What is lavender in skincare?
Lavender oil is steam-distilled from the flowering spikes of Lavandula angustifolia. Its main constituents are linalool and linalyl acetate, which give it both its scent and its biological activity.
It is one of the most widely used essential oils in cosmetics, valued for fragrance as much as for function. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties are real, but so is its potential to sensitise skin.
What skin concerns does lavender treat?
It calms minor irritation, insect bites and small wounds, and has been shown to support wound healing and collagen synthesis in experimental models. Its antibacterial action gives it a modest role in mild acne.
Its most reliable benefit is arguably indirect: lavender’s effect on stress and sleep quality matters for skin, since cortisol drives inflammation and breakouts. As a topical active on the face, however, it is one of the weaker options.
What ingredients are best paired with lavender?
Always dilute it in a carrier oil – jojoba, squalane or sweet almond – to around 1%. Pair it with calming ingredients such as chamomile, centella asiatica and colloidal oatmeal.
Be cautious: linalool oxidises on exposure to air into a known contact allergen, and lavender is a common cause of fragrance sensitivity. If your skin is reactive or you are treating rosacea, a fragrance-free calming ingredient is the safer choice. Take our Skin Quiz.
What is bumpy skin?
Bumpy skin is a texture problem rather than a single condition. It covers the rough, uneven surface you can feel more than see – most often keratosis pilaris (small hard bumps on the upper arms, thighs and cheeks), closed comedones, milia, or simple build-up of dead cells on the surface.
Keratosis pilaris in particular affects a large share of the population and is harmless, but it makes skin feel like sandpaper and can be stubborn to smooth out.
What causes bumpy skin?
Most bumpy texture comes from keratin plugging the follicle. When dead cells fail to shed cleanly, they collect at the pore opening and form a firm bump – a process closely linked to a weakened permeability barrier and low skin hydration.
Genetics, dry skin, cold weather, eczema and a history of over-scrubbing all make it worse. Aggressive physical exfoliation tends to backfire, inflaming the follicle and thickening the plug.
What ingredients are best for bumpy skin?
Chemical exfoliation works far better than scrubbing. Salicylic acid clears inside the follicle, lactic and glycolic acid loosen surface build-up, and urea both exfoliates and hydrates.
Retinoids normalise how skin sheds over time, while ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid keep the barrier strong so the plugs stop reforming. Consistency matters more than strength here. Take our Skin Quiz to work out which exfoliant your skin can tolerate.
