What are carrier oils and why should you use them?
Carrier oils are often used in aromatherapy and even by many people who don’t know much about essential oils at all.
They can be blended with essential oils, but they can also be used on their own or in combination with other carrier oils to create moisturizing and soothing body kinds of butter, lotions, and other products that you can use on your skin every day.
What are carrier oils? Are there any benefits to using them? And how should you use them?
What are carrier oils?
Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils, so they’re safe for skin application. These carrier oils are mostly plant-based oils, like coconut or almond oil.
There are several carrier oils available; each one has a distinct consistency and can be used for different things.
If you choose to use carrier oils in your skincare routine, it’s good to know how to pick which ones are best for your needs.
The History of Carrier Oils
Carrier oils were discovered as a natural resource by ancient Egyptians. The ancient Egyptians called these products balms of Gilead—after an actual town in Israel.
It was common practice among Egyptian healers to dilute herbs, spices, and other ingredients in a base oil before applying them to wounds or injured areas of skin.
This could have been what led to using carrier oils for therapeutic purposes.
How to use carrier oils
There is no right or wrong way to use carrier oils. This is something that’s both a curse and a blessing because it means that there’s no right or wrong way to use carrier oils.
There’s not necessarily an ideal amount, either—people with sensitive skin may prefer using only one drop while those who want to cover more surface area will find they need more.
The good news is that all carrier oils smell different, which means you can pick a scent (like lavender) that works for your personal preferences as well as for what you plan on doing with your oil.
For example, some people like diffusing lavender before bed to promote relaxation; others like putting it on their bodies for skincare.
Basic Usage Instructions for Carrier Oils
Typically, when making a lotion recipe you would use 20-25% of your total oil as a carrier oil. The most popular carrier oils are listed below: - Almond Oil - Avocado Oil - Apricot Kernel Oil - Borage Seed Oil - Grapeseed Oil - Hazelnut Oil - Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Fruit Wax – which is a liquid wax ester extract.
When warmed, it has an appearance similar to beeswax but with less yellow coloring. It is also used in many cosmetics instead of beeswax or lanolin due to its high melting point and long shelf life.
Types of Carrier Oils
Carrier oils can be used in many different ways, depending on what kind of oil it is. For example, olive oil is best used as a food or cosmetic ingredient while hemp seed oil is oftentimes used in capsule-like supplements.
Aside from being an effective skin care treatment, there are many benefits to using carrier oils alone. Because of their low boiling point (anywhere between 120-and 180 degrees), they make excellent massage oils and can even be consumed internally for health purposes (in small amounts).
There's even some evidence to suggest that consuming certain essential fatty acids can prevent sicknesses like seasonal flu when taken regularly over some time.
Commonly Used Carrier Oils
Besides helping to carry and absorb other ingredients into your skin, carrier oils can help with muscle pain, rashes, psoriasis, inflammation, acne, and even scarring.
They're easily accessible at health food stores or grocery stores in either natural or organic sections. When using them as beauty products they're usually in clear bottles with no identifying labels; since there are so many different kinds of these products it wouldn't be practical to market each one differently.
Look for labels that say cold-pressed olive oil or just olive oil if you have sensitive skin that is prone to breakouts because it has been filtered of things like colorants or fragrances that could irritate your skin.
Things to Know About Carrier Oils
Carrier oils, also known as base or vegetable oils, serve to dilute essential oils before application. In addition to functioning as a delivery system for your chosen therapeutic oil, they offer valuable health benefits.
While there is an overwhelming variety of carrier and essential oil options out there today, we've narrowed down some of the favorites below: Carrier Oils What It's Used for When to Use It?
Vegetable or Sunflower Seed Oil Great for all skin types Its light texture makes it one of our top choices when it comes to any massage.
Sweet Almond Oil Can be used on all skin types Almond oil has been shown to help prevent premature aging in skin cells.
Carrier oil recipes
Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils so that they can be applied to your skin. Some people do get allergic reactions to certain carrier oils, which is one reason why it’s important to find out if there’s a particular oil that won’t work with your body chemistry before blending any recipes.
Oils such as olive oil or coconut oil can also be used alone for various reasons, like cooking or moisturizing. Many great recipes exist for using natural substances on your skin or hair.
You might consider making shampoo, lotion, or body scrub by mixing ingredients like vegetable glycerin, honey, and coconut oil together in a jar with a lid.
Why Use Carrier Oils?
Carrier oils can help relieve skin sensitivities when used alone or in combination with essential oils. Most often, people choose to add a few drops of essential oil to their chosen carrier oil for aromatherapy.
It’s important to remember that not all essential oils will mix well with every type of oil (keep in mind that different doesn’t mean bad).
For example, two highly-popular options—olive oil and coconut oil—work well as stand-alone remedies because they are naturally hydrating.
They also work well together because they both contain vitamin E, which is an effective antioxidant that helps improve overall skin health.
The Best Time to Apply
The best time to apply essential oils is directly after a shower or bath. Your pores are open, so you’ll receive maximum benefit from your chosen oil blend.
If possible, avoid synthetic clothing such as nylon or spandex while using essential oils. These materials can block your skin’s ability to absorb scents.
When applying an essential oil topically, dilute it with a carrier oil first by mixing 15 drops of each in one ounce of almond or jojoba oil.
Oils need to be diluted before applying topically, but most of us just don’t have time to wait for it to take effect.
Take a whiff of essential oil when you feel like your mood or physical state is deteriorating. For example, inhaling bergamot before facing a stressful day at work can help uplift your mood and reduce stress hormones.
