The healing power of carrier Oils

About Carrier Oils

Carrier oils are a vital, intrinsic part of the repertoire of an aromatherapist and botanical body care product manufacturer.  The term “carrier” oil indicates their usefulness as a vehicle for therapeutic plant extracts during cutaneous application, but they are, themselves, also therapeutic substances with astounding benefits for holistic skin care.[i] Aromatherapists and herbalists value the therapeutic value of the lipids, specifically the triglycerides, and minor components in carrier oils, for both internal and external use.

The roles of carrier oils in this palette are:

• to support and maintain the intercellular lipid matrix (the mortar) which in turn serves to protect the integrity of the stratum corneum and its barrier function

• prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by forming an occlusive film on the surface of the skin

• restore barrier function if damaged

• provide antioxidant activity (preventative to aging)

• provide anti-inflammatory activity

Carrier oils are primarily comprised of two major categories, the fixed - or vegetable – oils, and herbal oils, which is where herbs are infused into a fixed oil. Essential oils can then be added to the herbal oils, thereby increasing the therapeutic value of the overall blend. This combination of essential oils and carrier oils, either fixed oils or herbal oils, offers an ideal therapeutic partnership.

Carrier oils can be obtained from fruits (e.g., olive, sea buckthorn), seeds (e.g., raspberry seed, pomegranate seed), or nuts (e.g., walnut, hazelnut, shea nut butter). The main components of carrier oils are triacylglycerols/triglycerides (92-98%) and complex mixtures of minor compounds (2-5%) including: sterols, wax esters, squalene, tocopherols & tocotrienols (tocols), pigments, phospholipids, and phenolic components (antioxidants and free radical scavengers).

What products use carrier oils?

• Creams

• Lotions

• Facial oils/serums

• Body/massage oils

• Salves

• Ointments

• Body butters/balms

• Lip balms

• Herbal oil infusions

What are the therapeutic benefits of carrier oils? 

As carrier oils, (fruit, nut, and seed oils, or herbal oils) are used to dilute essential oils and carry them onto the skin. As therapeutic substances, carrier oils are a good source of oil-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), fatty acids, sterols, phospholipids, tocopherols, and other components, which will be discussed shortly. The majority of organic carrier oils interact favorably with the skin, in particular, offering antioxidant protection, cell proliferation support, and excellent protective and emollient properties, which improve tone and elasticity while reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL), thereby improving skin hydration and barrier integrity.

Have you tried our facial oil with the amazing sweet almond oil carrier oil?

Shop Now

Want to know more about blending your own facial oil?

Learn More

References: https://aromaticstudies.com/