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Lavender is a small, aromatic herb that belongs to the mint family. Known for its purple color and specific scent that everybody can recognize from a mile since its massively used in cosmetic products. Does that mean it’s also good for overall health, and more specifically - different skin conditions? Well, more yes than no, but keep reading - and you will find out everything you need to know. Your favorite scent might also be your best friend against acne.
The facts are that essential oils can be very effective in the battle against acne and lavender oil is definitely among them. In this article, today, we are going over the benefits of using lavender oil for acne - and if you’re convinced you can read all about how to use it and how to prepare your own home remedies.
In order to answer this question right, we’ll have to take into consideration the causes of your acne problem. There are many reasons why essential oils are super-powerful natural remedies against acne, but it really depends on the particular case of acne you’re suffering from. For example, essential oils, like lavender and tea tree oil, have the ability to ease feelings of stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, fatigue, and even bring back into balance. So, if your acne breakout is caused by stress, hormonal changes, or sleep deprivation, essential oils can make a difference.
You should be careful though since essential oils are cytotoxic (lavender included) - they can lead to more intensive redness and make the skin look like it has a rash. This is because lavender oil bonds with the fat on the surface on the skin, so when it gets into a pore, it can stay there until washed off with an oil-based cleanser. This irritates the skin, stimulating it to produce histamine, which triggers an allergic reaction. It doesn't happen to everyone, and there are a lot of people who are enjoying the benefits without any side effect.
So, to conclude - essential oils in general, and lavender oil specifically can ease the symptoms of acne outbreaks and even make the pimples go away. But because it’s so strong, some people experience allergic reactions.
One way in which lavender oil can affect the skin is by altering the sebum production. When the skin is dry, the oil glands on the skin start overproducing sebum, to compensate for the lack of moisture. This is bad because the excess sebum clogs the pores and leads to the formation of acne. With regular use of lavender oil, the skin will stay moisturized, soft and shiny - the sebaceous glands won’t be triggered. Even if you don’t have dry skin, stress can also make the oil glands go into overdrive. This is exactly how stress can cause acne flare-ups. When the body is alarmed, or you feel anxious - you sweat more. The skin produces a lot more oil. A lot of studies have confirmed that lavender oil can be a powerful relaxing tool because of its stress-reducing abilities.
Another way in which lavender oil can affect the skin is by penetrating into the pores, killing bacteria and getting rid of dirt. Additionally, it benefits the skin because it has powerful antimicrobial and antioxidant characteristics.
Among other benefits, lavender oil is also famous for its antifungal properties. When someone suffers from eczema their skin becomes dehydrated, itchy, and scaly. The essential oil can revoke those symptoms, reduce inflammation, and keep the condition in control.
Having the power to reduce inflammation, the use of lavender oil comes with another benefit: it can even out skin tone, reduce discoloration and treat dark spots.
Free radicals are somewhat responsible for the formation of fine lines. Lavender oil is full of antioxidants that will keep you safe, and your skin young and soft. Combine it with coconut oil for best results against scars and wrinkles. You can use the mixture on a daily basis.
A couple of studies have found that lavender oil helps repair damaged skin tissue. It’s effective against burns, cuts, scrapes etc.
For us it smells wonderful, for insects it smells awful. Isn’t that amazing?!?! Usually, insect repelling sprays smell weird and strong. But, not lavender! Just put a few drops of the oil in a cup of water and spray yourself, or leave it in a bowl close to you. And, to make things even better - lavender oil also helps relieve insect bites by killing off bacteria and reducing inflammation. It will sooth the pain of the bite as well.
As we previously mentioned, lavender oil is really strong and can trigger mild allergic reactions in some people. To avoid this side-effect, it’s best to dilute the oil with water, or with another oil that you have patch-tested on your face.
It’s linked with testosterone, which indicates that it’s likely not safe for boys who have not reached puberty yet. To be completely safe, don’t use it on children.
There is no reliable information about using the oil while pregnant or breastfeeding, so avoid using it, just to be on the safe side.
Because of its calming and relaxing effects on the nervous system, it’s not recommended to use it before surgery since it might cause complications with the anesthesia. Avoid using the oil two weeks prior, and a couple of days after surgery.
If you have used it before and you know that it doesn’t trigger allergic reactions on your face, you ‘re free to use it in a number of ways. The simplest of them is to apply a few drops of the oil on a washed, cleaned face and massage it for a couple of minutes in a circular motion. After that, tap your face dry with a clean cloth.
Another way to use lavender oil (if you have sensitive skin) is by diluting it with water and repeating the same procedure.
Combine the oil with coconut for best results against acne scars, and wrinkles, or with tamanu oil to reduce inflammation and stimulate wound-healing.
Combine half a teaspoon of lavender oil with one teaspoon of honey and one tablespoon of baking soda. Make a smooth paste and apply evenly on the face. Let it act on the face for 15 minutes, before washing off with room temperature water. The baking soda will make your pores smaller, it will reduce blemishes, and combat bacteria on the skin. When combined with lavender oil and honey, the potent ingredients in this face mask help soften and brighten the skin because they have with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties.
You will need one ripe avocado and a few drops of the lavender oil. Mash the avocado into a bowl and add the lavender oil. Apply the paste on the face and let it settle for twenty minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water. For best results use it once a week, before bed. With regular use, you should notice changes after a month or two. We can even call it - the goodnight sleep mask - since the avocado helps to boost the collagen, removes dark circles, and the lavender oil reduces mental stress and anxiety.
This combo right here is the perfect match for fighting off dry and irritated skin that makes your glands produce excess oil. To make it you will need one tbsp of yogurt and 3-5 drops of lavender oil. Mix well, to make sure everything is blended and apply the paste on all your face. Wait for 15-20 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. You can use the mask daily. For best results put it before bed or before showering. The lavender oil will kill bacteria and clean the pores while the yogurt will keep it soft and moisturized.
Grind one cup of colloidal oatmeal into a fine powder. Add a few drops of lavender oil and a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Mix well, until you get a paste-like consistency. Apply it to your face evenly. Use your fingertips to massage the mask into the face, so it absorbs better. Leave it on the skin until it drys off fully and then rinse off with cold water. You can use the mask every second day. It will clean your skin, reduce acne, and will treat irritation.
