The benefits of lavender essential oil for health and beauty stretch far and wide. Whether you’re interested in using this oil in combination with your anti-aging skincare routine, or to make all-natural soaps to ease dermatitis, lavender essential oil is here to help.

In short, the many lavender essential oil benefits can help your body and mind stay healthy and glowing. All the while, you’ll get to enjoy a fantastic soothing floral smell. Now, let’s learn about some of the lavender essential oil benefits that can help you.

Antibacterial

You can never have too many antibacterial products — especially around the cold season! Lavender essential oil is antibacterial enough to be used in your favorite hand soaps and even lotions.

According to one study, lavender was inhibitory against some strains of bacteria and fungus.^[1] This makes it possible to use this benefit of lavender essential oil simply by applying it to your skin topically or by using it in a specific targeting recipe.

Did You Know?: Lavender essential oil was used as an antibacterial agent in WWI.^[2]

Anti-Inflammatory

Skin can be unpredictable. Sometimes you might break out in an allergic reaction, have an episode of eczema, or suffer from periodic cystic acne. Luckily, lavender essential oil is anti-inflammatory and can ease the redness and swelling of your skin no matter the cause.

According to research, lavender essential oil contains components promoting anti-inflammation. Researchers deemed it reasonable to use for healing because of these benefits.^[3] Plus, it shows no toxic potential to the skin when used appropriately and diluted.^[4] This makes it great to use on your skin during an outbreak or incorporated into your regular routine.

Remember: Diluting essential oils appropriately depends on the amount you are making and the dilution strength you want. For example, to make a sensitive mixture using 30ml of coconut oil, add in about 6 or 7 drops of lavender oil. The brand and purity of essential oil also influences the final product strength.

Antioxidant

Antioxidants are important for healthy skin, as they protect your cells from free radical damage and toxins over time. The antioxidant qualities of lavender essential oil make it beneficial for use on your skin for anti-aging.

In one study with rats, lavender essential oil helped create collagen and fibroblast formations on their skin.^[5] In humans, collagen and fibroblasts help reduce signs of aging skin and wrinkles.^[6] So, lavender essential oil may support healthy cell reconstruction and therefore reduce the possibility of wrinkles in humans too.

It’s also an effective essential oil for sagging skin for the same reason. Lavender essential oil is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, which allows it to help build healthy and happy skin.

Antifungal

Say goodbye to fungus with lavender essential oil. One study tracked lavender essential oil and its effect on various strains of candida. It found that the oil was effective in killing the fungus.^[7]

When used in lower concentrations, the lavender essential oil benefits can also inhibit the spread of fungus to new host tissues.^[8] Therefore, you can use this oil to control and kill fungus on your skin, such as tinea and onychomycosis,^[9] in an all-natural, fresh-smelling way.

Anti-Anxiety

The anti-anxiety effects of lavender essential oil are extensive. Essentially, it impacts the nervous system through your olfactory receptors (your sense of smell). There, the lavender essential oil benefits are hard at work, calming and de-stressing your mind. The high linalool content in lavender oil aids in the process of calming anxiety and keeps your mind at ease.^[10]

The best part is that this oil can be used for anti-anxiety effects just about anywhere. That’s because all it takes is smelling the oil deeply for a few minutes to gain the amazing anti-anxiety benefits. If you’re at home, you can create essential oil diffuser blends with lavender oil to get the benefits too.

Tip: Try out our Zen Meditation Blend using 3 drops of peppermint, 2 drops of lavender, and 1 drop of geranium.

Anti-Depression

Similar to how lavender essential oil helps ease symptoms of anxiety, it also helps reduce depression as well. In one study, researchers looked at the benefit of lavender essential oil in reducing postpartum depression in women over time.^[11]

Another clinical investigation showed how lavender essential oil eased depression in patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms and sped up their recovery time.^[12] Again, the lavender essential oil benefits for depression can be utilized quickly and easily, making it a great supplement for daily use.

A Natural Sedative

Lavender essential oil contains sedative properties that can sometimes induce a calm and sleepy reaction.

In one study, the hypnotic effects of essential oils was studied, and lavender was specifically studied for its sleep-inducing abilities. It proved to be able to reduce sleep disturbances and aid in sedating just by inhaling the oil.^[13] Therefore, lavender essential oil benefits sleep by increasing a calm state and promoting deeper, consistent sleep.

Antispasmodic

Muscle pain can strike at any time and for nearly any reason. Sometimes, you just slept wrong on your pillow and are now stuck with a painful neck all day. Thankfully, the antispasmodic properties of lavender essential oil allow it to ease muscle pain and cramping.^[14]

According to research, applying lavender essential oil topically to your skin can also improve muscle pain.^[15]’^[16]’^[17] So, just rub an oil blend together in your hands and then apply to the area that hurts for some mild relief.

Anti-Headache

What can’t lavender essential oil help with? Even headaches and migraines, which may seem like your undefeated arch nemeses, can benefit from lavender essential oil. Just inhaling the oil through your nose can reduce migraine pain, according to one study.

In fact, in only about 15-minutes, patients inhaling lavender essential oil showed significant improvement.^[18] Because it’s so effective, you can inhale this oil on its own or with peppermint, which also has headache fighting properties. Plus, this makes for one of the best smelling essential oil blends.

Helps to Reduce Hyperpigmentation

Because lavender essential oil reduces redness and inflammation,^[19] it can also aid in reducing hyperpigmentation. Over time, this oil may promote a more consistent skin tone and reduce dark spots on your skin.

The oil is safe to use on most skin types when diluted properly with a carrier oil or product.

Safety first: Never use essential oils in or near your eyes!

Wound-Healing

While you may not initially think lavender essential oil can be wound-healing, you should think again. It’s far more than just a powerful aromatherapy tool! To be more specific: lavender essential oil benefits wounds by promoting minor tissue remodeling.^[20]

One study using rats and lavender oil demonstrated this effect and proved lavender essential oil is a viable wound healer, although more research is needed.^[21]

References

• [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814609006566
• [2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1329936016300888
• [3] http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0001-37652015005050056&script=sci_arttext
• [4] http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0001-37652015005050056&script=sci_arttext
• [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6047276/#targetText=Type%20VII%20collagen%20is%20the,to%20increased%20collagen%20degradation20.
• [6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6047276/#targetText=Type%20VII%20collagen%20is%20the,to%20increased%20collagen%20degradation20.
• [7] https://academic.oup.com/mmy/article/43/5/391/1271214
• [8] https://academic.oup.com/mmy/article/43/5/391/1271214
• [9] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0962456201901274
• [10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612440/
• [11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612440/
• [12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612440/
• [13] https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2013.0311
• [14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6539827/
• [15] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221169115001033
• [16] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5751100/
• [17] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3438523/
• [18] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22517298
• [19] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5878871/
• [20] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4880962/
• [21] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4880962/