Using Essential Oils for Skin

Want smooth, clean skin? Because they are soothing, purifying, and calming, essential oils provide a natural option for creating a clear, glowing complexion.

If you are wondering, “How do I use essential oils for skin?” you’ll be happy to know that there are dozens of ways to use essential oils to maintain healthy-looking skin. Whether your skin is dry, oily, irritated, or lackluster, we’ve complied the best essential oil DIYs to give you the beautiful skin you are looking for.  Don’t delay—give one of these DIYs a try and help soothe, moisturize, or cleanse your skin today!

Essential Oil Clay Facial Mask

One of the quickest and easiest ways to soothe and refresh the skin is by getting a facial. When you don’t have the time or money for a professional facial, try making this essential oil Clay Facial Mask at home to refresh and revitalize your skin. This mixture can be used once a week to help cleanse and restore the skin, using some of the best essential oils for skin—Frankincense, Lavender, and Melaleuca.

After only a few minutes with this clay mask on your face, you will start to feel the cleansing and refreshing benefits of essential oils for skin. No matter your skin type, this rejuvenating clay facial mask will soon become a regular part of your weekly skincare routine.  

Help cleanse and nourish your skin with this easy clay mask. It is great for all skin types and can be customized with your favorite essential oils. This recipe makes enough for one facial mask and should be applied to skin at least once a week for best results. 

Ingredients

2 teaspoons bentonite clay

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

1 drop Frankincense oil

1 drop Lavender oil

1 drop Melaleuca oil 

Note: Bentonite clay can be purchased at your local health food store. Do not use a metal bowl or spoon with bentonite clay as it can make it less effective. 

Instructions

1.  Combine clay and vinegar in bowl and stir until well combined.Tip: For a thicker mask, add an additional half teaspoon of clay.
2.  Add essential oils.
3. Apply to clean skin, avoiding the areas around eyes and mouth. 
4. Rinse with warm water and follow with moisturizer.

Cuticle Cream

Dry, peeling, unhealthy cuticles can be a painful annoyance. If you’ve tried desperately to bring moisture and softness back to your cuticles and the skin around your nails without success, you might need a little help from essential oils. This essential oil Cuticle Cream will help to moisturize dry or cracked areas around the cuticles.

Fractionated Coconut Oil, Myrrh, and Lavender oil will soothe dry, damaged cuticles as Shea butter and beeswax moisturize and soften the skin. If you experience uncomfortable dry skin in other areas, this cream can also be applied to the hands, lips, and anywhere else you might need an extra dose of moisture.

Cold weather can be tough on skin and cuticles. Making a homemade cuticle cream is a great way to bring moisture and health back to nails. This essential oil cuticle cream can also be used on hands, lips, or anywhere with dry spots. 

Ingredients

2 tablespoons shea butter

1 teaspoon beeswax

1 tablespoon Fractionated Coconut Oil

7 drops Lavender or Myrrh oil 

Instructions

1. In small glass container, combine shea butter, beeswax, and Fractionated Coconut Oil.
2. Place in saucepan with 1–1 ½ inches of boiling water.
3. Stir ingredients for 5–10 minutes until combined.Tip: Use a popsicle stick for easy cleanup. 
4. Once melted, remove from heat and let rest for three minutes.
5. Add essential oils and stir.
6. Pour into container and let harden for 2–3 hours.
7. To use, just apply a small amount to cuticles and rub until absorbed.

Strawberry Lime Sugar Scrub

Infused with real freeze-dried strawberries, this Strawberry Lime Sugar Scrub not only smells delicious, but it will do wonders for your skin. Using the soothing effects of doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil and the invigorating, purifying properties of Lime oil, this concoction will help to exfoliate the skin, leaving it soft and smooth. 

In five simple steps, you’ll soon have a skin-smoothing scrub with the irresistible scent of strawberries and lime. Your hands will be smooth and touchable as you scrub with the mixture under warm water and allow the natural ingredients to do their job. For even softer hands, you can apply doTERRA SPA Hand & Body Lotion after applying the scrub.

Are you someone who likes skin care products that smell like fruit? Most fruity skin care products on the market are full of artificial fragrances and chemicals that trick your nose into thinking that it is the real thing, when it really isn't. This DIY Strawberry-Lime Sugar Scrub smells like fresh strawberry jam and can be made at home in just a few easy steps. 

Ingredients

1 cup freeze-dried strawberries

1 cup raw turbinado sugar

⅓ cup organic virgin coconut oil

⅓ cup doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

3 drops Lime oil

Instructions

In a large plastic bag, add strawberries and crush with a rolling pin.

Add crushed strawberries and sugar into large bowl.

In a microwavable glass cup, add the organic virgin coconut oil and place in microwave for 15 seconds or until melted.

In the glass cup with melted virgin coconut oil, add Fractionated Coconut Oil, vanilla extract, and Lime essential oil. Stir until combined and add to bowl with strawberries and sugar.

Stir until everything is combined. If mixture looks too dry, add 1 teaspoon of Fractionated Coconut Oil at a time until consistency is right.

Store in airtight container.

To us, take a handful of scrub into hands and rub together until sugar dissolves. 

Rinse under warm water and pat dry. For added softness, rub hands with doTERRA SPA Hand & Body Lotion.

When you want to give your skin a little extra glow, this Bronzing Lotion Stick with essential oils provides a natural solution for adding color to your face without incurring damage from the sun. Using your favorite essential oil, beeswax, Shea butter, and other moisturizing ingredients, these lotion bars will give you a glowing complexion, while helping you avoid heavy makeup or dangerous sun exposure.

A simple, mess-free option for giving your skin a boost, these lotion sticks will melt with the heat of your skin, making for easy application. Not only will you be happy with the extra glow it gives your face, but you’ll also be reaping the cleansing, purifying, and toning benefits of essential oils while this mixture sits on your skin.

Looking for a way to get the springtime glow during winter? These bronzing lotion sticks are the answer. These lotion sticks provide extreme moisture for dry winter skin and add a beautiful sun-kissed glow without the rays of the sun. Similar to our Moisturizing Lotion Bars, these lotion sticks melt with the heat of your skin and are mess-free when stored in this convenient container. 

Ingredients 

• ⅓ cup beeswax
• ¼ cup shea butter
• 2 tablespoons cocoa butter
• 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
• 1 teaspoon vitamin E
• 20 drops of your favorite essential oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, for bronzer (you could also use 1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder) 

Instructions

1. Add beeswax, shea butter, cocoa butter, grapeseed oil, and vitamin E to glass jar and place in saucepan with one to one and a half inches of boiling water.
2. Stir ingredients until combined (around 5–10 minutes). 
3. Once melted, remove from heat and let rest three minutes.
4. Add essential oil and stir.
5. For a bronzing effect, add one teaspoon of ground cinnamon and stir until combined. Tip: Use a popsicle stick for easy cleanup.
6. Pour into container. Let cool one to two hours before use. 

Peppermint Foot Lotion

Dry, calloused feet are uncomfortable and unsightly, but instead of paying for an expensive pedicure, you can pamper your feet at home with this easy Whipped Peppermint Foot Lotion DIY. Peppermint and Melaleuca oil will soothe dry, scratchy feet that might feel like sandpaper, while doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil and other natural ingredients will help feet to retain their moisture. 

Not only is this DIY easy to make, but it also helps to quickly reverse the look and feel of dry, cracking feet. Simply apply the lotion at bedtime, put on a pair of socks, and wake up to smooth, hydrated, sandal-worthy feet!

This Peppermint Foot Lotion is just what your dry feet need. It is light and moisturizing and can be used anywhere on your body.

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon beeswax
• 2 tablespoons cocoa butter
• 4 tablespoons shea butter
• 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons Fractionated Coconut Oil
• 5 drops Peppermint oil
• 5 drops Tea Tree oil

Instructions

1. In small glass container, combine all ingredients, except essential oils.
2. Place in saucepan with 1–1 ½ inches of boiling water.
3. Stir ingredients until combined (around 5–10 minutes). 
4. Once melted, remove from heat and let rest 3 minutes.
5. Add essential oils and stir.
6. Let mixture come to a solid. To quicken process, place in refrigerator.
7. Once solid, use an electric mixer to whip lotion.
8. Gradually come to high speed and whip for 3–4 minutes or until light and fluffy.
9. Place in container. To use, rub on heels to help soften and soothe them.
10. Tip: For best results, add a generous amount to feet with socks before bed.

Razor Relief Serum

Although it is a necessity, shaving can often leave behind irritated skin, razor bumps, and a great deal of discomfort. Luckily, essential oils hold significant soothing and calming properties for the skin and can easily be used to avoid discomfort after shaving. When you make this Razor Relief Serum DIY, you’ll be bringing together the soothing capabilities of essential oils like Frankincense, Lavender, Melaleuca, Helichrysum, Myrrh, and Fractionated Coconut Oil.

With calming essential oils on your side, you’ll be able to enjoy smooth skin after every shave. Don’t suffer through razor burn and uncomfortable skin—allow the soothing relief of this razor serum to calm and cool the skin, leaving it feeling soft and smooth.

Shaving may be essential, but razor bumps are not. Provide relief to your skin with this Razor Relief Serum enhanced with calming doTERRA essential oils that will help your skin look and feel beautiful.

Ingredients

½ cup Fractionated Coconut Oil

¼ cup rosewater (can be purchased at health food stores)

5 drops Frankincense oil.

5 drops Lavender oil.

5 drops Tea Tree oil.

5 drops Helichrysum oil.

5 drops Myrrh oil.

Instructions

Place Fractionated Coconut Oil and rosewater in glass spray or pump bottle. 

Add essential oils and shake.

To use, spray directly on skin or place two to three pumps in palms and rub on affected skin.

Whipped Body Butter

Whether your skin gets dried out during cold winter months, or you tend to get dry, cracked skin year round, this Whipped Body Butter with essential oils is a simple solution for restoring moisture back into the skin. Using soft, natural butters and oils and the soothing power of Grapefruit, Wild Orange, and Fractionated Coconut Oil, this body butter lets you kiss dry, uncomfortable skin goodbye. 

You can customize this body butter by adding your favorite essential oils, allowing you to create a comforting, pleasant aroma that you’ll enjoy every time you apply the body butter. For those with dry, troublesome skin, this moisturizing body butter will become a new favorite—keeping the skin hydrated for days after application.

Who doesn't love soft, moisturized, and healthy skin? The butters and oils used in this recipe are the perfect combination that will leave your skin moisturized for days after applying. Customize your whipped body butter with any essential oil of your choice. 

Ingredients

½ cup shea butter

½ cup cocoa butter

½ cup coconut oil

½ cup Fractionated Coconut Oil

15 drops Grapefruit oil*

15 drops Wild Orange oil*

Instructions

1. Measure all butters and oils in glass jar.
2. Fill a large skillet/saucepan with one to one and a half inches of water. Bring to a boil.
3. Once boiling, add the glass jar to the center of the saucepan to melt and combine ingredients.
4. Stir every few minutes until the ingredients are melted and combined. (10–15 minutes) Tip: Use a popsicle stick to stir for easy cleanup.
5. Once everything is melted, remove from heat and let sit for 5–10 minutes. Add desired essential oils.
6. Once essential oils are added, let it rest in a cool place (such as the refrigerator) until it has set.
7. Once chilled, take out of refrigerator. With a stand or hand mixer, start on low and slowly turn the speed higher until the lotion becomes light and fluffy (around 3–5 minutes).
8. Note: Store mixture in a glass jar and keep in a cool place. If needed, re-fluff the body butter by whipping it back up to the desired consistency with a hand mixture.

*Citrus oils can cause photosensitivity, so we don’t recommend using them if you plan on being in direct sunlight after topical application. The personal care products that doTERRA produces, such as the doTERRA Salon Essentials®, lotions, etc., are a little different. The shampoo and cleansers are wash-off products, so there is no concern for photosensitivity there. The products that stay on, such as the lip balm and lotion, use citrus oils in small, appropriate amounts that will not cause any phototoxic harm. Because we work closely with experts on formulations, we are able to provide a safe product. Essential oils at full strength on their own are very potent, which is why they carry the photosensitivity warning.

These days, it is hard to find a lotion that isn’t full of chemicals or synthetic colors and fragrances. If you are looking for a natural lotion that will moisturize your skin, give these essential oil Moisturizing Lotion Bars a try! With coconut oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, and the essential oils of your choice, these soothing lotion bars will leave your skin feeling pampered, soft, and renewed.

Not only are these lotion bars easy to make from home, but they allow you to customize your moisturizing experience. While you can choose your favorite essential oils to add fragrance to the lotion bars, we suggest using some doTERRA favorites—Citrus Bliss®, Peppermint, or Lavender oil. No matter the fragrance, you’ll soon fall in love with these personalized moisturizing lotion bars that leave your skin (and your nose) happy.

Made with beeswax, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and essential oils, these natural moisturizing lotion bars will nourish and soothe dry skin. Massage the bar on your skin and let your body's natural heat melt the lotion. After one use, you won't know how you lived without it. 

Ingredients

⅔ cup beeswax

½ cup coconut oil

½ cup cocoa butter

1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

15 drops of doTERRA essential oil(s) 

Recommended essential oils: Citrus Bliss®, Peppermint, Lavender 

Instructions

1. Measure all ingredients, except for essential oils, in large glass jar.
2. Place jar in saucepan with one to one and a half inches of boiling water.
3. Stir ingredients until combined.
4. Once melted, remove from heat. Let rest three minutes. 
5. Add essential oils and stir.
6. Pour mixture into silicone mold.Tip: For an exfoliating lotion bar, add oatmeal to the bottom of the mold.
7. Let mixture harden two to three hours. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in container until ready to use.
8. Massage lotion bar on skin for moisture.

Bergamot Foot Mask

Did you know that our feet have the most pores per square inch than any other area of the body? If dry, cracked heels burden your feet, you can use the soothing characteristics of essential oils to nourish your feet with this simple Foot Mask with Bergamot oil. Using Fractionated Coconut Oil, doTERRA Bergamot oil, and other organic ingredients, you’ll soon be enjoying soft, smooth skin on your feet and heels (without the price tag of a pedicure.)

Instead of stressing about dry feet or cracked heels, try this nourishing foot mask made with Bergamot essential oil (and other feet-friendly ingredients) for nourished and beautiful feet.

Why use a foot mask? Since our feet have the most pores per square inch than any other area of the body, it is important to remember to keep them moisturized and nourished. Anything you rub into the pores of the feet will absorb into the rest of the body, so do your best to gather high quality, organic ingredients for this foot mask.

Ingredients

½ cup organic Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons organic raw honey

2 splashes doTERRA Fractionated Coconut Oil

1 stalk organic celery

6 drops Bergamot oil

Notes

The probiotics in Greek yogurt help deliver beneficial proteins and the lactic acid it contains rids the surface of old cells, making way for radiant, fresh skin.

Celery is rich in zinc, which helps to repair dry, cracked skin. Celery also carries vitamins and is cleansing and detoxifying.

Raw honey is a natural humectant, contains beneficial enzymes and antioxidants, and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Bergamot essential oil is calming and soothing to the skin.

Instructions

1. Grate stalk of celery and drain excess moisture in strainer or with paper towel.
2. Add celery and remaining ingredients to food processor or blender.
3. Blend until smooth.
4. Ready a wet washcloth or sit by tub.
5. Apply mask immediately to entire foot with fingers or brush.
6. Let sit 15–20 minutes while enjoying mask’s cooling sensation and the calming effects of Bergamot essential oil.
7. Rinse off and enjoy your nourished and moisturized feet.