I heard about Carrier oil for the first time at a natural hair summit some years ago, and I only just heard about Essential oil. Essential oils are concentrated, can burn the skin if applied directly and evaporate easily, so they need to be mix with carrier oils.
Carrier oils are a “base” oil and are derived from (mainly) nuts and seeds of different plants.
Different carrier oils offer different therapeutic properties and are suitable for different skin types and products. They can be used as they are (or in conjunction with another oil) as a moisturizer or to treat problem areas. They can be used to dilute strong essential oils and other fragrances and products to make them safe to apply to the body.
When Carrier oils are used in conjunction with other oil, they effectively “carry” the other ingredients into the skin and body and stop the essential oil from evaporating too quickly. They are also used for their therapeutic properties in homemade body care products such as deodorants, soaps, body butters, scrubs, and many other recipes.
Choosing A Carrier Oil
You want to make sure you are using the highest quality you can afford. If possible you should purchase cold-pressed, pure, unrefined oil with no additives. Cold pressed oils have not been heated and therefore retain their innate beneficial properties. Unrefined oils have undergone little refining and (usually) retain their richness and strength.
Just remember that the key to success is experimenting with oils and ingredients until you find what works best for you, your skin, and your product.
