WHAT ARE CARRIER OILS? * Spotlight My Health

Essential oils have become very popular for all kinds of uses that include scenting the air, lotions and creams, cleaning, body, bath and hair oils and for therapeutic benefits just to name a few uses. Let’s find out what carrier oils are and how they are used.

Essential oils are basically distilled from the aromatic leaves, bark, and roots of the plants being harvested.

You should only use oils that have been cold-pressed, preservative/additive free and 100% pure. When purchasing your oils, only do so from a manufacturer you trust.

What is aromatherapy? It is a holistic and alternative healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being that can be used in addition to traditional medicine.

There are tons of moisturizing, anti-aging creams and lotions out there on the market today. But did you realize that if you make your own, it’s cheaper and better for you.

You get to control the ingredients to make sure your lotions or creams used on your skin don’t have bad or dangerous ingredients.

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WHY USE A CARRIER OIL

To be used in aromatherapy, it is recommended that the essential oil and carrier oil is obtained through cold pressing. In this process, the oil is extracted by crushing the plants. It’s possible when extraction by heat can cause damage to the oil nutrients being harvested. See my post on essential oils for beginners for more basic information about these oils.

Carrier oils are used to the dilute essential oils before use so the essential oils can be used on your skin without side effects. Most are unscented or very lightly scented, so should not interfere with the essential oil’s therapeutic abilities.

The carrier oil does several things:

*helps essential oils to be absorbed better

*the carrier oil dilutes the essential oils

*makes it easier to spread the oils over the skin

*helps to prevent sensitiveness and prevent skin irritation

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING YOUR CARRIER OIL

There are a few things to take into consideration when wanting to choose a carrier oil.

*Skin type: You don’t want to use a carrier oil that may irritate a certain skin type or make a skin condition worse.

*Odor: Some carrier oils have a distinct odor. You should check it out ahead of time, so it doesn’t interfere with the essential oil you want to use.

*Shelf Life: Different carrier oils have different shelf lives. Be sure the one you want to use will last the amount of time you want it to.

*Absorption: You may have to try a few different carrier oils before finding the one that your skin likes the best. Your skin may absorb one oil better than another.

use mixed oil and carrier oil for a deep massage

Choosing your carrier oil will depend on the desired outcome you are looking for. Reading through the carrier oils below, you will see that each has its own benefits. This will help decide which to choose to get the outcome you want with the essential oil you are working with.

Sweet Almond Oil

Use on all skin types and topical applications as it absorbs into your skin fairly well. This oil has a slightly nutty smell, but not overwhelming. Don’t use for those with nut allergies, since this oil is often produced in the same factories as other nuts. Sweet almond is a popular carrier oil, as it soothes and nourishes the skin.

Grapeseed Oil

High in linoleic acid (see below), grapeseed oil is very moisturizing, soothing and good for delicate skin. Its aroma is light and sweet and one of the ingredients found in many cosmetics. Grapeseed oil is clear in color, protects against skin damage, tones and tightens the skin, reduces wrinkles and stretch marks.

(Linoleic acid supports natural skin repair and is an essential building block for ceramides, one of skin’s main moisturizing elements. It also helps make the skin’s barrier stronger so it can effectively keep irritants out and keep water in.)

Olive Oil

This oil is heavy, with a stronger odor compared to other carrier oils. But olive oil is high in vitamins and minerals. If not diluted enough, this oil can overpower the scent you are working with.

Joboba Oil

Joboba is actually a liquid wax, odorless, golden yellow in color and a popular carrier. This is because it’s good for hair and hydrates skin without leaving a high shine. Joboba oil is healing and soothing and very similar to what our skin already produces.

Can be used on oily or dry skin and helps balance sebum which is an oily, waxy substance produced by your body’s sebaceous glands.

Fractionated Coconut Oil

While coconut oils are high in antioxidants and Vitamin E, don’t use what you find in the neighborhood grocery stores. These coconut oils don’t absorb into the skin very well.

Coconut oil needs to be fractionated, which is a separation process used to separate different types of fats from the oil. When fractionating the oil, it makes the fatty acid chains separate, which then produces a liquid. Nothing gets added to the oil, and doing this gives the oil a much longer shelf life. In order to use coconut oil for aromatherapy, make sure it is fractionated.

This oil is Non-greasy and has good absorption. It’s antifungal and antibacterial, protective and soothing, and is good for most skin types. Coconut oil is a heavier oil, so a little goes a long way. It’s also high in lauric acid, which is how this oil provides a protective barrier on your skin.

Apricot Kernel Oil

Rich in vitamins A, B, C; apricot kernel oil reduces inflammation and is great for your skin. It’s good for anti-aging, rejuvenating and improves skin’s elasticity.

Argan Oil

Great for aging skin, damaged skin and scarring. Argan oil is full of anti-oxidants and helps improve skin elasticity.

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is great for skin because its rich in A, E and D. It softens, regenerates, moisturizes. This oil is best when mixed with another carrier oil.

Rosehip Oil

This oil is good for skin regeneration, wrinkles and stretch marks. It’s also full of anti-oxidants.

dilution key for essential oils with carrier oil

REMEMBER THIS WHEN BLENDING ANY AROMATHERAPY OILS

Basically, essential oils are divided into the seven categories.

Floral Woodsy Oriental

Herbaceous Minty

Medicinal Citrus

Floral oils blend best with citrus, spicy and all woodsy oils
Woodsy oils blend with all categories
Essential oils blend best within the same category
Blend minty oils with woodsy, herbaceous, citrus or earthy oils
Spicy and oriental oils blend well with florals, other oriental and citrus oils.

Using these general rules, you can safety work with essential oils and begin making your own blends.

STARTER IDEAS FOR BEGINNERS

A very easy way to start out using essential oils is with a diffuser. You simply add a few drops of essential oil to the water in the diffuser. Diffusers come in all shapes, sizes, and prices. Some even come with basic essential oils to get you started. You can check out diffusers here.

The oil and water will disperse into the air and help with whatever you are using it for. A couple ideas are:

Sleeping Problems Concentration

*lavender *frankincense

*chamomile *rosewood

*violet leaf *melissa

*catnip

Relaxation

*lavender

*Ylang-ylang

*Geranium

*chamomile

*sandalwood

*Bergamot

*Myrrh

This is something easy for a beginner to try and see if you like using essential oils.

Other ways that essential oils are used are: creams and lotions, in the bath, massage oils, room spray and candles. And, sooooo much more. I make my own face cream and laundry detergent and put essential oils in both.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It takes time to learn about carrier and essential oils, but to me, it’s well worth the effort. You may want to start out with just a few oils with the diffuser or to clean with to make your home safer for your family. Just take it slow and do test spots on your skin before using the oils to make sure you don’t have any type of bad reaction to them.

If you want to start cleaning your home in a less toxic way by using these oils, check out my post on a safer home.