Frankincense Essential Oil Key Facts
Rating: Best.
(Best / Excellent / Good / Average / Not Recommended)
Origin: Natural.
(Natural / Synthetic)
Vegan: Yes.
(Yes / No)
Botanical name: Boswellia spp.
Synonym: Olibanum.
Functions: anti-inflammatory agent, skin renewal booster, skin repair booster, anti-ageing.
Suitability: all skin types.
General safety: Frankincense essential oil is generally non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitising.
Contraindications: Frankincense essential oil has no known contraindication.
Regulatory guidelines: Frankincense essential oil has been approved for food use.
Frankincense essential oil is made by distilling the hardened resin of Boswellia trees including Boswellia serrata, Boswellia carteri, Boswellia frereana and Boswellia sacra. Frankincense essential oil has an uplifting aroma which is often used in aromatherapy and perfumery to promote a sense of wellbeing and calm.
The History and Traditional Uses of Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense has been used in the religious and domestic lives of Egyptian, Persian, Hebrew, Greek and Roman civilisations for more than 2,000 years . Frankincense is regularly mentioned in the Bible.
Frankincense essential oil in Skincare
In skincare, frankincense essential oil is often used for its rejuvenating and wound-healing effects. Clinical studies showed that frankincense essential oil has various skin benefits. It is highly recommended for treating dry and mature skin, wrinkles, lines and scars.
The Benefits of Frankincense Essential Oil For Your Skin
1. The Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Frankincense Essential Oil
Inflammation is a major cause of skin ageing. A study by University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland, showed that frankincense has strong anti-inflammatory properties which help prevent skin irritation.
Some studies suggest that bowellic acids found in the frankincense gum inhibit the activities of 5-lipoxygenase and leucite elastase, the two enzymes which play key roles in inflammation and hypersensitivity-based diseases.
2. The Wound-Healing Properties of Frankincense Essential Oil
A recent study showed that frankincense essential oil speeds up wound healing and prevents scar formation. It promotes the release of transforming growth factor which accelerates skin cell turnover. Skin cell turnover is a crucial process where the skin replaces damaged cells with new ones. It helps reverse the signs of damage and ageing in the skin.
3. The Anti-Melanoma Skin Cancer Properties of Frankincense Essential Oil
A study in 2019 highlighted the potential use of frankincense essential oil for the prevention and treatment of melanoma skin cancer.
4. The Anti-UVB Properties of Frankincense Essential Oil
A recent study in 2023 showed the potential use of frankincense essential oil to prevent UVB-induced photoageing in the skin.
Can all skin types benefit from frankincense essential oil?
Yes, all skin types including sensitive skin can benefit from frankincense essential oil in skincare products. Choose frankincense skincare products which suit your skin type. If you have an oily skin, choose frankincense skincare products with a light, oil-free formula. If you have dry skin, choose frankincense skincare products with a rich, nourishing formula. For sensitive skin, always do a patch test before using a new skincare product.
Is it safe to use skincare products which contain frankincense essential oil during the day?
Frankincense essential oil is not known to be phototoxic so skincare products which contain frankincense essential oil can be used at anytime during the day and night as long as the other ingredients in the products are also not phototoxic.
Can you use skincare products which contain frankincense essential oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Yes, facial skincare products with frankincense essential oil are generally safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, never apply any undiluted essential oil including frankincense directly to the skin. Always check and make sure that the other ingredients in the products are also safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Skincare Product With Frankincense Essential Oil
Hydra Lift Supreme Harmonising Serum with an optimum concentration of sodium hyaluronate, spirulina extract, marine collagen peptides and frankincense essential oil to deeply hydrate, lift, firm and smooth the appearance of the skin learn more >>>
Author:
Henry Tianus is a multi-award-winning Anti-Ageing Scientist with 3 decades experience in skincare research and product development. Henry Tianus's articles have been read by people in more than 100 countries with USA and UK at the top of the list. Join Henry Tianus eNewsletter to receive the latest health and wellbeing tips.
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Scientific Sources: (1) Frankincense--therapeutic properties, Postepy Higieny I Medycyny Doswiadczalnej (Online), 2016 Jan 4, 70: 380-91. (2) Biological activities of frankincense essential oil in human dermal fibroblasts, Biochimie Open, 2017 Jun, 4: 31–35. (3) Chemistry and Immunomodulatory Activity of Frankincense Oil, The Zeitschrift für Naturforschung, 58 c, 230D238 (2003). (4) The Story of Frankincense, Middle East Institute; Frankincense essential oil prepared from hydrodistillation of Boswellia sacra gum resins induces human pancreatic cancer cell death in cultures and in a xenograft murine model, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12, Article number: 253 (2012). (5) The role of the TGF-β family in wound healing, burns and scarring: a review, International Journal of Burns and Trauma, 2012, 2(1): 18–28. (6) Frankincense essential oil suppresses melanoma cancer through down regulation of Bcl-2/Bax cascade signaling and ameliorates heptotoxicity via phase I and II drug metabolizing enzymes, Oncotarget, 2019 May 28; 10(37): 3472–3490. (7) Protective potential of frankincense essential oil and its loaded solid lipid nanoparticles against UVB-induced photodamage in rats via MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways; A promising anti-aging therapy, PLoS One, 2023; 18(12): e0294067. (8) Frankincense oil derived from Boswellia carteri induces tumor cell specific cytotoxicity, BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 2009; 9: 6. (9) The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy, Third Edition, Vol 1- Foundations & Materia Medica, Salvatore Battaglia. (10) Frankincense - a cropwatch bibliography, Cropwatch, 2010; 1(11). (11) Lawless J., The encyclopaedia of essential oils. Element Books, Shaftesbury 1992. (12) Khan I, Abourashed E. Leung's encyclopaedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs and cosmetics, 3rd edition, John Wiley & Sons, New Jersey 2010.