When there are so many essential oils to choose from, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why I’ve got the inside scoop for you: the five essential oils that will upgrade your beauty game. They’re potent and, when used correctly, highly effective.
In this article you’ll find:
- Essential oil recommendations that can transform skin and nails, from a natural beauty insider who actually uses them.
- Instructions on how to use the oils.
- Why you won’t find lavender oil in the Top Five.
- A great and often overlooked source for top-quality essential oils.
Here we go!
Frankincense: Anti-Aging Super Oil
Frankincense is my go-to beauty oil, one I’m never without. Not only does it help with hyperpgimentation, it tones and tightens skin.
For those with acne, it won’t prevent blemishes from popping up, but it will help any spots fade away quickly.
Frankincense can be used neat. That means it can be applied directly to skin without dilution.
To use frankincense, massage a single drop onto clean skin wherever you need extra help. Depending on your needs, this can be fine lines, dark spots, or sagging areas.
One of my favorite–and unconventional–ways to use frankincense is to enhance and define the jawline. To use, apply a drop of frankincense in the little hollow directly behind the earlobe. Using one or two fingers, press firmly and slide your finger from behind the earlobe, down along the jawline to the chin. Repeat on the other side. Extra points if you do this right after a facial self-massage.
Frankincense has improved my hyperpigmentation, minimized worry and laugh lines, and helped restore a defined, beautiful jawline. It’s an all-in-one anti-aging powerhouse.
High-quality frankincense is expensive, and if you find it cheap it’s probably not going to give you great results. Check out a 15ml bottle of my favorite Sacred Frankincense ($85) here.
Myrrh: For Gorgeous Nails
For brittle nails and ragged cuticles, myrrh is a godsend. Using myrrh a few times a week before bedtime has completely changed the look of my hands, making them healthy-looking once again.
Myrrh is thick and viscous, with a warm and balsamic aroma. It can be applied neat, without dilution.
To use myrrh, rub 3-4 drops onto the fingernails and cuticles, right before bedtime. Any other chapped areas will also benefit from myrrh.
I’ve experimented with other essential oils for my nails, such as lemon oil, carrot seed oil and frankincense. But nothing has made my hands look as young and healthy as myrrh.
Myrrh is also useful in the treatment of weeping wounds and stretch marks.
One 15ml bottle will last you a long time if you’re only using it on your hands. A little goes a long way. Find it here for $45.
Please use myrrh with caution during pregnancy.
Melaleuca: Bring Balance to Oily & Acne-Prone Skin
Melaleuca, aka tea tree oil, is a strong yet gentle oil with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It can be used in everything from skincare preparations to DIY counter cleaners.
Melaleuca is especially wonderful for oily and acne-prone skin.
Other oils such as juniper oil and lavender are sometimes recommended to combat blemishes, but I’ve seen significantly better results with melaleuca.
Still, be aware. Melaleuca may be too strong for sensitive skin, and can even create adverse reactions if used regularly over long periods of time.
There’s several ways to use melaleuca. The most straightforward way is to add a very small amount to a cotton swab and gently apply to any blemishes. Or a couple drops can be added to a raw honey facial mask or your favorite facial moisturizer. Just be careful to avoid the eye area.
Melaleuca (tree tea oil) is an essential oil staple. Get a 15ml bottle here for $15.
Jasmine: Restore Skin Elasticity
Jasmine is a luxurious oil that improves skin elasticity and fades stretch marks.
It’s often better as an ingredient in skincare preparations, instead of using it directly on the skin. High-quality jasmine essential oil is pricey (it costs $80 for a 5ml bottle), so products that use it in any meaningful way also tend to be expensive. Here’s some expertly-formulated natural beauty products with jasmine as the star ingredient:
- Herbivore Botanicals makes a Jasmine Body Oil ($26-$44) and a Jasmine Green Tea Balancing Toner ($39).
- The Jasmine Floral Water ($69) from Lake + Skye is an uplifting treat for skin.
- The Face Oil, Jasmine & Neroli ($170) from Rodin Olio Lusso is a luxurious blend of 11 plant-based oils.
Jasmine also makes for an amazing perfume, if dabbed inside the wrists.
Geranium: Tighten Up
Geranium tightens aging skin while balancing oil production and conditioning skin. For this reason, it works well added to skin oils, lotions and creams.
Like Jasmine, it’s best to use geranium mixed into a skincare product, not straight from the bottle. Here’s some excellent natural skincare products that contain geranium:
- The Beauty Drops: AM Geranium ($30) from Skin Owl
- Revitalizing Body Oil ($95) from Tata Harper
- Invigorating & Balancing Toner ($40) from Province Apothecary
- Oil Serum ($29) from S.W. Basics
If you’d rather get your DIY on, you can get a 15ml bottle of geranium for $19.
Why Isn’t Lavender on this List?
It seems everyone and their mother can’t stop raving about lavender. But I’m not one of those people.
Lavender is seemingly in everything, from fragranced bath salts to deodorants to cheap candles found at the mall.
Lavender is used not only for its pleasant fragrance, but also to calm skin irritations. But I often find it can actually irritate and inflame sensitive skin, even when used in a mild, diluted form.
In my role here at The Beauty Proof, I often see women whose skin improves after they wean themselves off of lavender. It appears that a growing population has become sensitized to lavender. And this problem appears to affect women of all ages and backgrounds.
But have no fear. There’s plenty of other essential oils to enjoy!
Why I use Rocky Mountain Oils
You may have noticed all the single-ingredient essential oils I refer to are made by Rocky Mountain Oils. These are the oils I use and love, and therefore the ones I recommend to you.
I’ve purchased oils from a variety of companies. But a few years ago my wellness-savvy mom introduced me to Rocky Mountain Oils, and it’s become my preferred e.o. source.
Here’s why I keep coming back to Rocky Mountain Oils:
- The quality is excellent.
- Their website is easy to use, and shipping is reliable.
- There are no hard-driven multi-level marketing (MLM) sales pitches.
The downside is that Rocky Mountain Oils’ products are often more expensive. Still, I continue purchasing RMO. Why? Although I’m tempted to buy a cheaper alternative, I’ve found I’m getting what I pay for. Cheaper alternatives just don’t seem to have the same OOMPH that these ones do.
I may be a little kooky about natural beauty. But I’m still driven by results. When I find something that really works–like these oils–I’m thrilled to share it with you!
*This post is not sponsored. All opinions are my own.
