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Using essential oils for rosacea skin care can help control the redness and pimples of this skin condition. Useful essential oils include German chamomile, rosemary, and lavender.
Skin with rosacea is already sensitive, and some sources recommend using essential oil in a one percent or less dilution (that is, 1 drop of essential oil in 99 drops of carrier oil or 6 drops essential oil in 2 tablespoons carrier oil). But you can experiment, testing what works best for you without causing irritation.
Caution: Skin test both essential oils and carrier oils on a small area before using them on a large area to make sure they don't trigger an adverse reaction. Use only genuine, authentic essential oils, as low-quality oils are more likely to cause a bad reaction or be ineffective.
Because rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition, look for essential
oils that calm inflammation. According to Dr. Josh Axe (who has a long article about dealing with rosacea), essential oils found to relieve skin inflammation and nourish sensitive skin are:
Axe recommends blending 3 drops of essential oil with 1/2 teaspoon of carrier oil. Apply this blend to the affected areas two or three times a day.
Note this dilution is a higher concentration than the one percent mentioned above — use your good judgment in choosing a dilution. If in doubt, start with a more diluted blend. You can always move to a higher concentration of essential oils if you're confident it's OK for your skin.
Other essential oils for rosacea that might help include:
Commonly recommended carrier oils are sweet almond and jojoba. Other carrier oils that may help relieve rosacea include tamanu, evening primrose, and coconut. Some people find aloe vera gel works well.
Combine ingredients in a two-ounce spray bottle:
Shake well. Lightly mist affected areas on your face several times a day, avoiding eyes and mouth.
Source: Essential Oils For Healing
You can also blend a similar oil-based version:
Blend the following ingredients in a glass container:
Use the lotion as desired. Store it in a tightly closed container.
Source: Base Formula
If your skin is too sensitive for even highly diluted essential oils,
consider using aromatherapy hydrosols. Hydrosols are the by-product of
steam distilling plant materials to make essential oils. Hydrosols are
very gentle and can provide some relief.
Try one of these hydrosols: German chamomile, geranium, lavender, neroli (orange blossom), or rose. Simply splash the hydrosol on your face as a toner.
Don't use alcohol or soap on skin affected by rosacea, and don't exfoliate.
For more in-depth information, including several aromatherapy recipes, see Aromatherapy for Rosacea at the New York Institute of Aromatic Studies.
Photo Credit: hr.icio/Flickr CC2