Carrier Oils: What You Need To Know

So you’ve heard of carrier oils, but what exactly are they and why do you need them? You see, a great way to use essential oils is to massage them into your skin on problem areas. But to do this they need to be diluted, as they are highly concentrated and should never be placed directly on your skin. There are a few exceptions here but let this be the rule: no direct skin contact. Each drop of rose essential oil for example takes approx. 50-100 blooms to create. That’s one powerful drop (!) and it can have diverse – and sometimes even adverse – effects on the body if it’s not applied properly. To dilute it (and other essential oils) we use what’s called a carrier, or base, oil that’s made from a vegetable, nut or seed. Carrier oils act as a medium to help with absorption of the essential oils without blocking the skin. You’ll want to stay away from mineral oils though as they do the exact opposite. Another great feature of carrier oils is that they do not evaporate like essential oils do when they come in contact with air or are warmed. They’re also great to use when you want to blend several different essential oils together.

When purchasing carrier oils, you want them to be machine-pressed or cold-pressed rather than heat or solvent extracted, as they’ll contain more of the origin’s nutrients, and you want them to be as fresh as possible. Organic is always a good choice too. Before using any, give them a smell and if they’re rancid (you’ll know when they are, trust me!) or over 2+ years old they shouldn’t be used. There are a number of carrier oils to choose from, all with their own slightly different properties. Let’s look at some of the more common ones:

Apricot Kernel Oil (Prunus armeniaca) – contains mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins A, B1, B2 and B6. It’s anti-inflammatory and great for mature or dry skin. Its odour is not strong and it won’t go rancid quickly.

Avocado Oil (Persea Americana) – also contains relatively large amounts of vitamins A, B and D, which help hydrate and penetrate the skin, perfect for combating dry skin and wrinkles.

Coconut Oil (Cocus nucifera) – the only carrier oil that partially dissolves in water and doesn’t leave grease marks. It liquefies at body heat, and is solid otherwise, so you’ll need to warm it prior to blending. It’s great for dry skin and hair.

Grapeseed Oil (Vitis vinifera) – is colourless, tasteless and odourless. It’s hypoallergenic and inexpensive (a great alternative to sweet almond or olive oil). It’ll keep fairly well but can be mixed with 5% vitamin E to increase its shelf life. It also contains vitamin F, an omega-6 essential fatty acid; that helps to heal and hydrate the skin.

Hazelnut Oil (Corylus avellana) – has a nutty smell and contains useful levels of essential fatty acids (vitamin F). It’s rich and nourishing while also stimulating, helping the skin’s circulation, which is great for treating acne and aging skin.

Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis) – is actually a liquid wax, not oil, and once upon a time replaced sperm whale oil in the cosmetics industry when the whale became an endangered species. It keeps well, is extremely balancing and nourishing for all skin types, and is anti-inflammatory.

Olive Oil (Olea europa) – helps to sooth and calm dehydrated, sore or inflamed skin, and is extremely rich in vitamins and minerals. Attention pregnant women: it’s a great way to prevent stretch marks during your pregnancy too! Its best used diluted with 50% grapeseed or almond oil.

Sunflower Oil (Helianthus annuus) – often used as the base of macerated oils. This process involved submerging herbs or flowers in the oil for several weeks in a warm spot so that the healing properties from them can infuse the oil. The oil itself (or rather on its own) contains fatty acids and vitamins A, B, D and E, and is great for dry, mature or sensitive skin. It’s golden yellow in colour with a slightly sweet, nutty odour.

Sweet Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis) – like apricot kernel oil, it contains both mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamins A, B1, B2 and B6. Because it contains a small amount of vitamin E, it will also keep for longer periods of time, and will not easily go rancid. It’s both nourishing and protecting, which is great for dry skin, and doesn’t have a strong odour.

Sesame Oil (Sesamum indicum) – golden-yellow with a slightly bitter, yet nutty aroma, which can be a little strong for blending. It’s rich in vitamins A and E and minerals so helps stimulate and protect the skin, especially when inflamed.

Have you tried blending essential oils? What’s your favourite carrier oil?