Top 20 Uses and Benefits of Lavender Oil For Skin, Hair And Health

The fragrant influence of Lavender essential oil has a calming, relaxing, and balancing effect on the human mind and body – both physically and emotionally. It has a potent aroma which makes it a perfect fragrance in body oil massages, aromatherapy, alternative medicine, herbal and Ayurvedic medicinal treatments. The beautiful smell stimulates the mind and the sinuses – energizing the metabolism, uplifting the mood, improving the memory glands, and leaving the mind distressed.

Besides relieving emotional stress and promoting a positive outlook, lavender essential oil has other purifying benefits for the skin and hair. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and medicinal properties which makes it a favorite ingredient among the folk medicinal community for harvesting various herbal products. It helps in relieving muscle aches and pains, treating fine and thin hair, reducing hirsutism, soothing scarring on face, adding glow to the skin, supporting anti-ageing, stimulating hair growth, disinfecting and reducing the appearance of pimples. It also stimulates the brain, protects against diabetes, heals wounds and swollen skin, restores the damaged skin cells, enhances the skin complexion, relieves headaches, improves the quality of sleep and provides powerful antioxidants beneficial for health.

Lavender Oil Benefits and Uses for Skin

The strong yet not overwhelming flowery fragrance of lavender essential oil has been used for thousands of years to boost energy and balance moods. Besides that lavender also has antiseptic and anti inflammatory properties which help in relieving several skin related ailments. The following are some examples of how to use lavender oil for face and body to relieve inflammation, skin irritation and pain:

1. Heal Insect Bites

Lavender essential oil can help in reducing inflammation and healing insect bites. Its antiseptic and antibacterial components soothe and relieve the redness and swollen skin caused from the insect bites. It promotes the production of skin collagen and heals the cells surrounding the bites.

How To Use

1. Apply 1-2 drops of the lavender essential oil topically on top of the insect bite as a spot treatment.
2. If you want to avoid topical application – apply a blend of carrier oil and lavender essential oil.
3. You can also diffuse the aroma of lavender essential oil to use it as a bug repellent.

2. As A Toner

Lavender essential oil can be used as a toner to balance the pH level of the skin, clarify acne and scarring, remove toxins and extract the dead skin cells off the face. It will also help in removing built-up dirt and grime. The anti-inflammatory components present in the lavender oil will soothe and relax the surface of the skin.

How To Use

1. Add 1-2 drops of the lavender essential oil to your favourite toner before application.
2. Make your own homemade toner or face mist using rose essential oil, lavender essential oil and tea tree oil. Combine 4-5 drops of each to a cup of water and transfer it to spritz bottle. Spray the solution after cleansing and exfoliating your face.

3. Treat Acne

Lavender essential oil helps in reducing the appearance of pimples on the face. It soothes the redness, swelling and inflammation caused by acne. The antiseptic properties clarify and purify the skin from acne-causing bacteria, toxins, and dead skin cells. It helps in relieving the pain, irritation and burning sensation arising from severe acne issues.

How To Use

1. Appy 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil topically to the blemishes as a spot treatment.
2. In order to avoid topical application, apply a diluted solution of the essential oil along with coconut or olive oil.
3. Combine 1-2 drops of lavender essential oil and tea tree oil for best results. You can also use lemon essential oil to remove small bumps arising on the surface of the skin.

4. Detoxifies The Skin

Lavender essential oil has antiseptic and antibacterial properties which helps in cleansing, exfoliating and improving the complexion of skin. It purifies the skin from bacteria, toxins and dead skin cells. The concentrated formula helps in reducing blemishes, scarring, swollen skin and treat various skin related ailments. It leaves the skin feeling clean, soft and supple.

How To Use

1. Mix 1 to 2 drops of the essential oil with a natural moisturising oil like organic coconut oil or jojoba oil. Apply the mixture to the face. You can also mix the lavender essential oil with your favourite moisturiser.
2. Add a drop or two to your favourite face scrub or create your own at home. It will help in exfoliating the dead skin cells off your face.
3. Add few drops to the bathtub to relieve swollen skin and scarring on other parts of the body.
4. Add to your body moisturiser or use along with a natural oil – coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil or jojoba oil. Massage the blend into the skin.

5. Heals Burns

Lavender essential oil promotes production of skin collagen, a protein essential for healing muscles. The collagen heals the burns by promoting growth of skin tissues over the damaged and burned skin. It soothes the pain and reduces the inflammation caused by the burns. It also helps in increasing blood circulation to the infected part of the skin.

How To Use

1. Apply 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil topically. You can also diluted the solution with a carrier oil and blend it with other essential oils.
2. Prepare a bath of lavender essential oil and soak in it.

6. Helps In The Treatment Of Eczema

Eczema is a severe skin condition in which dry patches of red and irritated skin start forming on the feet, scalp and hands. Lavender essential oil can help in protecting the skin from eczema causing bacteria. It reduces the redness and inflammation resulting from the red patches. It also discourages the spreading of the condition from hands to feet or feet to hands.                                            [Read More: 10 Effective Home Remedies for Eczema]

How To Use

1. Apply to 2-3 drops of the lavender essential oil topically as a spot treatment by gently massaging it on the patches.
2. Use a diluted solution of essential oil and carrier oil to avoid topical treatment.

7. Treat Tired Muscles

Lavender essential oil helps in releasing tired and rigid muscles. It is a strong astringent and helps in toning the muscles. Massaging the oil into your skin increases circulation and stimulation. It calm the ach and soreness in muscles. It also relieves joint pain.

How To Use

1. Massage a blend of body massage oil using 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil and your other favourite oils along with a carrier like olive oil.
2. Add 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil to the bath tub for full body relaxation.

Lavender Oil Benefits and Uses for Hair

Lavender essential oil has several benefits associated with combating hair related issues. It is heavily used in folk medicine to treat hair problems. Below are some benefits of lavender essential oil for hair:

1. Aids In The Treatment Of Head Lice

Research has shown that lavender essential oil aids in killing head lice. The potent aroma of the oil and the antiseptic properties present in it help reducing the chances of being infected by head lice. However, it is recommended to use lavender essential oil and tea tree essential oil together for best results.

How To Use

1. Massage a combination of 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil, 3 drops of tea tree essential oil and coconut oil into the hair.
2. Build a hair spray consisting of 4 drops of lavender essential oil, 5 drops of tea tree essential oil and a cup of water. Spritz on top of the hair roots and directly on the scalp for best results.

2. As A Good Conditioner

Lavender essential oil can be a perfect hair conditioner. It will increase the blood circulation to the hair, help keep them moisturized and soften the hair locks. It will leave the hair feeling smooth and silky. It will also give a shiny glow to the surface of the hair.

How To Use

1. Apply a blend of 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil and your other favourite essential oils along with coconut or olive on your hair to lock in the moisture.
2. Add 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil to your favourite moisturiser or hair mask. Keep it on for 15-20 minutes for best results.

3. Treats Dandruff

Lavender essential oil has antiseptic and antibacterial properties which protect the scalp from dandruff and scalp infections. It discourages the production of excess oil on the scalp which eventually leads to the onset of stubborn dandruff. For best results, use it along with tea tree oil which is also antibacterial in nature.

How To Use

1. Combine 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil and 2 drops of tea tree oil with coconut oil. Massage the oil blend onto the scalp.
2. Add 2 drops of lavender oil to your shampoo, conditioner or hair mask and let it sit for couple of minutes before washing it off.

4. Treats Alopecia Areata

Alopecia Areata occurs when hair starts falling off resulting in small to large patches. If these patches are left untreated, they eventually connect and increase the appearance of baldness. Alopecia Areata is a disease which is caused due to weak immune system and nutrition deficiencies. Hence, lavender which is a good stimulator of hair growth – restores, nourishes and protects the hair follicles.

How To Use

1. Apply a blend of 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil and growth stimulating hair oils like coconut and olive oil on the scalp.

5. Controls Hair Loss

Lavender essential oil promotes blood circulation to the hair follicles. It strengthens the hair roots and thickens the fine hair. It promotes hair growth and reduces the risk of hair fall on regular application.

How To Use

1. Massage a combination of 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil and coconut oil on the scalp.
2. Apply a hair mask that includes 2 drops of lavender essential oil. Keep it on for 15-20 minutes for best results.

Health Benefits and Uses Of Lavender Oil

Usage of lavender essential oil in everyday routine has several advantages, especially in relation to mental stimulation and mind therapy. Below are some health benefits of lavender essential oil:

1. Aids In The Treatment Of Anxiety And Depression

Lavender essential oil has a calming and soothing aroma which reduces anxiety and stress. It is a natural adaptogen which helps with swinging moods and negativity. It promotes a positive outlook towards life, boosts energy and increases confidence in a person.

How To Use

1. Smell the aroma directly from the bottle of oil.
2. Massage 2-3 drops of the oil with coconut oil on the scalp.
3. Add 2 drops of the essential oil to the bathtub and soak in it.
4. Use 2 drops of lavender essential oil in a homemade diffuser to spread the aroma across the house.

2. Heals Wounds

Lavender essential oil when applied topically or in diluted form on the wound area, promotes the production of collagen which repairs the damaged skin tissues. It heals the wounds and reduces skin inflammation. It also reduces the chances of bacterial infections arising from the wound.

How To Use

1. Apply 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil topically around the wound to create a barricade from bacteria which can cause infection.
2. In order to avoid topical application, dilute the concentrated lavender extract with a carrier oil and apply.

3. Helps In Proper Digestion

Ingesting lavender in the form of tea helps in regulating digestion. It restores the stomach lining, promotes secretion of bile, aids in bowel movement and protects from other intestinal problems. It can be considered a natural laxative for relieving constipation. It also helps in reducing bloating and gases.

How To Use

1. Add lavender buds to hot boiling water. Drink it while it is hot.

4. As A Natural Perfume

The lavender essential oil has a beautiful natural and flowery fragrance which can be used every day. It is usually blended to be the heart note of the perfume. You can make a natural lavender perfume at home from scratch. It will help with distressing the mind and calming the senses.

How To Use

1. Create a homemade perfume with lavender as a middle note (the heart of the perfume). Blend it with other favourite essential oils. Lavender blends well with citrusy, floraly, woody and spicy smells. Add 5-6 drops of each essential oil and add a carrier oil to it (jojoba or sweet almond oil). You can substitute the carrier oil with alcohol as well (ethanol or vodka or everclear). However, oil is preferable as it is long lasting and doesn’t dry out the skin. Transfer it to a roll-on bottle or dropper bottle.
2. Apply the essential oil topically behind the ears, on the wrists and on the collarbones.
3. Add 2-3 drops of lavender oil to your daily moisturiser (non-scented) before application. It will give out a beautiful floral fragrance.

5. Relieves Nausea

Smelling the potent aroma of lavender essential oil relieves motion sickness, the feeling nausea and dizziness. It can be best used during flights, long car travels, on a ship, after overeating or post-alcohol consumption.

How To Use

1. Smell directly from the bottle of oil.
2. Apply perfume containing lavender essential oil.
3. Massage the oil topically or in diluted form on the temples of the head.

6. Cures Headaches

The soothing and calming aroma of lavender helps in relaxing the mind. It relieves the pain of headaches and migraines. It helps in distressing and thinking positively during a difficult situation which is usually the cause for headaches.

How To Use

1. Smell the aroma directly from the bottle.
2. Apply as a perfume.
3. Use 2-3 drops in a homemade diffuser to spread the smell across the room.
4. Add 2-3 drops to a hot bathtub and soak in it.
5. Massage it into the temples of the forehead.

7. Aids Treat Insomnia

The relaxing fragrance of lavender promotes healthy sleeping patterns. It is known to help insomnia patients with receiving proper sleep. Studies have shown that lavender essential oil has greatly improved the quality of sleep when used regularly before bed.

How To Use

1. Sprinkle 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil on the pillow before going to sleep or dab it behind your ears.
2. Massage on the temple of the forehead, topically or in diluted form.
3. Soak in a hot bathtub after adding few drops of lavender essential oil to relax and calm the muscles which promotes sleep.

8. Can Reduce Bloating

Intaking lavender in the form of hot tea helps with bloating, proper digestion, cleaning out the digestive tract and the intestines. It reduces gases and give relief from constipation.

How To Use

1. Boil lavender buds with water and consume it before and after a meal to avoid bloating.

Also read:

Benefits & Usage of Lavender Oil for Skin

8 Benefits of Lavender Oil for Skin and Hair (Infographic)