Wrinkles – creases, folds or ridges on the skin become more visible as we grow older.
Even though the aging is inevitable, we can do something to prevent or slow down the appearance of wrinkles.
But, how do you do it? How do you prevent the inevitable? And can essential oils work for wrinkles?
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Best Essential Oils for Wrinkles
Anti-ageing creams and medical procedures to get rid of wrinkles are expensive, and they don’t always work.
With everyone getting worried about getting wrinkles too soon, we have to find alternatives.
Currently, this alternative is essential oils, and these oils are flying off shelves.
As it turns out, it is not just a trend or another fad but an actual solution to this beauty problem.
What is with essential oils that make them as effective garnering this much hype?
Essential oils all have different components, but the ones working in reversing or slowing down the appearance of wrinkles have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, moisturizing, regenerating, and skin-nurturing properties.
Here is a look at some of the best essential oils for wrinkles:
1. Jojoba Oil
This is an ingredient in most beauty products.
Though it works just fine in lotions and creams, the benefits of jojoba oil increase when used on its own.
It is rich in vitamin E, B vitamins, iodine, zinc, copper, chromium, and silicone.
These components help the skin to restore its moisture.
Jojoba oil works just like sebum, the oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands to keep the skin moisturized and hydrated.
As we age, sebum production drops, and by applying jojoba oil, the skin loses its dry and flaky appearance regaining the soft and supple look.
This is because jojoba oil mimics the role of sebum and keeps the skin hydrated.
The beautiful thing about jojoba oil is that it is non-oily and works for persons with oily and dry skin.
Applying jojoba oil balances the production of sebum.
By keeping the skin hydrated, cells also get access to water and nutrients meaning that they regenerate faster.
Jojoba oil’s non-comedogenic property means that it will not clog your skin pores.
Jojoba oil also has healing properties, and it cures skin lesions and inflammations.
It shortens the healing process by boosting collagen production without causing any adverse effects on the skin.
Its antibacterial properties brought about by the presence of iodine in Jojoba oil prevents acne forming bacteria and also prevents infection of sores.
The vitamin E and the antioxidants in the oil slow the ageing process and soothe any deep wrinkles you may already have.
2. Frankincense Essential Oil
This extraordinary oil has immense benefits to your skin. It helps in getting rid of wrinkles or slowing down their appearance by promoting healthy cellular regeneration and keeping the existing cells healthy.
With healthy cells, there is effective collagen and elastin production meaning that the skin remains firm and healthy.
Frankincense oil also improves the skin’s tone and reduces the appearance of scars.
It also eliminates sun spots, tightens the skin and gets rid of micro-wrinkles.
Frankincense oil has another important property – it is astringent.
What this means is that this essential oil protects your skin cells from infections or diseases.
It heals acne and reduces large pores while minimizing the appearance and formation of deep wrinkles.
Frankincense essential oil also has aromatherapy/ relaxing effects which help in the management of anger and anxiety.
Less stress equals fewer sad fine lines.
3. Lavender Oil
This wonder oil for the skin and is well known for its moisturizing properties.
It penetrates into the deep layers of the skin promoting healing from the inside out.
The deep penetration also helps to promote healthy regeneration of cells because lavender oil encourages cellular function.
Lavender oil also has antioxidant properties, and it rids the skin and the body free radicals.
Free radicals are cellular toxins that compromise the immune system and speed up the breakdown of collagen.
With its antioxidant properties, lavender oil detoxifies the cells keeping the skin healthy and free from wrinkles.
The antioxidant properties of lavender oil come from the fact that the oil aids in the production of three critical antioxidants: glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase.
These enzymes play the great role of fighting and neutralizing free radicals that speed up the aging process.
4. Sandalwood Essential Oil
Sandalwood’s uses go beyond air fresheners and aromatherapy treatments to the skin.
They say that beauty is skin-deep and this oil helps in making this possible by preventing the formation of wrinkles intrinsically and extrinsically.
Sandalwood essential oil works as a skin moisturizer, and it lessens the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
It promotes the formation of new cells.
Sandalwood essential oil is rich in sesquiterpene compounds that increase blood circulation keeping cells healthy thereby giving the skin a smooth and a supple look.
Sesquiterpenes stimulate the pituitary glands and the hypothalamus to produce growth hormone whose production drops with age.
The production of growth hormone, (GH) enhances cellular function increasing the skin’s thickness as well as its elasticity.
Naturally, thicker skin is supple and firm with no wrinkles.
This oil also reduces inflammation.
5. Neroli Essential Oil
If you have heard about Orange Blossom, then you also know that is it an effective solution against aging and wrinkles.
What you don’t know is that Orange Blossom is Neroli oil. Neroli oil makes it all happen by keeping the skin moisturized and elastic.
Moisturizing also helps to reduce the depth of wrinkles as well as the appearance of scars on the skin.
Neroli oil is also rich in vitamin C (perhaps the reason for the name Orange Blossom) that repairs the skin and keeps it bright.
Vitamin C is a precursor in the collagen production process, and its presence in neroli oil means that neroli oil prevents wrinkle formation by boosting production of collagen.
6. Clary Sage Essential Oil
This essential oil removes fine lines and wrinkles by working as a natural balancer.
As a natural balancer, it promotes and controls the sebum production process.
It also allows the dermis to obtain a healthy balance of oils thanks to its ability to help balance Ph levels of the skin.
Balance in sebum production leads to tighter skin.
Clary sage oil also has aromatherapy properties which help lower anxiety.
As a result, you won’t have to frown and develop furrows on your forehead.
Clary sage essential oil also has antibacterial and antiseptic properties which promote good health in cells.
7. Pomegranate Seed oil
Did you know that pomegranate oil can kill cancer cells?
Besides this important role played by pomegranate seed oil, it is also an effective anti-aging component.
The red color of the fruit results from bioflavonoids.
Bioflavonoids have antioxidant properties, and they defy antiaging by preventing the breakdown of collagen and cell membranes.
Pomegranate seed oil is also rich in natural SPF preventing aging and formation of wrinkles.
8. Geranium Essential Oil
This is a natural astringent which causes shrinking/ constriction of skin pores.
The result of this is the formation of a smoother and a firmer skin with no or diminishing wrinkles.
It is also an anti-aging oil that enhances cellular activity promoting the formation and the appearance of healthy skin.
9. Rosehip Seed Oil
It diminishes wrinkles thanks to its high concentration of essential fatty acids and beta carotenes.
As mentioned earlier, wrinkles can appear when the subcutaneous layer becomes thin.
Rosehip seed oil adds these oils keeping the skin firm and supple.
It also moisturizes the skin, heals broken capillaries, and reduces inflammation or reddening.
This oil is also rich in antioxidants protecting collagen breakdown and cellular oxidation.
These functions promote healthy cells and healthy-looking skin.
It also reduces scarring and tones the skin.
10. Carrot Seed Essential Oil
Carrot seed oil boasts of high concentrations of minerals and vitamins such as vitamin C, and E. Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant and helps ward off free radicals, cleaning out pores hence improving your skin’s tone.
The minerals and the nutrients rejuvenate cells stimulating cellular growth.
11. Grapeseed Oil
This oil is well-known for its antioxidant properties which translate to effectiveness in ridding the body/ skin of free radicals.
It has a class of flavonoids called proanthocyanidins which bind to collagen repairing free radicals damaged skin cells.
It is also rich in vitamin E which is a natural antioxidant too.
The oils work best for the skin around the eyes.
Note that, as you age, your body produces more free radicals, and this oil will help in slowing down the formation of wrinkles and aging.
12. Evening Primrose Oil
The evening primrose oil is rich in gamma-linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid.
This fatty acid keeps the skin moisturized and also keeps the subcutaneous skin layer in good shape.
Besides moisturizing, this oil adds elasticity to dry skin, rejuvenating it and making it firmer.
Therefore, this oil abates the signs of aging and the gets rid of fine lines.
13. Myrrh Oil
This oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties.
It also has antioxidant properties helping in repairing cells damaged by oxidation.
Antioxidants prevent further breakdown of collagen and promote the formation of new collagen diminishing appearance of wrinkles.
How To Use Essential Oils for Wrinkles
First, you must get a carrier oil for these essential oils.
Some of these carriers include Grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil, Rosehip seed oil, or jojoba oil.
Note that these carrier oils also enhance cellular regeneration preventing the formation of wrinkles.
Use of essential oils
The best way to use any of these essential oils is through topical application and massaging the oil into the skin.
Remember these before using the essential oils:
- Dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil
- Perform a skin test
- Use a small amount because the oils are oily and will make a mess when you use too much.
- Protect your eyes when applying around the eyes.
How to Prevent Wrinkles Formation
Avoid sun damage – even though the sun is a great source of vitamin D, (the component required for bone formation) the rays aren’t forgiving.
UV rays from the sun increase the formation of free radicals which damage proteins and DNA.
You should, therefore, wear protective sunglasses and cover-up clothes when out in the sun.
Consider using products with antioxidants for maximum protection.
Quit smoking or avoid smoking zones – smoking speeds up aging by causing inflammation which generates more free radicals to damage collagen and the whole skin.
Cut down sugar intake – sugar binds to collagen through glycation rendering it useless and enhancing inflammation which causes oxidative damage from free radicals.
Use the right skin care products – these are the products with vitamin A retinoids, vitamin C, and peptides.
These ingredients encourage collagen production and cellular regeneration.
Be gentle on your skin – harsh cleansers, over-exfoliating, squeezing the skin and using wrong products make your skin susceptible to inflammation which causes inflammation in the end.
Consider using skin-friendly oils – these include argan oil and coconut oil.
Coconut oil moisturizes the skin while Argan oil is rich in omega 3,6, and nine oils that keep the skin firm and soft.