Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil—whether from Cinnamomum zeylanicum or Cinnamomum verum (both often referred to as “true” cinnamon)—is a powerful, warming oil with potent therapeutic properties. It’s highly concentrated and aromatic, derived from steam-distilling the inner bark of the cinnamon tree.

What is Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil?

Cinnamon bark oil is rich in cinnamaldehyde (the primary active compound, makes up ~65–75% of the oil), eugenol (a secondary component, especially in leaf oil), linalool, benzyl benzoate, and coumarin (in trace amounts). These compounds give the oil its antimicrobial, circulation-boosting, warming and stimulating effects.

How is Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil used in skincare?

Cinnamon bark oil is typically used:

• In extremely low dilutions (0.01–0.1% of a formula)
• As a stimulating or warming agent in lip plumpers or body contouring oils
• Occasionally in acne spot treatments (when highly diluted and combined with other oils)
• In aromatherapeutic formulations to enhance circulation and awaken the senses

Because it's so potent and potentially irritating, it's almost never used directly on the face and should always be diluted in a carrier oil like jojoba, almond, or shea.

What are the benefits of Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil for your complexion and skin microbiome?

When cinnamon bark essential oil is diluted, it’s antimicrobial and effective against pathogens. Although it’s not considered a skin-barrier staple, it’s beneficial when paired with barrier-restoring ingredients like shea butter or ceramides. Let’s take a deeper dive into its pros for your complexion:

• Antimicrobial Powerhouse: Cinnamon bark oil is very effective against a broad range of bacteria, fungi, and yeast. It can help reduce acne-causing bacteria like Cutibacterium acnes, and is occasionally used in antifungal skin treatments (like for athlete’s foot or candida-prone areas).
• Boosts Circulation: Cinnamon bark has a warming effect that brings blood to the surface. It may improve oxygen and nutrient delivery to the skin. In theory, it could give your skin a “radiance boost”—but this requires serious dilution.
• Antioxidant Activity: It contains cinnamaldehyde and other phenolic compounds that help neutralize free radicals. This may offer protection from oxidative stress (especially in body oils or massage blends).