Have you ever wanted spotless, flawless skin? Are dark spots ruling your life? While essential oils have recently emerged as the latest beauty trend, it has been a staple of traditional medicine for centuries.
The ancient Egyptians made use of essential oils as early as 3000 BC to enjoy their beauty and medicinal benefits. Similarly, traditional Indian and Chinese medicinal practices enjoyed the benefits of essential oils. To that end, here is a list of highly effective essential oils for fading dark spots.
Here is a list of some of the most effective essential oils for dark spots. Some of these essential oils can be directly applied to the skin while others have to be diluted with a carrier oil like coconut oil for dark spots.
Tea tree oil is one of the most well-known essential oil that can cure most things. Hence, it comes as no surprise that you can use tea tree oil for dark spots too.
Tea tree oil helps in fading dark spots by boosting the skin’s ability to heal and fix the skin blemish. Tea tree oil offers an antiseptic and antimicrobial effect(1) that keeps bacteria away as the skin heals. Hence, the quick healing capacity reduces the ability of the formation of dark spots.
[Read: Essential Oils for Face]
Lavender oil is famous for its ability to calm the body and mind. Amongst the many benefits that it offers, its ability to get rid of dark spots is what it’s most known for.
Lavender oil has the capacity of soothing inflamed skin and prevents the aggravation of the skin condition. It allows your skin to heal(2) and repair quickly, thereby helping your skin repair faster. The bioactive ester compound of linalyl acetate, which is present in lavender, reduces dark spots.
[Read: Lavender Oil for Acne]
Geranium oil is an essential oil that is steam distilled from a plant, which is a native to South Africa. This essential oil is often found in cosmetics and perfumes.
The topical application of geranium oil imparts its antibacterial, antiseptic, and antimicrobial(3) properties, which prevent the onset of dark spots. The oil not only brings down redness and inflammation, but it also tones the skin. As it deeply hydrates the skin, it reduces the appearance of dark spots.
Olibanum, or frankincense, is obtained from the resin of the Boswellia tree, which is native to India, Africa, and the Middle East. It is touted as a highly effective skin-friendly essential oil.
Frankincensecatalyzes the production of skin cells(4), which increases skin cell turnover. Hence due to the constant regeneration of skin, it is highly effective in fading scars and dark spots. In addition to boosting the skin’s turnover rate, it can also increase the elasticity of the skin!
[Read: Reduce Age Spots With Frankincense Oil]
Neroli essential oil is distilled from the flowers of the bitter orange tree. Hence, it is also popularized as the orange blossom oil. Due to the citrusy smell, the essential oil is not only used in aromatherapy but also in lotions and cosmetic items.
Vitamin C can help the skin heal faster and fades skin blemishes and scars. However, the absorption of this vitamin through the skin is extremely poor. Even though the neroli oil is citric-based, it does not contain Vitamin C. However, it helps the skin absorb Vitamin C, which eventually evens out the skin tone. Additionally, the oil itself is rich in antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds(5), which promote a blemish-free skin.
[Read: Get Rid of Dark Skin on Neck]
Drinking chamomile tea to calm the mind is not an unheard activity. However, it also appears that the oil of chamomile can help in clearing skin imperfections! Let’s take a look at how chamomile oil helps skin healing.
Chamomile oil(6) is rich in a bioactive compound known as Azulene (aka Blue Tanzy), which has a reparative action on the skin. It helps in the periodic renewal of the skin cells and fights skin damage. Due to its high concentration of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, it can prevent the skin from developing dark spots, blemishes, and scars.
[Read: Lemon Juice for Dark Spots]
Turmeric oil is one of the most sought after essential oils for dark spots on the skin. It can not only help in the fading of dark spots, but it can also reverse the signs of aging. Hence, if you are looking for blemish-free young and supple skin, turmeric oil is the way to go.
Turmeric oil contains curcumin, which is a highly potent anti-inflammatory(7) and antioxidant compound. Most importantly, turmeric is capable of regulating the production of melanin, which is the pigment that imparts color to the skin. Since ages, Ayurvedic practices have been making use of curcumin to help fade blemishes, give a natural glow to the skin, to get rid of dark spots, and to prevent hyperpigmentation.
[Read: Coconut Oil for Dark Spots]
Rosemary oil is extracted from the evergreen shrub, which has needle-like leaves. It is a popular herb, especially in Continental dishes. Rosemary oil possesses a musky, wooden aroma that can put your mind at rest.
Rosemary oil significantly promotes blood circulation in your body. Due to the enhanced blood circulation, skin blemishes such as dark spots begin to fade. Further, due to the disinfecting properties of rosemary oil, skin blemishes, dark spots, and scarring can also vanish. Finally, the abundance of antioxidants reverse the damage caused by free radicals and thus prevents hyperpigmentation.
Here are some handy tips that can help in lightening your skin complexion:
[Read: Get Rid of Dark Spots]
With these essential oils, you no longer have to feel ashamed and hide your dark spots. Invest in high-quality essential oils and use them periodically to extract the maximum benefit. With the regular usage of these essential oils, you will register a remarkable difference in your skin tone. However, while some essential oils may start showing an effect within a week, some may take up to three months.
The comprehensive list of potent essential oils that help lighten skin tones has been mentioned above.
While you can enjoy the benefits of essential oils with the help of a diffuser, in the case of fixing skin conditions, it is advisable to apply the essential oil topically.