Skincare can be so daunting! There are literally thousands of different protocols for maintaining (or reclaiming) our youthful glow, fixing skin issues like acne, sun damage, and aging, and just a dizzying amount of lotions and potions for every skincare “need” imaginable. Sifting through it all can be intimidating and fruitless if you don’t know where to begin.

So where DO you begin you might ask?

Figuring out your skin type.

Before diving into any skincare protocol, you need to get to know your skin – its moods, its hydration level, sensitivities, clarity, etc.

This may sound like a bit much, but it’s easier than you might think! You’ve had your skin your whole life and I bet you know at least a little something about it. Does it tend to be dry? Oily? Sensitive? Red? Maybe it’s a combination of these? Is it acne prone or react to certain things?

All of these questions can help you determine what type of skin you have. For me, I have oily, sensitive, dehydrated, acne prone skin. It also tends to redden very easily. With this information, I know that I have to use products that are gentle, light, and won’t clog my pores or irritate my skin.

Once you have determined what type of skin you have, it’s easier to use skincare that’s suited perfectly for your unique complexion and its needs.

Well, the same goes for choosing essential oils!

Table of Contents

Essential Oils for Specific Skin Types

Just like other skincare ingredients, essential oils have their own unique properties that are suited for some skin types more than others. Some EOs that are great for dry skin may not work as well for those with oily skin and vice versa. Same goes for using more potent oils on sensitive skin. It’s important to know which ones are most suitable for your skin’s needs.

Instead of trying to navigate in the dark, I’ve put together a list of common essential oils used for skincare and categorized them based on skin type.

I hope you find it useful! Please let me know in the comments if you would like me to look into any particular essential oil and I’ll see about adding it to the chart below.

36 Common Essential Oils for Specific Skin Types

ESSENTIAL OIL	BALANCED/NORMAL	AGING	DRY/DEHYDRATED	OILY	SENSITIVE	BLEMISHED/ACNE PRONE
Bergamot	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Cardamom	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Carrot Seed	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Chamomile, German	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Chamomile, Roman	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cistus	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Clary Sage	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Coriander	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Cypress	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Frankincense	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Geranium	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Ho Wood	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Immortelle (Helichrysum)	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Jasmine	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Juniper Berry	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Lavender	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Lemon	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Lemongrass	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
Mandarin	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Marjoram, Sweet	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Neroli	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
Niaouli	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Orange, Sweet	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Palmarosa	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Patchouli	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Petitgrain	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Rosemary	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Rose Otto	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Rosewood	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Sandalwood	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Spikenard	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Tea Tree	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Thyme linalol	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
Ylang Ylang	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No