Carrier Oils-by Christine at Oil Culture Labels
Carrier oils are fairly neutral and are excellent companions to essential oils. Since essential oils are volatile, can evaporate quickly and are 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. They don’t reduce the therapeutic qualities of the essential oils though but rather support them. Carrier oils are mainly extracted from the seeds, nuts or kernels of plants.
COCONUT OIL
By far coconut oil is the favourite companion to essential oils. It is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal. Once it is refined and the proteins are removed, it stays in liquid format and is good for mixing with essential oils. It is light, non-greasy and odourless. I love using fractionated coconut oil for all our roller bottle blends.
JOJOBA OIL
Jojoba oil is most liked for its properties of mimicking the skin’s natural oil properties. This makes it best for mixing with essential oils when using them on your face and makes a lovely make-up remover. Try making an acne serum with Lavender, Melaleuca (tea tree), Geranium and jojoba oil or a nourishing face oil with Lavender, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Myrrh and Rose.
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.
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 anti-bacterial properties making it a good choice for acne prone skin. It is a lightweight oil. Try mixing grapeseed oil, Melaleuca (tea tree), Cedarwood and Rosemary to combat dandruff.
HEMP SEED OIL
This non-greasy oil is lovely for body massage. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties making it great to mix with oils for pain relief and skin regeneration. Mix with Peppermint, Lavender and Wintergreen or the Deep Blue blend to support muscle and joint pain.
SWEET ALMOND OIL
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 or Aromatouch blend for a full body massage.
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. 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.
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