Carrier Oils

[Jen]

There are a lot of different types of carrier oils you can use for herbal preperations. I thought I would take some of the confusion out of choosing which one is best used.


Light Coconut:

This oil is easily absorbed by the skin and is long lasting and nutritious. It is well suited to all kinds of cosmetic preperations such as hair products, bath oils and perfume blends.

Sweet Almond:

This is a light and nutritious oil, rich in vitamins and proteins. Easily absorbed by the skin, its softening, nourishing and revitalising properties make it especially suitable for dry, itchy and inflamed skin. Ideal for massage blends.

Grapeseed:

Slightly denser oil, rich in vitamins,minerals and proteins. Not absorbed quite so easily by the skin, it is suitable as an inexpensive base for general massage or bath oil blends.

Wheatgerm:

This oil is well known for its high vitamin E content. It is a thick,heavy,slightly scented oil not easily absorbed by the skin. It is rich in proteins,minerals and vitamins and is especially suitable for skin conditions such as eczema,psoriasis and prematurely aged skin( get me a bucketful!!). Its antioxidant properties make it an ideal natural preservative for creative blends, or blends that you won't use often.

Jojoba:

A rich, thick oil that solidifies at just below normal room temperature. This oil is especially therapeutic as it is not only rich in minerals and proteins but also contains a compound similar to collagen, thus making it especially suitable for tissue repair and healing blends. Its highly nutritious and penetrative qualities make it ideal for inflamed skin conditions, acne, eczema and psoriasis. Also good for use in hair care and manicure blends.

Evening Primrose:

This special oil rightly deserves its reputation as a magic tonic and revitaliser for the skin. it is rich in vitamins and minerals and also contains the highly beneficial gamma linolenic acid. it is a wonderful healing oil for all preperations, but it is expensive.

Avacado:

This oil is a dark green,rich and heavy, slightly fragrant oil derived from the Avacado fruit. It is highly nutritios containing oodles of vitamins and minerals, fatty acids and lecithin. despite its thick texture, Avacado oil is easily absorbed by the deeper layers of the skin. It is an ideal moisturiser for dry and dehydreated skin.

[WulfcwenStar]

I love the coconut oil it is very light and absorbs easily. I have tried the sweet almond oil as well it too absorbs easily into the skin and neither have a heavy scent of their own so they are lovely to use with essential oils.
The others I have not tried I will look out for them.

[Goth]

Thanks for this Hedge. I was actually going to post about carrier oils in Equinox ~ in the Essential Oils board. Maybe you'd do me the kindness of posting this topic in there for me? *Winks*

Olive oil can also be used as a carrier oil, but it doesn't keep as well as the others.

I mainly use grapeseed and almond carrier oils.

[Jen]

So mote it be

[Goth]

And so it was done...cheers mate!