Anti-Aging Essential Oils: Best Oils for Wrinkles

Grab a handful of the best essential oils for aging skin, like Rose, Frankincense, and Helichrysum. Pair them with powerful carrier oils like Rosehip, Castor, and Avocado to create powerhouse oils for your anti-aging skin care preparations and products. Take these essential oils to make highly effective moisturizers, serums, and night creams to fight the signs of skin aging. Fight signs of oxidative damage like dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Feed your skin with natural compounds found in essential oils, carrier oils, and cosmetic butters.  Grab your best essential oils for aging skin and let’s get skin smooth, soft, supple, and glowing with health and vitality. 

Introduction to The Best Essential Oils For Aging Skin

I don’t know about you, but I am at that time of life where I need more powerful anti-aging skincare to reduce the appearance of my wrinkles and fine lines. I want my skin to look younger, more plump, and supple. 

I use my knowledge of the best essential oils for aging skin to create skin care products. To support my skin’s health and vitality and in the process, to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You can do the same. 

What Are The Best Essential Oils For Aging Skin?

Now, you could ask ‘What is the most powerful anti-aging essential oil’? But no singular essential oil will magically get rid of wrinkles and fine lines. Sadly, it’s not quite like waving a magic wand.   

However, synergistically combining carrier oils with essential oils will give you powerhouse blends to use in your anti-aging skincare products.

For instance, we can take the best essential oils for skin tightening and then combine them with carrier oils packed with fatty acids like Linoleic acid to reduce signs of aging. These improve skin tone, maintain skin elasticity, and fight oxidative stress caused by free radicals. 

That said, let's look at some of the best essential oils for aging skin.

Frankincense (Boswellia serrata)

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When you are searching for the best oils for aging skin, Frankincense resin has a history spanning millennia. Frankincense is one of the most effective essential oils for mature skin and has been widely used in skincare, especially by practitioners of Ayurveda. 

It is one of the best essential oils to tighten skin. Its astringent qualities smooth the surface of the skin to make it appear less lined. However we need to curb our expectations, while it is packed with anti-aging properties, thanks to its chemical constituents, it is never going to erase your wrinkles completely. Nevertheless, we can use it to plump, tighten, and smooth the skin’s appearance. 

The more astringent aspects of Frankincense essential oil help to maintain healthy pores, and reduce skin blemishes and acne. Frankincense oil is perfect for mature skin, dehydrated and dry skin, and irritated skin that is showing signs of aging.  

Frankincense also has powerful properties that promote and support skin cell regeneration. Pair this with it anti-inflammatory abilities, it presents as a skin-healing powerhouse. Frankincense supports healthy skin repair and can be supportive for skin conditions like eczema. 

Han (2017) cited,

‘The current study suggests that Frankincense Essential Oil possesses the promising potential to modulate the biological processes of inflammation and tissue remodeling in human skin’.

It can also be useful for skin that needs soothing, calming, and healing. I have found it useful for reducing scarring associated with acne.  

Safety: 

• • Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.

Rose (Rosa damascena)

If you have dry, dehydrated skin there is little better than Rose oil to address the symptoms. 

Call Rose absolute ‘Skin Food’ because it is one of the most skin-nourishing essential oils that money can buy. Pair it with  Rosehip carrier oil and you have a delicious mix of fatty acids and antioxidants to hold back the signs of aging skin. These two ingredients alone make an effective and glorious anti-aging face oil.

Rosewater makes a fantastic toner to hydrate parched, dry skin. 

Rose absolutely reduces visible signs of skin aging like dehydrated skin, dark spots, sagging skin, and fine lines.

As well as nourishing your skin, rose soothes the mind and spirit to nurture wellbeing. More research is being undertaken to find ways to use rose in a complementary medicine setting.  Mohebitabar (2017).

Safety: 

• • Do not use it in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy. 

Carrot Seed (Daucus carota)

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Carrot Seed essential oil also comes high up on the ‘best essential oils for aging skin list’. It can be a vital addition to anti-aging skin products if your skin is congested or suffers because of environmental pollution.

If you are out in polluted city air, or work in environments that bring your skin into contact with airborne pollutants, then Carrot Seed is going to be your new best mate. It’s the perfect choice if you smoke too, as it helps clear congestion in the skin and reduce the skin's exposure to toxic elements. 

A study by Singh (2019) found the substance to what aromatherapists have been saying for years and agreed it had ‘sufficient potential to be used as potential skin rejuvenating preparations’.

Carrot seed oil does have quite a high SPF value, but not enough to warrant using it on its own. Always pair it with a proprietary SPF for the best coverage and sun protection. 

It is one of the best essential oils for aging skin to use in cleansing and cleaning products. But I urge you if you smoke or work in polluted environments to add it into products you finish your skincare regime with like Nourishing or Night creams, so it can get to work on a deeper level and be in contact with your skin for longer. 

Safety: 

• • Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. 

Rose Geranium (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum)

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In some cases, rather than asking ‘What are the best essential oils for aging skin’, we should ask ‘What are the best stress and anxiety relieving essential oils’? Stress and heightened anxiety will always show first on my face and be revealed in the state of my skin! 

If you are stressed out every time you look in the mirror, and struggle with the lined face looking back at you, reach for the lovely soothing balm of gentle Rose Geranium. Let it soothe your mind, body, and spirit and eliminate some of those stress lines and brow furrows from your visage.

For those of you who have been stressed over a protracted period, Rose Geranium’s constituents may also help to improve your adrenal function. In turn, potentially reducing the negative impact of cortisol upon the body, and your skin.

Like Rose essential oil, it’s wonderful at soothing dry skin and helping to maintain healthy levels of hydration. It has calming and soothing anti-inflammatory qualities and is particularly useful for those of us with sensitive skin.

If the health and appearance of your skin fluctuate with hormones use Rose Geranium in conjunction with small amounts of Ylang Ylang to bring a better balance.

Rose Geranium is one of the best essential oils for aging skin if you have neglected your skin for a while and are starting a new routine. Its profoundly gentle qualities reassure your spirit and skin that all is going to be ok! 

Safety: 

• • Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. 

Helichrysum (Helichrysum splendida)

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When looking for one of the best essential oils for aging skin, we need to take a look at Helichrysum essential oil.

One of the most important constituents in helichrysum is neryl acetate, which supports healthy skin healing. Recent research by Lemair (2013) also suggests neryl acetate has a direct and positive impact on skin barrier formation. Add this to existing research on its inhibiting impact on wrinkle formation and we have a potentially powerful ally in Helichrysum essential oil and hydrolat. 

Even the hydrolat, the water left over from distilling the essential oil, was found to have skin regenerative qualities in a study by Serra (2024).

Stick it on your list of best essential oils for aging skin right now! 

Safety: 

• • Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
  • Avoid if you are taking anticoagulant medication 
  • Avoid it if you have major surgery planned in the next 48 hours due to its blood-thinning properties. 

Which Natural Ingredients Should I Pair With The Best Essential Oils For Aging Skin?

When you set out to create your own anti-aging skin care preparations with the best essential oils for aging skin, you also want the best natural ingredients. 

Always source the best quality ingredients that your budget allows and where possible choose organic options, after all, you and your skin deserve the very best. You are going to be wearing it for a long time after all! 

Carrier Oils

Pretty much anytime we reach for one of the best essential oils for aging skin to use on our skin, we will need to dilute it in some way. This is where carrier oils come into their own. 

Rosehip (Rosa Canina)

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My favorite is always going to be the red-hued jewel of Rosehip oil, although you can buy refined, less colorful versions. It is overflowing with antioxidants and these are just what you want when you are fighting the signs of skin aging. I love it for addressing the issues of both dry skin and more mature skin.

This oil is rich in Linoleic acid which is vital in maintaining a healthy barrier function for the skin. A healthy barrier function contributes to better hydration, less irritation and inflammation, better skin cell regeneration and wound healing, and improved skin tone and texture. 

Rosehip is so rich, we recommend that you restrict its volume to around 10% of your skincare preparation. But its richness is just the ingredient you need in an anti-aging face oil. 

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)

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Jojoba oil is actually a wax! It is the closest that you will come to matching the skin's own sebum, making this a wonderful product for balancing the skin. If you feel your skin’s balance is out of kilter, reach for the Jojoba and its plentiful antioxidants.

It’s the best choice for any skin type and is gentle enough for even sensitive skin. 

Another good choice for restoring the balance of your skin is fractionated coconut oil.

Avocado (Persea gratissima)

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Avocado oil is a lovely thick and nourishing carrier oil and is super rich in those glorious essential fatty acids. It also has the added benefits of being packed with vitamins like C, E, and omega-3.

This oil penetrates the skin deeply and drags the essential oils into the deeper layers of the skin for more effective moisturizing and skin nourishment. 

Castor is thick and unctuous too and will do the same job of penetrating deeply while creating a protective barrier on the surface of the skin. As such both of these oils should be restricted to about 40% of the overall volume of your anti-aging skin preparation.  

Pomegranate (Punica Granatum)

Pomegranate seed oil is a great partner for your best essential oils for aging skin. It is rich in a compound called punicic acid which is an effective and powerful antioxidant. It gets to work by neutralizing free radical damage to the skin, this can have additional benefits such as easing redness and inflammation.

On top of that it is packed with antioxidants like linoleic acid, oleic acid, and Vitamin C, which can reduce inflammation, promote elasticity, and brighten the appearance of the skin. 

Like Pomegranate oil, Raspberry seed oil is packed with fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants

Vitamin E will assist in reducing the appearance of fine lines,  hyperpigmentation, and dark spots. Vitamin A promotes skin cell regeneration for healthy-looking skin. 

Honorary Mention 

If you are experiencing acne or dermatitis, then consider adding Tamanu oil to your skincare routine. It is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory carrier oils making it a strong partner for your best essential oils for aging skin. 

It is packed with antioxidants that will reduce oxidative damage to the skin to keep the skin of your face and neck looking young and leaving your skin feeling in tip-top condition. 

Use it to reduce inflammation, fight bacterial skin infections, and keep your skin clean and blemish-free. Add some Lavender oil for a combination of powerhouse oils.

• • Top 6 Best Carrier Oils For Aging Skin - DIY Recipes and Uses 

Cosmetic Butters

Unctuous and deeply nourishing cosmetic butters are a perfect partner for your best essential oils for aging skin.

Cosmetic butter like Shea, Cocoa, Cupuacu, and Mango Butter are widely used in the cosmetics industry to help maintain the skin’s barrier function, improve hydration, and feed and nourish the skin with deep-down penetration, all while protecting the surface of the skin too.

They are the perfect way to add body, structure, and deeply nourishing compounds to your moisturizers, night creams, and body butter. When your skin needs ‘feeding’ turn to cosmetic butters. When it’s thirsty, give it a drink with Rosewater and the humectant qualities of Glycerine. 

Skincare Recipes With The Best Essential Oils For Aging Skin

Let’s get into the exciting stuff and start using our best essential oils for aging skin and make some personally tailored anti-aging skin care products. 

I’m focusing on making some deeply nourishing moisturizers, serums, and night creams but if you want a whole collection of skin care for more mature skin check out The Ultimate Guide to Rose Essential Oil - A Beauty Box in a Flower, where you will find recipes for cleanser, toner, masque and a lip conditioner. 

So grab a handful of your best essential oils for aging skin and let’s get stuck in! 

You Will Need:

1. 1. Double boiler or Microwave proof jug
   2. Measuring jug
   3. Measuring spoons
   4. Stainless steel spoon
   5. Funnel
   6. 2 x 100ml jar and lid
   7. 50 ml rubber-topped dropper bottle
   8. Oil and waterproof labels

Moisturizer

I’m going to let you choose which of the best essential oils for aging skin you want to try in your moisturizer. I’ll give you three potential anti-aging essential oil blends to choose from. 

You can always swap and change the essential oils to suit your needs and preferences but always check your IFRA safety date before making any changes to these recipes. Not sure How To Find Safety Information On The VINEVIDA Website?

If you prefer a light moisturizer, simply add more Rosewater to slacken it off. 

Makes 100ml 

Moisturizer Ingredients:

• • 50 ml of Aqueous Cream (various ingredients)
  • 20 ml of Rosewater (Rosa Damascena)
  • 17 ml of Glycerine (Glycerol)
  • 10 ml of Rosehip carrier oil (Rosa Canina)

Optional: Natural preservative of your choice, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Then choose ONE of these three anti-aging essential oils blends. 

1. Dehydrated And Dry Skin Essential Oil Blend 

If your skin is parched and feels taut and dry, try this gloriously scented moisturizer to lock in hydration.  Feel free to add another few ml of Glycerine to improve skin hydration levels and keep your skin looking plump, smooth, and full of health and vitality. 

• • 20 drops of Rose essential oil (Rosa damascena)
  • 20 drops of Rose Geranium essential oil (Pelargonium Roseum X Asperum)
  • 20 drops of Roman Chamomile essential oil (Anthemis nobilis L.)

Safety: Do not use it in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy

2. Blend With Essential Oils For Wrinkles & Fine Lines

This blend is packed with powerful essential oils for wrinkles & fine lines. While you can’t wave them away with a magic wand, we can reduce their appearance and make our skin look smoother, hydrated, and glowing with health. 

This is a beautifully scented moisturizer with a sophisticated and mysterious aroma. 

• • 30 drops of Neroli essential oil (Citrus aurantium)
  • 20 drops of Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia serrata)
  • 10 drops of Patchouli essential oil (Pogostemon cablin)

Safety: Do not use it in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy

3. Deep Cleaning and Rejuvenating Essential Oil Blend

If you smoke, live, or work in polluted environments, these are some of the best essential oils for aging skin and for clearing out congested, dull, and lifeless skin. Carrot Seed is a bit of a miracle worker when it comes to clearing out the skin. Both Myrrh and Helichrysum have strong reputations for promoting skin healing and regeneration. 

Sadly, this moisturizer might not have the best aroma. Feel free to add either some Rose Geranium or Patchouli to make it more appealing to you (max 20 drops each). But hear me on this, it might not smell the most attractive, but by heck, it doesn’t ‘always treat your skin right! Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself! 

• • 20 drops of Carrot Seed essential oil (Daucus carota)
  • 20 drops of Helichrysum essential oil (Helichrysum splendida)
  • 10 drops of Myrrh essential oil (Commiphora myrrha)

Safety: Not suitable for use during pregnancy (Myrrh)

Method:

1. 1. Choose which essential oil blend you wish to use and combine it with your Rosehip carrier oil.
   2. Pour this mix into your aqueous cream and combine until thoroughly mixed.
   3. Add in your glycerine and rosewater and stir thoroughly until everything is evenly mixed.
   4. Use a funnel and decant into your 100ml jar. Clean the rim meticulously and lid.
   5. List all of the ingredients, especially your essential oils blend, onto an oil and waterproof label.
   6. Add the production date and 3-6 month expiry date (unless you used a preservative) and affix it to the jar.
   7. Fabulous! You made your first anti-aging moisturizer. Way to go. 

How To Use:

1. 1. Remember to do a 24-48 hour patch test before you use this for the first time.
   2. Apply to freshly cleansed and toned skin in small upward circular strokes.
   3. If my skin feels really dry I ladle it on don’t rub it in too much and just leave it to sit on the surface of my skin for 20 minutes. Then I rub in the remainder. If you have any excess, remove it with a paper towel and use less next time. 

Want more moisturizer recipes and ideas? DIY Face Moisturizer: Nourish Your Skin with Simple, Natural Ingredients.

Serum

I’m often asked ‘What is the best natural facial oil for anti-aging’? Honestly, there is no hard and fast answer because it really does depend on your individual skin type. I will of course show you how you can tailor this to your own needs by providing you with an anti-aging skin care serum suited to your individual skin type.

This is where you want to pair the brilliance of those nourishing carrier oils with the best essential oils for aging skin to create those powerhouse oils and blends for your skin serum.

Whatever serum you choose it will be stuffed with anti-aging essential oils and the powerhouse carrier oils to feed, nourish, and hydrate your skin. Use this to boost the efficacy of your skin barrier function to improve hydration, and plump skin and leave it feeling silky soft, and glowing with vitality.

How To Use:

Now you have a tailormade powerhouse serum packed to the gunnels with all the best essential oils for aging skin, how should you use it?

• • First of all, do yourself a 24-48 hour patch test
  • Second, get into the idea of less is more here. You do not need a lot of oil to have an impact. In fact, you want to use as little as you can reasonably get away with. It might take you a few applications to get into the hang of how much you need. 
  • Simply apply 2 drops of your anti-aging face oil into the palm of your hand to warm and use your first two fingers to apply the oil across your face. Work in upward small circular motions to get the circulation going and avoid dragging delicate and lined skin too much, especially around the eyes. 
  • Work the oil down the neck and into the decolletage.
  • If you need more oil, by all means add it. I find I need more in the winter than I do in the summer. On days when my skin is parched, I might use up to 8 drops and it still does not touch the sides! Add what you feel you need, but it should fluctuate throughout your monthly cycle and the seasons. 
  • Pay attention to your skin though, if you start to get blocked pores or develop blemishes, it could suggest you are using it too much and too often. You should only really use oil-rich serums 2-3 times a week.

Want to explore more?

• • How to Make Face Serum with Essential Oils.
  • Rosehip Oil Benefits: Sublime Serum, Cream Mask & Moisturizer Recipes.

Night Cream

Recently, a friend of mine, looking at me, aghast and horrified at the sight of her skin, asked me what was the best essential oil for deep wrinkles recipe for her. She was overly dramatic about the state of her absolutely gorgeous skin, but it did remind me how perturbed and upset people can get when their skin starts to show signs of aging. 

There are two things that I think make a lot of difference when it comes to an anti-aging skincare regimen. 

1. 1. Good cleansing and toning with a gentle cleanser and a toner with a good deal of astringency to it to tighten the skin. 
   2. A night cream! It’s amazing how many people don’t use one when it is such an important tool in your skin care regimen.  

A night or nourishing cream is a heavier consistency than a moisturizer and it will usually have a cosmetic butter or a waxy element to help protect the surface of the skin. This seals and locks in hydration and gives your skin cells something to repair themselves with and regenerate more effectively.

If you make just one change to your anti-aging skincare routine, make it using a top-notch night cream packed with essential oils to tighten skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Makes 100ml

Ingredients:

• • 35 ml of Aqueous Cream (Various ingredients)
  • 20 ml of Rosewater (Rosa Damascena)
  • 5 ml or 1 tsp  of Beeswax (Cera alba)
  • 10 ml or 2 tsp of Shea Butter (Butyrospermum parkii)
  • 10 ml of Glycerine (Glycerol)
  • 10 ml of Castor carrier oil (Ricinus communis)
  • 7 ml of Rosehip carrier oil (Rosa Canina)
  • 2 Vitamin E Capsules (Tocopherol)
  • 30 drops of Rose essential oil (Rosa damascena)
  • 20 drops of Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia serrata)
  • 10 drops of Carrot Seed essential oil (Daucus carota)

Optional: Natural preservative - follow the manufacturer's instructions. 

Safety:

• • Do not use it in the first 37 weeks of pregnancy

Method:

1. 1. You need to melt your beeswax and soften your shea butter, you can do this in a double boiler or in a microwave in a heatproof jug. Personally, I prefer a double boiler because you can control the heat better causing less degradation to your oils and butters.
   2. Either set your double boiler over low to medium heat and place your wax in the top portion of the boiler, you can stir to help it melt more readily. Or place it in a heatproof jug and place it in the center of the microwave and warm in 10-30 sec bursts depending on your microwave settings. 
   3. Once the wax is mostly molten, add your Shea Butter and heat until everything is molten.
   4. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool, if you have a double boiler, separate it from the hot water to cool down more readily. 
   5. While you wait for it to cool, measure out your carrier oil and add your essential oils into the carrier oils, and mix thoroughly. Add in the Vitamin E, pierce the capsules, and squeeze the oil into the mix. 
   6. The sweet spot you are looking for here is for the wax and butter mix to be as cool as possible but still soft, pliable, and unset. As soon as you feel it is at that point, you can add your oils. Grab a whisk, hand blender, or immersion blender and pour in your oils in a slow steady stream and keep going until everything is fully incorporated.
   7. Then add in your aqueous cream just a dollop at a time and keep mixing until you have used it all up.
   8. Then add your glycerine and rosewater and mix everything for a couple of minutes to make sure it is all fully amalgamated. 
   9. Decant into your jar with a funnel and cover with a clean soft cloth until it is fully cooled.
   10. You don’t want to add the lids while it is warm because it can encourage moisture and the formation of mold and bacteria. 
   11. Now when you use a mixer to whip your cream, you are introducing air into your mixture and if the structure is not strong enough to hold its own it will sink back. This is when you fill a jar to the brim, and come to it a week later to find it lower than you expected. The air simply rises and escapes, collapsing the cream. If you expect it to happen you won’t be disappointed… and if it doesn’t happen pat yourself on the back for a perfect structure. However, in truth, it has more to do with the ingredients in your aqueous cream and the quality of your shea butter. 
   12. Make sure you add an oil and waterproof label listing all ingredients, your production date, and a 3-6 month expiry date, unless you used a preservative.

How To Use:

This is overflowing with nourishing carrier oils and powerful essential oils for mature skin so it is important we use it in the right way to get the best results from it. 

1. 1. Don’t forget to do a 24-48 patch test, they may be the best essential oils for aging skin but that does not mean they always agree with your skin! 
   2. Use on top of a moisturizer or serum, at night, for the best results.
   3. This night cream should be applied to the skin in small circular upward motions, avoiding dragging delicate skin. Be cautious around the eye area. Pay particular attention to deep-set wrinkles and areas of your concern. 
   4. Continue to apply generously to the neck and decolletage. 
   5. By all means, be fairly generous, but a little really does go a long way, so there’s no need to go nuts with it.
   6. You can use this daily, but if your skin is sensitive or oily, daily application may prove too much. Listen to your skin.

This article is on How to Make Night Cream with Essential Oils using emulsifying wax, if you would prefer try that method. 

The Final Word

There is no magic wand for anti-aging essential oils but we can create potent oil blends to use in our anti-aging skin care preparations to reduce signs of aging,  fine lines, and wrinkles. 

Taking essential oils like rose and combining with its bedfellow rosehip carrier oil we can use it to hydrate and nourish the skin while the antioxidants fight free radicals and get to work on hyperpigmentation and reducing dark spots. 

Balance the appearance of the skin with Jojoba and ylang-ylang essential oil. Take deep penetrating carrier oils like Castor and Avocado paired with Carrot Seed essential oil for deep and thorough cleansing for smokers and those who have challenging environmental pollution to contend with. 

Get into the habit of making your own natural anti-aging skin care preparations and you won’t look back. Choose the essential oil blend that best suits your need for a moisturizer. Then completely customize your Face Serum before making a Night Cream to seal in all that delicious goodness and nourishment for your skin. 

Sealing in all those best essential oils for aging skin is the best present you can give your mature skin. Why not have a go today?