All About Carrier Oils
Ooooh we’re going deep today, guys! Carrier oils are huge in DIY body care so I figured we better do a deep dive into what they are, their benefits, and how to use them.
What is a carrier oil?
Carrier oils, also called base oils, are TRUE oils. (Unlike essential oils.) If you're imagining olive oil you're totally right, except there are so many more options beyond plain ol' olive oil. Carrier oils are often used to dilute essential oils which makes the essential oils safe for skin application. Carrier oils are also used in all types of skin care such as in face oils, lip balm, bath salts, lotion, salves, etc. They have incredible properties and can be high in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, proteins, good fats etc. They also contain properties such as being anti-inflammatory, emollient, anti-bacterial, etc. The properties vary depending on the oil which is why it’s important to know your base oils as different types of skin respond better to certain oils than others.
If you are just starting out, look for the oils that are suitable for "most skin types". That way you will be able to use them in a wide range of recipes. Carrier oils do have a shelf life, so until you discover which oils are YOUR favorites I would recommend buying them in smaller sizes. Experiment and have fun! Once in awhile I splurge and test out a "new" oil which is so fun to play with and switch things up a bit! But then I end up going back to my favorites.
I'd love to hear what carrier oils you use the most!
Where to purchase high quality carrier oils
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If you are unable to grow your own herbs, or find ingredients locally, then here are two of my favorite places to buy bulk ingredients:
Almond Oil (sweet) | Prunus dulcis, syn. Prunus amygdalus
Color | Pale yellow to golden yellow
Comes From | Pressed almond kernels (sweet almond, not to be confused with bitter almond)
Properties | Emollient, moisturizing, anti-inflammatory
Rich In | Antioxidants, vitamins A, E, and other fat-soluble vitamins, protein, fatty acids
Helpful For | Itchy skin, soreness, dry skin, inflamed skin, eczema, psoriasis, puffy eyes, anti-aging
Skin Types | All types
Absorption | A light oil that penetrates easily and absorbs well
Shelf Life | 12 months
Special Notes | Avoid using if you have a tree nut allergy. Also best to avoid use on infants and toddlers as many nut allergies are linked to early exposure.
Apricot Oil | Prunus armeniaca
Color | Pale yellow
Comes From | Pressed apricot kernels
Properties | Moisturizing, emollient, anti-inflammatory, astringent, toning
Rich In | Essential fatty acids, vitamins A, and E
Helpful For | Moisturizing the skin, softening the skin, inflamed skin, itchy skin, eczema, psoriasis
Skin Types | All skin types but specifically dry, sensitive, and mature skin types
Absorption | A light oil it absorbs easily without leaving behind any residue
Shelf Life |24-30 months
Special Notes | Safe to use on babies, in pregnancy, and the elderly
Argan Oil | Argania spinosa
Color | Pale yellow to yellow/amber
Comes From | Pressed kernels of the Argan tree
Properties | Toning, slightly astringent
Rich In | Vitamins A, & E, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, carotenes
Helpful For | Keeping the skin supple and hydrated, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, regulating sebum, nourishing the hair, strong nails, eczema, psoriasis, improving elasticity, rashes, bug bites
Skin Types | Most skin types including acne prone, normal, dry, mature, and oily
Absorption | A light oil that is easily absorbed
Shelf Life |1-2 years, refrigerate after opening
Special Notes | The unrefined oil has a strong earthy scent
Avocado Oil | Persea americana
Color | Light to dark green
Comes From | Fruit
Rich In | Vitamins A, B, E, and D, protein, lecithin, fatty acids
Properties | Emollient, fortifying, and regenerating
Helpful For | Eczema, dry and dehydrated skin, wrinkles, premature aging, hair and scalp conditioning,
Skin Types | All types but especially dry and dehydrated
Shelf Life | 6-12 months, refrigerate after opening
Absorption | Somewhat heavy but absorbs quite well
Notes | Best to dilute as it is a heavier oil. Use a 10-25% dilution
Castor Oil | Ricinus communis
Color | Clear to pale yellow
Come From | Seeds
Rich In | Antioxidants, fatty acids
Properties | Anti-inflammatory, emollient
Helpful For | Traditionally used as castor packs to draw out toxins from internal organs, relieving constipation, and painful period cramps. Small amounts can be used in body care.
Skin Types |
Shelf Life | 24-30 months
Absorption | Thick, heavy, and sticky. Does not readily absorb
Notes | Some contraindications in pregnancy
Coconut Oil | cocos nucifera
Color | White
Come From | Coconut flesh
Rich In | Fatty acids
Properties | Anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant
Helpful For | Massage oil, body butters, dry flaky scalp, hair care, eczema, psoriasis
Skin Types | All types, even dry and sensitive
Shelf Life | 24-30 months
Absorption | Fairly light, but quite greasy. Does absorb after a short time.
Notes | Coconut oil is a solid at room temperature, but melts quickly on the skin. Very popular in soap making.
Evening Primrose | Oenothera biennis
Color | Pale yellow
Come From | Seeds
Rich In | Gamma linolenic acid, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids
Properties | Anti-inflammatory
Helpful For | Multiple Sclerosis, menapausal issues, psoriasis, eczema, premature aging, dry scalp and dandruff
Skin Types | Mature skin, dry skin
Shelf Life | Very short shelf life. Keep in the fridge but still can go rancid within a couple months.
Absorption | Quite oily
Notes |
Grapeseed Oil | Vitis vinifera
Color | Nearly colorless to a pale yellow
Come From | Seed. The oil is extracted after wine has been made from the flesh.
Rich In | Fatty acids, antioxidants
Properties | Mild astringent, emollient
Helpful For | Skin care, toning and tightening the skin, itchy dry skin
Skin Types | Troubled and sensitive skin
Shelf Life | 12 months
Absorption | Absorbs easily
Notes | One of the lightest oils available
Guava Seed Oil | Psidium guajava
Color | Pale yellow
Come From | Guava seed
Rich In | Linoleic acid, antioxidants, lycopene, beta-carotene
Properties | Astringent, anti-microbial
Helpful For | Scars, stretch marks, acne, reducing pore size, toning and tightening the skin, highly moisturizing, hair care, dandruff
Skin Types | All types, but specifically, sensitive skin, mature skin, acne prone skin
Shelf Life |
Absorption |Light, non-greasy, absorbs slowly
Notes | Very exotic oil with a fruity scent
Hazelnut Oil | Corylus avellana
Color | Yellow
Come From | Kernel
Rich In | Vitamins, mineerals, protein, oleic and linoleic acid
Properties | Mild astringent
Helpful For | Spider veins, bruising, toning and tightening the skin, penetrates deeply and stimulating to the circulatory system
Skin Types | All skin types
Shelf Life | Up to 2 years
Absorption | Absorbs quickly, non-greasy
Notes |
Jojoba | Simmondsia sinsensis
Color | Yellow
Come From | The bean of the jojoba plant (shrub like plant)
Rich In | Antioxidants, proteins, minerals, vitamin E
Properties | Anti-inflammatory
Helpful For | Balancing face oils, soothing eczema, psoriasis, inflamed skin, dandruff, acne, wrinkles, helps brighten dark spots, and minimizes the appearance of pores.
Skin Types | All types, especially acne prone
Shelf Life | 4-5 years
Absorption | Highly penetrating and leaves a satiny finish
Notes | Pronounced hə-ˈhō-bə . Jojoba is actually a liquid wax that closely mimics human sebum.
Meadowfoam | Limnanthes alba
Color | Clear to pale yellow
Come From | Seeds
Rich In | Fatty acids, antioxidants, tocopherols,
Properties | Anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, rejuvenating, emollient
Helpful For | Moisturizing dry skin, dry scalp, smoothing fine lines, wrinkles, blotchy skin
Skin Types | Mature skin, dry skin
Shelf Life | 2 years, possibly up to 5, refrigerate after opening
Absorption | Non-greasy, easily absorbed
Notes | Very useful oil for many body care applications
Neem Oil | Azadirachta indica
Color | Yellowish green to dark brown
Come From | Seeds
Rich In | Fatty acids, glycerides, vitamin E
Properties | Anti-fungal, cleansing, moisturizing
Helpful For | Used in dental products, helps deter mosquitoes, fleas, flies, ticks, and mites. Used as a treatment for lice.
Skin Types | Most skin types
Shelf Life | 2 years
Absorption | Does not absorb easily
Notes | Very strong scent. Diluting is highly recommended. Becomes a solid at room temperature.
Olive Oil | Olea europaea
Color | Pale yellow to pale green
Come From | Fruit pulp
Rich In | Protein, minerals, vitamins,
Properties | Soothing, rejevenating, slightly anti-fungle
Helpful For | Damaged dry skin, soothing cradle cap, hair and scalp care, making infused herbal oil, salves, etc.
Skin Types | Dry skin
Shelf Life |18 months
Absorption | Medium thickness, absorbs relatively quickly, a bit greasy
Notes | The smell can be a bit strong depending on the application
Pomegranate Seed Oil | Punica granatum
Color | Pale amber
Come From | Seeds
Rich In | Fatty acids
Properties | Conditioning, soothing, emollient
Helpful For | Slowing the signs of aging, fine lines and wrinkles, Soothes and softens the texture of the skin, chapping, roughness, and itching, nourishes the hair
Skin Types | All types, especially dry, mature, and sensitive
Shelf Life | 6 months to 1 year
Absorption | Absorbs slowly
Notes | Only a small amount is needed. Very luxurious oil.
Pumpkin Seed Oil | Cucurbita pepo
Color | Yellow to dark green
Come From | Seeds
Rich In | Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and zinc
Properties | Anti-inflammatory, soothing, moisturizing
Helpful For | Damaged, irritated, scarred skin, hair loss, firming and tightening the skin
Skin Types | All skin types
Shelf Life | 9 months to 2 years, refrigerate after opening
Absorption | Absorbs relatively quickly, slightly oily
Notes |
Rosehip Seed Oil | Rosa rubiginosa
Color | Clear to deep golden
Come From | Seeds
Rich In | Vitamins, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, beta carotene, Vitamins C, and E
Properties | Moisturizing
Helpful For | Correcting dark skin spots, hydrating dry itch skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, rosacea, scars, stretch marks, protection from age spots
Skin Types | Most skin types, but specifically aging skin, dry skin, mature skin. Not great for oily skin and use with care on acne prone skin—can cause irritation
Shelf Life | 12-18 months, should be refrigerated after opening
Absorption | Absorbs quite quickly. Considered a “dry oil”
Notes | Stimulates the production of collagen (skin elasticity)
Sesame Oil | sesamum indicum
Color | Light to dark yellow
Come From | Seeds
Rich In | Vitamins E and B, minerals, proteins, lecithin, amino acids
Properties | Anti-inflammatory, emollient
Helpful For | Psoriasis, eczema, rheumatism, arthritis, sun damages skin, inflamed joints and sprains
Skin Types | All types, but especially dry and dehydrated
Shelf Life | Up to 2 year, refrigerate after opening
Absorption | Absorbs relatively quickly, somewhat oily
Notes | Generally used diluted with other carrier oils. Do not used the toasted sesame oil.
Sunflower Seed Oil | Helianthus annus
Color | Pale yellow
Come From | Seeds
Rich In | Vitamins A, D, and E, minerals, lecithin, oleic acid, fatty acids
Properties | Nourishing, conditioning, anti-inflammatory
Helpful For | Useful in pretty much any type of skin application such as infusing herbs, balms, salves, butters, etc.
Skin Types | Most skin types
Shelf Life | 12-15 months
Absorption | Absorbs relatively quickly, non-greasy
Notes | Known as a jack-of-all-trades oil
Tamanu Oil | Calophyllum inophyllum
Color | Dark green to brown
Come From | Seeds
Rich In | Fatty acids
Properties | Soothing, revitalizing
Helpful For | Deeply moisturizing, improves the texture of the skin
Skin Types | Most skin types
Shelf Life | Up to 2 years, refrigerate after opening
Absorption | Absorbs relatively quickly
Notes | Solid at room temperature, usually used with other carrier oils, it’s strong scent and color may change the appearance of your products.
Wheatgerm Oil | Triticum vulgare
Color | Yellow to orange
Come From | Wheat
Rich In | Protein, minerals, antioxidants, vitamins A, B, D, and E, lecithin
Properties |
Helpful For | Eczema, psoriasis, scar tissue, stretch marks, increases skin’s elasticity
Skin Types | Most skin types
Shelf Life | Up to 2 years, refrigerate after opening
Absorption | Absorbs a bit slowly, slightly oily
Notes | Not recommended for those with Celiac disease, generally used with other carrier oils.
