Dry skin is an annoying problem that can happen any time of year. And while many skin care products are designed to moisturize and soothe dry skin, many also use harsh chemicals or fragrances that are irritating to the skin.

If you want to use products naturally scented and free of harmful chemicals, essential oils make a great alternative. Below is what you need to know about using the best essential oils for dry skin, including how to make your own products!

Choosing the Best Essential Oils for Dry Skin: What to Know

Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing the best oils for specifically dry skin.

Related post: What are Essential Oils and How Do You Use Them?

Pick Oil Constituents Carefully

Each essential oil contains a specific ratio of aromatic constituents that provide its unique benefits and aroma. When it comes to use on dry skin, some constituents are a better choice than others.

Here are a few things to consider:

• Essential oils with high amounts of aldehyde constituents may be irritating to the skin when used too much. Those can include cinnamon, lemongrass, cilantro, and cassia.
• While these can still be used in topical products, they should be used in moderation and diluted properly (more on that next).
• Also, keep in mind that oil composition can vary by season, location, distillation method, and more. So research the methods of the essential oil companies you choose.

In the list, we’ve included the best essential oils for specific use on dry skin, based on their constituents and benefits.

Ensure the Proper Dilution Level

Essential oils should always be diluted before being applied to the skin. You’ll want a good dilution level, since the best essential oils for dry skin are used in lotions or body butters that are applied often.

This would be between 10-15 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier.

Use a Good Base or Carrier for Dry Skin

A carrier oil is an seed or plant oil that is combined with the essential oil to keep it from being irritating and making it safe for topical use. Carrier oils usually have a mild, light scent so they can be used directly on skin and not take away from the pure scent of the essential oils used.

Good carrier oils include avocado oil, sesame oil, almond oil, evening primrose oil, and jojoba oil. You can either combine these with the essential oils yourself or buy pre-diluted essential oils. Coconut oil is also great as a base!

For dry skin specifically, combining essential oils with an unscented lotion, body cream, or body butter is a fantastic idea. These helps ensure the oils disperse evenly and are mild enough to be used on the skin daily.

Shea butter and cocoa butter also make great bases for dry, chapped skin.

Top 9 Essential Oils to Use for Dry Skin

Now, without further ado, here are the top nine best essential oils for dry skin uses:

1. Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is believed to be one of the safest essential oils to use, and it has many benefits. It’s utilized for inflammation-related skin concerns as well as cuts and scrapes, bug bites, and flaky skin. The soothing nature of lavender makes it a great dry skin option.

2. Frankincense Essential Oil

Along with it’s amazing scent, frankincense is used for improving the tone, strength, and redness of skin [1]. of This can be especially helpful for dry, aging skin and soothing irritations.

3. Sandalwood Essential Oil

Sandalwood is one of the best beauty oils, which is why it’s great for dry skin too. It’s used to help skin retain more moisture, looking healthier and plumper. It can also help clean up flakes or other undesirable problems related to dry skin.

Products containing sandalwood essential oil are great to use right before bed.

4. Palmarosa Essential Oil

Palmarosa is a grass species from India with a sweet, rose-like aroma. Besides helping address acne and cuts and bruises, it helps balance oil creation on the skin, such as over-dryness, and address common skin-related concerns.

5. Geranium Essential Oil

Geranium has a variety of skin uses, including as a wrinkle fighter, a helper in the healing process of skin cuts and scrapes, and an oil to use for reducing the appearance of scars.

6. Myrrh Essential Oil

Myrrh acts as an antioxidant topically to support optimal skin health all year long. It’s also diffused in the winter months when colds, coughs, and congestion are most common.

7. Ylang ylang Essential Oil

Funny name, serious benefits. The skin balancing effect of ylang ylang essential oil makes it a great natural oil corrector for very dry skin types.

8. Helichrysum Essential Oil

Unlike a lot of oils, helichrysum is moisturizing and often used to prevent dryness. It’s gentle properties are similar to chamomile. It’s why natural companies love using it in skin care formulas, especially those for sensitive skin and for fighting redness or irritation.

9. Cedarwood Essential Oil

Cedarwood essential oil is sometimes actually used for oily skin because of its astringent properties and use for acne-prone skin. But it’s also helpful for nourishing and smoothing skin, especially on the scalp, so small amounts are good in dry skin formulas.

Cedarwood essential oil’s woodsy aroma is also a nice rich addition to any product.

How to Make Your Own Essential Oil Cream for Dry Skin

To make your own essential oil product for dry skin:

• Start with a few different essential oils you like—between three and five options.
• Blend them together before adding them to the carrier.
• And remember, for lotions, 10-15 drops per ounce is plenty. Don’t go over that.

Stir the blended oils into your lotion, cream, or body butter. The type you use will depend on how moisturizing you want the product to be. In winter months, body butters are best for moisturizing dry winter skin, while unscented lotions are good everyday summer options.

Once the oils have been stirred into the lotion or butter, add the finished product to your container(s).

As an example, you could use:

• 1 ounce of an unscented lotion
• 5 drops of lavender
• 5 drops of frankincense
• 3 drops of geranium
• 1 drop of cedarwood

But this is just an example. Choose the oils you like best together or find a recipe online that fits your needs.

If you’d rather buy body product with essential oil than make it yourself, no problem! We carry a variety of essential oil products for dry skin, oily skin, and everything in between, as well as many individual essential oils. Shop our Essential Oils or Hand and Body Lotions to find your favorites.

Disclaimer: Statements made have not been evaluated by the FDA. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.