Lavender essential oil, with its soothing aroma and versatile properties, has long been cherished for its remarkable skincare benefits. From calming irritated skin to promoting a youthful complexion, lavender EO is a natural powerhouse that has earned its place in our beauty routines. Whether you're a skincare enthusiast or simply curious about essential oils, read on to discover the benefits of lavender essential oil for your skin.
Jump to:
- 1. Lavender Speeds Healing
- Use it in: Lavender All-Purpose Salve
- 2. Lavender Promotes Collagen Production
- Use it in: Hydrating Facial Oil
- 3. Lavender Boosts Beauty Sleep
- Use it in: Sleepytime Face Mask
- 4. Lavender Soothes Irritated Skin
- Use it in: Lavender Body Butter, Lotion, and Moisturizers
- Use it in: Lavender Massage Oil
- 5. Lavender Fights Free Radicals
- Use it in: Nourishing Lavender Facial Serum
- 6. Lavender Battles Acne
- Use it in: Lavender Facial Cleanser, Soap, and Scalp Cleanser
- 7. Lavender Soothes Sunburns
- Use it in: Sunburn-Soothing Bath Soak
- 8. Lavender Tones + Repairs Skin
- Use it in: Refreshing Lavender Face Toner
- 9. Lavender Relieves Stress
- Use it in: Lavender Body Wash
- 10. Lavender Deodorizes Your Feet
- Use it in: Lavender Foot Powder
- 11. Lavender Is Perfect for Perfume
- Use it in: Lavender Perfume Roll-On
So, what exactly makes lavender so great for the skin? Read on to discover 11 benefits and how to use lavender oil in your beauty routine. And by the way, lavender is also excellent for your hair!
1. Lavender Speeds Healing
Scientific studies conducted with humans and animals have found that lavender may contain wound-healing properties [source]. This is one of the many reasons that lavender is a go-to EO for cuts, scrapes, bruises, and burns.
It's an excellent essential oil to keep in your first aid kit. Due to its antiseptic properties, lavender is considered beneficial in fighting infection and is a common ingredient in salves formulated to treat skin injuries [source].
Use it in: Lavender All-Purpose Salve
When paired with calendula, lavender can be used to make an effective all-purpose salve to speed healing for various skin issues. It's great for dry, chapped lips, parched winter skin, eczema, bug bites, burns, wounds, and more.
Salves are actually really simple to make, and they're very customizable. You can use herb-infused oils or even just coconut or olive oil. Just combine your base oil with beeswax and essential oils, and there you have it.
Or mix 3 parts fractionated coconut oil with 1 part lavender essential oil in a small spray or roll-on bottle to help clear up skin irritation associated with chafing or razor burn.
In fact, one animal study found that a topical application of lavender essential oil promoted collagen synthesis and replacement, so wounds healed faster [source].
Use it in: Hydrating Facial Oil
Revive dull and tired skin by using lavender in an antioxidant-rich rosehip facial oil recipe. Rosehip is also beneficial as an anti-inflammatory for burns, wrinkles, and scars and has antioxidant effects for antiaging and skin regeneration [source]. It's the perfect partner for lavender to nourish and heal skin while you sleep.
3. Lavender Boosts Beauty Sleep
Lavender EO also contains sedative properties [source]. Not only can it help ease stress and tension, but it also encourages a good night's rest [source]. While there are several things you can do to promote better quality sleep, utilizing essential oils is one of the simplest and most pleasurable ways to do it!
Diffusing sleep blends with lavender at bedtime or using it in a linen spray is a great way to make the room and sheets smell utterly fantastic and help you fall asleep faster [source].
Use it in: Sleepytime Face Mask
You could also make a lavender honey mask to soothe your skin and help you relax before bedtime—it’s a win-win!
Combine 1-½ tablespoons of raw honey with 3 drops of lavender essential oil. Apply to clean skin, avoiding the eye area. Leave it on for 15 minutes—though I keep mine on a bit longer; it feels so cool and tingly. Then rinse with warm water.
4. Lavender Soothes Irritated Skin
Lavender has long been believed to contain anti-inflammatory properties [source], and scientific research supports this. An animal study published in 2018 found that topical (and oral) applications of lavender EO exhibited anti-inflammatory action in skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis [source].
Use it in: Lavender Body Butter, Lotion, and Moisturizers
Add lavender essential oil to lotions, massage oils, and bath recipes to help soften and condition your skin. Lavender is an excellent addition to asensitive skin facial moisturizer.
Body butter is a great product to have on hand for dry, irritated, or inflamed skin. Start with this body butter recipe, and simply add a few drops of lavender essential oil. The shea and coconut are super nourishing, and the lavender acts as an anti-inflammatory to help soothe unhappy skin.
Use it in: Lavender Massage Oil
—1 ounce (roughly 2 tablespoons) of carrier oil, such as sweet almond, apricot kernel, sesame seed, or grapeseed oil
—10–12 drops lavender essential oil
—Dark glass dropper bottle
Combine the ingredients in a dark glass bottle and shake well before each use. Use the dropper to put about 1 teaspoonful into your hands and gently massage into the skin.
5. Lavender Fights Free Radicals
Lavender EO also contains antioxidant properties [source]. Free radicals are unstable molecules caused by stress, diet, toxin exposure, diet, and other environmental factors that can cause damage to cells, which contributes to cell deterioration, cancer, chronic diseases, and the visible signs of aging, as well as the overall health of the body.
Antioxidants have the ability to reduce free radicals, protecting the body from the damage they create. This is why antioxidants are so important for our skin health.
Consuming antioxidants through our diets regularly is essential [source], but we can also utilize their benefits in antioxidant-rich skincare products. These free radical scavengers help our skin appear healthier and more youthful.
Use it in: Nourishing Lavender Facial Serum
Keeping the facial skin nourished, moisturized, and protected from environmental damage [source] is key to having younger-looking skin. Antioxidant-rich facial serums provide an excellent way to do this.
If you make the serums yourself, they're incredibly affordable! Create your own facial serum, and don't forget to add some lavender essential oil.
6. Lavender Battles Acne
Among the many beneficial properties of lavender are its antimicrobial properties [source]. Not only does this make it useful for wounds, but it also supports skincare in general.
Because this EO inhibits bacteria, it's a great one to use in formulations designed for cleansing the scalp and hair, in body and face washes, and for treating acne.
Use it in: Lavender Facial Cleanser, Soap, and Scalp Cleanser
Hands down, one of the easiest ways to add lavender to your cleansing routine is to add a few drops to your existing body wash or shampoo. However, if you like to make your own cleansers, try adding lavender to an oil cleanser or acleansing balm.
7. Lavender Soothes Sunburns
Turn to lavender to help cool and repair sunburned skin. This sunburn skin spray is incredibly cooling and soothing for dry or sunburned skin. Spritz all over to quench parched skin.
Use it in: Sunburn-Soothing Bath Soak
—3 tablespoons honey
—1 can coconut milk
—6 drops lavender essential oil
Whisk the honey with the coconut milk, then add the drops of lavender essential oil. Add into your bath, and soak up the moisture.
8. Lavender Tones + Repairs Skin
Refreshing lavender hydrosol is an excellent toner to revitalize skin. Use lavender in a refreshing face spray to tone skin after cleansing as well as to cool and repair sunburned skin.
Use lavender hydrosol with a few drops of lavender essential oil or make this simple homemade toner recipe below.
Use it in: Refreshing Lavender Face Toner
—4 tablespoons lavender hydrosol
—½ cup witch hazel
—6 drops lavender essential oil
Pour and measure 4 ounces of witch hazel into a measuring cup. Add the lavender hydrosol and essential oil and stir. Using a funnel, slowly pour the mixture into a clean 6-ounce bottle.
Shake before each use and swipe over the face with a cotton pad. You can also put the toner into a spray bottle and spritz it on your face. Let the liquid absorb into your skin before applying moisturizer. Store in the refrigerator for 2–4 weeks.
9. Lavender Relieves Stress
Lavender is well-known for its calmative properties when dealing with stress and anxiety. It's often used in anti-anxiety blends, along with other products formulated to help reduce stress. In the past, preparations made from the herb were the go-to option for any issues dealing with nervous tension [source].
If you're having a particularly stressful day, diffuse some lavender and spend a few minutes enjoying its calming and relaxing aroma. Or simply mix a few drops in a cup of Epsom salts and enjoy a nice, long bath soak. I promise you won't regret it!
Use it in: Lavender Body Wash
The soothing scent of lavender calms your mind while massaging this body wash into tense muscles relaxes you from head to toe.
—1 cup water
—¼ cup honey
—⅔ cup unscented liquid Castile soap
—2 teaspoons jojoba oil
—40 drops lavender essential oil
Add all ingredients into a bowl and mix well. Transfer to a lidded plastic bottle. Swirl before each use to combine the ingredients. Squeeze some of the mixture onto a washcloth, massage into the skin, and then rinse well.
10. Lavender Deodorizes Your Feet
Lavender oil is naturally antiseptic, and its antibacterial action is perfect for deodorizing and combating odor-causing bacteria. Lavender is an ideal addition to a foot soak or a massage for tired feet.
—2 ounces cornstarch
—10 drops lavender essential oil
—10 drops tea tree essential oil
Combine the cornstarch and the essential oils in a bowl and stir thoroughly to break up clumps, ending up with a fine powder. Apply the powder to clean, dry feet. Store extras in a cool, dry place for 6 months.
11. Lavender Is Perfect for Perfume
Lavender makes a wonderful personal fragrance. It's a timeless scent that has been used in essential oil perfume and fragrance blends for centuries. With its distinct aroma, it can be used on its own or paired with other essential oils for a unique custom blend.
Personally, I like to pair it with ylang ylang EO for a fresh, exotic fragrance. However, it also combines nicely with citrus, florals, and earthy-smelling oils.
As an added bonus, not only will your natural perfume smell delightful, but it can also help keep you calm throughout the day! Here's a great guide to get you started on creating your own unique perfume.
Use it in: Lavender Perfume Roll-On
—6 drops lavender essential oil
—2 drops ylang ylang essential oil
—3 drops sweet orange essential oil
—Carrier oil (something light with little to no scent, like jojoba, grapeseed, or sweet almond oil is best)
—10 mL roll-on bottle
Add the essential oils to the bottle and gently swirl to combine them. Fill the rest of the bottle with carrier oil, replace the cap, and swirl again.
Apply to pulse points like wrists, clavicle, and behind the ears. Remember to shake the bottle before each use.
References
- Samuelson R, et al. The effects of lavender essential oil on wound healing: a review of the current evidence. J Altern Complement Med. 2020.
- Mori HM, et al. Wound healing potential of lavender oil by acceleration of granulation and wound contraction through induction of TGF-β in a rat model. BMC Comp Altern Med. 2016.
- Marmol I, et al. Therapeutic applications of rose hips from different Rosa species. Int J Mol Sci. 2017.
- Buchbauer G, et al. Aromatherapy: evidence for sedative effects of the essential oil of lavender after inhalation. Z Naturforsch C J Biosci. 1991.
- Lillehei AS, et al. Effect of inhaled lavender and sleep hygiene on self-reported sleep issues: a randomized controlled trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2015.
- Dos Reis Lucena L, et al. Lavender essential oil on postmenopausal women with insomnia: double-blind randomized trial. Complement Ther Med. 2021.
- Habán M, et al. Lavandula species, their bioactive phytochemicals, and their biosynthetic regulation. Int J Mol Sci. 2023.
- Esteves Cardia GF, et al. Effect of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil on acute inflammatory response. Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2018.
- Da Silva GL, et al. Antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of lavender essential oil. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2015.
- Lobo V, et al. Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: impact on human health. Pharmacogn Rev. 2010.
- Pandel R, et al. Skin photoaging and the role of antioxidants in its prevention. ISRN Dermatol. 2013.
- Al-Mijalli SH, et al. Determination of volatile compounds of Mentha piperita and Lavandula multifida and investigation of their antibacterial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022.
- Lopez V, et al. Exploring pharmacological mechanisms of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil on central nervous system targets. Front Pharmacol. 2017.
29
