So recently I've been applying "aloe gel with lavender" to my face before I go to sleep. I started noticing that, when I woke up, my skin was smoother and softer than usual, and my facial hair (stubble) seemed shorter than it normally is when I wake up. I wasn't sure if I was imagining it, so I conducted a little 'experiment' last night: I applied the topical everywhere except my upper lip. When I woke up, the stubble on my upper lip was noticeably longer than everywhere else! I've used aloe vera before and it didn't have this effect, so I figure lavender oil must be the culprit.

A quick google search turned up dozens of articles discussing lavender oil and tea tree oil as androgen antagonists. Apparently, both are a little dangerous for adolescent boys (leading to hormone imbalance), but maybe this is a good thing for acne treatment. I'm not sure if inhibiting the androgens in your face would really have an affect on inflammatory response, but I know that for me at least, my facial hair tends to lead to irritation, and when I wake up with less of it, my skin feels better. (And of course, both tea tree oil and lavender oil contain chemicals that can inhibit bacterial/fungal growth.)

I'm kinda interested in the possibility of using these essential oils for skin care, so I started doing a little research:

- this thread suggests that essential oils can keep cells/dna healthy

- this is a thread I made where I listed my findings so far (chamomile, artemisia, thyme)

- here is an interesting study on japanese cedar essential oil, with an in-depth analysis of its anti-inflammatory properties and effect on acne-inducing bacteria

To do list:

- Oregano oil (is carvacrol safe?)

- Helichrysum oil (can it really heal scar tissue?)

- Which other oils promote collagen production?