Carrier Oils - Back to Basics.

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

Aloe Vera is a succulent and grows around the world.
It’s colour is clear to translucent white.
There are plenty of Aloe Vera products in the shops but beware as many have been processed and have added ingredients.
NB. Pure Aloe Vera isn’t green!!!!

USES
Soothing burns

Reducing inflammation
Nourishing sensitive skin
Reducing irritation such as redness, itching and rashes
Used in gels, face washes and soap-free cleansers.

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,.

Here’s a simple dilution guide . Dr EricZ.

(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.