Essential oils are absolute magic. Even in tiny quantities, these incredible liquids can be used for everything from scenting candles to treating headaches to promoting concentration and focus.
Essential oils are fast becoming some of the most popular cosmetic ingredients. They’re a staple of luxury beauty. And for good reasons, too. Ginger essential oil is no different, and found in a variety of different creams, lotions, serums and more.
So today, I want to deep-dive into this wonderful oil. With a distinct smell, this unassuming looking root packs an awesome punch. Powdered ginger has been used medicinally for thousands of years! But our focus will be on ginger oil benefits for skin. This antioxidant-rich essential oil can do wonders for your complexion. Read on to learn more!
The Source and Extraction of Ginger Essential Oil
Hailing from southern Asia and incredibly popular in cuisine throughout the Far East and beyond, ginger has been used and traded as both food and medicine for several thousand years. In fact, it’s mentioned as a medicinal ingredient in the Canon of Herbs, an ancient pharmacological text dating back to 2,700 BCE!
Today, ginger is grown worldwide and can be found in any grocery store. It’s sold as a solid food, ground down into a spice, or as an ingredient in many different medicines.
But we’re not here for any of that. How do you get from an unassuming (though delicious) gnarled plant to a powerful essential oil?
From The Ginger Plant To Essential Oil
First, let’s start with the plant itself. The recognizable bit of the ginger plant – the twisted brown fingers – is called the rhizome. This is what contains the magic. We’re not interested in the flowers or the roots, so they’re quickly removed. It’s essential that the rhizome is harvested before the plant is fully grown, as that’s when you’ll get the most oil! The harvested rhizome is ground up and then processed using steam distillation. The result? Ginger essential oil.
Now, the yield of essential oil from fresh ginger is around 2%. That means it takes 50 grams of fresh ginger to produce a single milliliter of essential oil. This may sound like a lot, but it’s actually not too high compared to some other more difficult-to-extract oils.
If you’re environmentally conscious, rejoice! Ginger is a fairly sustainable crop, so its environmental impact is lower than that of many other plant-based oils. Look out for products marked “organic” and “Fairtrade” to ensure your ginger essential oil was produced ethically and sustainably.
Why is Ginger Oil So Good for Your Skin?
Given ginger’s extensive use in medicine over the past few millennia, it should come as no surprise to learn that ginger oil has many benefits for your skin. This potent liquid is great for reducing skin roughness and combatting irritation.
Ginger oil boasts a very high level of antioxidant activity. This means it gets to work combatting signs of aging, like fine lines or wrinkles. Give a cream containing ginger oil a try if you suffer from hyperpigmentation or redness – it can work wonders to fight these.
Ginger essential oil is what’s known as an arterial stimulant, helping to improve blood flow through the body’s arteries. Better circulation is good for the entire body, but it aids explicitly in bringing life back to tired or dull skin and encouraging that healthy glow we all love to see.
Though it’s never been confirmed, there’s plenty of evidence that ginger aids the body in stimulating lymphatic drainage. The lymphatic system flushes toxins out of the body, so anything that stimulates it benefits not just the skin but the entire body!
Lastly, ginger essential oil is incredible for aromatherapy. Though not strictly skincare-related, a detoxed and de-stressed mind and body inevitably leads to calmer skin, reduced breakouts, and overall better well-being.
How to Use Ginger Essential Oil: Products and Pairings
Before you grab that bottle, here’s a gentle reminder: Ginger essential oil, like many other distilled essential oils, is very potent. Do not apply it directly to your skin on its own, as this can cause irritation and even damage!
But then how can I reap the skincare benefits, I hear you ask?
Well, for starters, you can use what’s called a carrier oil. This group of more neutral liquid oils is easy to apply to the skin, and they safely dilute the essential oil for topical use.
Some of my favorite carrier oils to pair with ginger essential oils are avocado, almond, and jojoba – the skincare benefits of these oils synergize brilliantly with ginger. For example, avocado oil has anti-inflammatory properties, so combine it with the benefits of ginger oil for a great skin-calming DIY lotion. These oils’ subtler, cozier smells also blend well with the fiery, spicy ginger without being too overpowering or busy.
You can use a ginger/carrier oil mix as a topical acne treatment. Apply it directly to spots, and it’ll reduce redness and inflammation! Or try a similar mix as a bath oil: 5-10 drops of ginger essential oil mixed into a tablespoon of carrier oil and added to your bath will help promote skin health.
Or how about a homemade body scrub? Take your ginger-loaded carrier oil and throw in some sugar or salt. You’ll exfoliate your skin while the ginger oil helps improve circulation and relaxes those muscles. And speaking of relaxing muscles, ginger essential oil is one of the very best choices to introduce to a massage oil.
Perhaps you want to try blending or mixing your own essential oils. If it’s your first time, try this Savvy Homemade guide to get you started. Once you’re comfortable with the basic principles, it’s time to start experimenting! We’re all about DIY with our skincare, so have a play and find out what blends and mixes work for you.
If you want some pointers, I adore combining ginger with some of the other warm, spicy, or earthy oils: Think sandalwood, rosemary, or bergamot. Ginger has anti-sickness properties, so a blend with, for example, peppermint essential oil synergizes nicely. Or how about citrus oils? The scent of ginger intertwines wonderfully with lemon, lime, or orange. Citrus oils are excellent for degreasing skin and helping with brightness, so adding that to ginger oil benefits oil’s impressive resume is a great combo.
Experience the Benefits Ginger Oil Gives your Skin
Ginger essential oil is such a powerful and versatile oil that the benefits for your skin are endless. After all, any plant used for thousands of years must be incredible for you. Be brave and experiment with incorporating ginger essential oil into your DIY skincare creations and your daily routine. You’ll see the benefits in no time!
