Why is Lavender Great for Your Skin?
Why is lavender oil so good for your skin? Why is it becoming more and more popular in the cosmetic industry? From ancient times, people have recognized this oil for its wound healing and antiseptic abilities. Today, it’s now used as a skin regenerator and as a topical antimicrobial.1 However, its health benefits don’t stop there! Lavender has natural anti-wrinkle and anti-aging abilities too! In this article, we’ll discover the amazing benefits of lavender oil and some other great “fixed” oils you can add to BOOST your skin care routine.
So what is lavender oil specifically and what are these health benefits? If there are so many strains, how can we know which lavender oil is best to buy? We can answer this by examining the oil’s subcomponents and determining their individual properties. Luckily for us, scientists have already done the hard work, reporting at least 101 compounds positively identified. Three of these (linalool, linalyl acetate and eucalyptol) are responsible for most of the health benefits this oil offers.1
The anti-microbial (or “anti-germ”) properties of lavender oil are extensive. The subcomponents linalool and linalyl acetate are antibacterial against bacteria that commonly cause skin infections and acne: E coli, S. pyogenes, and Cutibacterium acnes. Linalool is also antifungal, eucalyptol anti-parasitic, and both antiviral. In fact lavender oil is such an effective antimicrobial, it reduces the number of germs on your skin by up to 10,000 fold! Lastly, in addition to limiting microbes, the major subcomponents eucalyptol,1 linalool and linalyl acetate are anti-inflammatory.2
“Thousands of ‘germs’ live on your skin...”
…but what exactly are they and why are there so many? Germs are microscopic organisms like bacteria, viruses and fungi. While many do cause diseases, some are actually necessary for maintaining our health. Some are “indigenous” to our skin (living with us since just after birth). Others are “transitory” and come and go with changes to our environment. Many factors alter the microenvironment of our skin: hygiene, health, hydration, pH level, oiliness, and even temperature.1 As the largest organ in our body, our skin works hard to protect us from external “noxious stimuli”. Beyond germs, it protects us from UV-radiation, allergens (like pollen), and even chemical irritants (like bleach).3 Without it we wouldn’t last a day!
So how is our skin so effective at its job? The answer is in how it’s made. The outer layer of the skin is organized like a brick wall. The “bricks” are the corneocytes (cells), and the “mortar” that holds it all together are the lipids (fats). This makes our skin both water-proof but still allow for easy absorption of lipids like lavender oil.3
Over time our skin begins to age in two distinct ways. The first is chronological aging and inevitable. We all grow older every day. The second is environmentally induced, and we can control this to some extent. UV-radiation (photoaging), smog/pollution and smoking are all major factors. Every year, we spend thousands of dollars to reverse the aging process. Society has made us desperate to hide the thinning, wrinkling, increasing dryness, and loss of elasticity in our skin.3 But what if there was another natural and cost effective way to slow the aging process? What if fillers and botox weren’t the only answer? Lavender oil is just one of many natural ingredients that can heal our body and revive our youth. It promotes collagen synthesis in our skin, helps to remodel damaged tissues, improves wound healing, and even reduces inflammation.2 You really can’t go wrong with this oil. At a fraction of the price, you can choose a more natural option that your body will truly thank you for. Find your bottle of lavender oil today!
So is lavender oil safe to use directly on your skin? Yes! Lavender oil is one of the safest plant oils reported by literature today; able to be applied undiluted on the skin. However, one study did find that some subcomponents within the oil are cytotoxic (aka toxic to living cells) causing membrane damage. One of these notable compounds is linalyl acetate, which has a higher toxicity level when isolated by itself. Interestingly when mixed in the oil, its damaging potential is limited by the other compounds working together to “manage” its toxicity. Adverse reactions to the direct application of lavender oil are rare, however, a mild allergic reaction may arise for those with hypersensitive skin. If you think that's you, don’t worry! A dilution of lavender oil with a fixed oil can be prepared.4 Consider this great rosehip oil I love to use!
Unlike essential oils, fixed oils aren’t volatile (they don’t evaporate at room temperature). Some familiar examples are olive oil, rosehip oil, coconut oil, and sunflower seed oil. The best fixed oils are those abstracted from plants via cold-press. Other methods are chemical and heat treatments, which damage the integrity of the oil subcomponents and should be avoided. Traditionally, fixed oils have been included in food preparation, cosmetics, and in pharmaceutical products. Today, their use further expands to treating skin diseases and restoring dermal health.3
“By tightening the ‘gaps’ between cells, fixed oils help to improve the protective barrier of our skin and retain hydration, even in arid environments.”
So which fixed oils are best to mix with lavender oil for your skin? Olive oil is a popular choice, widely known for its health benefits. However, according to experts, coconut and jojoba oil are even better. In addition to improving our skin barrier, these two oils are antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, improve wound healing, and even reduce skin aging. Coconut oil, specifically, is effective against three bacteria known to lead to acne: C. acnes, E. coli., and S. aureus. It is also antiviral and antifungal. Jojoba oil is known to improve acne healing, as well as enhance absorption of topical treatments.3 So don’t miss out. Buy your bottle of coconut oil or jojoba oil today!
In short, lavender oil is a wonder of nature. It’s gentle on your skin. It fights bacteria that cause acne. It encourages your tissues to remodel and your wounds to heal. It smooths out those stubborn wrinkles, rejuvenating your skin. And when mixed with a fixed oil, its benefits are multiplied. So don’t miss another day! Buy your bottle of lavender oil now. Your skin will LOVE you!
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