a wide variety of natural compounds that are not found in any other sources, such as limonene, eucalyptol, and gamma-terpinene, among others. These oils evaporate easily at room temperature and have to be used with a carrier oil to be absorbed into the skin.
Unlike carrier oils, which are extracted only from seeds and nuts, essential oils can be extracted from leaves, flowers, stems, bark, and roots of the plant.
Essential oils have various benefits for the human body. They are used to treat common skin concerns like aging, hyperpigmentation, as well as for aromatherapy and healing of body and mind.
Benefits Of Using Essential Oils For Skin
1. Reduces signs of aging
Mature skin faces several skin concerns like wrinkles, fine lines around the eyes, and sagging skin. This can be caused due to breakdown of collagen in the skin or damage due to oxidative stress.
Essential oils contain several compounds that accelerate collagen production and maintain the firmness of the skin. Additionally, it also contains vitamins C and E that act as antioxidants and protect the skin from free radicals.
2. Soothes skin and reduces inflammation
Almost all soothing balms and ointments contain essential oils. This is because of essential oils’ superior ability to soothe the skin.
The essential oil can calm down the redness, rashes, and itching on the skin that is caused due to any allergy, pollens, or bacterial inflammation. It also has some antimicrobial properties that keep bacterial growth in the pores of the skin at bay.
3. Fades scars and dark spots, and stretch marks
Scar marks, pigmentations, and spots are caused by the deposit of melanin in the outer layers of the skin. The natural compounds present in essential oils have the ability to control melanin production and prevent hyperpigmentation.
The presence of vitamin C in some essential oils also helps to lighten the spots and stretch marks. This helps the skin to look radiant.
4. Evens the skin texture and complexion
Another benefit of using essential oil is that it improves the skin complexion. The composition of most essential oils is beneficial in reducing the size of pores on the skin and making the texture of the skin smooth.
Essential oils also control the oiliness of the skin and prevent the formation of pimples and acne on the skin. This gives an overall appearance of smooth and blemish-free skin.
5. Heals bruises, cuts, and microtears on the skin
The healing properties of essential oils are useful in skincare. Essential oils can speed up the rate at which small wounds and acne scars on the face heal. This reduces the chances of hyperpigmentation and inflammation on the face.
In addition to this, certain physical exfoliators can cause microtears on the skin. The following exfoliation with the usage of essential oil ensures that the microtears heal fast and do not damage the skin.
Safety Guidelines Before Using Any Essential Oil
Despite being loaded with numerous benefits, there are certain safety concerns associated with the usage of essential oils. Since most of the compounds that are present in essential oils are rarely found in nature, extensive research needs to be conducted to assure the safety of the usage of essential oils.
Some of the common health concerns that dictate that you should stop using essential oils are as follows:
- Undiluted essential oils can cause rashes, redness, and itching on the skin.
- Essential oils should not be used on pregnant or lactating women as they may cause adverse effects on the mother and infant.
- Care should be taken to use essential oils in very low doses. Besides this, thorough research should be done before using any essential oil to know the substances and impurities contained in them.
- Essential oils should not be used when the person is undergoing certain medications, such as ant-cancer drugs or fertility drugs.
Best Essential Oils For Dark Spots And Pigmentations
Some of the best essential oils for dark spots and pigmentation are as follows:
1. Frankincense Essential Oil
Extracted from the resin of the Boswellia tree, frankincense oil is called the king of all essential oils. With a rich, woody aroma, this essential oil is used in aromatherapy.
Frankincense essential oil is a natural astringent. It can heal discolorations on the skin like acne scars and age spots. It is also useful for reducing the appearance of stretch marks. The astringent properties also make frankincense oil useful for unclogging the pores of the skin and minimizing the formation of acne.
Frankincense oil can balance the oil content of the facial area. It controls sebum production but keeps the skin moisturized. This helps the skin to maintain an optimum moisture level that does not cause dryness or acne.
Frankincense oil has anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties. The Boswellic acids in the oil prevent the damage of free radicals on the skin. It rejuvenates the skin and keeps wrinkles, sagging and dull skin, and age spots at bay.
The antimicrobial properties of frankincense oil also contribute to the wellness of the skin. They prevent bacterial outgrowth in the pores of the skin and stop infections.
2. Rose Essential Oil
Another popular essential oil to lighten dark spots and pigmentations is rose essential oil. Rose essential oil is a good astringent. It can tighten up the facial muscles and make the skin look more youthful.
Rose essential oil also helps to fade acne marks, scars, and blemishes on the skin. Controlling hyperpigmentation helps the skin achieve a radiant glow.
Rose essential oil has antiseptic and antimicrobial properties due to the presence of geraniol and citronellol in it. It reduces the chance of bacterial infection on any scars or wounds on the face. This is especially useful for those suffering from acne.
Rose essential oil has phenylethyl alcohol, which is useful in regulating the pH of the skin. A normal pH in the range of 4.5-5.5 keeps the skin moisturized and free from bumps and bacterial growth.
3. Sandalwood Essential Oil
One of the most expensive essential oils in the world, Sandalwood essential oil is identifiable by its sweet and woody aroma. It is extracted from the Santalum album trees that are found in India and Australia. Sandalwood essential oil is extracted from the heartwood of the Sandalwood tree, and the oil is refined through steam distillation. It has the appearance of liquid gold.
Sandalwood oil contains alpha-santanol. This compound acts as an inhibitor for tyrosinase, which is responsible for the melanin formation in the skin. Thus, sandalwood oil can reduce dark spots, acne scars, and tanning of the skin. This gives the skin a visibly brighter appearance.
Beta-santanol in sandalwood oil has a creamy texture. It acts as an excellent moisturizer for dry skin. Both alpha-santanol and beta-santanol in sandalwood oil have antimicrobial and astringent properties. They prevent bacterial or fungal infections on the skin and reduce acne.
Sandalwood oil has a soothing and calming effect on the skin. The sesquiterpene alcohols in sandalwood oil can heal scars and calm infections, rashes, and redness on the skin.
4. Lemon Essential Oil
Characterized by its bright yellow color, the lemon essential oil is known as liquid sunshine. It has the most potent antimicrobial activity out of all essential oils. Lemon essential oil is obtained by cold pressing the zest or the peel of the fruit. Due to its photosensitive properties, lemon essential oils should only be stored in dark bottles, away from sunlight.
Lemon essential oil is a very good antioxidant. It rejuvenates the skin and protects it from free radicals and UV rays of the sun. This prevents the skin from getting dull and lackluster.
The lemon essential oil also acts as an excellent spot corrector. It can lighten the appearance of scars, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation on the skin. This makes the skin look bright and radiant.
The lemon essential oil has good antimicrobial properties. It protects the skin from bacterial or fungal growth and reduces acne. This is the reason why lemon essential oil is used in cleansers, toners, and scrubbers. The anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties of lemon essential oil help to soothe any redness or rashes on the skin.
Note: If you are using lemon essential oil in your daily skincare routine, always apply sunscreen before going out in the sun.
5. Neroli Essential Oil
Neroli essential oil is another useful oil whose benefits extend beyond aromatherapy. Neroli oil has a refreshing, sweet, and fruity aroma. As it belongs to the Citrus family, neroli essential oil exhibits photosensitive properties and should be kept in dark bottles away from the sunlight.
Neroli essential oil is a good antioxidant. It prevents harmful free radicals and UV rays from affecting our skin. This slows down the aging of the skin and breaking of the skin barrier. Neroli oil can rejuvenate the skin and eradicate any sign of dullness.
Neroli essential oil is cytophylactic. This seems that it has the ability to accelerate the generation of new skin cells and promote the production of elastin. These two factors can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin tremendously.
Neroli essential oil also works against hyperpigmentation. It can fade acne scars, sun spots, and any wounds on the skin and brighten the overall skin tone.
Neroli essential oil also has some moisturizing and hydrating properties. It can keep the skin glowing and enable it to maintain its moisture content. The antibacterial and antifungal nature of neroli essential oil also helps to keep bacterial infection and acne at bay.
Note: If you are using neroli essential oil in your daily skincare routine, always apply sunscreen before going out in the sun.
6. Lavender Essential Oil
The soothing purple-hued plant, lavender, is the source of the most useful essential oils. The lavender essential oil has a unique and refreshing fragrance that is described as a cross between the scents of mint and rosemary.
Lavender essential oil is a good antioxidant. It protects the skin from free radicals and toxins of the external environment that can cause damage to the cells’ DNA and make the skin look dull and dried out. It helps to lighten dark spots and provides a glow to the skin.
The anti-inflammatory properties of lavender essential oil make it useful to soothe rashes, burns, and redness on the skin. The lavender essential oil also has good antibacterial and antifungal properties. It can prevent bacterial and fungal growth in the pores of the skin and reduce acne.
7. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree essential oil is known for its soothing impact on the skin. Pinene in tea tree oil has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. This not only helps to prevent the micro-wounds and scars on the skin from getting infected but also prevents any kind of itching, irritation, or rashes on the skin.
Sabinene in tea tree oil acts as an antioxidant. It prevents oxidative stress on the skin caused due to external toxins.
In addition to this, limonene and other compounds in tea tree oil target hyperpigmentation and promote clearer skin free from acne and blemishes.
8. Geranium Essential Oil
The geranium essential oil has the ability to fade dark spots and scars. It is used as an effective treatment against hyperpigmentation as it can control melanin production.
Being an astringent, geranium essential oil can lift the facial muscles. Geranium oil is used to tighten the skin and give a youthful appearance to the face. The anti-aging properties of geranium essential oil also help to reduce wrinkles and fine lines on the face.
The geranium essential oil can also balance the oil content on the face. It controls the sebum production and prevents breakouts. The anti-inflammatory nature of geranium essential oil has a soothing effect on the face. It can soothe wounds and calm down rashes or infections.
9. Helichrysum Essential Oil
Extracted from a bushy plant with yellow flowers, Helichrysum is called the Everlasting or Immortal Flower.
The main usefulness of Helichrysum essential oil is its anti-aging properties. It has a tremendous effect on reducing the wrinkles and lines on the face. Additionally, it can promote the production of collagen and elastin, which leads to a firm and younger-looking skin.
Helichrysum essential oil is also known for its anti-allergic properties. It can soothe allergic reactions on the face and reduce rashes, redness, and itching. The antioxidant nature of helichrysum essential oil protects the skin from free radicals and toxins.
Helichrysum essential oil can promote cell regeneration and make the skin look bright and rejuvenated, and helps to heal scars and lighten pigmentations.
10. Cedarwood Essential Oil
Cedarwood essential oil is rich in antioxidants and can make the skin look brighter and helping to get rid of scars and dark spots. It is useful in combating the free radicals and UV rays that make the skin dull.
The major usefulness of cedarwood essential oil comes from its antibacterial and antifungal nature. Cedarwood oil does not allow bacterial or fungal growth in the pores of the skin and helps to prevent acne. Cedarwood essential oil is also found useful in controlling sebum production and preventing the face from turning greasy and dull.
11. Orange Essential Oil
Orange essential oil is well known for its refreshing citrus smell. Being a citrus oil, the orange essential oil exhibits photosensitivity and should be stored in dark bottles away from sunlight.
The orange essential oil has skin brightening properties. It can fade any type of hyperpigmentation, such as dark spots, acne scars, and tanning from the sun.
The antibacterial and antifungal nature of orange essential oil makes it useful in fighting infections or inflammation on the skin due to microbial growth. Being acidic, this oil creates an unfavorable environment where the bacteria cannot multiply.
Orange essential oil is rich in vitamin C, which acts as an excellent antioxidant. It reduces the damage caused due to free radicals, UV rays, and toxins on the skin and prevents the formation of wrinkles and dull skin.
Note: If you are using orange essential oil in your daily skincare routine, always apply sunscreen before going out in the sun.
List Of Best Carrier Oils For Dark Spots And Pigmentations
The best carrier oils for hyperpigmentation are as follows:
1. Rosehip Seed Oil
- Comedogenic rating: 1
- Absorption speed: Fast
- Fatty acid content: Linoleic acid: 44%
Oleic acid: 14%
Rosehip oil is rich in linoleic acid. This is a lightweight fatty acid that can penetrate deep into the skin and moisturize up to several layers. It also contains oleic acid, which forms a protective film on the upper layers of the skin that does not allow the moisture to escape.
Rosehip oil is rich in vitamin E and is an antioxidant. It protects the skin from free radicals and harmful rays of the sun. This makes the face brighter and rejuvenated with a reduced appearance of sunburns and dull skin. Rosehip oil also contains beta-carotene, which boosts collagen production and prevents the formation of wrinkles and fine lines due to aging.
2. Argan Oil
- Comedogenic rating: 0
- Absorption speed: Fast
- Fatty acid content: Linoleic acid: 37%
Oleic acid: 43%
The presence of high content of oleic acid makes argan oil a good moisture-retaining agent. Its occlusive properties help argan oil to seal the moisture on the upper layer of the skin without clogging the pores.
Argan oil contains vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties to combat the oxidative stress on the skin and its effects like dull skin, pigmentation, and lines on the face. Vitamin A in argan oil prevents the aging of the skin through collagen breakdown along with the formation of wrinkles and sagging skin.
3. Jojoba Oil
- Comedogenic rating: 2
- Absorption speed: Fast
- Fatty acid content: Eicosenoic acid: 65-80%
Linoleic acid: 5%
Oleic acid: 5-15%
Linolenic acid: 1%
The main constituent of jojoba oil is a wax ester which is chemically similar to the sebum produced by the skin. Thus, it can control the production of oil from the sebaceous glands and effectively prevent acne and pimples.
The presence of essential and non-essential fatty acids moisturizes the skin without feeling too oily on the skin. Vitamin A of jojoba oil prevents wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin that are caused due to aging by boosting the collagen content of the skin.
Another useful vitamin present in jojoba oil is vitamin E. It is a powerful antioxidant and can reduce the harmful effects of UV rays and free radicals on the skin. Vitamin E has the ability to reduce inflammation and reduce the dullness of skin.
4. Almond Oil
- Comedogenic rating: 2
- Absorption speed: Average
- Fatty acid content: Linoleic acid: 20-30%
Oleic acid: 62-86%
Linolenic acid: 0.4%
The primary constituent of almond oil is oleic acid. It has barrier-repairing properties and does not allow moisture to escape from the outer layers of the skin. Linoleic acid in almond oil can penetrate several layers inside the skin and moisturize the skin. The presence of palmitic, stearic, and linolenic acids in almond oil makes it an excellent emollient. They also help in making the skin look bright and radiant.
5. Grapeseed Oil
- Comedogenic rating: 1
- Absorption speed: Fast
- Fatty acid content: Linoleic acid: 63-72%
Oleic acid: 21%
Grapeseed oil is a lightweight carrier oil with multiple essential fatty acids like linoleic acid and oleic acid. These are useful for moisturizing all skin types without feeling too greasy on the skin.
Other fatty acids like palmitic, stearic, and palmitoleic acids are present in grape seed oil. They are good emollients and form a moisture-retaining layer on top of the skin.
Grapeseed oil also contains useful vitamins like vitamins A and E. They work to prevent the aging of the skin as well as oxidative stress. Together, they can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, lines, age spots, and dull skin.
Grapeseed oil can be used as a mild exfoliant, even for acne-prone skin. It can clear the dead cells on the epidermis and simultaneously soothe the acne.
6. Hemp Seed Oil
- Comedogenic rating: 0
- Absorbency Speed: Fast
- Fatty acid content: Linoleic acid: 56%
Linolenic acid: 10%
Oleic acid: 11%
The composition of the hemp seed oil is similar to that of the oil produced by our skin. This helps hemp seed oil to control the production of sebum and reduces the oiliness of our skin. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and helps to fight acne-causing microbes and lightens dark spots.
The linoleic acid content in hemp seed oil helps it to moisturize the skin to a great extent. The palmitic and stearic acid content in hemp seed oil makes it useful as an emollient. It also improves the cleansing action of hemp seed oil as an oil cleanser.
How To Use Essential Oils For Dark Spots And Pigmentations
To get the best results for lightening dark spots and hyperpigmentation on your face, it is recommended to use carrier oil and essential oil together. Since essential oils are volatile in nature, the carrier oils help them to be carried inside the layers of the skin.
The ideal ratio for mixing the essential oil with a carrier oil is 1: 99. This means that a mixture of these oils will contain 1% essential oil with 99% carrier oil.
Simple DIY Face Serum Recipe For Dark Spots And Pigmentation –
- 29.7g | 99% carrier oil of your choice (or combination of different carrier oils)
- 0.3g | 1% essential oil of your choice (or combination of different essential oils)
Using a funnel, pour them into a dark-colored glass dropper bottle and shake well to mix everything well. Store it in a dark place away from direct light. As always, it is advised to perform a patch test with these oils to check for any allergic reaction on the skin.
You can also make this face serum to get rid of scars, dark spots, and pigmentation.
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