16 Essential Oils For Skin Tightening And How To Apply Them

Why Does Your Skin Sag?

Aging, constant sun exposure, pollutants, and certain heredity factors can deplete collagen and damage skin cells over time, making your skin sag and look older. However, there are various DIY skincare solutions to help prevent your skin from sagging.

Essential oils are known to be great beauty treatments for skin tightening as they provide multiple anti-aging benefits, including rejuvenation, and skin cell regeneration.

These essential oils help shrink large skin pores to create a flawless appearance. They also possess astringent properties that promote skin tightening and lend it a youthful appearance. Apart from this, essential oils boost collagen, which helps in keeping the skin taut and prevents sagging (1).

In the next section, we will discuss some of the best essential oils that you can use to tighten your loose skin.

Top 16 Essential Oils For Skin Tightening

Essential oils refer to the highly concentrated and potent liquid plant extracts that offer several therapeutic benefits. They provide multiple benefits to the skin, such as anti-aging, cell regeneration, and rejuvenation. Here, we discuss the top 16 essential oils for skin tightening.

1. Lavender Oil

Lavender essential oil is quite popular for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and works very well to tone and rejuvenate the skin (2). Apart from this, the smell of lavender oil is very delightful and has a range of other uses, such as relief from stress and aiding in sleep.

​ Other Skin Benefits Of Lavender Oil

•  Help fight any microbes that try to harm the skin (2).
•  Promotes the overall skin-repairing environment and helps boost the skin barrier and health (2).

​ Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•   Lavender essential oil – 1 tablespoon
•  Rosehip seed oil – 2 drops
•  Any carrier oil – 1 tablespoon

Trivia

During World War I, soldiers used to carry lavender oil with them to battle. It was a trusted antiseptic to quickly heal wounds back then.

​ 2. Geranium Oil

Geranium oil is considered to be one of the best essential oils for skin tightening, repairing collagen, and improving your skin’s elasticity to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, hence rejuvenating the skin and giving it a radiant complexion. (3). It results in the reduction of wrinkles and fine lines.
​

Other Skin Benefits Of Geranium Oil

•  Supplies extra nourishment to the skin to give you a glowing appearance (3).

It is said to be one of the best essential oils for treating stretch marks, though there is no scientific evidence to prove the same.​

​Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•   Argan oil – 1 tablespoon
•  Geranium oil – 2-3 drops

  3. Patchouli Oil

Patchouli oil is a great home remedy for treating your skin (4). It is best to use it after diluting it with a light carrier oil to prevent wrinkles and celluliteⁱ  XFat deposition beneath the skin that causes the appearance of lumpy, dimpled flesh, generally on thighs, buttocks, and stomach. .

​ Other Skin Benefits Of Patchouli Oil

•  It has anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce pores (4).

​Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  Grape seed oil – 1-2 tablespoon
•  Sandalwood oil – 1-2 drops
•  Patchouli oil – 1-2 drops
•  Carrot seed oil – 1-2 drops
•  Bergamot oil – 2 drops

​  4. Frankincense Oil

Frankincense oil is known to be one of the most soothing oils for the skin (5). Apart from protecting the skin cells and encouraging new cell growth, this oil is also said to increase the skin elasticity and offer great results when used around the eye area to tighten up the skin. However, more scientific research is required to prove the same.
​

Other Skin Benefits Of Frankincense Oil 

• The small molecular structure of frankincense oil helps regenerate skin cells and replace the old dead cells with new ones (5).
• Frankincense essential keeps the skin oxygenated, which makes it look fresh and glowing (5).

​ Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  ​Fractionated coconut oil – 1 tablespoon
•  Lavender oil – 2 drops
•  ​Rosewater – 2 drops
•  Frankincense oil – 2 drops

To reap the maximum benefit from this skin-tightening essential oil, it is recommended to first exfoliate your skin with a hot towel to open the pores. Then, gently apply the mixture all over your face before going to bed.

Fun Fact

In 1922, jars containing frankincense oil were discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb. The scent is said to have been so strong that it felt freshly extracted.

 5. Myrrh Oil

Myrrh oil is also one of the most sought-after essential oils for skin tightening. The traditional uses of myrrh oil include treating several types of skin wounds and infections. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove these benefits.

​ Other Skin Benefits Of Myrrh Oil

•  It is said to be excellent for oxygenating the body’s tissues, which, in turn, helps soothe the skin.
•  Useful in treating chapped/cracked skin and giving you a glowing skin tone.​

Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  Argan oil – 1 tablespoon
•  ​​Frankincense oil – 1-2 drops
•  Myrrh oil – 1-2 drops

​ 6. Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree essential oil is used for a variety of alternative skin treatments because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties (6). It is primarily used to help treat oily and acne-prone skin. It is also said to be one of the best essential oils for tightening belly skin, though more scientific research is required to prove the same.
​

Other Skin Benefits Of Tea Tree Oil

•  It is also used as an insect repellent.

​ Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

• Tea tree oil – 2-3 drops
•  Water – 5-6 drops
•  Apple cider vinegar – 4 drops

​ 7.  Rosemary Oil

Rosemary essential oil possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, which can work wonders in reviving dead or lackluster skin (7). It helps in increasing skin elasticity, which makes it one of the best essential oils for skin tightening.
​

Other Skin Benefits Of Rosemary Oil

•  It is an effective antibacterial agent.
•  It can cause a significant increase in the skin’s hydration, which makes it the best essential oil for glowing skin.

Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  Rosemary oil – 1-2 drops
•  Fennel oil – 1-2 drops
•  Lemon oil – 1-2 drops
•  Carrier oil – 1 tablespoon

​ 8. Lemon Oil

Lemons are full of antioxidants and vitamin C, which is why lemon oil is considered one of the best essential oils that tighten loose skin (8). It helps prevent the signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles, and other similar skin issues.

​ Other Skin Benefits Of Lemon Oil

•  It is a skin penetration enhancer, which means it helps your skin absorb skin care products better.​

Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  Lemon oil – 1-2 drops
•  Any non-comedogenicⁱ  XThe property of a substance or product to not clog pores on the skin and allow it to breathe without breaking out. carrier oil – 1 tablespoon

​ 9. Bergamot Oil

Bergamot essential oil is well known for its divine fragrance. It comes from the rinds of the citrus fruit that grows on the bergamot tree. Bergamot oil is especially beneficial for oily skin as it contains certain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds (9).

​ Other Skin Benefits Of Bergamot Oil

•  It is used as a treatment for acne.
•  It is a potent astringent, so avoid it if you have sensitive skin.
  ​

Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  Bergamot oil – 1-2 drops
•  Grape deep/olive/coconut/jojoba oil – 1 tablespoon

​ 10. Cypress Oil

Cypress oil is an excellent essential oil for tightening facial skin, especially when used in combination with a non-comedogenic carrier oil such as almond seed oil or grapeseed oil (10). It has long been recommended for treating skin issues, but it is also known to help kill bacteria.
​

Other Skin Benefits Of Cypress Oil

•  Provides antibacterial support to the skin (10).

Helps in strengthening the structure of the skin tissue.

​ Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  Cypress oil – 2 drops
•  Any carrier oil such as jojoba oil or coconut oil – 1 tablespoon

​ 11. Neroli Oil

Neroli oil is considered one of the best oils for tightening skin, though there is not enough scientific backing to prove the same.

​ Other Skin Benefits Of Neroli Oil

•  It has analgesicⁱ  XThe property of a substance that relieves different kinds of pain by blocking the conduction of nerve impulses. properties that provide relief from pain (11).
•  Its anti-inflammatory property reduces redness and irritation on the skin (11).

​ Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  Neroli essential oil – 1-2 drops
•  Grapeseed oil – 1 tablespoon

Quick Tip

Neroli oil is also popularly used in aromatherapy for stress, anxiety, and overall mental health.

​  12. Almond Oil

Almond essential oil is known to be rich in antioxidants such as vitamin D, which helps fight free radicals to prevent molecular damage to skin cells (1). It also comes packed with other essential nutrients, which help your skin cells reproduce properly.

​ Other Skin Benefits Of Almond Oil

•  It is hypoallergenicⁱ  XThe property of cosmetic products or substances that are formulated to minimize the possibility of an allergic reaction. , which makes it great for sensitive skin (1).
•  It helps your skin combat stress and UV damage with ease (1).

Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  Almond oil – 1 tablespoon
•  Lavender, tea tree, or geranium essential oil – 2 drops

​ 13. Grapeseed Oil

Grapeseed essential oil is another popular choice for skin tightening. It is claimed to reduce the appearance of stretch marks while tightening up any loose skin.

​ Other Skin Benefits Of Grapeseed Oil

•  It has skin balancing properties that help manage the amount of oil and water in your skin for a healthy skin barrier (1).
•  It helps in fighting damaging irritants.
•  Acts as a mild astringent, thus stimulating blood flow and soothing inflammation (1).

Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  Grapeseed oil – 2 tablespoon
•  Rosehip seed oil – 1-2 drops
•  Lavender oil – 1-2 drops drops
•  Frankincense oil – 1-2 drops
•  Geranium oil – 1-2 drops

​ 14. Sandalwood Oil

Sandalwood oil is well-known for its relaxing scent and is mainly used for aromatherapy (12). However, sandalwood also helps promote skin cell growth, which is essential in reducing the appearance of wrinkles. This essential oil is ideal for all skin types, including mature skin, because of its restorative properties.

​ Other Skin Benefits Of Sandalwood Oil

•  In some cases, it has been found to be great for healing wounds.

Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  Sandalwood oil – 3 drops
•  Lavender oil – 2 drops
•  Juniper berry oil – 1 drop
•  Atlas cedarwood oil – 1 drop
•  Any carrier oil – 1-2 tablespoons

​ 15. Jasmine Oil

Jasmine oil is known for promoting blood oxygen saturation, which may help in regenerating your skin cells (13). The new skin cells allow the body to hydrate your skin, providing it with much more elasticity and decreasing the appearance of scars, and helping in wrinkle reduction. However, there is not enough scientific evidence to prove the same.

​ Other Skin Benefits Of Jasmine Oil

•  It serves as a great disinfectant as it carries an abundance of natural antimicrobial properties (14).
•  It is claimed to speed up the healing of wounds.

​ Ingredients To Make The Oil Mix

•  Jasmine oil – 2-3 drops
•  Sweet almond oil – 1-2 tablespoons

16. Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil is beneficial for reducing pain, inflammation, and swelling in the body. It possesses strong antibacterial and antifungal properties (14). It can be used as a surface disinfectant applied topically to fight skin infections. Putting a few drops of this oil in a diffuser and inhaling it may also help relieve knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Other Skin Benefits Of Eucalyptus Oil

• It is widely used to help accelerate the healing of wounds. It can be applied to the affected area to support the body’s natural healing processes. These effects have been proven in studies done on rats (15).

Ingredients for Making the Oil Mix

• Eucalyptus oil – 2-3 drops
• Sweet almond oil – 1-2 tablespoons

Now that we know all about the best essential oils and oil mixes for skin tightening, let’s check out how to use them.

​How To Apply Essential Oils For Skin Tightening

To use these essential oils for skin tightening, you will need to dilute them with a carrier oil of your choice before you apply them to your skin.

Make sure to use a separate bottle or container for mixing, or you can add the required amount of essential oil to the bottle of the carrier oil.

Once you have mixed your ingredients well, it is recommended to conduct a quick patch test. This should always be done on your forearm before applying it to your face.

Apply the oil mix to a small patch on your forearm. If you notice any reaction within 24 hours, you could be allergic to the oil and should discontinue its use immediately. Alternatively, you can also consider adding fewer drops of the essential oil to the mix and try again.

Due to the potential of phototoxicityⁱ  XA toxic response of the skin after exposure to certain chemicals followed by exposure to UV radiation from sunlight. use essential oil mixes in the evening only. This will prevent possible skin damage from UV light.
​

When Should You Start Using Essential Oils To Tighten Your Skin?

Essential oils should be used before your skin starts showing the symptoms of aging, like fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.

The key here is to prevent the signs of aging from occurring in the first place. Using these home remedies and natural ingredients to tighten the skin and promote collagen production much before you see any major signs of aging will work best. The earlier you recognize the symptoms and start treatment, the better. So, the best time to start using essential oils to improve skin elasticity is in your 20s.

Essential oil makers use various methods to extract the oils. You may add them to different carrier oils, creams, or bath gels to use on your skin for best results. You can also use these herbal remedies for their aroma, put them in your bath, or rub them into your skin.

However, it is recommended to always check the labels and ask your dermatologist if they are safe to use on your skin.

Infographic: A Complete Guide To Essential Oil Dilution

Essential oils are revered for their pivotal role in aromatherapy. These oils impart many benefits, which makes them so popular. But you must always remember to dilute them before use.

In the infographic below, learn more about essential oils, why you should dilute them, what you need, and a simple dilution chart to get started.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Does vitamin E tighten the skin?

The antioxidant properties of vitamin E may help reduce oxidative stress and fight the signs of aging (17). So, using vitamin E may help tighten the skin.

Can I put ginger oil on my face?

Yes, you can put ginger oil on your face. However, you should always dilute it with coconut or olive oil before applying it topically.

Can essential oils be used on all skin types?

Not all essential oils can be used topically on the skin. Some may irritate the skin, trigger allergic reactions, or cause skin inflammation. Check for contraindications and do your research before using any essential oils on your skin. If you have any doubts, seek the advice of an aromatherapist.

How long does it take to see results from using essential oils for skin tightening?

Multiple factors, such as the person’s age, skin type, and the particular essential oils used, might affect how long it takes to notice benefits when using essential oils for skin tightening. In general, it may take many weeks or even months of regular application to noticeably alter the firmness and texture of the skin.

Are there any side effects of using essential oils for skin tightening?

Yes, there are some potential side effects to be aware of when using essential oils for skin tightening. These include skin irritation or allergic reactions, sensitivity to sunlight, overuse, and interactions with medication.

How often should one use essential oils for skin tightening?

Depending on the person’s skin type and the particular essential oils being used, the frequency of using them may change. It’s generally advised to apply essential oils for skin tightening no more than 2-3 times a week.

Can essential oils be used as a natural alternative to cosmetic procedures for skin tightening?

No. While essential oils may have advantageous effects on the skin, they are not an alternative for medical procedures or skin-tightening therapies like facelifts, laser resurfacing, etc., which are intended to address more severe skin sagging or wrinkles.

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

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Gabrielle RichensSkin Therapist

   

Gabrielle Richens spent 20 years as a model with Elite Model Management. She is now a skin therapist, clean beauty blogger, and founder of The Rich Skin Club, an online anti-aging coaching service. She helps women understand the aging process and how to build routines that reverse the visible signs of premature aging. Gabrielle takes a holistic approach to beauty....more

Arshiya SyedaSenior Editor

 

Arshiya Syeda is a senior editor at StyleCraze with 7 years of experience. Prior to that, she was a content writer and combined her writing and research skills to write over 200 high-performing articles on hairstyles, hair care, and skin care. She holds a bachelor's degree in literature and psychology from Osmania University, Hyderabad, and a post-graduate diploma in psychological...more

Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal. She also did a certificate course in dermatology offered by the Novosibirsk State University...more

Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

Swathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over three years of experience in writing on beauty, health, and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach. Her interest in staying updated on beauty and lifestyle...more