Lavender

What Is Lavender in Skincare?

Lavender in skincare usually means lavender essential oil, steam-distilled from the flowering tops of Lavandula angustifolia (true or English lavender). It is used for its clean, floral scent and its relaxing, comforting feel in creams, balms, body oils, and soaps. Lavender flower water (hydrosol) and lavender-infused oils are gentler forms. The two compounds that define lavender oil are linalool and linalyl acetate.

EWG Skin Deep rating for Lavender

Quick Facts

How Lavender Works on the Skin

A sensory, relaxing ingredient

Lavender's main job in a cosmetic is how it smells and feels. Its scent is widely associated with relaxation, which is why it is a favorite in night creams, bath products, and massage oils. Hydrosol and infused oils give a soft scent with far less concentrated aroma compounds.

What the research actually says

Lavender oil has been tested for many effects in the lab, including antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. In a 2002 review in Phytotherapy Research, Cavanagh and Wilkinson concluded that much of the evidence for lavender's biological activities was inconclusive and often controversial, partly because studies used oils of unknown species and composition. Lab results do not mean a lavender cream protects skin from microbes; in a cosmetic, lavender is not a preservative.

Why fresh oil matters

Linalool and linalyl acetate react with oxygen over time. In a 2008 study, Sköld, Hagvall, and Karlberg let pure linalyl acetate stand in air for up to 10 weeks. Fresh, high-purity linalyl acetate was a weak sensitizer in a mouse test, but the air-exposed sample became far more potent, with oxidation products called hydroperoxides as the main culprits. The same group had earlier reported similar findings for linalool. For you, the takeaway is simple: old, oxidized lavender oil is more likely to irritate than fresh oil.

Claims we removed

The earlier version of this page said lavender boosts circulation, regenerates the complexion, clears pores, and smooths expression lines. We could not verify those claims for topical use and have removed them.

How to Use It and Formulating Notes

• Dilute: never apply lavender essential oil undiluted to the face. Use it as the fragrance in a cream, balm, or carrier oil, at the limit your supplier and IFRA set for that product type.
• When to add: add essential oil at cool down, below about 40 C (104 F), so the lighter aroma compounds do not flash off. Lavender hydrosol can replace part of the water phase of a toner or lotion.
• Storage: keep lavender oil in a full, tightly capped dark glass bottle, away from heat and light, and replace it within about a year of opening. Adding an antioxidant such as vitamin E to finished oil blends helps slow oxidation.
• Preservation: any formula with water or hydrosol needs a broad-spectrum preservative.
• Household safety: Poison Control notes that lavender oil is toxic if swallowed, very small amounts can affect children, and it can irritate the eyes. Store it tightly sealed in amber glass, out of reach of children, and keep it away from open flames.

Who It Suits

Lavender suits people who enjoy its scent and whose skin tolerates fragrance, especially in body care, hand creams, and night routines. Sensitive skin: fragrance compounds are a common source of reactions. Patch test on the inner arm for 24 hours first, start at the lowest rate (or choose lavender hydrosol instead of essential oil), and use fresh oil only. If you are fragrance-sensitive, choose fragrance-free products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is lavender oil good for the face?

Diluted in a cream or oil, it adds a relaxing scent many people enjoy. It is not a necessary active, and fragrance-free products are a better choice for sensitive faces.

Can I put lavender oil directly on my skin?

Not on the face. Undiluted essential oils are much more likely to irritate, and Poison Control describes a case of burning and redness after undiluted use on the face. Always blend into a carrier oil, cream, or balm.

Does lavender oil help wrinkles or dark spots?

We found no human studies showing that topical lavender oil changes the look of wrinkles or dark spots. Its role in skincare is scent and comfort, so pair it with proven actives such as peptides, niacinamide, or vitamin C for those goals.

Why does lavender irritate my skin when it never did before?

Oxidized lavender oil is a stronger sensitizer than fresh oil, and sensitivity can build with repeated exposure. Replace old bottles, store oil away from air and light, and patch test.

What is the difference between lavender and lavandin?

Lavandin is a hybrid with more camphor and a sharper scent. True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is softer and is the usual choice for facial products.

Is lavender oil safe during pregnancy?

Ask your physician or midwife before using essential oils during pregnancy. If you are cleared to use it, keep it well diluted and use it on the body rather than the face.

Is lavender oil safe around children?

Keep essential oils out of children's reach. Poison Control notes that lavender oil is toxic if swallowed and that very small amounts can affect children, so store it sealed and up high.

Shop Lavender

This collection includes our Uplift Eye Cream and Ageless Advanced Peptide Moisturizer. To make your own, follow DIY Lavender Hand Cream: A Pro Formulation Guide, and learn more about scent in skincare in our essential oils guide.

Sources

• Cavanagh HMA, Wilkinson JM. Biological activities of lavender essential oil. Phytother Res. 2002;16(4):301-308. PubMed 12112282
• Sköld M, Hagvall L, Karlberg AT. Autoxidation of linalyl acetate, the main component of lavender oil, creates potent contact allergens. Contact Dermatitis. 2008.
• Klein-Schwartz W. How safe is lavender oil? Poison Control, National Capital Poison Center. poison.org
• Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, Annex III (fragrance allergen labeling thresholds).

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About the Author
Written by Kari Thomas, cosmetic formulator and founder of Skin Perfection.