In this blog, I am going to clearly share with you what I know all about Carrier Oils. You probably have same question in your mind similar to mine when I was starting on this oil journey.
“What are Carrier Oils and why do I need them?”
First, let me give you the definition of Carrier oils. They’re used to dilute concentrated essential oils and help them carry them onto your skin. Carrier oils are very beneficial and best combined with essential oils because various essential oils are potent when applied directly in your skin.
Majority of carrier oils are sourced from seeds, kernels, or nuts of a plant and commonly fragrance-free or lightly scented where it doesn’t affect an essential oil’s therapeutic capabilities. Furthermore, Carrier oils are not volatile, has long shelf-life. and can be used independently or with other essential oils as a base oil.
Well, I’ve been personally using carrier oils for my DIY recipes. I assure you that it’s a good idea to dilute your preferred essential oil with carrier oils especially when using it for your children and loved ones with sensitive skin because the union of carrier oils and pure essential oils make them safe for topical use and in DIY Recipes.
A few pure and powerful essential oils when applied directly to sensitive skin can cause irritation, burning or redness. Also, one more amazing thing about carrier oils is that they don’t evaporate unlike volatile essential oils.
I’m going to further explain how to choose the best carrier oil for you. Here’s a list of factors you’ll definitely need to learn and assess before picking the carrier oil that suits you.
First on the list to consider is fragrance. Most carrier oils are absolutely odorless while a few have a light or distinct aroma. Be sure to smell their scent because it may alter the aroma of the essential oil you want to dilute.
The second thing is absorption. Significantly, test a few drops of different carrier oils since your skin can absorb some carrier oils better than others.
Third is your skin type. You have to know your skin type or condition. It’s advisable to select one depending on your skin type. Your skin condition is a great factor for deciding which carrier oil is best for you. For example, you have very dry skin then it’s safe to choose olive oil, avocado oil, coconut oil and sweet almond oil as your carrier oils.
Finally and above all is shelf life. High in unsaturated fatty acid content carrier oils have shorter shelf life and may only last up to 6 months while carrier oils with natural anti-oxidant properties such as those with high vitamin E or lauric Acid content have longer shelf life and can last 1 to 2 years.
Pairing your doTerra essential oils with the right carrier oil can be exceptionally beneficial in understanding the full benefits of what you are trying to complete.
Moreover, I hope these four factors will serve as your simple guide to find the best carrier oil for you. Read here to know about Top 10 Carrier Oils and decide which carrier oil suits your skin.
As soon as you’ve found the best choice for you, then begin to dilute essential oils according to the dilution ratio you need.
The following dilution ratios should give you a good idea of how much:
For one teaspoon of carrier oil add:
One tablespoon of carrier oil add:
One fluid ounce of carrier oil add:
doTERRA essential oils are systematized into three specific categories when used topically. Categories are namely Neat, Dilute, and Sensitive.
Dilute category includes oil that are high in components that are particularly strong, such as phenols.
These are:
Sensitive category is composed of essential oils that are intended for children and people with sensitive skin.
These are:
Lastly, Neat category is comprised by all the remaining doTerra essential oils. Oils in Neat category are meant for topical application and will not cause sensitivity or skin irritation. The perfect example of that is doTERRA’s Lavender oil.
Yet still, if you are a beginner and exploring different essential oils, you can always test it by diluting first in your preferred carrier oil and put a small amount on the inside of your wrist and see how your skin reacts.
To read more about carrier oils and to see the sources for this blog post, check out these two sources below:
©Life by Zarine – Zarine Bharda
