Carrier
Oils. Back to Basics.
Using
essential oils topically on your skin is a great way to feel all
their benefits. However, it is important to understand dilution and
safely to reduce the possibility of negative reactions on your skin.
Carrier
oils are not likely to cause sensitization and therefore make an
excellent medium to disperse
the more concentrated essential oil across your skin.
Carrier
oils are nutritive and have healing properties of their own, so in
your discovery of essential oils, take
some time to learn about your options for
carrier oils.
What are carrier oils?
Carrier
oils are also called ‘fatty oils’ because most of them are rich
with essential fatty acids that the skin loves. They are also known as
fixed oils but most aromatherapists call them carrier oils.
Carrier
oils come from various plants and are extracted from the leaves,
pressed out of seeds or are present in the fruit itself.
You
can use them without essential oils and they are very beneficial to
your skin.
Here’s
your chance to get to know them and then choose a few as your
favourites.
Almond Oil.
Seed oil
Almond
oil has a mild scent.
It
is nutritionally dense, especially a good source of topical vitamin
A
and E
Use
for dry skin conditions.
Helps
with psoriasis and eczema
Aloe Vera Gel
Apricot Oil.
Fruit carrier oil.
Apricot
Oil –
Apricot oil’s nutrient profile includes vitamins E and A as well,
It is edible as well as beneficial topically. Because it is so
incredibly gentle as well as nourishing, apricot oil is a good choice
for applications that will cover a good deal of skin or that will be
applied to children heavily.
Argan Oil
Comes
from Morocco. Harvested by hand by Moroccan women who roll the Argan
fruits between two stones to crush them.
The nuts are then placed in a
mill with water which creates a dough
The dough is then kneaded by hand to press out the oil.
This
can take up to 10 hours to produce a litre of oil.
USES
Use
in blends to nourish the skin on a daily basis.
Helps
soften hair, brittle nails and dry skin. Supporting a mature, ageing
skin
Nourishing
a very sensitive skin.
Reducing
inflammation
Reducing
irritation, redness and itchy skin.
Arnica Oil
Arnica
oil is
so useful for so many skin and body issues, and it’s one of the
best carrier oils for essential oils.
It contains helenalin, which is
a powerful anti-inflammatory compound, several fatty acids and
thymol, which has shown in lab studies to display antibacterial
activity.
Arnica
oil can be used alone to reduce inflammation, improve muscle pain and
heal bruises, or it can be used as a powerful carrier oil.
Use
arnica in a
homemade
bruise
cream.
and combine it with soothing essential oils, like lavender, to
relieve muscle pain and tension.
Do
not use on open wounds.
Avocado Oil. Fruit carrier oil.
Avocado
trees like sunny, tropical and Mediterranean climates.
The
oil is cold-pressed from the fruit.
The
unrefined avocado has more chlorophyll and therefore more benefits
for your skin.
Pure
avocado oil has a dark green colour.
Uses
Avocado
oil is rich with essential fatty acids and is extremely nourishing
for your skin.
Rich
in nutrient waxes, proteins and minerals,
as well as vitamins A, D
and E
Healing,
nourishing your skin.
Softening
hair, brittle nails and dry skin.
Supports
mature ageing skin.
Nourishing
very sensitive skins.
Helps
with scars and stretch marks.
Reducing
inflammation, redness and.
Use
in soap-free cleansers and face washes.
Coconut Oil. A good beginner oil
Palm
trees love hot, humid climates.
Coconut
oil is cold-pressed from the flesh of the coconut.
Uses
Use
in blends for nourishing and protecting the skin daily.
Softening
hair, brittle nails and dry skin
It
reduces inflammation.
Reduces
irritation, itching and redness.
Lovely
massage oil.
Best
for oily skin.
Use
when making your DIY products.
Jojoba
Jojoba
is an evergreen shrub that grows in dry areas.
The
seeds are cold-pressed and they can yield up to 60% of themselves
into liquid wax.
Deeply
penetrating oil and moisturising. Excellent shelf life.
There
have been a number of studies done on its ant-inflammatory
properties wound healing and face masks to help acne.
Uses
Use
in blends for healing nourishing and protecting the skin.
It
supports the ageing and mature skin.
Nourishing
for very sensitive skins.
Helps
with existing skin issues, scars and stretch marks,
Reduces
inflammation.
Reduces
itching, redness and irritation.
Helps
balance the skin. Great for dry skin conditions,
Olive Oil. A
good beginner Oil
Once
again, I remind
you
to check your product sources carefully! Extra virgin olive oil –
which is cold-pressed and minimally processed – is the ideal, and
it will be a light green colour with a thick scent
Choose
when making homemade salves.
Good
for dry skin.
How to use
Carrier Oils.
Start
with small amounts of your carrier oil and work up as you become
comfortable and have ways of storing your blend in
a hygienic way in glass bottles that you have sterilized,.
(Note
some oils need a different dilution amount but this is a good
starting place.): Start
with 1 tsp of carrier oil or 5ml of oil. It will vary from 60-150
drops
1%
dilution = 6 drops of essential oils per 1 ounce of carrier oil =
good for sensitive skin face, genitals, underarms, babies to toddlers
-
2-3%
dilution = 12 – 18 drops of essential oil per 1 ounce of carrier
oil = standard adult concentration for massage oils, creams and DIY
recipes
-
5%
– 10% dilution = 30 – 60 drops of essential oil per 1 ounce of
carrier oil = more for acute conditions like infections. Don’t use
for more than a week at a time.
-
25%
dilution = 150 drops of essential oils per 1 ounce of carrier = for
one-time application like wart removal, skin tags, or areas with
localized pain.
-
50%
dilution = 1:1 ratio of carrier to essential oils = not recommended
unless under the supervision of a trained professional.
Stir
the essential oil into the carrier, then apply as indicated. And
that’s that! You’ve successfully diluted your essential oil and
enjoyed the added benefit of nourishing carrier oil.
There
are a few less known carrier oils but these above are the ones I use.
Store
them in dark green glass bottles. They can be kept in the
refrigerator or dark cold place.
If
they begin to smell rancid then that’s the time to throw them away.
Until
the next time.
Have
fun experimenting.
Let me know your favourite carrier oil.
