What Carrier Oil Should I Use?
If you use essential oils, then you are very familiar with carrier oils used to dilute your essential oils. Carrier oils are mainly extracted from the seeds, nuts or kernels of plants.
Carrier oils are fairly neutral and are excellent companions to essential oils. Essential oils are volatile and can evaporate quickly. They are also quite strong. Carrier oils can act as a barrier on the skin to help the essential oil to stay on the skin longer and dilute the potency.
Here are the best carrier oils to use with essential oils:
COCONUT OIL
By far coconut oil is the favourite companion to essential oils. Coconut oil comes from the fruit of the coconut tree. It is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti fungal. In it’s unrefined format it works well to mix into moisturizers and salves. Once it is refined and the proteins are removed, it stays in liquid format and is good for mixing with essential oils while staying in liquid form. We love using fractionated coconut oil for all our roller bottle blends.
2. JOJOBA OIL
Jojoba oil is most liked for its properties of mimicking the skins natural oil properties. This makes it best for mixing with essential oils when using them on your face. This oil is extracted from the jojoba tree and has a slightly nutty aroma. Jojoba oil makes a lovely make up remover, and absorbs nicely into the skin. Try making a acne serum with lavender, tea tree, geranium and jojoba oil.
3. ARGAN OIL
Argan oil is loaded with rich nutrient dense properties and is most known for supporting hair growth and repair. Since it is rich in antioxidants, vitamin A + E, argan oil is helpful for healing and reducing inflammation. This carrier oil is best for hair, nails and skin support. Try making a cuticle oil with grapefruit, lavender, frankincense and argan oil.
4. GRAPESEED OIL
Grapeseed oil is high in proteins, minerals, vitamin E and linoleic acid making it great for cosmetic applications. Use grapeseed oil in sunscreens, creams and lotions. It has antibacterial properties making it a good choice for acne prone skin. It is a light weight oil. Try mixing grapeseed oil, tea tree, cedarwood and rosemary to combat dandruff.
5. HEMP SEED OIL
This non greasy oil is lovely for body massage. It also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties making it great to mix with oils for pain relief and skin regeneration. Mix with peppermint, lavender and wintergreen to support muscle and joint pain.
6. OLIVE OIL
Extracted from the fruit of the olive tree, olive oil has many health benefits containing 75% oleic acid and being super healthy for your heart and cardiovascular system. Olive oil is light and has a fruity aroma…it blends well with most essential oils and offers added benefits when taking essential oils in a veggie capsule. It is non-greasy and will not clog pores - this makes it a good choice to combat dandruff, frizzy hair and dry skin. Be sure to use an unrefined extra virgin olive oil to ensure the high content of oleic acid is left intact. Try mixing olive oil with tea tree + rosemary to rub into a dry scalp or on dry legs and arms.
7. SWEET ALMOND OIL
Highly rich in vitamin E and antioxidants, sweet almond oil comes from the dried fruit of the almond tree. Sweet almond oil is supportive in skin rejuvenation, retaining moisture and nourishing the skin. It is a good choice for massage, face and nail serums and damaged or irritated skin. Try mixing sweet almond oil with lavender for a full body massage.
8. AVOCADO OIL
Coming from the fruit of the avocado tree, this oil is 1/3 fat and one of the thickest oils to use with essential oils! Avocado oil is a good oil to use for anti-aging as it contains palmitoleic acid, a type of fatty acid that is found naturally in human fatty tissues just under the skin. Since avocado oil mimics this fat, the skin absorbs it in, especially providing excellent nourishment for older, mature skin that has thinned with age.
Due to its high viscosity, avocado oil dries slowly making it a good carrier oil for massage. To make it more free flowing it can be blended with another carrier oil such as olive oil or sweet almond oil. Since this oil is so rich in nutrients, it is good to use for irritable conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Try mixing with sandalwood, cedarwood and lavender for a ultra moisturizer.
