Basil oil
Basil oil is a fresh, herbaceous essential oil extracted from the leaves of the basil plant. In UK beauty products it is used in small amounts for its clarifying aroma and skin-purifying properties, appearing in cleansers, toners, face masks and hair care formulas.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, basil oil functions primarily as a fragrance ingredient and mild purifying agent. Its naturally occurring compounds, including linalool and eugenol, give it a clean, green scent while helping to balance oiliness on the skin and scalp. Formulators value its ability to refresh the complexion and hair without stripping natural moisture when used at appropriate cosmetic concentrations.
Key benefits
- Helps balance excess oil on skin and scalp
- Imparts a fresh, clean scent to products
- Refreshes and clarifies the complexion
- Supports healthy-looking scalp and hair
- Provides a mild toning effect in cleansers and toners
- Adds a herbaceous note to natural fragrance blends
Best for
oily skin, combination skin, acne-prone skin, normal skin
Where it comes from
Basil oil is steam-distilled from the leaves and flowering tops of Ocimum basilicum, a fragrant annual herb belonging to the mint family and widely cultivated across Europe, Asia and North Africa.
Products with Basil oil
Not every product on UK Lips lists a full ingredient breakdown — so there may be many more formulas that contain Basil oil than we can show here. These are the comparisons where we’ve confirmed it in the listed ingredients.