Which carrier oil is best?
If you’ve ever bought essential oils or tried aromatherapy, you’ll know it’s best to mix your essential oils with a carrier oil before applying to your skin.
But which carrieris best for you? There are lots of carrier oils to choose from but what’s the difference between carrier oils and how do you choose?
What is a carrier oil?
Before delving into your carrier oil choices, let’s review what a carrier oil actually is. Carrier oils are safe and gentle enough to use directly on your skin.
They mostly have a subtle, nutty or neutral scents and the best ones are cold pressed from nuts, kernels or seeds of various plants. Cold pressing requires minimal processing and preserves the therapeutic benefits of the oils.
What are carrier oils used for?
They are often used to dilute stronger and more concentrated essential oils and then “carry” these oils into the skin.
Using essential oils directly on your skin can lead to irritation, redness, rashes or burning, so carrier oils have the vital role of making essential oils much friendlier to your skin. Carrier oils also don’t evaporate, unlike essential oils.
Though they’re called “carrier oils”, most carrier oils are also wonderful when used on their own. They’re rich in vitamins, fatty acids and other nutrients and have an impressive range of benefits for your skin and hair.
What are the benefits of carrier oils?
The vitamins, minerals and fatty acids in carrier oils are bursting with benefits. They are often anti-inflammatory, high in antioxidants and are deeply moisturising, softening and healing the skin while also helping it to retain moisture.
Which carrier oil is best for you?
Believe it or not, there are more than 50 different carrier oils! However, since this is a blog post and not a book, we don’t need to consider them all!
In many cases, the best carrier oil is the one you like most! This is because many carrier oils have similar properties and will usually help to nourish and replenish your skin and hair. So, it’s a great idea to try a few different carrier oils and find your own favourites.
Some carrier oils do have special properties and contain unique compounds, so we’ve created a list of our most beloved carrier oils and their characteristics. Feel free to consult our list when you’re wondering which carrier oil to choose.
Our 5 best carrier oils for your face, body and hair
Sweet Almond Oil
Sweet Almond oil is one of the most popular of all carrier oils. Rich in Vitamins A, B and E, as well as fatty acids, it softens and protects your face and body.
Boosted with Vitamin E to deeply nourish dry, sensitive skin, it is absorbed quickly and is
non-greasy and very versatile.
It’s a must-have oil for overall skin health. It reduces signs of ageing and prevents damage from nasty free radicals, which cause your skin’s collagen layer to deteriorate.
Sweet Almond oil is also the best buddy to your hair and nails, with Vitamin B-7, or biotin, to soften, strengthen and protect.
Use Sweet Almond oil for:
- Moisturising the face
- Removing make-up
- Stretch marks
- Healthy hair
- Rejuvenating tired skin
Tips for using Sweet Almond Oil
Puffiness and dark circles under eyes
As an anti-inflammatory, Sweet Almond oil can soothe swelling and lighten dark circles. Retinol, Vitamin E and Vitamin K also calm the skin under the eyes. Gently dot a few drops of Sweet Almond Oil under your eyes after cleansing.
Make-up remover
Apply 5–6 drops of Sweet Almond Oil on damp skin with your fingertips or a cotton pad and use to dissolve make-up without using harsh chemicals — it’s especially good for stubborn make-up. Almond oil is one of the best natural make-up removers.
Frizz buster
To smooth fly-away hair, after shampooing, apply about 5 drops to the ends before drying. This hydrates, tames frizz and makes styling easy.
Sweet Almond Oil is the best carrier oil for:
Frizzy hair, puffiness and dark circles under eyes
Blends well with:
Myrrh, Lavender and Geranium essential oils
Golden Jojoba Oil
Another very popular carrier oil, Golden Jojoba oil is rich in Vitamins A, E and B which repair the skin and soothe irritation. It’s also deeply hydrating, balances oil production and is full of antioxidants.
Golden Jojoba Oil is so much like sebum, our skin’s own natural lubricant, that our skin can’t tell the difference and it is easily absorbed without being greasy or clogging pores.
Golden Jojoba Oil balances the skin’s oil production and is antibacterial, making it an ideal facial oil for acne-prone skin. Plus, it nourishes and hydrates the hair strands and roots.
Use Jojoba Oil for:
- Moisturising dry skin
- Protecting skin from pollution
- Healing wounds and acne
- Unclogging pores
- Promoting collagen synthesis
- Soothing eczema and psoriasis
- Nourishing hair
Tips for using Jojoba Oil
Oily and acne-prone skin
Since Golden Jojoba Oil can balance and reset your skin’s oil levels, it is ideal for oily skin. It can also control sebum levels and won’t clog your pores. It contains a high level of iodine, so it also fights the bacteria that cause pimples and acne. Apply a small amount to acne-prone areas in the morning and night as a spot treatment. To deal with blackheads and whiteheads, make a facial mask:
- 5 drops Golden Jojoba Oil
- 2 tablespoons of facial clay
Mix together and apply over your face. Leave on for up to 15 minutes before washing off.
Cracked lips
With its oily consistency and hydration benefits, Golden Jojoba oil will swiftly soothe dry, sore lips. Apply regularly and you’ll see a difference in a few days. Plus, it absorbs quickly, so you won’t be left with an oily residue on your lips.
Dry hair
Golden Jojoba makes an ideal hair conditioner. It nourishes and protects dry and treated hair, but also washes out easily, without leaving your hair limp and greasy.
You can also apply a. Moisturising Hair Mask to freshly washed hair. Create a blend of:
- 2 tablespoons of Golden Jojoba Oil
- 2 drops Lavender Oil
- 2 drops Tea Tree oil
Massage through your hair and leave on for at least 30 minutes, or overnight before shampooing.
Golden Jojoba Oil is the best carrier oil for:
- Dry scalp and dandruff
- Oily skin or acne-prone skin
- Sensitive skin
Blends well with:
Tea Tree, Clary Sage, Sweet Orange essential oils
Rosehip oil
The queen of skincare oils, Rosehip Oil is absorbed quickly, hydrates and rejuvenates the skin, and boosts collagen production. To reduce scars, moisturise dry skin, fade blemishes and improve skin tone, look no further than remarkable Rosehip oil.
Rich in antioxidants, Omegas 3, 6 and 9, Vitamins C and E, and with up to
80 per cent essential fatty acids, your skin and hair will drink it up.
And the Retinoic acid (Vitamin A) in Rosehip oil can reduce fine lines, boost collagen and encourage healthy skin production. Plus it can calm and relax your mind if you’re anxious.
Use Rosehip oil for:
- Facial scarring
- Acne scarring
- Wrinkles
- UV damage
- Premature skin ageing
- Dark spots
Tip for using Rosehip oil
Neck Reviver
To refresh and tighten the skin around the neck, create a blend of:
- 5ml Rosehip oil
- 5 drops Lavender oil
- 3 drops Lemon oil
Combine ingredients in a spray bottle and shake well.
Rosehip oil is the best carrier oil for:
ageing skin, dull or loose skin
Blends well with:
Geranium, Lavender, Lemon or Frankincense essential oils
Arnica oil
Anti-inflammatory and pain relieving, Arnica oil eases sore muscles, aching joints and ligament strains. It’s great on bruises and soothes the symptoms of varicose veins and osteoarthritis. It stimulates circulation and your body’s healing process reacts more quickly. Research confirms that Arnica oil reduces pain caused by inflammation and decreases the healing time for bruises.
Use Arnica oil for:
- Sore muscles
- Bruises
- Dry scalp
- Varicose veins
- Osteoarthritis.
- Facial puffiness
Tips for using Arnica Oil
Arthritis
Arnica oil has been shown to work nearly as well as ibuprofen in reducing pain and improving joint function in people with osteoarthritis in their hands. Warm a few drops of Arnica oil your palms and massage the affected area twice a day.
Varicose Veins
To alleviate and soothe the bulging and tender skin over varicose veins, carefully apply Arnica oil in a circular motion once a day.
Arnica oil is the best carrier oil for:
- Bruises,
- arthritis
- varicose veins
Blends well with:
Lavender or Peppermint essential oils.
Black Seed oil
Black Cumin Seed oil is a powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal agent. It promotes wound healing and can treat burns. It is often taken internally to protect and strengthen the immune system. Activated Black Seed oil powers up these benefits by adding four more superfood oils – styrian pumpkin seed oil, flax seed oil, and two organic essential oils: oregano and lemon.
This creates a powerful and targeted blend of compounds, omega fatty acids, proteins and vitamins that significantly reduce inflammation — the body’s worst enemy.
Activated Black Seed oil detoxifies and supports your skin, heart, kidney, liver and brain. It also has antiviral properties, increasing resistance to common infections: colds, flu and yeast infections.
The ingredients in ABS have been shown to:
- Support your immune system
- Help manage eczema and psoriasis
- Fight asthma
- Promote a healthy heart
- Maintain a healthy prostate
- Protect the liver
- Increase milk production for nursing mothers
Tip for using Activated Black Seed oil
To treat psoriasis, take ½ a teaspoon before food in the morning. You can also dab a small amount directly on the affected area.
Black Seed oil the best carrier oil for:
- boosting immunity,
- treating psoriasis
- eczema
How to mix a carrier oil with essential oils
Whenever possible, purchase organic, cold-pressed carrier oils from a manufacturer you trust. Even though many carrier oils are hypoallergenic and won’t cause an allergic reaction, it’s always a good idea to do a skin patch test before you first use them.
How do I do a skin patch test?
- Dab a little of the carrier oil on the inside of your wrist or just below your ear.
- Cover with a band aid.
- Leave it for 24 hours and then check.
- If the skin is red or irritated, wash the area and don’t use the oil in future.
If you’re allergic to nuts, you shouldn’t use oils that come from tree nuts. This includes Sweet Almond oil.
How much essential oil should you mix with a carrier oil?
Even though we know that we should blend essential oils with a carrier oil, it’s always confusing trying to figure out how much of each oil to use.
The United States’ National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, offers the following dilution guidelines:
For adults:
- 2.5% dilution: 15 drops essential oil per 6 teaspoons carrier oil
- 3% dilution: 20 drops essential oil per 6 teaspoons carrier oil
- 5% dilution: 30 drops essential oil per 6 teaspoons carrier oil
- 10% dilution: 60 drops essential oil per 6 teaspoons carrier oil
For children:
- 0.5 to 1% dilution: 3 to 6 drops essential oil per 6 teaspoons carrier oil
- If using Massage and body oils are made by combining essential oils with one or more carrier oils. It is important to follow guidance on the appropriate ratio of essential oils to carrier oils.
For massage and body oils: Use a dilution containing 2.5-10% essential oils.
For facial treatments: blends for sensitive skin should contain 0.5-1% essential oils, blends for normal skin can use 1% to 2.5% essential oils.
Always store carrier oils in a cool environment, preferably in the refrigerator. You should also keep them in dark glass bottles.
So, which is the best carrier oil?
It’s impossible to answer this question because it’s like having to choose between your children! However, if you’re looking for a carrier oil that’s very versatile and will suit most skin types, you can always rely on Sweet Almond Oil or Jojoba Oil.
And, for even better results, you can combine carrier oils to boost their benefits further. Use your creativity and combine several carrier oils until you find your perfect mix. Then add your favourite essential oils to craft all-natural healing treasures — free of chemicals and full of skin and hair pampering delights. Make sure you choose organic carrier and essential oils for even more goodness.
And remember too that carrier oils have their own therapeutic properties, so it’s great to fully explore their benefits by using them on their own.
Carry on with your carrier oils and have fun finding the best carrier oil for you.
