10 Best Carrier Oils and Their Benefits

Carrier oils often don’t get the credit they deserve. Using a carrier oil for essential oils is a must when applying to the skin. They are the foundation of any blend or product that you are creating.  When choosing a carrier for essential oils, it is helpful to have an understanding of some of the characteristics that each possesses. Here is a list of the 10 best carrier oils and the benefits of each.

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WHAT IS A CARRIER OIL?

When using pure essential oils, it is recommended to not apply them directly to your skin undiluted, as they are highly concentrated in their purest state and could possibly cause skin irritation. This is called applying the oil “neat”. A carrier is a medium that is less concentrated and usually has therapeutic properties in its own right. However, similar to essential oils, the carrier needs to be used in their purest, most natural forms, to reap their maximum benefit. When choosing or purchasing, be sure to look for unrefined, cold-pressed, and additive-free selections. You want to store the carrier oils, just as you would essential oils, keeping them in dark cool places. For more on the basics, check out this post.  

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A CARRIER

There are a few factors that you may want to consider when choosing a carrier oil. First, what is the shelf life of the carrier? Be sure you know the expiration date. When applying oils to the skin that have gone rancid, you can cause skin irritation. What’s more; you won’t reap the amazing benefits that the oil has to offer.

Next, what is the absorption rate? Does the oil absorb quickly? This assists the essential oils that you are using to absorb into the skin, as it is the “carrier”, so you may want to know whether it’s going to sit on the skin for a while or seep in quickly. You may want it to sit a minute first, depending on what the blend is for. Also, when determining the carrier, you will want to consider the aroma, as a strong scent may take away from the essential oils being used. Not all carriers are oils; butters and waxes can be used as well as a carrier to essential oils. Let’s look at different types of carrier oils and their benefits.

SWEET ALMOND OIL

Sweet almond oil, not to be confused with bitter almond oil, is jam-packed with vitamin A and E, fatty acids, and antioxidants, which are so beneficial to the skin.  The nice thing about this oil is that it is not greasy in its texture and is beneficial to all skin types. The oil is helpful in reducing acne, retaining moisture, and soothing dry, irritated skin. It is known to brighten skin that might look tired and dull. Studies have shown that it may be helpful in the prevention of stretch marks, due to its ability to maintain skin tightness, as many of the nut oils do. There is evidence in its ability to assist with acne-prone skin and is commonly used in face masks, as it stimulates circulation and absorbs quickly. Sweet almond oil has also been shown to help provide protection from the sun’s UV rays.

AVOCADO OIL

Pure avocado oil is dark green in color and is cold-pressed from the dried flesh of an avocado pear. This oil has abundant vitamins and minerals in it, such as vitamins A, B, and C. If you are looking for an oil that provides moisturizing and improvement in the elasticity of the skin, this is a lovely oil. It quickly and deeply penetrates, leaving the skin feeling soft and moisturized. And, it can be used to prevent stretch marks, so it makes a great oil to use while pregnant, as there are no safety concerns.

It has also been proven to aid in cell regeneration, making it beneficial for chapped, damaged skin. Avocado oil decreases inflammation, so using it in conjunction with other oils that do the same, can decrease pain and swelling in an area of the body. The oil has a mild aroma, so it will not easily mask other oils’ scents. As an added bonus, avocado oil offers natural UV light protection for the skin and lips!

COCOA BUTTER

This butter is made from the cocoa bean and has a delicious, sweet cocoa aroma. It is high in fatty acids and extremely nourishing to the skin. This butter is thick, luxurious, and softens as it moisturizes. Cocoa butter is also known for its magnificent healing properties, with a high amount of vitamin E. This makes it perfect for skin that needs smoothing, secondary to scars, stretch marks, and wrinkles. Most butters take a minute to absorb into the skin, but cocoa butter does so a bit quicker than most other butters. 

COCONUT OIL

Extracted from the coconut flesh, this oil is high in fatty acids. It is very moisturizing as it serves as a protective layer for the skin, helping to retain that moisture. It is helpful for skin that is itchy and/or sensitive, as it is a mild oil. Coconut oil does not usually clog pores, so it is a good choice in adding creams and lotions for the face. Fractionated coconut oil is quick to absorb and for this reason, it is widely used for making aromatherapy blends in a roller bottle. 

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL

This oil is usually cold-pressed from the seeds of the primrose plant, found in North America. Although evening primrose oil has many benefits taken in a capsule form, we are concentrating on the skin properties when being used as a carrier to essential oils. It is rich in linoleic acid, which is essential in a human diet, but it also acts as an anti-inflammatory. This makes the oil excellent for dry, sensitive skin, skin that has allergy tendencies, helps in combating wrinkles and easing redness and irritation on the skin. Primrose oil has also been found to be beneficial to dry hair and dandruff on the scalp. This oil is a bit slow to absorb, but when it does, it can be really effective and worth the wait. 

GRAPESEED OIL

This oil is becoming a popular oil to use in aromatherapy, as it has nearly no odor or color. The texture is very smooth and non-greasy; however, it is not unrefined. The oil needs to be extracted from the seeds by using hot extraction, as opposed to cold-pressed, leaving the oil refined. It is easily absorbed by the skin and benefits all skin types. Grapeseed oil is high in vitamin E and omega-6 fatty acids, which makes it awesome for anti-aging products.

HEMP SEED OIL

Unrefined hemp seed oil is dark green in color with a mild, nutty aroma. You can tell if it is refined when it has little color and no aroma. You will not reap as many skin-related benefits of the refined version of this oil. It has amazing antioxidant properties, containing fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and E. This can assist against premature aging and help support healthy skin, hair, and lips. There are some anti-inflammatory properties to hemp seed oil, making it beneficial in relieving skin irritation. The oil has average absorption and an overall non-greasy feeling to it.

In addition to it being amazing for the skin, it is also incredible for hair and nails, as well.  I keep my Hemp seed oil refrigerated, as it does have a relatively short shelf life, compared to some other carrier oils. Always check your label from your distributor, or contact them directly. You can read more about hemp seed oil in our article here.

JOJOBA OIL

I just love jojoba. It is actually a wax that is liquified from the crushed seeds of the plant. Jojoba resembles closely to human sebum, which makes it a wonderful oil to use on the skin, especially the face, as it balances both dry and oily skin types. This makes it extremely useful in controlling acne. It assists the skin from becoming oily by preventing the building up of sebum and combats dry skin as it moisturizes and nourishes. Its anti-inflammatory properties relieve itchy, irritated skin. Jojoba is also used to condition hair and the scalp.

OLIVE OIL

Fun fact: olive trees don’t begin to produce fruit until they are 15 years old. It’s a good thing these trees are known to live hundreds of years. Olive oil is extracted from the flesh of the fruit after it has been pressed. It is “extra virgin” when the first portion that is pressed is obtained. Linoleic acid is found in high amounts, which is a much-needed unsaturated fatty acid for us to consume. It has a light greenish color and when it is of high quality, it should have a slight, fruity aroma.

Olive oil is a nice carrier and easily obtainable. It is known for its ability to relieve dry, itchy skin on the body and scalp. When blended with other oils, that have similar properties, olive oil can offer some protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. The absorption rate is a bit slow but maybe worth the wait. 

SHEA BUTTER

This is one of my favorite carriers to use. My products will tell you that story. This butter is amazing in softening and moisturizing all skin types and the light, nutty aroma is just so pleasant. Combined with some other oils or butters, it makes a lovely body butter. It is also useful in balms, salves and is great for the lips. There are essentially two ways that shea butter is obtained from the Karite tree. It can be cold-pressed from the fruit’s seeds or grilled then pounded into a powder to be boiled. Be sure that you’re purchasing shea butter that is cold-pressed, unrefined, and is produced using fair trade standards in the industry. The absorption rate is slower than that of cocoa butter, but again, well worth the wait. 

As you can see carrier oils and their benefits are an important factor to consider when you are either purchasing natural body care products or creating your own blends. They really are the foundation and just as important as the essential oils that are chosen. Each has its own therapeutic benefits and characteristics.

I would love to see comments on any of these that you might like to know more about or if you have tried any of these awesome oils.

If you have questions or would like help with carrier oils and their benefits, book a call with me!