Erika Bragdon is a Certified Essential Oil Coach from the Essential Oil Institute
Does your skin tend to look flaky or rough? Does it sometimes feel itchy? You may have fine lines or even cracks that accentuate the appearance of aging, particularly on your face. These are all signs of dry skin. And it can occur on your face, arms, legs, or anywhere on your body.
There are many great essential oils for dry skin that work to hydrate and soothe naturally. Find out more about each of those essential oils, plus how to get the best results in this post.
Which Essential Oils for Dry Skin Work Best?
Please read my Common Sense essential oil safety post before using essential oils.
Lavender essential oil
Lavender essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils for good reason. It has many benefits for skin health and can help support healing and overall skin health.
Lavender oil is particularly useful for soothing skin issues including rough, dry, irritated skin and may be helpful for reducing scarring.
Helichrysum essential oil
Helichrysum is one of my all-time favorite essential oils for dry skin. My previously dry skin has been much healthier since I started using helichrysum essential oil.
I waited to buy this oil for some time because it’s one of the more expensive essential oils, but when I finally did, I was amazed at how beneficial it is! (I bought my Helichrysum from Eden’s Garden as it’s much more affordable than many of the other brands and still high quality with third-party testing for quality control.)
Helichrysum is known for its potential anti-aging and scar reducing benefits because it is very hydrating for the skin. There’s also the potential benefit for it to help block UV damage to skin.
While Helichrysum is one of the more expensive essential oils, when compared to the many pricey creams and serums on the market, it can actually be less expensive, especially when considering one bottle of this essential oil can last a long time. Plus it’s all-natural, so that’s even better!
Myrrh essential oil
Myrrh is another wonderful essential oil for dry skin because it both protects and soothes. It has strong antioxidant properties and may help protect against UV damage while reducing fine lines and wrinkles and supporting youthful skin.
Safety: Do not use Myrrh essential oil during pregnancy. Use caution if you have diabetes or blood sugar issues as it may lower blood sugar.
Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense has wonderful potential for minimizing scars, wrinkles, and fine lines while supporting new skin regeneration. It’s very calming and can help reduce inflammation while evening skin tone.
Safety: Frankincense has blood-thinning properties; if you have any blood-clotting issues, check with your medical provider before use.
Note: My body doesn’t produce enough clotting factor and I am more prone to bleeding excessively; however, I use Frankincense essential oil all the time without any negative side effects.
Geranium Essential Oil
Geranium is wonderful for balancing skin, whether it’s dry or oily. It’s helpful for moisturizing and promoting youthful skin. It has astringent-like properties which mean it may help minimize wrinkles and fine lines and regenerate skin. Its anti-inflammatory properties may help minimize red, dry, irritated skin as well.
Safety: Do not use Geranium oil during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Carrot Seed Essential Oil
Carrot seed essential oil is highly moisturizing for dry skin and its antioxidant properties can help protect skin.
Cucumber Seed Essential Oil
Cucumber seed oil is hydrating and may help reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood essential oil is great for dry skin as it helps tone and reduces inflammation while hydrating and soothing.
Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang Ylang essential oil may help reduce signs of aging. It’s also very hydrating.
Manuka essential oil
Not to be confused with Manuka honey, Manuka essential oil is helpful for healing damaged skin and reducing scarring, including wrinkles and fine lines. It may also help with growth and regeneration of new skin cells.
Safety: do not use Manuka essential oil during pregnancy.
Jasmine Essential Oil
Jasmine is excellent for calming irritated, dry skin due to its antibacterial and anti-viral properties. It may also help promote youthful, radiant skin.
Safety: do not use Jasmine during pregnancy.
Hyssop Essential Oil
Hyssop is helpful for reducing scars, wrinkles, and fine lines and healing skin.
Safety: do not use Hyssop during pregnancy as it may cause contractions.
How to Use Essential Oils for Dry Skin:
Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil before using. This is because essential oils are very potent and a little goes a long way.
Carrier Oils for Dry Skin
The most common carrier oil is fractionated coconut oil.
However, I recommend one or more of the following carrier oils when using essential oils for dry skin. This is because these carrier oils are more hydrating and moisturizing than fractionated coconut oil.
These are my favorite carrier oils for dry skin:
I use a combination of the five above carrier oils for my dry skincare routine, however, my two favorites are Jojoba oil and Argan oil.
Which Essential Oil Brand is Best?
For the best results, you will want to choose a high-quality essential oil brand that is 100% pure and offers third-party testing for quality control.
My favorite essential oil company is Rocky Mountain Oils, followed by Eden’s Garden, and Ancient Apothecary by Dr. Axe.
You can find those oils here:
- Rocky Mountain Oils – buy here and get free shipping on any order
- Eden’s Garden – buy here and get free shipping on any order OR order through Amazon
- Ancient Apothecary by Dr. Axe – you can order directly from his website or through Amazon
Using Essential Oils for Dry Skin
You’ll want to use 2-3 drops of each essential oil diluted with a carrier oil. If you want to use ALL of the essential oils listed in this post, I’d recommend mixing up a small one or two-ounce glass bottle with a combination of carrier oils and adding 5 or so drops of each essential oil for the best results.
I will be sharing my personal favorite “skin oil with essential oils” blend soon, so keep an eye out for it! (When that post is up, I will link it here.)
I hope you’ve found this post on essential oils for dry skin helpful. Let me know how these oils work for you and which ones are your favorites in the comments below.
Here are a few more ways you can use these Essential Oils for Dry Skin:
sofia wilson says
Hi, Erika, I guess you forget to add another 🙂 Don’t know if you’re ever using or not but tamanu oil is another great option when it comes to treating dry skin.
IVY TETTEH- MENS says
thanks a lot for the information ,Am a Ghanaian and i have a very dry skin and its very difficult for me to get a good moisturiser for boyh my face and body.Kindly recommend a mixture of oils for me.Ican get apricot by Now Organics in ghana .
best regards Ivy
Eliza says
Can I use cedarwood oil for treating eczema can you guide me? or write a brief article on it. Thanks.
Julia Stearns @ Healthirony says
I get my massages every week; I do feel better. And of course, I use different essential oils like lavender and lemon! Thanks for sharing, Erika