Using essential oils for rosacea is a great, natural way to care for your skin. It lets you treat your skin concerns in a toxin-free way. The oils take a little bit of knowledge to apply properly, but that’s what I’m here to help you with!
Most rosacea cases affect the face. When it comes to essential oils on facial skin, I am always a bit more careful. The skin of our face can be quite sensitive, so I always pay a bit of extra attention to what products I use.
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What is Rosacea?
Rosacea usually affects the skin of our face. It is classified as a chronic inflammatory skin condition. Oftentimes, people mistake rosacea for eczema, acne, or an allergic skin reaction.
The main symptoms of rosacea are facial flushing and dry, irritated skin. This can cause stinging and a tingling, burning pain. Other symptoms may include pimples or blushing more easily ¹.
Most Rosacea affects skin underneath the cheek or nose. Sometimes it may affect other parts of one’s face too. It occurs at most among women of middle age with onset usually between the ages 30 and 60.
5 Best Essential Oils for Rosacea
There are many ways to treat rosacea. If you can work with a Certified Dermatologist, that would be amazing! But other choices are a bit more easily available and can be done at home. Essential oils are a popular home remedy choice for natural skin care treatments.
Dealing with my own rosacea, I can recommend the following essential oils.
1. Lavender Essential Oil
Certified Organic Lavender from Rocky Mountain Oils
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Lavender essential oil is one of the most powerful oils for rosacea. Its anti-inflammatory properties gently calm down the irritation of rosacea-plagued skin. Because Lavender is so gentle, it is safe to use on the face and I’ve never had any problems with it.
This amazing bottle of Organic Lavender from Rocky Mountain Oils is my favorite!
2. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Rocky Mountain Oils carries a beautiful Certified Organic Tea Tree Oil.
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Tea tree oil is a staple in natural skin care. Its powerful anti-oxidants support your skin from the inside out. Tea tree is used in treating acne, pimples, burns and rashes alike. As part of a rosacea treatment, it fights the skin’s tendency for inflammation.
But tea tree is a rather strong oil. If you have very sensitive skin, only put a few drops into a rosacea facial treatment, and use Lavender for the rest. But if you have very oil skin, tea tree might have to make up 100% of your recipe.
3. Cypress Essential Oil
Cypress Essential Oil
$14.95 Here
Cypress oil is an antimicrobial oil that can kill certain bacteria. With this quality, it is often recommended for treating acne. In cases of rosacea, using Cypress can help with the redness, swelling and puffiness in the face.
4. Chamomile Essential Oil
German Chamomile Essential Oil, 5ml Bottle
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Chamomile essential oil is a gentle all-around oil. Adding the oil to your skin care regimen can promote a natural glow instead of feeling red and puffy in the face. It has many active components that reduce inflammation.
German Chamomile essential oil also has a calming effect on the emotions. If your rosacea is stressing you out, this is a great oil to add into your facial moisturizing lotion or facial oil.
When shopping for Chamomile, don’t be surprised by the steeper price tag. It is a more costly oil to produce, hence you won’t find a bottle of it for $10. It also very often comes in a 5 ml bottle size rather than 10 ml or 15 ml. This is completely normal also and there is no need to feel alarmed.
5. Helichrysum Essential Oil
German Chamomile Essential Oil, 5ml Bottle
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Helichrysum essential oil is my first choice of an all-around first aid oil. It can help calm the skin and reduce redness, itchiness and acne bumps.
Paired with German Chamomile, Helichrysum makes for a luxurious rosacea facial care treatment.
Further, and also like Chamomile oil, you will notice a higher price for Helichrysum. The reasons are the same: production is more expensive, the oils more costly to get. Helichrysum also usually comes in smaller bottle sizes.
Because the oil is so valuable, I wouldn’t use it in a face mask that you wash off. Use it in a home remedy treatment that stays on the skin, such as a facial moisturizer (recipes below).
DIY Rosacea Face Treatments
NOTE: If you experience extreme rosacea, please book an appointment with your dermatologist. Skin care professionals can offer personalized treatment solutions.
But (and in the meantime), there are some home remedies you can try to help with rosacea.
Using essential oils is a natural, gentle approach. With any new product that you wish to use, it is a smart idea to do a small test patch. Use the inside of your wrist or elbow. Those are areas with sensitive skin. They can give a good idea of what would happen if you use your DIY product on the face.
Add to Regular Facial Moisturizer
The simplest place to start is with what you already have at home. Add 1-2 drops of essential oil to your regular dab of facial moisturizer. Rub in as per usual.
You can use many essential oils in conjunction with creams and moisturizers. This solution is quick, easy, and inexpensive to start. That said, it does have drawbacks.
For example, the current moisturizer you’re using may not actually be good for your skin. We sometimes use a generic facial moisturizer that’s easy to buy at the store, but it isn’t matched to what our skin actually needs. I made this mistake ALL through my 20’s.
And then I discovered the power of personalized skin care through the world of essential oils! See the next recipe.
To get started, simply add essential oils to your existing lotion base.
Make Your Own Rosacea Skin Moisturizer
Essential oils let you craft your own custom skin care solutions.
If you know your skin, and you’re happy with all natural products, the best way is to mix up your own rosacea skin moisturizer. Use it after washing your face instead of a drug store brand cream.
- Get a small 1 oz amber glass bottle to hold your recipe (such as these ones here)
- Fill it almost to the top with Rosehip seed carrier oil or Jojoba (or a blend of 50% – 50% each). Don’t use just any type of carrier oil. You want to pick one that is safe for the face and doesn’t clog the pores. Good choices for that are Rosehip seed oil and Jojoba oil.
- Top this up with 18-20 drops of essential oil
- Close the lid.
- Roll your blend gently to combine all oils. Do not shake!
- Use daily instead of other moisturizing lotions, at morning and night after washing your face.
Use A Rosacea Face Mask
Homemade face masks with essential oils can address personalized skin care needs.
If you’re just starting to make an effort in treating your rosacea naturally, a face mask is an easy place to start. Optimally though, make this part of your weekly skin care routine. At my house, when Sunday evening rolls around… it’s time for a face mask! 😉
I originally found this recipe from lovely skin care expert Kelsey Formost. I adapted it a bit to suit my needs, including the addition of essential oils instead of Apple Cider Vinegar. That stuff just smells too strong for me.
Here is what my own DIY face mask recipe for rosacea looks like:
- 2 tsp plain yogurt (greek is best)
- 1 tsp honey (raw organic if you can)
- 3 drops Helichrysum essential oil
- 3 drops Chamomile essential oil
- 3 drops Lavender essential oil
You can also use this face mask if you’re experiencing sudden rosacea flare ups.
Precautions
Essential oils are not regulated by the FDA. In a similar manner in which unsupervised use of medications can lead to complications, unsafe use of essential oils can lead to skin irritations, itching, burning or rashes. To avoid any irritation, perform a patch test of your DIY lotion, on your arm before putting anything on your face. If you do not experience any symptoms within 24 hours, your DIY recipe can be absorbed into other parts of your body.
Please also always research the essential oil brand you’re considering to buy, before buying and using their essential oils. Quality ingredients are of utmost importance. You can find guidance on what the best essential oil brands are (and why), in this overview here.
References
¹ Medical News Today: What is rosacea?
Pam Boileau
THANK YOU FOR THE HELP. I HAVE HAD IT FOR YEARS. TOPICAL DAILY TREATMENT FROM DERMATOLOGIST JUST DON’T CUT IT! GREATFUL!
Deb
Hi Emma,
the recipe for the skin moisturizer for rosacea it says to add 18 – 20 drops of essential oils. You recommend 5 different oils, is that 18 – 20 of each oil, an equal amount of each oil to add up to 18 – 20 or is there specific drops of each oil that add up to 18 – 20 drops
Emma Carter
Hi Deb, you`ll want to use a total of 18-20 drops only, no matter which essential oils you choose to add up to that amount. I didn`t specify any particular oils or amounts of drops so that you can work with what you have at home, or what you feel like purchasing and adding to your collection, and create your own custom blend. Simply use the oils you like, play with the number of drops to get to a scent you enjoy, and stop when you have 18-20 drops in total.
Aurore Stubbs
Hello,
I have been recently diagnosed with rosacea, for which the dermatologist recommended an antibiotic cream.
I would prefer to use some natural remedies and I would like to try your recipes.
My question is:
For the mask you suggest 3 drops of 3 different essential oils. Does it mean 9 drops of same essential oil?
Thank you very much,
Kind regards,
Aurore
Emma Carter
Hi Aurore, yes you’re correct. If you’re using just one essential oil, use 9 drops in total for the face mask.
Mary Ladd
Hi Emma, I have been on your newsletter list for awhile and love your information. I have tried a couple recipes and found them helpful. You really hit home when you mentioned your blog on rosacea. I too have had rosacea for years now and I lean more towards clean skincare. What I love is aloe vera. It really calms the inflammation and is very hydrating. Look forward to more of your newsletters. Thanks! :)
Tammy Guill
I also have rosacea and it can be a bummer. I have been able to keep it under control most of the time with Metrocream prescribed by my dermatologist. But sometimes my skin still needs some extra TLC so I am glad for this post. I love lavender and Helichrysum for the skin so I am going to try these first in jojoba. Thanks Emma!
Emma Carter
Amazing, thanks for sharing Tammy! Good luck with your rosacea & let us know how the oils work for you!
Emily Cater
Hi, I’m reading your site and finding it really interesting, I have rosacea also. I get the little pimples but only if I put something on my skin so I can’t use any moisturiser at all on my face otherwise I get a load of the little pus pimples. Do you think that I would be able to use the oils?? Many thanks 😊
Emma Carter
Hi Emily, I would certainly say it’s worth a try! If you can’t tolerate anything on your skin really well, and want to start with something even more gentle than the essential oils, I also use Hydrosols as a simple facial toner. They are a by-product of essential oil production and are extra-gentle for sensitive facial skin. They do smell a bit differently than the essential oils but are definitely jam-packed with plant goodness. I should actually add this recommendation into the article itself! ;) You can find almost all of the Hydrosols matching the 5 oils in this article at Plant Therapy here (Helichrysum, Lavender, Tea Tree and Chamomile Hydrosols are available for around $12-$15 each). Plus, you can use coupon code EOHAVEN for an extra 10% off. Personally, I use Lavender hydrosol for my facial toner and I do love it!