Spa Experience at Home; Use Essential Oils to Treat Oily Skin It can be a challenge to manage seborrhea (the medical term for oily skin). This skin type is a result of the glands that provide the skin with moisture producing an excess of sebum (natural skin oil) leaving your skin shiny, uncomfortable and often on the brink of a breakout. Here’s how to tackle that sheen on your skin the natural way – with essential oils that combat oiliness. Get ready to enjoy a day of relaxation at your own home spa aromatherapy session with these tips from Air Innovations! What Causes Oily Skin Oily skin is the result of overactive oil glands and over cleansing your skin can actually make it oilier. If you strip away all the natural oil your skin will over compensate for this sudden lack of moisture – so, try not to wash your face more than twice a day. Common causes of oily skin include: Stress Certain medications Overuse of skincare products Using the wrong skincare products Excessive use of skincare tools Hormonal changes Too many dairy products in your diet Diluting Essential Oils Essential oils are extremely concentrated so never apply them directly to your skin. Mix them with a carrier oil, or other substance, before using in your skincare routine. A few examples include: Unscented lotion Aloe Vera gel Floral waters Distilled water – perfect if you’re doing a facial steam treatment Carrier oil – such as jojoba oil or grapeseed oil Witch hazel – a natural acne treatment all by itself! Read our blog Spa Experience at Home; Using Aromatherapy for Healthy, Glowing Skin for details on how to apply essential oils to your skin. Top 4 Essential Oils for Oily Skin 1. Lemon Essential Oil One of the best oils for treating excessively oily skin, lemon oil normalizes the natural production of oils (sebum) and also works to tighten pores – improving the texture, look, and feel of your skin. 2. Tea Tree Oil This oil regulates and reduces the production of oils on your skin leaving it clean and fresh to the touch. It also offers antibacterial and antifungal properties which, when it comes to skin care, is a pretty big plus! Bonus Tip: tea tree is one of the few essential oils that can be applied full strength to the skin! 3. Fennel Essential Oil For skin that isn’t excessively oily, but on the oily side, fennel oil promises to balance out the natural oils produced by your skin without drying out your skin. It acts as a toner, tightens pores and increases the circulation beneath the skin (essential for healthy, regenerative skin). 4. Rosemary Essential Oil Not only does this oil balance the natural oils of your skin, but it also purifies the skin and helps clear clogged pores – in the game of skin care, this is a fierce contender! Even More Help for Oily Skin Other essential oil contenders for combating oily skin include: Lavender Clary sage Neroli Juniper berry Cedarwood If you’re looking for a great carrier oil that can be used with oily skin – try jojoba. Believe it or not, jojoba oil acts as both a protectant and cleanser and can help speed up the healing process when you’re dealing with breakouts. And there you have a basic idea of the various essential oils that can relieve different skin conditions and ailments. There is so much you can learn, but even with the most basic knowledge of aromatherapy, you can provide health, healing, and therapy for your skin – and you can do it in the most glamorous way – a spa in your own home! A final word of caution: as with any essential oil, always use care when applying to the skin. Essential oils may cause photosensitivity, so avoid direct sunlight if your home spa skin treatment contains any essential oils. Using Essential Oils with Aromatherapy Diffusers Adding a few drops of your favorite essential oils to your aromatherapy diffuser is a great way to add a subtle fragrance throughout your home. Air Innovations® RevitaSpa Fragrance Oils can be used in either our Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Diffuser or our Diffuser with Flameless Candle. If you're looking to add some moisture back to the air at home or in your office, try a humidifier from Air Innovations.
