The Best Essential Oils to Fade Dark Spots, According to Derms

Tea Tree Oil

“Tea tree oil's fading superpowers come more from its ability to prevent and rapidly heal a blemish or wound, rather than a scar fading itself (although it does have minor resurfacing properties like a gentle acid)," Holecek explains. "It banishes bacteria associated with a blemish or skin tear, leading to faster healing. When you heal faster, you're less likely to develop a dark spot."

Dr. Howard Sobel recommends swiping on tea tree oil with a cotton pad after cleansing and before heavy serums or moisturizers to "help eliminate dark spots and remove bacteria that cause breakouts."

Greenfield notes the role of a carrier oil goes beyond dilution. "The other way these treatments can work is through their carrier oils, which can function as both emollients and exfoliators on their own." Holecek suggests grapeseed as a carrier oil for blemish-prone skin.

Lavender Oil

Calming lavender essential oil works to combat dry skin, irritation, and inflammation, according to Holecek, who says it helps settle the raised part of a blemish and speeds up the skin's repairing process. "The linalyl acetate, an ester naturally found in lavender, is anti-inflammatory and has a history in wound healing, leading to less scarring," she explains. "When it comes to carriers for lavender oil, I love pomegranate best because of its ultra-small molecules that penetrate the skin quickly, delivering potent nutrients. It feels and absorbs like a serum, but does everything (and more!) that a great oil would do.”

Geranium Oil

Rabach suggests that geranium oil may work to heal damaged skin as a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, while Holecek praises the oil for its host of other beneficial properties, “Geranium wields a natural astringent action, which calms redness, and is also deeply soothing and toning in nature," she says. "It also helps with better hydration retention in the skin, which always leads to an improved natural appearance of any scarring or hyperpigmentation. Pomegranate oil is a suitable carrier oil for geranium.”

Sobel suggests geranium oils for acne-prone and winter skin. "Best paired with other botanical oils, geranium helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles while calming irritated spots and boosting naturally glowing skin," he says.

Frankincense Oil

"Once known as 'liquid gold', frankincense oil works best for those with oily skin," Sobel explains. "Additionally, the oil has been known to prevent signs of aging, fade scars, and control acne."

Holecek also praises its ability to speed up cell turnover and strengthen the skin's elasticity, "Think of frankincense’s cellular regeneration properties like the qualities of traditional retinol, but without the drying, sun-sensitivity, or thinning of the skin many retinols cause.”

Neroli Oil

Citrus-derived essential oils like neroli (which comes from the flower of the orange tree), help aid in the absorption of vitamin C even though they don't actually contain any, says Holecek. "Vitamin C is one of those substances that, while widely regarded for its healing and scar-fading properties, is notoriously poorly absorbed," she adds. "So, to double up the action of your vitamin C serums, add neroli or juniper berry oil. Added bonus: the smell of neroli.” Rabach also notes the antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties of neroli, which may aid in the healing and protection of the skin.

Chamomile Oil

“Chamomile oil has a fantastic naturally-occurring ingredient called Azulene (also in Blue Tansy), which is highly reparative; it's calming and cell-renewing, so it helps fight damage," explains Holecek. "Azulene is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, so it will prevent degradation of skin in times of stress, keeping it blemish and scar-free.” Azulene oil is also incredibly soothing and suitable for sensitive skin—which are likely the properties that come to mind with chamomile (think chamomile tea).

Clary Sage Oil

"Clary sage essential oil is an excellent option for oily skin because it has the unique properties of working with skin cells at the subdermal layer to regulate sebum production naturally," says Holecek. "Clary sage is a very elegant and deeply therapeutic solution to oily skin because of its unique moderation properties. Since blemish-prone skin tends to develop more scarring, this is a wonderful preventative essential oil to add to your skincare routine.”

Turmeric Oil

Curcumin, the main active in turmeric, is a powerful anti-inflammatory. "Ayurvedic practitioners have used it [turmeric] in skincare for evening out the complexion, preventing acne and blemishes, as well as hyperpigmentation," Holecek says. "It is believed to moderate the excess melanin production that often is the cause for dark spots.” Turmeric is also known to work well as an antibacterial, anti-parasitic, and antifungal.

Rosemary Oil

According to Holecek, rosemary essential oil enhances circulation. "It is also a disinfectant, so it will help prevent bacterial growth that can lead to scar-creating blemishes," she continues. "Its phytonutrients are believed to also fight free radical-related damage and hyperpigmentation.”

Sobel praises rosemary oil for its pore-clearing and acne-reducing abilities in oily skin as well as its reinvigorating, anti-aging properties that give the skin a "youthful glow."

Jojoba Oil

According to dermatologist Dr. Lauren Penzi, jojoba oil has a similar composition to sebum in our skin, making it a great choice for an anti-inflammatory oil. "It's an antioxidant that protects from environmental damage and helps to repair any dryness or irritation with hydrating properties," she says, noting that jojoba oil also helps to reduce scarring.

Carrot Seed Oil

Carrot seed oil is another pick that features fatty acids and antioxidants to help moisturize skin and protect from environmental and free radical damage. "It also has high carotenoid content that helps provide natural SPF that protect from UV rays and aging," says Penzi. Also used to brighten skin tone and texture, carrot seed oil aids in the fading of hyperpigmentation and dark spots.