If you have been using essential oils for a while, you are probably already using carrier oils. For those new to essential oils, a carrier oil is a base oil used to dilute essential oils before they are applied topically (to the skin).
What Are Essential Oils?
Powerfully fragrant, essential oils are the concentrated essences of the natural aromatic compounds found in leaves, flowers, stems, roots, bark, resin, seeds of plants, or the peel of a fruit.
True essential oils are either steam distilled or cold-pressed from the source plant.
Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for many things from medicine and health to religious and spiritual ceremonies. The simple aroma of essential oils can affect our mood.
When we inhale through our nose, the scent molecules in essential oils travel across millions of tiny olfactory neurons that sit on the roof of the nasal cavity. These neurons activate regions in the limbic system of the brain associated with memory, emotion, and state of mind.
Why do we Need to Dilute Essential Oils?
Essential oils are about 80 to 100 times more potent than the botanicals from which they are extracted.
For example, it takes about 220 pounds of lavender flowers to produce one pound of lavender essential oil and about 100 lemons to produce one ounce of lemon essential oil.
These concentrated oils have the potential to irritate the skin. Diluting essential oils prior to topical use helps minimize the risk of skin irritation or sensitization.
What Are Carrier Oils?
Unlike essential oils which are distilled or expressed from the aromatic components of a plant, carrier oils are derived from oily seeds, kernels, or nuts.
Carrier oils are the easiest way to dilute concentrated essential oils so that they be safely applied to the skin, but they are not all alike.
Each oil contains different fatty acids and nutrients and has its own set of therapeutic properties. We are often so focused on the essential oils that we overlook the benefits of carrier oils.
- Carrier oils offer their own therapeutic benefits to any skincare regimen.
- Carrier oils allow you to apply essential oils over a larger area of skin, which can help increase absorption.
- Essential oils are very volatile, meaning they evaporate quickly. Carrier oils help slow evaporation which helps the scent to linger for a longer period of time.
Why do we need an OIL? Essential oils are soluble (will dissolve) in carrier oils and alcohol. Since you are not going to use alcohol as a base for a skincare product, carrier oils are the perfect option.
How to Choose a Carrier Oil?
Researching carrier oils online can be overwhelming because there are so many different types available. Carrier oils are mainly made up of fatty acids and each carrier oil will provide its own unique skincare benefits depending on the fatty acids it contains.
Keep in mind the purpose of the product you are creating as well as your skin type.
Some heavier oils like olive oil are great for dry skin, while jojoba would be a better choice for someone who is acne-prone.
A high-quality carrier oil will be as natural and as unadulterated as possible. We recommend pure, organic, cold-pressed or expeller-presses, minimally processed unrefined plant-based oils.
These oils have not been exposed to extraction procedures using petroleum-derived solvents, high heat, bleaching, or deodorizing. Although unrefined oils often retain some scent, they also retain lots of nutrients.
Note that if you are creating a product for its aromatherapy benefits rather than its skin-nourishing properties, some carrier oils have a stronger scent and may affect the aroma of your essential oils.
A Brief List of Carrier Oils
Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is often overlooked in skin care but it is a very versatile oil, readily available and affordable (even the certified organic brands).
Expeller pressed from the seeds, this light oil is easily absorbed and can be used on all skin types, including dry, delicate, normal, and oily.
Rich in essential fatty acids, lecithin, amino acids, minerals, and vitamin E, it deeply nourishes, softens, moisturizes, and conditions all skin types. Since it helps soothe irritation I recommend it for those with super-sensitive skin who suffer from dermatitis, acne, dry, flaky eczema, or psoriasis.
There are two types of sunflower available on store shelves, regular and high oleic. While both are great for skin, the high oleic version is heavier and feels more like olive oil.
It is also important to know that while organic sunflower oil is either cold-pressed or expeller-pressed, most commercial sunflower oil is solvent-extracted to maximize production.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra Virgin Olive oil is another readily available and affordable oil. It is often overlooked as a carrier oil for two main reasons, scent, and consistency.
A quality extra virgin olive oil has a very distinct aroma that can interfere with the scent of some essential oils. It is also a heavier oil that is best for people with drier skin. It is high in antioxidants and is exceptionally healing and soothing to dry patchy skin.
Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed is another readily available oil since has become popular in the world of cooking. It is a very lightweight oil, with a thin consistency that is easily absorbed by the skin and has a neutral scent. Grapeseed oil, suitable for all skin types, is high in linoleic acid and very moisturizing, especially for sensitive or delicate skin.
It is a good carrier oil to make massage or body oils as well as a great oil to help reduce the greasy feel of heavier oils. Be sure to choose the cold-pressed oil since it retains the oil's beneficial properties. Cheaper versions are extracted using higher heat and solvents like hexane.
Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is a wonderfully hydrating oil, rich in fatty acids, and acts as a humectant to help retain and preserve moisture.
It is a heavier oil that absorbs slowly but deeply into the skin due to its high oleic acid content. Due to its thickness, some like to blend avocado oil with thinner oils, such as almond, jojoba, or sunflower. It is an excellent moisturizer for dry, damaged skin, but may be too heavy for acne-prone skin. Quality unrefined avocado oil has a characteristic aroma that can interfere with the scent of some essential oils.
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet Almond oil is a moisturizing oil recommended for most skin types, especially inflamed, itchy, cracked, or sensitive skin.
It contains vitamins A and E, minerals, and omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, has a light to medium consistency, absorbs well, and has been found helpful for the dry, flaky conditions of eczema or psoriasis.
Although it may have a slightly nutty scent, it is not overwhelming.
Sweet almond oil is one of the most popular massage oils among massage therapists. The "slippery" oil allows hands to glide easily over the skin.
Jojoba Oil
Technically, jojoba is not an oil, but a liquid wax. Chemically similar to human sebum (the oil secreted by your skin), it is considered nature's most effective natural moisturizer. A good quality jojoba oil is a rich, golden color.
The oil absorbs easily, does not clog pores, and is a good choice for all skin types even those who have sensitive skin or are prone to acne. Whether your complexion is dry, oily, or a little bit of both, jojoba oil can help balance the skin’s natural oil production. Jojoba has a long, stable shelf-life.
Conclusion
Carrier oils not only make it possible for people to enjoy the benefits of topical essential oils safely, but they also offer their own therapeutic properties that help nourish and moisturize the skin.
When choosing a carrier oil the key is not the price, but the quality of the product.
Make sure to choose a carrier oil that is appropriate for your skin type. Some oils are lighter and more readily absorbed by the skin while others have a heavier consistency. Additionally, some oils might be gentler on sensitive skin conditions.
Cover photo by Chelsea shapouri
