Frankincense for Skin: Benefits, Uses & What the Science Says
Frankincense for Skin: Benefits, Uses & What the Science Says
Few botanicals carry the weight of history that frankincense does. For thousands of years, this aromatic resin — harvested from the Boswellia tree in some of the world's most arid landscapes — has been valued across cultures for its healing, restorative, and ceremonial properties. It was traded along ancient routes as a luxury commodity, used in the beauty rituals of Egyptian courts, and documented by physicians from Hippocrates to Ayurvedic practitioners.
Today, a growing body of research is helping explain what traditional practice has long observed: frankincense contains naturally occurring compounds with meaningful properties for skin health, particularly for mature, reactive, and environmentally stressed skin. At Bovanique, it's one of the botanicals we work with most carefully — chosen for its depth of action and its ability to complement the other ingredients in our formulations.
Here's a closer look at what frankincense is, what the science suggests, and how we use it in our small-batch botanical balms.
What Is Frankincense?
Frankincense is a resin produced by trees of the Boswellia genus, native to the arid regions of the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, and South Asia. The resin is harvested by making careful incisions in the bark, allowing the sap to seep out and harden into small, amber-coloured droplets known as “tears.” These tears are then steam-distilled to produce frankincense essential oil, or processed to extract boswellic acids and other active compounds.
Several Boswellia species are used in skincare and traditional medicine, with Boswellia sacra (from Oman) and Boswellia carterii (from Somalia) most commonly used in botanical skincare formulations. Boswellia serrata, the Indian variety, has a particularly well-researched profile in Ayurvedic medicine and is widely studied for its anti-inflammatory properties.
In botanical skincare, frankincense essential oil is incorporated into carrier oils and balms, where its active compounds can be delivered to the skin in an appropriately diluted, skin-compatible form.
🌿 Did You Know?
The word frankincense comes from the Old French franc encens, meaning “pure incense” — a reference to its quality and its long use in sacred and ceremonial contexts. At the height of the ancient incense trade, frankincense was among the most valuable commodities in the world, transported along dedicated trade routes from the Arabian Peninsula to Egypt, Greece, Rome, and beyond. Ancient Egyptian texts describe its use in cosmetic preparations and skin treatments, and it appears in the medical writings of Hippocrates and Dioscorides. Few botanicals have been so consistently valued across so many civilisations and centuries.
The Science Behind Frankincense: Key Compounds & How They Work
Frankincense's properties in skincare are explained by a combination of naturally occurring compounds, each contributing to its distinctive profile:
- Boswellic acids — the primary active compounds in frankincense resin, associated with supporting the body's natural inflammatory response and studied for their role in skin comfort and tissue health
- Alpha-pinene — a naturally occurring terpene associated with anti-inflammatory and mild antimicrobial activity
- Limonene — an antioxidant compound associated with supporting a more even-looking skin tone and protecting against environmental stressors
- Incensole and incensole acetate — compounds associated with calming effects on the nervous system and a grounding, woody aroma
- Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes — a broader class of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that contribute to frankincense's overall skin-supporting profile
Together, these compounds give frankincense a profile that is both deeply rooted in traditional practice and increasingly supported by modern research — making it one of the more compelling botanicals for mature, reactive, and environmentally stressed skin.
Frankincense Benefits for Skin: What Research Suggests
Supports the skin's natural renewal process
Frankincense is associated with supporting healthy cell turnover and tissue regeneration. Research suggests its active compounds may help promote a more even skin texture and support the skin's natural renewal cycle, which slows with age. This makes it a thoughtful choice for mature skin or skin that has experienced environmental stress over time.
Supports collagen and skin elasticity
Boswellic acids are associated with supporting the skin's collagen environment, which plays a central role in skin firmness and resilience. Research has explored frankincense's potential to support skin elasticity and the appearance of skin tone with consistent use. As with all botanical ingredients, individual results vary and consistent use over time is key.
Soothes visible redness and supports the skin's natural inflammatory response
Frankincense's anti-inflammatory compounds — particularly its boswellic acids — are associated with calming inflammatory responses in the skin. This makes it a useful addition to formulations intended for reactive, sensitive, or environmentally stressed skin, where visible redness and irritation are common concerns.
Supports the skin's natural healing process
Research suggests frankincense may support wound closure and tissue recovery, consistent with its long history of use in traditional wound care across many cultures. Its mild antimicrobial properties may also contribute to a balanced skin environment during the healing process.
Antioxidant protection against environmental stressors
Frankincense's monoterpenes and limonene act as antioxidants, helping to neutralise free radicals from UV exposure, pollution, and environmental stress. Consistent use may support a healthier-looking complexion and help protect the skin from the cumulative effects of environmental exposure.
Supports a sense of calm and grounding
Incensole acetate, a compound found in frankincense resin, has been studied for its effects on the nervous system and is associated with a calming, grounding quality. When incorporated into a balm used as part of an evening skincare ritual, frankincense's distinctive woody, resinous aroma may complement its skin-supporting properties.
Who Is Frankincense Best Suited For?
Frankincense is a particularly good fit for mature, dry, and environmentally stressed skin — skin that benefits from deep nourishment, antioxidant support, and ingredients associated with healthy cell renewal. It's also well suited to those dealing with visible redness, uneven skin tone, or the early signs of environmental ageing.
Its calming, grounding aroma also makes it a thoughtful addition to evening skincare routines for those who value the sensory dimension of botanical skincare.
A few notes: Frankincense essential oil should always be used in appropriately diluted formulations — never applied undiluted to the skin. As with any essential oil, a patch test is recommended before first use, particularly for those with sensitive or reactive skin. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a known health condition, consult a qualified healthcare professional before use.
How to Use Frankincense in Your Skincare Routine
Evening facial care — Apply a frankincense-based balm to clean, slightly damp skin in the evening. Frankincense's association with skin renewal makes it particularly well suited to overnight use, when the skin's natural repair processes are most active.
Targeted care for areas of concern — Apply directly to areas of dryness, uneven texture, or visible redness. Massage gently to support absorption into the skin.
Mature skin daily care — Frankincense's antioxidant and skin-supporting properties make it a good choice for daily use on mature or environmentally stressed skin. Apply morning and evening as part of a consistent routine for best results.
Evening grounding ritual — Apply to pulse points — wrists, temples, and the base of the throat — as part of a calming evening routine. Frankincense's woody, resinous aroma is naturally grounding and pairs well with other calming botanicals like lavender and chamomile.
Post-activity body care — Frankincense's anti-inflammatory properties make it a thoughtful addition to post-activity body care routines, particularly when combined with complementary botanicals like arnica and turmeric.
🌿 How We Use Frankincense at Bovanique
Frankincense is one of the botanicals we approach with particular care at Bovanique — not only because of its depth of action, but because of the responsibility that comes with working with an ingredient that has such a long and meaningful history.
We incorporate frankincense essential oil into our balms alongside carefully selected carrier oils and botanical infusions, where it works in concert with complementary ingredients chosen for how they support one another. In our facial formulations, frankincense pairs with rosehip and calendula — botanicals that share its affinity for mature and environmentally stressed skin. In our body care formulations, it works alongside arnica and turmeric to support post-activity recovery.
Every batch is made by hand in small quantities in British Columbia, using sustainably sourced ingredients. We believe that frankincense's enduring presence across thousands of years of botanical practice reflects something genuine — and we work to honour that tradition through the quality of our sourcing and the care of our formulation process.
Frankincense in Bovanique Formulations
We use frankincense in the balms where its skin-renewing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties are most relevant:
- GlowGuard Botanical Balm — Frankincense + Rosehip + Calendula, crafted for overnight skin renewal and mature skin nourishment
- RestoreRelief Botanical Balm — Frankincense + Arnica + Turmeric, formulated for post-activity recovery and deep body care
- Browse the Botanical Balms Collection →
Frankincense & Carrier Oils: A Natural Partnership
Frankincense essential oil is always used in combination with carrier oils — never applied to the skin undiluted. The choice of carrier oil matters: different oils bring different properties to a formulation, and the right pairing can meaningfully enhance the overall effect.
In our GlowGuard formulation, frankincense is paired with rosehip seed oil — a carrier oil with its own well-researched profile for mature and environmentally stressed skin. The combination creates a formulation that is greater than the sum of its parts: frankincense supporting skin renewal and antioxidant protection, rosehip contributing essential fatty acids and additional skin-nourishing compounds.
Understanding carrier oils is an important part of understanding botanical skincare. We'll be exploring this topic in more depth in an upcoming article in The Balm Blog.
Key Takeaways
- Frankincense has been used in traditional herbal and cosmetic practice for thousands of years, valued across many cultures for its skin-supporting, anti-inflammatory, and restorative properties.
- Its naturally occurring compounds — including boswellic acids, alpha-pinene, and limonene — continue to be studied for their role in supporting skin renewal, comfort, and resilience.
- Frankincense is particularly well suited to mature, dry, and environmentally stressed skin, and works best as part of a consistent botanical skincare routine.
- At Bovanique, frankincense essential oil is incorporated into our handcrafted, small-batch formulations alongside carefully selected carrier oils and complementary botanicals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Frankincense
Is frankincense good for ageing skin?
Frankincense is widely used in botanical skincare formulations intended for mature and ageing skin. Its naturally occurring compounds — particularly boswellic acids — are associated with supporting the skin's collagen environment and natural renewal process. Research suggests consistent topical use may support skin elasticity and a more even-looking complexion over time, though individual results vary. It works best as part of a consistent, nourishing skincare routine.
Can frankincense help with skin redness?
Yes — frankincense's anti-inflammatory compounds are associated with calming inflammatory responses in the skin and reducing the appearance of redness. It's a popular choice for reactive and sensitive skin types, and is frequently used in formulations intended to support skin comfort and a more even-looking complexion. As with any botanical, a patch test is recommended before first use.
Can frankincense be used every day?
Yes — frankincense is generally well-tolerated for daily use when incorporated into appropriately formulated products. It's particularly well suited to evening use, when the skin's natural renewal processes are most active. Those with sensitive skin should introduce it gradually and patch test first. Frankincense essential oil should never be applied undiluted to the skin.
Continue Your Botanical Journey
If you found this article helpful, you might enjoy exploring more of our botanical education series:
- 🌿 Calendula for Skin: Benefits, Uses & Why We Love This Botanical — a gentle, skin-soothing botanical that pairs naturally with frankincense in our GlowGuard formulation
- 🌿 Rosehip Oil for Skin: Benefits, Uses & What the Science Says — frankincense's closest companion in mature skin care, coming soon to The Balm Blog
- 🌿 Understanding Carrier Oils: The Foundation of Botanical Skincare — coming soon to The Balm Blog
- 🌿 Browse the Botanical Balms Collection — explore our full range of handcrafted small-batch balms
The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. If you have a skin condition or health concern, please consult a qualified healthcare professional before use. Bovanique Balms are cosmetic products designed to support healthy-looking skin — they are not medical treatments.