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Basics of Carrier Oils

Carrier oils are used to dilute the intensity of essential oils and “carry” them to skin. They are fixed in nature and create a stable environment for essential oils so that they don’t evaporate as quickly.

Carrier oils offer protection to the skin and slow the evaporation of an essential oil when used in a blend. Unlike essential oils, carrier oils have a short shelf life and can turn rancid quickly.

How to Choose a Carrier Oil

There are quite a few different carrier oils to choose from. When you’re selecting a carrier oil for blending, consider the following factors:
  • Allergies to nuts: Carrier oils can be produced from almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts. (Peanut oil is generally not used in aromatherapy blending.) If you are allergic to any of these nuts, be sure never to use any carrier oils made from them.
  • Thickness and absorbency: Lighter oils are generally used for facial care products because they’re very smooth in their application and don’t clog pores. Heavier oils are used to protect a specific area of skin and nourish it more deeply.
  • Fragrance: Walnut, hazelnut, and soy carrier oils all have strong fragrances that would overpower a light essential oil, such as rose.
  • Purity: For the best results, use a seed or nut oil that’s both organic and cold-pressed. Organic oils are grown without pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, and are produced without synthetic chemicals. Cold pressing helps oils retain the quality and a significant quantity of their nutrients.

Benefits and Uses of Different Carrier Oils

Use the following table to help choose a carrier oil for your particular application:

 
Carrier
  
Benefits
  
Uses
Apricot
  
  • High in vitamins A, E, and C
  • Moisturizes and revitalizes skin
  
Treatment of sensitive, dry, aging, or inflamed skin
Avocado
  
  • Rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, D, E, and minerals
  • Helps treat dry skin and eczema
  
Combined in small amounts with jojoba, sesame, and/or sweet almond for facial creams, lotions, salves, hair oils, or lip balms
Coconut
  
  • Highly moisturizing
  • Supports healthy function of immune system
  
Treatment of rough bumps on skin; soothing on scalp and hair
Evening Primrose
  
  • Nourishes hair, scalp, and nails
  • Reduces joint inflammation
  
Treatment of eczema; relief of PMS
Jojoba
(pronounced ho-ho-ba)
  
  • Antibacterial
  • Penetrates deeply
  • Closely matches the oil secreted by human skin
  
Due to its stable nature, used primarily to preserve blends of essential oils; also, relief of acne and eczema
Safflower
  
  • Clear, light, almost odorless
  • Absorbs quickly
  
Relief from painful joints, sprains, eczema, and rough skin
Sesame
  
  • High in vitamins E and B-complex
  • Detoxifies and nourishes skin
  
Relief from anxiety and circulatory complaints
Sunflower
  
  • High in vitamins A, D, B-complex, E, F, and minerals
  
All-around skin care, skin moisturizing and regeneration
Sweet almond
  
  • Contains vitamins B1, B2, B6, and E
  • Absorbs quickly
  
Relief from chapped, dry, or irritated skin; especially good for children
Witch hazel
  
  • Soothing, refreshing, and mild
  • Good for oily skin
  
Treatment of acne, bites, stings, inflammations, hemorrhoids
 
 
 
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