Is Frankincense the Best Anti-Aging Essential Oil? 4 Reasons Why
In this post, you will learn about four reasons why I believe Frankincense is the best affordable anti-ageing essential oil.
NOTE: I like frankincense essential oil so much I already published an entry on it here. Read both posts to get the full benefits of this magnificent natural product.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link.
Introduction: What is ageing?
To the average person, ageing is a natural part of life and all that comes with it. We see age as something to be feared, something to move quickly away from. On the contrary, I believe ageing should be hailed as a blessing and a privilege. With age comes wisdom; wisdom which we learn as we grow old and become more experienced.
NOTE: The ageing process is no doubt difficult and often challenging but in the grand scheme of life, it is also part of what makes us human.
The way we age is also different for everyone. Some people are blessed with youthful skin and vibrant health which allows them to live long fulfilling lives; whereas others come to old age in poor health and suffer through their final days.
There are many factors that may lead to the ageing of the skin including environmental factors, diet, lifestyle choices and genetics. For example, skin which is extremely fair may be more prone to premature ageing than skin of a darker complexion.
INFO: The amount of sunlight and the associated free radical damage received from sun exposure is a strong factor in the ageing process.
You can slow the ageing process using essential oils
Using essential oils is one of the fastest, easiest and most affordable ways of keeping your skin looking fresh, new and vibrant. They are concentrated plant extracts that have a number of beneficial properties.
Essential oils are very effective when it comes to fighting free radicals which contribute to premature ageing.
Helichrysum and frankincense are two wonderful antiaging essential oils but the latter is a lot more affordable and packed with organic benefits for our skin.
How can essential oils keep your skin healthy?
The main benefits of essential oils are their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, moisturizing and skin toning properties.
These wonderful volatile oils have been used for centuries for many different ailments and play a huge role in skincare. In fact, in the past few years, they have become much more popular as an effective anti-aging product. Several studies have shown how great essential oils are at warding off signs of ageing both internally and externally.
I have put together a list of anti-aging essential oils. Again, if I had to choose an overall favourite, it would be frankincense because of its affordability together with its powerful anti-aging properties.
About Frankincense (Boswellia serrata)
Used for its anti-aging benefits since antiquity, Frankincense is extremely beneficial for skin health. Add a few drops of CPTG® Frankincense to your daily moisturizer to reduce the appearance of blemishes and rejuvenate skin.
Doterra
Frankincense is a resin that comes from a tree known as the Boswellia. The tree is native to the Middle East, Africa and India. Frankincense gets its name from the Latin word ‘frank’ meaning pure, thus frankincense is said to be ‘pure gold’.
Frankincense has a lovely smell that is soothing and earthy. It is most commonly used for aromatherapy and is popular for its anti-inflammatory properties.
4 Reasons Why Frankincense is My Favourite Anti-Ageing Essential Oil
Ok, let’s now take a look at 4 reasons why frankincense essential oil could easily be the best anti-ageing essential oil on the market.
INFO: It has been proven that frankincense essential oil (and other anti-oxidants) can improve how well the skin protects against such damage.
1: Frankincense is a robust cellular regenerator
As we age, our skin slows down the production of collagen. In fact, by the time we reach 40 years of age there is a large loss of skin elasticity, which leads to wrinkles and fine lines.
Frankincense essential oil has been proven to work as a robust cellular regenerator, restoring skin elasticity and youthful appearance.
It has also been shown to possess potent antioxidant properties that prevent the accumulation of free radicals that cause ageing. Another important factor in cellular damage is UV light which can age the skin and decrease collagen production.
Here you will find evidence on frankincense posessing promising potential to modulate the biological processes of inflammation and tissue remodeling in human skin.
2: Frankincense is an anti-inflammatory
The skin is very effective in protecting us from outside invaders such as viruses and bacteria. With age, however, the skin produces fewer antioxidants which makes it more vulnerable to external damage.
There are many benefits to using frankincense in aromatherapy and it can also be applied externally to the skin as a skin protectant and anti-inflammatory. The anti-inflammatory properties of frankincense help to stimulate the production of tissue and restore the skin to its normal state.
Contemporary studies have shown that frankincense resin indeed has an analgesic, tranquilising, and anti-bacterial effect.
3: Frankincense improves skin’s elasticity
As we age our skin naturally begins to lose its elasticity, causing wrinkles and fine lines. Although we cannot stop the ageing process completely, there are many things we can do to slow it down. One of these things is to use frankincense essential oil on a daily basis.
The essential oil has been shown to improve skin elasticity by increasing collagen levels which, in turn, slows skin ageing.
The oil has over 200 individual chemicals making it a potent ingredient with an incredible therapeutic profile.
4: Perfect for mature or sun-damaged skin
The application of frankincense essential oil can be used on mature or sun-damaged skin to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The oil will help tone the skin and close pores. When I apply my anti-ageing frankincense cream, I can feel the oil being drawn deep into my skin where I believe it does some serious cell regenerating. Combined with a high-quality eye cream and face serum, there would be no excuse for having a wrinkle!
Frankincense essential oil is one of my top 5 essential oils for physical and emotional health based on its many benefits. As an anti-ageing essential oil, it is excellent at slowing down the ageing process by boosting collagen production.
If you want to improve your skin and slow the ageing process then you should use frankincense essential oil daily as part of your skincare routine, especially if you spend a lot of time in the sun.
Being a cytophylatic oil it helps to eliminate scars, marks after boils, acne pox and sun spots, helping the process of skin cell regeneration as well as combating the signs of aging with its rejuvenating effect which works particularly well on mature skin minimizing fine lines & wrinkles
How to use frankincense essential oil effectively
I have found that it is best to apply frankincense essential oil before bedtime, as the oil is also a relaxer (it is an excellent remedy for sleepless nights, helps you to relax and unwind). I personally also feel I have the time to pamper myself properly at night. But you can use it as part of your daytime routine as well.
1. A simple anti-ageing facial serum
Here is a simple recipe for a face serum that you will benefit from as well as your skin:
- Half a tablespoon of jojoba oil
- Add 2 drops of frankincense essential oil
- Place in a small bottle, shake, and place a few drops on your fingers
- Apply to face and neck massaging in
- Use daily as part of your skincare routine
NOTE: Do not overdo the application of this natural anti-ageing face serum if you are using retinol.
This recipe makes enough for 1 week, so you can make a bigger batch if you wish and apply it once or twice a day. The ratio of jojoba oil to frankincense is important, here’s my post on amount of essential oils for your DIY products. Make sure you buy good quality jojoba oil as well!
The benefits of the serum are fantastic and it doesn’t take much time at all to prepare so you have no excuse not to get started using it. It won’t interfere with any other products you may be using on your face, so go ahead and use it with confidence.
You can also make a “body serum” by substituting the jojoba oil for sweet almond oil if you have really dry skin.
INFO: We can also frankincense in our skincare routine alongside other anti-oxidants that fight free radicals. With time and sun exposure, the skin’s natural antioxidant production decreases which is when we need to boost it up with external products like essential oils.
IMPORTANT: If you want to add a drop of frankincense to your bath or use it on your skin then you should make sure that it is certified pure. A pure oil is one that doesn’t have additives including artificial colours, synthetic fragrances and preservatives.
2. Adding drops to your current facial skincare
One of the most potent way to benefit from frankincense essential oil for anti-aging purposes is to add one or two drops directly to your day or night cream so you can incorporate it as part of your skincare routine.
Directions for using:
- Place a bit of your day or night cream on the palm of your hand (enough for one application) and add one or two drops of frankincense essential oil.
- Mix well to ensure the oil is dispersed throughout the cream.
- Apply to your face, neck, hands and wherever else you have wrinkles or lines.
- You can use frankincense for this purpose daily; however if you have sensitive skin start doing this once a week and build up from there.
Which Frankincense oil is best for skin?
The different types of frankincense essential oil are as follows: Sacra, Carterii, Serrata & Frereana. All of them offer fantastic benefits for mature skin.
Instead of purchasing individual oils (if I had to choose one for skin it would be Sacra), my suggestion is that you get the best of everything by buying a combination of all frankincense essential oils. Plant Therapy offers this option by combining all of the varieties into an All-in-One fabulous frankincense overall essential oil blend which they have called Fantastic Francs.
Fantastic Francs (Fantastic Frankincense) contains Boswellia Carterii (Frankincense) Resin Oil, Boswellia Frereana (Frankincense) Resin Oil, Boswellia Papyifera (Frankincense) Resin Oil, Boswellia Sacra (Frankincense) Resin Oil. You can get it here.
INFO: If you are going to use it as part of your skincare routine, expect to have smoother and more elastic skin in the short and long term when using this wonderful blend.
DIFFUSING FRANKINCENSE? Diffusing frankincense will help to create a relaxing atmosphere for unwinding. Frankincense will blend extremely well with Amyris, Bergamot, Chamomile (all types), Carrot Seed, Cedarwood (all types) Clary Sage, Copaiba, Coriander Seed, Jasmine Absolute, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Myrrh, Sweet Orange, Patchouli, Scots Pine, Australian Sandalwood, Saro, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang (all types).
#BONUS: How to keep your skin healthy and vibrant!
The face and neck are the first places that can show signs of ageing. As you grow older it is important to take steps to keep your skin healthy and vibrant in the long run.
Eating a healthy diet with sufficient fruits and vegetables will ensure that your body gets all of the vitamins and minerals it needs. I grow my own fruits and vegs, which is something I believe everyone should do, even if you only have a small area for this (i.e. a balcony).
Maintaining a healthy weight. Being overweight will strain your joints and increase free radical damage to the skin. I still struggle to keep the weight down but I take it on a day to day basis and there’s definitely improvement which is what matters.
Avoid smoking and alcohol as they can accelerate damage to the skin cells. I stopped both a long time ago and the rest of the “health journey” simply follows.
- Minimize sun exposure
Since skin is the largest organs of the body, it’s important to protect it as much as possible. This includes wearing sunscreen with protection factor of at least 30 and avoiding. At home, you can use a broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 15, to help protect your skin from harmful UV rays. I don’t always do this although I should because I live in a hot country but in the summer I make sure to protect my skin with a high protection factor. - Minimize pollution
Pollution, both indoor and outdoor, can damage the health of the skin. The pollutants that you are exposed to on a daily basis can increase the damage of premature ageing caused by free radical damage. Back in 2016 I moved to the countryside so that I could enjoy clean air and to be exposed to less chemtrails, pollution and toxic heavy metals. - Avoid alcohol and smoking
The misuse of alcoholic beverages, cigarettes and recreational drugs can accelerate the age of your skin. I used to smoke but have stopped for a number of years now. It is not difficult if you set your mind to doing it, believe me. - Eat a healthy diet
By eating foods rich in calcium, vitamin D, antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids, you can help to slow down the ageing process by building healthy collagen and elastin which will keep your skin looking young. I try to eat healthy on a daily basis although at times I do enjoy my food really spicy, which means I end up eating some unhealthy food. But, overall, I feel I’m doing quite well if I’m honest. - Protect your skin
Moisturize your skin on a regular basis with anti-ageing moisturizers with high concentrations of antioxidant vitamin E and Vitamin C to help protect your skin against environmental damage. Make sure that you use the right product for the right type of skin. In my eyes, nothing beats organic, natural products! That’s why I’ve been making my own skincare for a few years now.
Now you Know How to Take your skincare routine to the next level
There are many other essential oils that can be used to help improve the effectiveness of our skincare routine and combat the effects of ageing.
Helichrysum and frankincense are my favourites, frankincense being my chosen one because of its affordability.
So, which one is your favourite anti-ageing essential oil? And which essential oils or blends would you like to see me create next?
Let me know in the comments below! 🙂
Love,
Patri ❤️💕
