Did you know you can treat acne at home with essential oils? Get to know the 15 absolute best essential oils for acne that you can use as part of your skin care routine! There are hundreds of essential oils with suitable qualities that can be used for acne management, but here’s a list of the Top 15 best essential oils for acne, pimples, acne scarring and pimple marks. This list is pretty extensive and makes for a really long article, so let’s dive right into it! 😉

Note: Please consult your doctor/healthcare practitioner before using essential oils. Avoid essential oils particularly if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Avoid using essential oils on new born babies.

15 Best Essential Oils for Acne Relief at Home + How to Use Each Essential Oil for Acne

Here is the list of 15 best essential oils for acne management and treatment:

1. Tea Tree Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Melaleuca alternifolia
Origin: Australia
Scent Profile: Strong, medicinal, herbal, fresh

Tea tree is the number one essential oil antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiseptic, antiviral and disinfectant properties and if you had to choose just one essential oil for acne, tea tree should be your top pick.

How to Use Tea Tree Essential Oil for Acne:

► Try a Tea Tree Treat! Tea tree oil is one of the few essential oils that can be applied directly onto skin (also known as ‘neat’ application). Some people may be sensitive, however, so please test it first by applying on your inner wrist and monitoring for any redness or itchiness. For quick and easy spot treatment, simply put some tea tree essential oil onto your clean finger and apply over acne spots.

2. Lavender Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Lavandula angustifolia
Origin: Asia, Europe, Africa
Scent Profile: Sweet, clean, powdery, floral, fresh

Lavender essential oil is helpful against acne because of its analgesic, antibacterial and antiseptic properties among others. Many people swear by it for healing their acne, while others say it didn’t help at all – this is partly due to lavender being drying for the skin. Dry skin can aggravate acne in some individuals so it pays to test it out on a small portion of your skin before taking it up as a daily routine. For those with oily skin, lavender oil can work wonders in controlling acne breakouts.

How to Use Lavender Essential Oil for Acne:

► Dab a Cotton Swab: Just like tea tree essential oil, lavender essential oil can also be applied ‘neat’ onto the skin. Dab a cotton swab/q-tip into your lavender essential oil and put it onto your acne/pimple spots just before bed. Continue this treatment for 3 nights and your acne should be visibly reduced. If you are a first time user or have sensitive skin, make sure you dilute the essential oil before application.

3. Basil Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Ocimum Bacilicum
Origin: Tropical Asia & Pacific Islands
Scent Profile: Sweet, herbaceous with a hint of camphor

Though not as popular, basil is one of the best essential oils for acne due to its strong antibacterial properties, which is why it is a popular remedy for respiratory illnesses like bronchitis, coughs, colds and flu. Basil is potent against acne and skin conditions too. Even fresh basil leaves can be used to make anti-acne face masks.

How to Use Basil Essential Oil for Acne:

► Time to get Steaming: Do some facial steaming by boiling a pot of water and adding 2 drops of basil essential oil after taking the pot off the heat. Now put your face at a manageable distance over the hot water and allowing the basil-infused steam to open up your pores and fight any bacterial build-up in them.

4. Geranium Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Pelargonium Odorantissimum
Origin: Africa
Scent Profile: Deep, feminine, floral scent with a hint of pepper

Despite its strong flowery scent, geranium essential oil is actually extracted from the leaves of the geranium plant and it has a green color. It is rich in antioxidants and is recommended for aging skin, but is rich in antibacterial compounds that make it effective against acne.

How to Use Geranium Essential Oil for Acne:

► Geranium Gel: Make your own anti-acne geranium gel simply by mixing 5 tsps of pure aloe vera gel and 4 drops of geranium essential oil. Apply at night.

5. Clary Sage Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Salvia sclarea
Origin: Southern Europe
Scent Profile: Herbaceous, hint of fruitiness, earthy, vivid

Clary Sage has been used for beauty and cosmetic purposes since historical times, and is a known anti-depressant. Its antiseptic, bactericidal and astringent properties make it a powerful remedy for fighting acne.

How to Use Clary Sage Essential Oil for Acne

► Bath Time: Got backne or other forms of acne on your body? A great way to tackle this is by filling up a bath with warm water and adding 25 – 30 drops of clary sage essential oil and soaking in this for 15 – 30 minutes.

6. Chamomile Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Chamaemelum nobile
Origin: Europe & some parts of Africa
Scent Profile: Sweet, apple –like scent

Chamomile is effective against many types of skin issues and is valuable in calming acne and breakouts. It lightens dark spots and acne scars, too.

How to Use Chamomile Essential Oil for Acne:

► Lather Up: Make your own anti-acne facial wash! Just add 2 tbsp of pure castille liquid soap to an empty soap dispenser and fill the rest with water. Add 10 drops of chamomile essential oil. Shake well. Lather up on your face for about a minute before you wash it off. Do this twice a day.

7. Oregano Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Origanum vulgare
Origin: Eurasian and Mediterranean regions
Scent Profile: Strong, slightly minty, spicy, camphor-like

Oregano is said to have the highest percentage of phenols out of all aromatic plants. Phenols are organic compounds characterized for their strong disinfectant properties. Be careful when using oregano oil – always go by the rule, “less is more” as it is known to cause skin irritations in large amounts. But when used safely, oregano essential oil is highly effective against acne.

How to Use Oregano Essential Oil for Acne:

► Moisturizer: Add a drop of oregano essential oil to your daily moisturizer and apply on your skin to prevent and treat acne.

8. Neroli Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Citrus vulgaris
Origin: South East Asia
Scent Profile: Floral, mysterious, sweet, deep, misty

Neroli is one of the most loved essential oils in the aromatherapy world due to its pleasant smell, along with its amazing healing properties. It has anti-depressant and anti-anxiety properties and is used to treat headaches too. Its anti-infectious, bactericidal and antiseptic properties make it one of the best essential oils for acne.

How to Use Neroli Essential Oil for Acne:

► Say bye-bye to Acne Scars: In 10g of Vitamin E oil, add 5 – 6 drops of neroli essential oil and massage this into your acne and acne scar areas on your face. Store in an amber glass dropper bottle. Not only is this blend relaxing and calming for a night time routine, but its therapeutic properties will heal acne and scarring, too!

9. Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Scientific Name: Cananga odorata var genuina
Origin: Philippines, Indonesia
Scent Profile: Flowery, floral, fragrant, sweet, fruity, fresh, delicate, exotic

When it comes to skin care, ylang ylang makes it onto the list of best essential oils for acne as it has antimicrobial and astringent properties, which make it good for oily skin, too.

How to Use Ylang Ylang Essential Oil for Acne

► Spritz Away: Make your own lovely scented ylang ylang flower hydrosol by adding 5 to 10 drops of ylang ylang essential oil to a cup of distilled water. Transfer to a spray bottle. Spritz this on your face as many times a day as you wish – it’s a refreshing way to get rid of acne.

10. Frankincense Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Boswellia carterii
Origin: Middle East
Scent Profile: Warm, woody, musky, balsamic

Frankincense is a gem of an essential oil, dare I say it’s my all time favorite oil in the world. It has amazing healing, revitalizing and invigorating properties that help all skin types keep healthy and youthful. It works wonders against acne and eliminates acne scars and pimple marks.

How to Use Frankincense Essential Oil for Acne:

► Sensational Serum: In ½ a cup of jojoba oil, add 3 drops of frankincense essential oil, 2 drops of lavender essential oil and 1 drop of tea tree essential oil. Pour this into an amber glass dropper bottle and shake vigorously. Apply 2 – 3 drops onto your face and acne-prone areas before bed.

11. Rosemary Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
Origin: Spain, Morocco, Tunisia
Scent Profile: Woody, fragrant, strong, herbaceous, camphor-like

Rosemary essential oil is effective against acne and inflammation caused by acne bacteria. Apart from its anti-inflammatory properties, it also has antimicrobial properties that can fight full-blown breakouts, as well as stop acne before it forms.

How to Use Rosemary Essential Oil for Acne:

► Soap-free Body Wash: Take ¾ cups of ground oatmeal and make a paste by adding ½ a cup of green tea and ½ a cup of rose water. To this paste, add 6 drops of rosemary essential oil and apply this paste all over your body in place of soap. It will cool and soothe inflamed acne and fight bacteria clogged up in your pores.

12. Rose Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Rosa damascena
Origin: Persia
Scent Profile: Feminine, floral, sweet, rosy

Being highly anti-bacterial, rose essential is a top choice for acne treatment, as its antioxidant, antiseptic and astringent properties make it an all-round healer for pimply and acne-prone skin. It is also effective against acne breakouts caused by hormonal imbalances. Whether you have mild acne or cystic acne, rose essential oil is a therapeutic oil that will bring positive changes to your life as it is anti-depressant and promotes peaceful sleep.

How to Use Rose Essential Oil for Acne:

► Daily Treatment: If you have big pimples and acne, dilute 5 drops of rose essential oil in ½ a cup of grapeseed oil and mix thoroughly. Using a clean cotton swab, dab your acne with this rose oil treatment up to 3 times a day.

13. Bergamot Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Citrus bergamia
Origin: Italy
Scent Profile: Sweet, citrusy, refreshing, invigorating

Extracted from the skin and rinds of the bergamot orange, this highly potent essential oil is rich in many compounds, which make it effective against many health issues, including acne. It also has skin lightening properties, which will visibly lighten acne scars and blemishes.

How to Use Bergamot Essential Oil for Acne

► Bergamot Scrub: Create a gentle bergamot scrub by making a paste of 2 tsps of orange peel powder, 1 tsp of orange blossom water and 1 drop of bergamot essential oil. Apply this paste onto your skin and leave it on for 10 – 15 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water and pat dry. This will help control oily skin, eliminate acne and lighten blemishes and scars.

14. Lemongrass Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Cymbopogon flexuosus, Cymbopogon citratus
Origin: Australia and South Africa
Scent Profile: Strong, sharp, fresh, herby, lemony

The stems and leaves of the lemongrass plant are used to extract the essential oil via steam distillation, resulting in a pale to vivid yellow colored oil that is helpful for acne treatment. Lemongrass oil is rich in Vitamin A, which fosters cell renewal and repair and has important anti-acne properties, and also Vitamin E, which helps lighten acne and pimple scars

► Did you know: Even drinking lemongrass tea has shown to help with acne. Simply boil a lemongrass stem in 2 cups of water for 5 minutes. Strain and drink up!

15. Cypress Essential Oil for Acne

Scientific Name: Cupressus sempervirens
Origin: Australia
Scent Profile: Fresh, clean, spicy, woody, herby aroma

Extracted through steam distillation of the twigs and needles of the Cypress plant, cypress essential oil has natural astringent properties that help tone the skin and prevent large pores. This essential oil is great for acne sufferers who experience oily skin or over-sweating/precipitation of skin.

How to Use Cypress Essential Oil for Acne:

► Make an acne massage oil for oily skin: In 50ml of a light carrier oil, like safflower oil, mix in 6 drops of cypress essential oil, 4 tsp of lavender essential oil and 2 drops of rosemary essential oil and apply it with a gentle massage on your problematic acne areas twice a day. You will be smelling amazing and this will put a smile on your face all day.

How to Make Your Own Acne-Busting Cream with Tea Tree

This is probably the simplest homemade acne cream you can whip up right at home in 5 minutes straight! It uses only two ingredients: tea tree oil and shea butter yet it’s very effective in getting rid of pus-filled acne by fighting off acne-causing germs and clearing off stale sebum stuck within the pores.

Shea butter is a non-comedogenic natural plant-based skin care butter that works wonders in reducing painful, red and inflamed acne! It also helps get rid of scars at a very fast rate! I made this cheap homemade acne cream and used it with effective results! PS: It smells incredibly soothing with its fresh herbal scent.