Lining the aisle of your local health care store in their teeny tiny bottles, essential oils are more than just something sweet-smelling to drop into a diffuser in your living room. The aromatherapy benefits of essential oils that boost your mood or promote relaxation are the reason why they’re used during a spa or massage therapy session, but skin care oils can also be beneficial in your daily routine. Ready to learn more? Dive deeper as we answer some key questions about essential oils for skin care, including:

• What are essential oils?

• Are essential oils good for skin care?

• How to use essential oils for skin care

• What are the best essential oils for skin care?

What are essential oils?

Essential oils are plant extracts in a super-concentrated form. They are highly aromatic and are created by pressing or steaming plant parts, whether that be leaves, bark or flowers. Some of the most popular essential oils come from edible plants and herbs that are used in cooking, such as peppermint or rosemary.

Despite what you might guess from the name, essential oils don’t actually feel oily. They’re called oils because they’re made up of oil-soluble chemicals.) from the plants they’re derived from.

Are essential oils good for skin care?

“Essential oils have the potential to improve the effectiveness of your skin care products, but they are not something that should be considered for everyone, as some people are allergic to them,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “For this reason, we have used them judiciously in our own formulations. They definitely have benefits, but not when used in excessive amounts or without careful consideration.”

Some essential oils are used in aromatherapy, which is the centuries-old therapeutic practice of inhaling the scent of essential oils. Aromatherapy practitioners believe certain essential oils can affect your mood by providing relaxation or stimulation. This is why many essential oils are used to provide fragrance for all kinds of skin care products, from cleansers to moisturizers. However, not all essential oils smell good (i.e. the licorice-like smell of anise oil, for example, isn’t everyone’s cup of tea).

“You may be surprised to know that essential oils are found in quite a few products as a mild fragrance,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “In some cases, the skin care products alone without a fragrance would smell somewhat medicinal.”

How to use essential oils for skin care

“Many essential oils in their pure form are typically too concentrated to directly apply to your skin,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “Instead, the best way to use essential oils in skin care is to look for products that incorporate them into the formula with other beneficial ingredients, which ensures they will be safe to use.”

When used for skin care, essential oils are often combined with other ingredients such as carrier oils, which are oils made from seeds or nuts that provide skin care benefits in their own right, such as moisturizing or softening skin. Some popular carrier oils include sweet almond, meadowfoam seed, jojoba, coconut, avocado, argan or rosehip oils. Shea butter and cocoa butter are also considered carrier oils, even though they present solid at room temperature. One versatile product featuring carrier oils is FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm, which helps soothe skin irritations from eczema, psoriasis, insect bites and more. It combines the healing abilities of hydrocortisone with the moisturizing properties of carrier oils, including meadowfoam seed oil, shea butter and cocoa butter.

When using essential oils in skin care or otherwise, Dr. Schlessinger recommends keeping an eye on expiration dates. “One thing to consider if you are actively using essential oils in your daily life is to remember that they, too, have expiration dates and should be tossed after about two to three years or according to the expiration date on your bottle,” he says. “If you ever use pure oils, it’s important to avoid contaminating the bottle by using a fresh cotton swab and avoid double dipping.”

The best essential oils for skin care

Lavender oil

Lavender oil comes from a violet-hued flowering plant, and is one of the most popular essential oils used in skin care. Chances are you’ll recognize the light, floral scent of lavender oil from its use in everything from bath salts to body lotions.

In aromatherapy, lavender is purported to have a calming effect and help you get better sleep. It is also one of the best essential oils for skin care as studies have shown lavender can help promote collagen synthesis and wound healing, reduce the appearance of inflammatory acne and even help kill P. acnes, the bacteria that plays a role in breakouts.

Try: jane iredale Lavender Calming Hydration Spray, a facial mist you can use to set your makeup or just refresh your skin throughout the day. The lavendar essential oil featured in this formula delivers a calming aroma while aloe provides your skin with a boost of hydration and chamomile extract helps calm redness and irritation. It also contains vitamin C to help fight free radical damage and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil is derived from the thin green leaves of the Australian tea tree. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties, plus research has shown it can help improve acne as well as dandruff and foot or nail fungus. In some studies, tea tree oil has been found to rival the effectiveness of active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide when it comes to reducing acne breakouts.

Try: Arcona Tea Tree Mask, a weekly face mask that’s designed to help balance oil production and clear acne. This formula combines the acne-improving properties of tea tree oil with other ingredients known to improve breakouts, including sulfur and witch hazel. It also contains hydrating glycerin and allantoin, which can help reduce skin irritation, redness and inflammation.

Peppermint oil

The same leafy green herb that provides candy canes and minty gum with its refreshing flavor and scent is also the source of peppermint oil. You’ll typically find peppermint oil in body creams, aftershave lotions and face cleansers due to the cooling, refreshing effect it can have on skin. It also can help relieve itchiness or skin irritation as well as reduce surface oil to prevent clogged pores. In aromatherapy, peppermint is thought to boost your energy, and some studies have even shown it can increase alertness.

Try: ELEMIS Deep Cleanse Facial Wash, a daily foaming cleanser that lathers up for a refreshing face-washing experience. Peppermint oil and English oak bark work together to absorb excess oil in the surface of your skin, helping prevent future breakouts and clogged pores. It also contains milk proteins that guard aganist ingrown hairs and razor burn from shaving. Plus, it pairs well with ELEMIS Skin Soothe Shave Gel.

Rosemary oil

Rosemary, a spiky herb used to season a variety of delicious dishes in the kitchen, is also one of the best known essential oils for skin care. Rosemary has antioxidant properties, meaning it can help protect your skin from free radical damage and the subsequent signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. “Rosemary also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can be beneficial for those with skin conditions such as eczema,” Dr. Schlessinger says.

Try: SkinCeuticals Replenishing Cleanser Cream, a daily face cleanser that foams up to dissolve dirt and makeup without stripping your skin of its natural oils. Rosemary oil combines with lemon and orange peel oils that emit a pleasant citrusy, herbal scent every time you use it. A combination of ceramides, glycerin and panthenol also come together in this formula to help your skin maintain moisture, so it never feels dry or tight after cleansing.

Eucalyptus oil

Made from the blue-green leaves of eucalyptus trees and shrubs, eucalyptus oil is one of the best essential oils for skin care due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. For this reason, you may find eucalyptus oil in skin care products to help reduce acne-causing bacteria as well as redness and irritation. Interestingly enough, eucalyptus oil is also often used in natural insect repellants because it deters mosquitos.

Try: Dermalogica Active Clearing Skin Wash, an exfoliating face wash for acne-prone skin. This daily cleanser combines the exfoliating powers of salicylic acid and lactic acid with both eucalyptus and tea tree oils to help eliminate acne-causing bacteria on your skin. Algae extract also provides antioxidant benefits while lemon and bergamot blend together to deliver a fresh, clean scent.

Neroli oil

Neroli oil comes from the flowers of bitter orange trees, which grow in tropical locales, such as Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. Skin care brands tout neroli oil’s anti-aging benefits, such as reducing the appearance of dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles, as well as its ability to hydrate and soften skin. It also features a light citrusy scent that makes for an appealing fragrance.

Try: Eminence Organics Neroli Age Corrective Eye Serum combines the skin-softening abilities of neroli oil with a team of anti-aging ingredients to help reduce the appearance of crow’s feet and fine lines around the eyes. Apple stem cells help combat signs of aging and boost elasticity while a natural retinol alternative made from chicory root and oligosaccharides helps target discoloration and fine lines.

Now that you’re up to speed on the best essential oils for skin care, keep reading to learn more about the best beauty oils to add to your skin care routine.