In the pursuit of youthful and vibrant skin, people have explored various skincare ingredients, and essential oils have gained significant attention in recent years. These concentrated plant extracts are renowned for their aromatic qualities, but can they truly deliver anti-aging benefits? In this blog post, we delve into the effectiveness of essential oils in anti-aging skincare, and which oils are performing particularly well in clinical studies.
Understanding Essential Oils:
Essential oils are derived from various parts of plants, such as leaves, flowers, or roots. They contain potent compounds that give them their characteristic fragrance and potentially offer therapeutic properties. While essential oils have long been used in traditional medicine and aromatherapy, their efficacy in anti-aging skincare is still a topic of scientific exploration.
What makes an Essential Oil good for mature or ageing skin?
1. Antioxidant Properties
Many essential oils are rich in antioxidants, which are the main properties of ingredients that help combat the damaging effects of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that contribute to aging by causing oxidative stress in the skin. Essential oils like frankincense, rose, and carrot seed possess antioxidant properties, potentially aiding in the prevention of premature aging.
There is an increased interest in plant-based skincare and the power of using natural ingredients to fight the effects of ageing. Some essential oils are packed with natural antioxidants including:
polyphenols
tocopherols
carotenoids
ascorbic acid
macromolecules (including polysaccharides and peptides)
Antioxidants are powerful in the fight against ageing skin, they help eliminate free radicals, and repair the damage done to the skin from environmental factors such as UV, pollution and other contributors to oxidative stress on the skin. Free radicals are particularly harmful to the youthful appearance of skin as they reduce collagen production and damage elastin fibres - so skin becomes wrinkled, and loses its firm appearance.
There area few types of antioxidants in natural skincare ingredients:
Fat-soluble antioxidants include α-tocopherol (Vitamin E), β-carotene (Vitamin A), lipoic acid, and ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10), while water-soluble antioxidants include glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). They each have different methods of fighting free radicals, either by prevention, interception or repair.
We prefer to stick with the fat (lipid) soluble antioxidants for our own skincare line. This ensures that our products remain completely natural and non-aqueous (i.e. without water or water based ingredients). We can create safe and effective formulations without having to add a preservative (as soon as water is included in a product it needs a broad spectrum preservative), an emulsifier or solubiliser (so that the water based and oil based ingredients will mix properly) - and although you can buy COSMOS certified organic preservatives, emulsifiers and solubilisers, they are all synthetic ingredients. We would much prefer to use all natural ingredients.
2. Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Chronic inflammation is associated with skin aging. Some essential oils, such as frankincense and lavender, possess anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce skin inflammation and the signs of aging caused by it.
3. Hydration
Hydrating mature skin is really important, it can help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles pretty much immediately by filling the gaps in the epidermis. Diluting Essential Oils in a really good quality, extra moisturising carrier oil is essential (so is drinking plenty of water to hydrate from within). However, essential oils that also contain lipid hydration qualities are also a huge benefit for anti-ageing products. Geranium, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Ylang and Lavender are all great examples. Anything with occlusive or emolient properties are also a win against dry skin.
When creating our anti-ageing formula for our Youth Glow Facial Serum, we reviewed lots of plant-based oils and analysed their anti-ageing properties. Our formula includes a number of powerful carrier oils (Argan, Rosehip, Sea Buckthorn, Pumpkin Seed, Jojoba), and we have since written individual blog posts for each one as they have so many amazing benefits.
But we did notice the same concentrated Essential Oils coming up in studies and research articles we read along the way. If you're interested in making your own anti-ageing oils or creams, these Essential Oils can be particularly effective at reducing oxidation, wrinkles, fine lines and boosting collagen production - all of which aid in providing a more youthful appearance.
Anti-ageing Essential Oils - the top performers
Frankincense Essential Oil: Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) essential oil has been used for centuries in traditional medicine. Some studies suggest that it may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which could potentially benefit the skin. A 2010 study published in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine found that frankincense essential oil had positive effects on skin elasticity and reduced the appearance of wrinkles.
Rose Essential Oil: Rose (Rosa damascena) essential oil is often praised for its pleasant fragrance and potential skincare benefits. It is claimed to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. A study published in 2011 in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that rose essential oil exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects.
Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) essential oil is widely used for its calming and soothing effects. While it is not specifically touted as an anti-aging essential oil, it is often included in skincare products due to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties can help reduce the signs of aging caused by oxidative stress and inflammation.
Carrot Seed Essential Oil: Carrot seed (Daucus carota) essential oil is known for its high antioxidant content. It contains compounds like carotenoids and vitamin E, which can help protect the skin from free radical damage. A study published in 2013 in the Journal of Food Science and Technology found that carrot seed essential oil exhibited antioxidant activity in vitro.
Neroli Essential Oil: Neroli (Citrus aurantium) essential oil has regenerative properties which helps to stimulate the growth of new cells, as well as toning and soothing skin. It is high in antioxidants, and hydrating making it a great all-rounder for mature skin.
Geranium Essential Oil: (Pelargonium graveolens) essential oil boosts collagen production, has regenerative properties, is anti-inflammatory and helps to balance oils in the skin. A recent study in Biomed Research International confirmed Geranium's antioxidant and anti-ageing effects in vitro (Topical Delivery of Geranium/Calendula Essential Oil-Entrapped Ethanolic Lipid Vesicular Cream to Combat Skin Aging)
Clinical Studies
Here are some other studies we found useful while researching anti-ageing ingredients:
Plant-Derived Antioxidants: Significance in Skin Health and the Ageing Process (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35054770/)
Anti-collagenase, anti-elastase and anti-oxidant activities of extracts from 21 plants (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2728709/)
Phytochemical Study and In Vitro Screening Focusing on the Anti-Aging Features of Various Plants of the Greek Flora (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8389045/)
Safe Usage and Precautions:
When using essential oils for skincare, it's crucial to prioritise safety and take certain precautions - they are highly concentrated, and contain a number of active compounds.
Reputable Supplier: Always purchase your oils from a supplier you trust so you can ensure your oils are pure, clean and exactly what they are meant to be. We prefer to stay away from oils sold through MLM (multi-level marketing) companies, and pick companies we trust and share ethics and values with.
Dilution: Essential oils are highly concentrated and should be properly diluted before application. Carrier oils, such as jojoba oil or coconut oil, can be used to dilute essential oils. General advice suggests 1% dilution for use on the face (and more sensitive areas where skin is thinner), and 2-5% for the body and wash off products. Each essential oil will have dermal safety limits - never exceed these as it could cause sensitisation issues and reactions.
Patch Test: Perform a patch test on a small area of skin to check for any potential allergies or sensitivities before applying essential oils to larger areas.
Consultation: If you have sensitive skin, allergies or other skincare or medical issues, consider seeking advice from a qualified aromatherapist, dermatologist, or healthcare professional before incorporating essential oils into your skincare routine.
PLANTS ARE POWERFUL - don't mess with nature unless you've really done your research and know what you're doing!
Comments