When I first starting using essential oils, I heard the term carrier oils, but didn’t know why they were called carrier oils. Now that I do, I wanted to share 6 favorite carrier oils I love to use either alone or with essential oils. There are many wonderful skin nourishing benefits for each of these oils which I will share below.
What are Carrier Oils?
Carrier oils are natural vegetable oils that you can apply to your skin either exactly as they are or in blends. Using a carrier or carrier oil is the safest way to apply essential oils to your skin without risking reactions like irritations.
Essential oils, being lipophilic (fat loving), require a fatty material not only to dilute it but also suspend it. These materials are referred to as carriers because they help to carry the essential oil.
There are other carriers you can use to dilute essential oil such as pink himalyan sea salt or beeswax. However, we will be talking about 6 popular carrier oils in this article.
6 Best Carrier Oils for Essential Oils
Everyone has their favorite carrier oil but these are my regular go-to oils
Coconut Oil– Coconut oil is high in saturated fats and lauric acid, making it one of the most effective natural moisturizers. In addition, it’s deeply moisturizing, can calm itchiness and irritation, and doesn’t clog pores. It has an average absorption rate.
Jojoba Oil– Jojoba is moisturizing, protective, and doesn’t clog pores. It blends easily with other oils and waxes. Its subtle aroma lets the scents of your essential oils take the spotlight.
Being a liquid wax, jojoba has an extremely long shelf life of over 20 years! Its chemistry is similar to that of skin’s natural oil, called “sebum,” which means your skin “recognizes” jojoba and easily absorbs it.
Sweet Almond Oil– Almond oil is a nourishing oil, making it the perfect choice for dry, itchy skin. This carrier oil is great for massages as it helps decrease the occasional inflammation, especially with joint stiffness. It also has wonderful antioxidant properties with an average absorption rate.
Avocado Oil– This moisturizing oil is packed with vitamins offering wonderful antioxidant benefits to the skin. Avocado oil penetrates deeply through skin’s layers, creating a supple texture well below the surface. Try it for mature skin, chapped skin, and for softening hair.
Argan Oil– This popular oil is one of the most sought-after oils for natural beauty products and face care. Argan oil is rich in vitamin E, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants which fight cell-damaging free radicals in your skin.
Argan oils light and silky texture moisturizes the skin. It rejuvenates aging skin by reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also protects the skin against damage from the sun and other environmental factors (such as pollution and cold, harsh temperatures).
Grapeseed Oil– Grapeseed oil contains numerous essential fatty acids. Its rich, silky texture is perfect for soothing dryness and irritation. It has a fast absorption rate.
Below are our top recommendations for carrier oils. If you would like to learn more about essential oils and other carrier oils, check out my book Aromatherapy for Life.
If you’re unsure about how many drops of essential oils you need to add to carrier oils, below is a great Dilution Guideline Chart PDF you can download for FREE!
