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The Top Ten Essential Oils that Tighten Skin
Aging is a parallel component of life on earth. Anything and everything that has life, is bound to age. For us, as humans, aging is far more than just being a fact about our existence. It is an irreparable damage to worry about. Why? Because although none of us want to age and look wrinkled, there is nothing we can do about it.
Nature, on the other hand, has been kind enough to solve almost all our problems, ever since life forms have marked their presence on earth. One such kindness bestowed by Mother Nature is, the variety of essential oils.
Herein, we will discuss 10 of the most vital essential oils that promote skin tightening and hence, prevent aging.
Where to Source Essential Oils
You want to purchase high-quality essential oils so you can be sure you are getting your money's worth and aren't getting ripped off with fake or diluted essential oils.
I have been using essential oils for years, and have sampled various brands. On my hunt for the best essential oil brand, I came across Rocky Mountain Oils, and I have been hooked since!
Rocky Mountian Oils has remarkable customer service, exceptional quality, easy-to-navigate packaging, and a user-friendly website.
1. Frankincense Oil
It is the most valuable and tranquil oil amongst all. It protects the skin cells and encourages new cell growth. This oil increases skin elasticity and is great to use around the eye area to tighten up the skin.
The molecular structure of Frankincense oil is very small to penetrate into the skin, therefore it regenerates the cells and replaces the old dead cells with the new ones.
It also keeps the skin oxygenated and more oxygenated the skin is, more elastic it will be.
To benefit from this oil, first exfoliate the skin with a hot towel to open the pores. Mix the oil with any of the carrier oils of your choice, let us say olive oil. Now, gently dab the mixture on your face before going to bed. Make sure not to apply the oil without diluting.
Recipe:
- 1 tsp Fractionated Coconut oil
- 4 drops Lavender
- 2 drops Rose
- 2 drops Frankinsence
2. Myrrh Oil
The holy Bible states that Myrrh oil was one of the three oils that the three wise men brought to the baby Jesus. Apart from its vast historic importance, Myrrh oil is also one of the most sought after essential oils for skin.
Myrhh essential oil is used for oxygenating the body tissues which further help in skin soothing. It also treats chapped skin, cracked skin and wrinkles thereby giving you a glowing skin tone by improving skin flexibility.
Recipe:
- 1 Tablespoon Argan oil
- 4 drops Frankincense
- 5 drops Myrhh
3. Patchouli Oil
Massage this oil on your skin, after diluting it with a light carrier oil, to help prevent wrinkles and cellulite. Cellulite is a condition in which the skin has fat deposits underlying it. This condition majorly appears post pregnancy or when you lose noticeable amount of body weight.
Patchouli oil is anti inflammatory, it reduces pores and tightens the skin.
Recipe:
- 1 Tablespoon Grape Seed oil
- 4 drops Sandalwood
- 2 drops Patchouli
- 2 drops Carrot Seed
- 3 drops Bergamot FCF
4. Lavender Oil
Due to its antibacterial properties, Lavender oil helps to balance sebum production, hence reduces scarring. An organic, therapeutic grade Lavender oil treats chapped skin and prevents it from drying further.
Lavender oil rejuvenates and tones the skin. It also help prevent as well as fade stretch marks in any part of the body.
Recipe:
- 1 tsp Rosehip Seed oil
- 3 drops Lavender
5. Geranium Oil
Geranium oil helps repair collagen and improve elasticity of the skin by boosting elastin fibers. It is one of the most effective essential oils for stretch mark treatment. It nourishes skin and improves elasticity by tightening the skin that results in reduced appearance of wrinkles.
Recipe:
- 1 tsp Argan oil
- 3 drops Geranium
Learn How to Use Essential Oils to Tighten the Skin
7. Neroli Oil
It is the best essential oil for skin tightening as it contains citral, a natural chemical which helps in regeneration of skin cells. It also assists in revival of scarred tissues.
Neroli oil stimulates new cell growth and reduces skin pores. It improves skin resilience and therefore, is used as a general anti aging oil. It is widely used as an ingredient in anti aging creams and masks.
While there are numerous anti-aging products available commercially, most of them are either expensive or contain skin damaging chemicals. Whereas, there is a naturally effective and competitive therapy called ‘anti-aging treatment by Dermology’, which tightens skin and reduces aging spots and wrinkles without causing any harm to the skin. It is just like an organic treatment that will take care of your skin, first and foremost.
Recipe:
- 1 Tablespoon Sweet Almond oil
- 4 drops Neroli
- 2 drops Rose
8. Rosehip Seed Oil
It is full of anti-aging and hydrating properties. It is rich in vitamin A, vitamin E and essential fatty acids which help to delay the aging process in the skin.
The hydrating abilities of the Rosehip seed oil provide natural moisture to the skin and thus improve its elasticity. This oil boosts collagen to promote smoother and firmer skin. It also helps in cell generation and reduces scars.
9. Jasmine Oil
This oil has skin healing and revitalizing properties that can help fade away stretch marks and tighten skin. It is great for improving skin’s elastic nature.
Jasmine oil promotes blood circulation that accelerates cell generation resulting in removal of scars and wrinkles by treating dehydrated skin.
Recipe:
- 1 Tablespoon Rosehip Seed oil
- 4 drops Jasmine
- 2 drops Rose
10. Sandalwood Oil
It is famous for its unique fragrance and is one of the most recommended essential oils for skin.
The healing properties of sandalwood oil help reduce fine lines, wrinkles and scars while rejuvenating dull skin by treating broken capillaries.
It nourishes the skin naturally and prevents skin sagging. It also provides hydrating aid to the skin and skin cells.
Recipe:
- 1 Tablespoon Avocado oil
- 4 drops Sandalwood
- 2 drops Neroli
Basic Tightening Recipe
The following recipe is a 5% essential oil dilution rate. This dilution rate is recommended for short-term use. I advise using this oil blend 2 - 3 times a week, after you shower.
- Take a 2oz glass bottle and fill it 2/3 full of fractionated coconut oil
- Add 15 drops vitamin E oil
- Add your essential oils:
- 30 drops frankinsence essential oil
- 30 drops geranium essential oil
- 30 drops grapefruit essential oil
- Fill the rest of the bottle with rosehip seed oil.
You can replace the essential oils in this recipe with any of the oils listed above for a total of 90 drops.
Mix everything together and apply to your skin as needed!
Learn How to Use Essential Oils to Tighten the Skin
Conclusion
Apart from the aforesaid skin firming oils, other essential oils that enhance skin texture and flexibility are Jojoba oil, Sweet Almond oil, Avocado oil, Argan oil, Ylang Ylang, Rosemary oil and Cypress oil.
These natural plant extracts, commonly called essential oils, have prominently slowed down the aging process in humans, age not in numbers of course, but age as in, appearance.
Mixing these oils may give extra added benefits to the body, mind and soul. It is just about time to promote your overall health and vitality and beat the skin sagging and aging components by bringing these organic essential oils to use.
Remember to head over to Rocky Mountain Oils to buy high-quality essential oils today!
Please Leave any questions you may have in the comments below! We always answer.
Do you have any information on Copaiba Essential Oil?
Hi Gina, Thank you for sparking my interest on this lovely oil. I hadn’t heard of it so I looked into it. Our favorite essential oil company (Rocky Mountain Oils) carries this oil and they say on their website that it is excellent for the skin. They say it helps give skin a “youthful, radiant glow”. It has astringent properties that tighten and tone the skin. It nourishes the skin and can help reduce the appearance of blisters, marks and pimples.
Hi Andrea, Thanks for the useful information!
But I wonder if I have to mix them all in some carrier oil to get the max benefit? Or one or two oils are enough? What combination do you recommend for saggy skin after sudden weight loss after delivery or diet?
Thanks a lot for your time 🙂
Hello Fajr, yes these oils should be mixed with a carrier oil. One or two oils will be plenty, it is really a matter of preference. Neroli oil will be your best bet for tightening saggy skin, but don’t expect a miracle overnight, these oils can only do so much 🙂 Try mixing your neroli oil with grapeseed oil. Use 1 drop neroli oil in 1 tsp grapeseed oil.
Hello I have lots of looses skin and stretch marks what can I use too tight the skin and also removes marks off the body. Also I know it doesn’t work over night . Can you tell how long it take until i see results please Thank – You Christine
Hi Christine,
I would recommend you use a combination of the essential oils that are in this article. Blend your oils with jojoba oil, this gives the skin flexibility and nourishment. The idea is to get the skin functioning at an optimal level with the help of these powerful plant ingredients. As for removing marks from the body I would need more of a specific example.
Its important to give a new routine time to work. I always suggest a 3 month regime. You can then continue to care for the skin to keep it healthy and happy.
Hope that helps:)
All the best,
Maria.
Hello….Do any of the essential oils you mention above help with crepey skin on arms or neck? If so, does a mixture of them increase results? (And what ratio in mixing)…. I’ve tried argan oil. .coconut oil.. olive oil.. no results. .thank you!
Hello Jenenne,
All the essential oils listed are great for in supporting the skin to increase collagen production and decrease wrinkles or tighten the skin, however crepey skin is a much harder condition to treat. The skin has dramatically slowed down the production of elastin and collagen, the proteins that allow skin to stretch and contract, the skin begins to sag and wrinkle.
Using a mixture of the oils can enhance the effects because you are creating a potent blend of oils with these benefits. I would recommend a 50ml bottle mixed with Jojoba oil and 5 drops each of the listed essential oils.
I would hope you would have some improvement with the function of the skin and increased cell renewal, however I think depending on how much the skin is sagging you may find that hard to treat.
We hope you have found this helpful, and keep us posted!
All the best,
Maria.
Hi,
I would like to use all the oils mentioned. I’m just having trouble trying to convert ml to oz. I want to make 15 oz bottle. How many drops of the essential oils would I need
Hi Kathy, thanks for stopping in 🙂 15 oz equals approximately 444 ml. If you want a 1% dilution rate, then you would need 133 drops of essential oils. For a 2% dilution rate, you would need 266 drops of essential oils. I used the dilution rate information from Rocky Mountian Oils to calculate these numbers. I hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi Maria,
I would like to use neroli oil to tighten my tummy. Would 5 drops with aloe vera gel (I have the plant, not store bought) in the palm of my hand be the right amount or is 5 drops too much and best mixed with about 4 ounces of a carrier oil. Also would virgin coconut oil be a good carrier oil? Also, what oil would you recommend to get rid of stretch marks?
Thanks so much for sharing this information!
Hi Jo, Andrea here. I can help answer your question 🙂 You can create a 2% dilution for daily skin use. The ratio is 3 drops of essential oil to 1 tsp of carrier oil. You could totally use the aloe vera gel from your plant! It wouldn’t be hard to get 1 tsp of aloe vera gel from your plant. Coconut oil would be a good carrier oil. For stretch marks I like using plant butters or making your own whipped body butter. My favorite plant butters are cocoa butter, shea butter, and kokum butter.
I have dark shading on my cheeks, neck and chest due to eczema,I have seen some improvement after using rosehip seed oil. I am looking for something to even my skin tone and get rid of the discoloration.
Hello Dean, rosehip seed oil should help with that.
Here is an article that may help you:
Natural Solutions for Sunburn, Uneven Skin Tone, and Hyperpigmentation
Hi Andrea, I just read your article about the 10 Essential Oils that tighten the skin. I have just gotten into the essential oil world. Could you tell me what blend to use and the number of drops of each oil. I wasn’t sure you meant to use all the mention oils or not. Thanks for any help. Jane
Hi Jane, I just added recipes to the post so that you can see how to use the oils. I hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
Hi, i just read this article now. I want to lighten my skin a bit, what are the oils to use
There are a few ways to lighten skin. Some essential oils that work well are lemon and carrot seed. Kojic acid is a natural skin lightener. I like this kojic acid serum from Amazon.
I think is wise to remind Lizzie to not allow the skin that she used lemon on be exposed to the sun for at least 12 hours as a precaution to getting sun burned!
Thanks Pam!
Hi! I am also interested to lighten my skin. Do you have a mixture or proportion for the essential oils you mentioned? Thank you.
Hi Ingrace, here is a serum recipe for skin lightening:
– 1/4 cup carrier oil (sesame oil works well)
– 7 drops lemon essential oil
– 7 drops carrot seed essential oil
– 10 drops sandalwood essential oil
– 4 oz glass amber bottle
Use the 2 – 4 drops of the serum at night. In the morning wash your skin well. The lemon oil in this recipe is phototoxic so you can’t apply this serum and go out into the sun, you will end up with a sunburn!
Hi Andrea,
I am in my 60s and want to lift and firm my face and skin in general. I I’ll be taking some online classes on ho to use essential oils but my question for now is how many of them oils can be mixed for firming and removing dark spots? Please email ,thank you
Hi. Thanks for these recipees. I have what is best described as cellulite on my cheeks. I am 68 yrs old but don’t think this is an ageing only issue. Please advise and thank you
Hi Joan, we have an article about cellulite that includes a treatment regime. You can read it here.
Hello, I would really like to make a lotion with all of these essentail oils in it. Could you give me a recipe for this? I have lost a lot of weight and have saggy skin on my inner thighs and arms. I’m going to start working out to help this but would love to use these essentail oils as a lotion also. Also, if you have a recipe could I use it on my face as well?
Hi Kristi, here is a simple lotion recipe:
1/2 cup jojoba oil
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup beeswax
2 tablespoons shea butter
140 drops of essential oil
Combine jojoba oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter in a double boiler. Stir as the ingredients melt. Once everything is melted, add the essential oils and pour everyting into a mason jar for storage.
Another option is to purchase an unscented lotion ( I like this one) and add your own essential oils to it. The proper dilution ratio is 3 drops of essential oils for every 5 ml (1 tsp) of lotion.
I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
how did using the oils do for your skin did your skin tighten??
Hi Andrea, i would like to mix a good amount of carrier oils and all these essentiel oils. Can you tell me what are the proportion to be use so i don’t have to do the mixture every day. Also in what kind of bottle should i store and how long is good for. Thank you
Hi Ornella, a good dilution ratio for daily application is 2%. To get this dilution rate you would use 3 drops of essential oil for every 5 ml (1 tsp) of carrier oil. If you find this too strong you can reduce it to a 1% dilution which would be 1 drop of essential oil for every 5 ml of carrier oil.
You could make a batch of 1/2 cup of carrier oil and use 35 drops of essential oils for a 1% dilution. For a 2% dilution, use 1/2 cup of carrier oil and 70 drops of essential oils. I would recommend using a dark glass bottle for storage (these bottles will fit 1/2 cup of carrier oil plus essential oils). Your oil will last quite a long time because it is water free. The shelf life will depend on the type of carrier oil you choose, but it should last at least 6 months to 1 year 🙂
I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
Hi Andrea. How can I incorporate Vitamin E, Retinol, Peptides & or Hyaluronic Acid into one of these recipes for better age defying results? Diana
Hi Diana, thanks for your question. Adding vitamin E is easy, simply add a capsule or a few drops to one of the recipes above. Retinol, Peptides, and HA are a little more tricky to add (they are often added to water-based products). I don’t have much experience using ingredients such as peptides and retinol in making my own skincare, so I can’t offer much help. You can read our hyaluronic acid serum recipe for an idea on using HA, it may be easier to add other ingredients such as peptides to this recipe.
From Nature with Love offers a silk peptide powder that can be added to skin care recipes. Lotioncrafter has retinol capsules, but I believe these are used alone, not sure if they can be added to other skin care formulations. I would suggest emailing lotioncrafter or From Nature with Love and asking them, they are skin care formulating experts 🙂
I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
Hi Andrea,
If you don’t like the oily feeling on your skin can you use something else like aqueas cream as a carrier?
I recently started losing a lot of weight and can’t wait to try these reciprs to tighten myskin again.. But I do not like the oilyness during the day
Hi Jo, yes you can use these essential oils in a cream or moisturizer instead of in a carrier oil. Check out our ebook for lots of ideas for using essential oils to tighten the skin.
Hi, I am wondering if making a recipe is a must? can I just use lavender oil on its own or Patchouli oil?
Hi Shana, you can use the oils on their own, but you have to dilute them first 🙂 Here is a link to a handy guide to dilution rates.
On “10. Sandalwood Oil”, it isn’t clear the measurement of Sandalwood needed in the recipe. It just shows “4”. Thanks!
Thanks for pointing that out! I have changed it to include drops. You want 4 drops of sandalwood oil 🙂
Hi I’ve purchased coconut carrier oil and rose, geranium, frankincense and neroli essential oils for a body oil to help age spots and skin firming . I’m unsure how to mix and what ratio to use of each oil. Could you help please ?
Hi Lisa, I would use a 2 – 3% dilution rate if you are going to be using your essential oil blend daily. To get that, I would use 1 tablespoon of your carrier oil and 3 drops of each of the essential oils you have.
I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions 🙂
What are the most essential oils for tightening skin can you add to a carrier oil. Do you have to add more carrier oil every time you add a essential oil. Thank you
Hi Edith, thanks for your questions. You most definitely have to add your essential oil to a carrier oil. Essential oils are very strong and will cause all sorts of issues if you use them on your skin undiluted. The recommended dilution rate for everyday skin care use is 2%, and for short-term use, 5%.
You can use all of the essential oils in this post with a carrier oil 🙂 I have just added a basic recipe and video to the end of this article. You can add whatever essential oils you like to this recipe. The recipe is a 5% dilution rate, so you won’t want to use it every day. Use it 2 – 3 times a week 🙂
Let me know if you have any other questions 😀
You got the right choice of essential oils here. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much, Clark 🙂
I have pretty bad Turkey neck. Can you recommend essential oils for it.
Hi Martha, any of the oils in the article above can help tighten skin and should help your neck. I wouldn’t expect a miracle though, as these oils will only have a minor effect and must be used consistently over at least a few months to see major results.
Just wanted to share. I love essential oils. I made a mixture that has really improved my stretch marks. I use bio oil, few drops lavender, frankincense, geranium and carrot seed. Chamomile would also be a good addition i just ran out. Bio oil itself is great. The good thing is the oils also absorb into skin leading to relaxation.
Thanks so much for your comments, Blàithìn. I am so happy to hear you found something to work for you, thanks so much for sharing it with us!
Hi, Andrea
I feel so happy to talk with you can you please recommend some oil for my skin I want anti aging Or brightness skin in one place my skin type is mixed dry or oily.thank you
Hello 🙂 Sorry I didn’t get back to you right away! I am hearing that you want anti-aging and brightness and your skin type is a combination of dry and oily. Have you read our combination skin care guide yet?
We have an article on the best anti-aging essential oils you can check out. In that article, I share 10 of the best essential oils for aging skin. Out of those oils, I would recommend sandalwood or frankincense for you. Both offer brightening effects along with other anti-aging properties. Sweet Orange Essential oil is not included in that article, but I want to tell you about it because it is really good at reducing hyperpigmentation. It is high in limonene (95%) and is not phototoxic like other citrus oils (source).
Hi. Im new at this. I have had a child and lost weight. My stomach saggy. Could you tell me a recipe that would actually tighten. My skin on stomach. I have another question? I have droopy eyelids and have tried everthing and nothing worked. Is there a recipe that would tighten the skin above my eyelid. Thanks. I really need the help..
Hi Tammy. The recipe I have included in this article can help tighten skin, but it is not a miracle cure. These oils can help to constrict the skin that is there, but they won’t remove excess skin. Nourishing the skin on your stomach over time will help it to look its best. Making sure you are eating well and drinking lots of water, as well as getting daily exercise and movement will go a long way in helping you get back in shape. Congrats on your little one! I know that when I had my babies, my skin was saggy, but over time my skin went back to almost how it was before. I took care of myself and nourished my skin both inside and out 🙂
As for droopy eyelids, they are hard to treat with skin care products. This is because most products should not be applied there, as they can migrate into your eyes. I do have an article on using essential oils for eye wrinkles you can read, but again, it is not recommended to apply them to the eyelid. You can read our article on naturally caring for the skin around your eyes for some helful info.
Eyelids naturally droop as we age, our best defense is staying as healthy as we can. Here is an article I found on exercises you can do to tighten the skin above your eyes.
Let me know if that helps and if you have any more questions!
Your Basic Tightening Recipe is ok to apply on your face?
Hi Lorraine, it can be used on the face, but I would lower the dilution rate. The recipe in the article is a 5% dilution rate – which is great for short-term use. If you want to apply the oil recipe to your face daily, a 1% dilution rate is recommended. To achieve this, simply use the same recipe, but reduce the number of essential oils to 18 drops instead of 90.
I hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
Hi Andrea,
I followed your basic recipe and I used all of the essential oils you listed plus Egyptian rose (10 drops of each) with rose hip, Grapeseed and sweet almond as carriers. I actually like the resulting smell but notice it may be too strong so when I did the math I realized the dilution rate comes to almost 8% (90 drops are 4.5 ml and 2 oz are 60 ml, so 4.5/60=7.5%). If I am planning to use this daily on my face and body should I dilute the solution further? Thanks!
Hi Lydia, I would say that 8% dilution is probably too strong for daily use. If you look at Rocky Mountain Oil’s essential oil dilution rate page, you can see that a 5% dilution rate is recommended for short term application and a max dilution rate of 2% is recommended for daily topical application.
Hi Andrea,
Do these recipes become rancid? For example, The Basic Tightening recipe how long will it be potent? Are there any reasons to not continue use on face after say 3 months?
Hi Lori, thanks for the excellent question! Rosehip seed oil has a shelf life of 6 months when used on its own, but the addition of the vitamin E will extend it to 2 years. Fractionated coconut oil has a very long shelf life, almost indefinite if you keep it out of the sun and in a cool place. For the longest shelf life, I recommend storing this recipe in a dark and cool place. I hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
Hi Andrea. In your Frankincense mixture for tightening skin ( #1 on this list) you give a recipe. However, above the recipe you say to just mix frankincense oil with a carrier oil, like olive oil. Is that later just as effective as the recipe? and wouldn’t the fractionated coconut oil be the carrier oil?
thanks
Hi Kathleen, thanks for stopping in 🙂 You can use frankincense oil on its own with any vegetable or seed oil as a carrier oil. The recipe I have provided is just an example 🙂 Any of the carrier oils will be effective, but the one you choose to use will be based on personal preference and skin type. Olive oil is something most people have around the house, so it is an easy way to start using frankincense oil right away. However, some people find olive oil too rich for their skin and may experience breakouts. You can have a look at our article on Omega Fatty Acids to learn more about carrier oils and what makes them different from each other. In the recipe, fractionated coconut oil is used as the carrier oil, but it can be swapped out for any other carrier oil you choose to use.
I hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
Hi Andrea,
Thank you for the great info you provided! Would you mind providing a few answers to a few questions
What oils would you use on lip lines (65 years old)
What oils would you use for crepey arm skin (65 year old arms too?)
And where would recommend purchasing the oils?
Thank you very much,
Charlene
Hi Charlene, it can be tough to use essential oils on lip lines, as the lips are much more sensitive than the rest of your facial skin. You can read our article, Best Treatments for Wrinkles Around the Mouth.
As for the skin on your arms, I would use the recipe and essential oils provided in the above article 🙂 Let me know if you have any other questions!
Hello Andrea,
I am using the intense anti aging recipe from your online skin care ebook. My question is how often can I use it?
Thank you,
Charlene
Hi Charlene, you can use the anti-aging serum up to twice a day, morning and night 🙂 Let me know if you have any other questions!
Thank you!
Hi Andrea, Happy New Year! Is it possible to use CBD oil as the carrier oil? Thanks and make it a super day/night. 😀
Hi Sylvia, thanks for your question 🙂 I think that sounds like an excellent idea!
Hello, im 48 years old and i have lost several kilos in two years and this weight loss has left me with loose skin. what combination of oils could I make, as effective as possible? the area that bothers me the most is my arms, they are loose and have stretch marks and then my tummy .I will wait for your answer.Thank you.
I would make the Basic Skin Tightening Recipe included at the end of the article 🙂