Bergamot Oil Benefits for Skin and Hair

March 28, 2019

How this unique citrus fruit can benefit your beauty regimen

Bergamot is a fragrant citrus fruit, that’s about the size of an orange with a yellowish-green blush. Similar to a lime, its genetic profile is a hybrid of lemon and bitter orange. This acidic and inedible fruit hails from a spiny tree called a citrus bergamia, which can be found in tropical climates in Southeast Asia, Southern Italy, and the South of France. Blossoming in the winter, the fruit is cultivated for its fragrant skin (not to be eaten) which is then typically pressed for its precious oil. The peel lends the floral bitterness to earl gray tea, and also features in a variety of super energizing aromatherapy formulas and plant-based perfumes.

In aromatherapy, the oil has proven uplifting and energizing effects, supporting the central nervous system, soothing anxiety, and ameliorating over thinking. It’s also effective for clearing up a congested respiratory system, opening up the chest and increasing circulation when applied topically to a sore throat.

Alas, bergamot does more than provide its unique fragrance and medicinal aromatherapeutic benefits – it also has a long list of applications for hair and skin, and can amp up your beauty routine in DIY formulas!

Bergamot Oils Benefits for Your Beauty Routine

BERGAMOT FOR SKIN CARE

Spicy and citrusy bergamot oil is a natural astringent, with clarifying and oil-reducing properties that make it ideal for anyone suffering from overactive sebum production. It’s a balancing addition to formulas aimed at dealing with oily skin: bergamot will penetrate and unclog pores, while respecting your skin’s natural lipid barrier, neither over-drying nor stripping. It’s also super helpful for hyperpigmentation, which can be a lingering hangover from acne blemishes long after they’ve healed.

Applied to post-blemish marks, bergamot oil works to stimulate skin cell renewal, redistributing skin pigments for an even and toned complexion. What’s more, bergamot has naturally powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, making it an effective tonic for live blemishes and bacterial induced pore clogging. Or for a daily hack, try toting around bergamot oil instead of your usual hand sanitizer. It’s less drying than alcohol, and just as effective at zapping bacteria and freshening your digits.

BERGAMOT FOR HAIR

For hair health, bergamot oil is a stimulating and regenerating add-on to your everyday routine. It can add shine to dull locks suffering from dryness and weather induced breakage and frizz. And it’s also an effective tonic when it comes to dealing with scalp health. Bergamot oil works to stimulate skin cell renewal on the scalp to promote the healthy sloughing away of dead skin to reveal new skin underneath. This gentle exfoliating action effectively opens up hair follicles on the scalp, allowing for stronger growth and ultimately contributing to thicker hair when used over time.

The incredibly high content of Vitamin C that’s naturally present in bergamot oil also works to protect your hair against oxidative stress from environmental pollutants, as well as stimulating the production of collagen (an important component of hair structure). Applied directly to the scalp using a firm massaging motion, bergamot can help your body absorb iron and minerals, resulting in thicker and healthier hair growth over time.

For a stimulating hair mask, try mixing a few drops of bergamot oil into a shea butter and coconut oil base. Shea butter is rich in vitamins A, K and E, all key for repairing hair follicle damage and encouraging new hair growth. Coconut oil provides antibacterial action and hard-to-find essential fatty acids. Bergamot adds a clarifying citrus boost with natural astringent properties, effectively unblocking hair follicles, reducing bacteria, and combating excessive oiliness on the scalp.

To make, melt 1 part shea butter with 1 part coconut oil, and add 2-3 drops of bergamot essential oil into the mix. Massage the mixture into your scalp, covering it with saran wrap or a towel and letting it sit for up to thirty minutes before washing the mixture out with a gentle plant based shampoo.

Important Precautions for Using Bergamot Oil

Note that bergamot essential oil can be irritating when used on the skin or scalp alone. The oil has a tendency to increase your skin’s photosensitivity, and undiluted application before going outside can result in chemical irritation, stingining, and redness. The presence of a chemical compound in bergamot called bergapten is responsible for this reaction, which can also caused photosensitivity when worn during the day.

To avoid any sort of burning or toxicity, dilute your bergamot oil into a carrier oil (like coconut).

Otherwise you can dilute into a H2O spray for a freshening makeup setter or mid-day energizer. The maximum dose you should be delivering to your skin is .4 percent to avoid any sort of toxicity (and if you’re not sure that your DIY mixology skills are there yet, opt for a plant-based bergamot product that’s pre-diluted). For more on the importance of steering clear of bergapten, peep our Bergaptene-Free Bergamot Guide for the full breakdown. Another important note? Pregnant women should avoid bergamot, unless otherwise directed by their primary care physician.

Haven't experience the benefits of this citrus superstar yet? Give our ultra gentle Nopal Cactus Cleanser or our anti-aging Restorative Facial Oil a go, to reap serious bergamot benefits!