Facing facts: The best essential oils for skin tightening
“Love the skin you're in…” Easy to say when youth is on your side! But as we age and those fine lines, sags, and stretches start to show, that loving feeling gets a little… old.

While there are hundreds of anti-ageing products on the market, so many of them are chock-full of chemicals or ingredients that are certainly not natural. Fortunately, there’s an all-natural way to tighten your skin, lift those sags and smooth your complexion.
If you want to learn all about the best essential oils for skin tightening, read on. You can find out all about the anti-ageing, regenerative, and rejuvenating properties that essential oils offer, making loving the skin you're in a whole lot easier.
Content/Quick links
- How can essential oils tighten your skin?
- How to use the best essential oils for skin
- What is the best essential oil for tightening skin?
- Bergamot
- Cypress
- Frankincense
- Geranium
- Lemon
- Myrrh
- Rosemary
- Patchouli
- Tea Tree
- Eucalyptus
- The well-rounded skincare benefits of eucalyptus
- Clary sage essential oil’s antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity
- Carrier oils’ anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair efficacy
- Lavender’s effectiveness on acute inflammatory responses
- Blends of essential oil for glowing skin
- Energy Mist
- Spa
- The DIY detox blend
- The superb skin blend
- FAQs
- Can essential oils really tighten skin?
- Which carrier oil is best for tightening skin?
- Which essential oils promote collagen?
- Which essential oils can help with skin tightening?
- What should I look for when purchasing essential oils?
- Natural skincare made simple
How can essential oils tighten your skin?

The short answer to this question is: antioxidants.
Applying antioxidant-rich essential oils regularly and properly can give you more vibrant, younger skin.
Antioxidants help in the fight against free radicals and may repair the kind of cell damage that leaves you with inelastic, sagging skin. You can almost see your large pores shrinking due to the astringents essential oils contain, and certain oils also boost collagen production.
How to use the best essential oils for skin

The key to harnessing the power of using essential oils for glowing skin is to start a consistent routine that incorporates them. The more often you use essential oils, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to benefit from what they have to offer, so make sure you stick to your schedule once you’ve created it.
Certain essential oils can be phototoxic, so it’s recommended that you apply the best essential oils for skin in the evenings only. This way you won’t run the risk of skin damage from UV light, and the oils can work their magic of tightening your skin while you rest.
Once you’ve learned about the best essential oils for skin tightening, dilute two to three drops of whichever ones you choose in 10 mls of carrier oil. Mix the ingredients together well and then do a patch test by applying a small amount of your combination onto the skin on the inside of your forearm.
Wait 24 hours, and if you don’t have any reaction to your blend, you’ve found the right one. Repeat this process with each new essential oil you add to your collection. Due to how powerful they are, it’s vital that you approach essential oils with knowledge and respect; rushing into using them is never recommended.
Follow this guide to choosing a carrier oil to suit your skin type:
- Aged skin: Rosehip oil is wonderfully nourishing for ageing skin.
- Dry skin: Coconut, olive, and shea oils have moisturising effects.
- Normal skin: Lighter emollients like jojoba carrier oil won’t add extra oiliness.
- Oily skin: Lightweight oils like apricot kernel, grapeseed, and sweet almond are effective yet non-oily.
- Skin prone to acne: If you suffer from breakouts, try zero-rated comedogenic oils like argan, hemp seed, and sunflower. This means they’re the least likely to clog your pores.
What is the best essential oil for tightening skin?
Whether you’re looking for help with mature, dull, or dry skin, there are a number of essential oils that can help you address your specific issue. You can use them on their own or create a blend that incorporates several according to your needs.
Bergamot

Not only does bergamot essential oil smell incredible but its delicious scent is also relaxing and calming. Created from the rinds of the fruit it is named for, you may recognise its smell if you’re an Earl Grey tea fan. Choose this oil if you have oily skin because it contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds. It’s also a good choice if you are frequently fighting pimples.
Bear in mind, however, that, due to its astringent nature, this oil is not recommended if you have sensitive skin.
Cypress

If you’ve got combination skin, cypress oil may be your perfect tonic. It’s especially good when used with non-comedogenic carrier oils and is highly recommended as an essential oil for glowing skin. If you’ve got issues with your skin, cypress may relieve them by tightening loose areas while it staves off harmful bacteria.
Cypress may also help ease your mind and deal with emotions like anger. Consider diffusing it after a stressful day and it may not just improve your skin’s appearance but put you in a better mood as well.
Frankincense

Seen by many as one of the most soothing essential oils for skincare, frankincense oil will protect your cells while encouraging new growth. It’s been seen to increase the elasticity of the skin and is popular as a treatment for eye areas in older men and women.
Its astringent quality will have an overall toning effect on the skin you use it on and even a five-minute steam cleanse may clear your pores and increase your circulation.
Geranium

Whether you have dry, combination, oily, or normal skin, geranium essential oil is a wonderful addition to your skin-tightening toolbox. It’s a top essential oil for glowing skin because it balances the production of sebum while healing scars, evening out your skin tone, and killing the bacteria that cause eczema and acne.
Geranium oil is an astringent, which means it will reduce the presence of wrinkles and slow down signs of premature ageing as it tightens your skin.
Lemon

Sky-high vitamin C levels make lemon essential oil a powerful antioxidant. In fact, you may find its scent familiar because it’s so frequently found in high-end anti-ageing products.
It may just be the best essential oil for skin tightening (or at least one of them) and possesses antimicrobial properties. This means it reduces itching, redness, and swelling and is an excellent option if you suffer from skin conditions like rosacea and acne that cause these effects.
Avoid using it before you expose your skin to sunlight, however, because it can cause photosensitivity. This means that it will increase your risk of sunburn and may even cause you to suffer blistering, so apply it in the evenings only.
Myrrh

Its powerful antibacterial properties make myrrh a highly recommended essential oil for those seeking to tighten their skin. It is additionally oxygenated, thereby boosting your body’s production of collagen and elastin. This means your skin gets naturally renewed in the process. It’s highly recommended that you use myrrh essential oil to combat fine lines and wrinkles.
Myrrh oil may also help fade scars and blemishes on your skin, soothe itchiness, and reduce discomfort related to eczema.
It’s a highly effective cleanser, moisturiser, and skin-firmer, and using it will not only address whatever skin issues you’re currently facing but also prevent additional problems occurring in the future.
Rosemary

Rosemary essential oil is a potent antibacterial and will work to cleanse your complexion, leaving your skin looking and feeling refreshed. It also plumps skin and fosters radiance as it combats dullness.
The reason this oil is so often the answer to the question of “what is the best essential oil for tightening skin” is that it restores its balance. Rosemary will strengthen capillaries, slowing the effects of ageing, while tightening loose, sagging skin. Use it to firm your skin up and make it more elastic.
Patchouli

Patchouli oil has natural anti-inflammatory properties that firm skin and reduce inflammation and the size of our pores. You’ll be able to naturally treat irritation and redness when you use this essential oil and, if you struggle with acne, dermatitis, dry skin, or eczema, its soothing, moisturising compounds may bring you relief.
Tea Tree

Famed for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, and insect-repellent properties, tea tree essential oil is frequently used in a range of alternative treatments. This oil is a good choice if your skin is oily and you suffer from regular breakouts.
Tea tree oil contains 100+ different components that work to improve your overall health. The reason many people view it as the best essential oil for skin is that it targets bacteria that cause inflammation as it removes the surface debris, dirt, and oil that can clog your pores.
Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus essential oil is so much more than just a spa or respiratory essential oil. It’s a common ingredient in many cosmetics because it has many skincare properties. It helps fight ageing, boosts collagen production, it may lighten the skin, reduces inflammation, and is a powerful antimicrobial which is important in fighting acne.
We can learn a lot from research
With the rise in popularity of alternative medicines, therapies, and treatments, more and more people are exploring what essential and carrier oils have to offer. This is not just true of laypeople, either. The scientific world is also turning its attention to what these natural products can do for us.
The well-rounded skincare benefits of eucalyptus
A study just published in 2022 in the journal Pharmaceutics sought to confirm the cosmetic benefits of eucalyptus essential oil because it is added to so many products. The study confirmed what we already believed: eucalyptus fights aging, reduces inflammation, and increases collagen production while also depigmenting the skin by reducing melanin.
Eucalyptus has also been shown to have powerful antibacterial effects against common skin pathogens as well as effective wound-healing effects, making it a prime option as a staple in your skincare routine.
Clary sage essential oil’s antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity
Clary sage, a member of the Salvia genus of plant species, is commonly recommended for its antispasmodic, antirheumatic, antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antidiabetic properties and is added to many skin care products. In this study, it demonstrated significant antibacterial and antioxidant activity against the common skin bacteria Staphylococcus aureus.
Carrier oils’ anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair efficacy
A 2018 study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences tested plant-based carrier oils like avocado, coconut, olive, safflower, sunflower, and rosehip. It concluded that they are helpful for healing wounds, reducing skin inflammation, oxidative stress, and fighting ageing skin and skin diseases.
Lavender’s effectiveness on acute inflammatory responses
Lavender oil is an antiedematogenic, which means it is an effective treatment for excess water in our bodies, according to a study published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. This, along with its anti-inflammatory properties, makes it an effective treatment for inflammation when applied topically.
Blends of essential oil for glowing skin
Once you’re more knowledgeable about essential oils, you’ll find that blending them is highly rewarding. The vast number of different oils and the possibility of different combinations can be overwhelming. Counter this by learning more about what the different mixtures smell like and can do with blends created by aromatherapy experts.
Energy Mist

With the fresh citrus scent of lemon, the woodsy aroma of cedarwood, and the refreshing fragrance of eucalyptus, the Energy Mist blend will revitalise you as it works to tighten your skin.
Spa

Benefit from the antibacterial, reconditioning properties of geranium, bergamot, and eucalyptus oils when you treat yourself to the Spa blend. You can now capture the luxury feeling of a pampering session in the comfort of your own home. These oils are often used in spas for good reason!
The DIY detox blend
To create this mixture of the best essential oils for skin tightening, you’ll need a glass dropper bottle and the carrier oil best suited to your skin type. Then mix 3 drops each of cypress, grapefruit, juniper, rosemary, and sweet orange essential oil together and enjoy the results.
The superb skin blend
Mix 10 drops each of geranium oil and frankincense essential oil with 7 drops of lemon oil and two tablespoons of your preferred carrier oil. Your skin will end up feeling as good as it looks.
FAQs
Can essential oils really tighten skin?
Yes, using the proper oils as recommended can tighten skin, shrink oversized pores, and reduce the impact of stretch marks.
Which carrier oil is best for tightening skin?
Although evening primrose, fractionated coconut oil, grapeseed, jojoba, and hemp can all tighten skin, choose according to your skin type.
Which essential oils promote collagen?
Eucalyptus, lemongrass, chamomile essential oil, frankincense, and sandalwood all have collagen-boosting benefits.
Which essential oils can help with skin tightening?
Cypress, bergamot, lemon, tea tree, and rosemary essential oil have all been found to be effective with skin tightening.
What should I look for when purchasing essential oils?
It’s important to look for organic, unsprayed, wildcrafted, chemical-free and pesticide-free high-quality essential oils.
Natural skincare made simple

It may be one of the less-than-pleasant facts of life, but ageing is natural and unavoidable. Skin that was once tight and firm will start wrinkling as it loses its elasticity. But there are a few ways to slow this process down a little and ease into it more gracefully.
What makes this approach to beauty such a positive one is that essential oils are not just good for your appearance. They have a range of benefits to offer, including significant spiritual, mental, and emotional support on top of a wealth of physical benefits.
Explore your options for the best essential oils for skin and take advantage of the incredible tools that Mother Nature has bestowed on us. Volant’s 100% pure and organic essential oils are exactly what you need to give your skin that youthful, tighter look and healthy glow, chemical and additive free.