Carrier oils help “carry” essential oils onto your skin. In this post I will share their similarities and differences as well as how they can both benefit your health and wellness

Carrier oils:

• Natural oils made from the fatty part of a plant, usually from the seeds, nuts or kernels
• Most common extraction method is cold pressed
• Fixed oils – they do not evaporate
• Can apply liberally to the skin as is – no dilution needed – or can be used as a base to dilute essential oils
• Bland, little or no aroma
• They nourish and moisturize the skin as well as protect it

Essential oils:

• Concentrated oils made from a variety of plant and tree parts, like leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, bark, wood or fruit
• Most common extraction method is steam distillation (citrus oils are usually cold pressed)
• Volatile oils – they evaporate quickly
• Too strong to apply to the skin – should be diluted in carrier oil before applying topically to the skin
• Highly aromatic
• They offer therapeutic properties and unique aromatherapy benefits

The term “carrier” can refer to many substances used to dilute essential oils. Most commonly used include, oils, creams, unscented lotions, butters and Aloe Vera gel

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, so it is important to keep it healthy. The nourishing and moisturizing properties of carrier oils can help you accomplish this.

A few of the most common carrier oils used include:

Jojoba oil

Sweet Almond oil

Coconut oil

Rosehip oil

Grapeseed oil

A few of the more popular essential oils include:

Lavender EO

Lemongrass EO

Tea Tree EO

Bitter Orange EO

Peppermint EO

Rosemary EO

Lemon EO

Eucalyptus EO

Frankincense EO

Why use carrier oils

Carrier oils are used as a base to dilute concentrated essential oils. By doing so, it makes the essential oil safe for topical use and in DIY recipes.

Essential oils applied directly to the skin can cause irritation or burning

Carrie oils all have a Comedogenic Rating – which indicates how likely the oil is to clog your pores

• Comedogenic Rating of 0: no risk at all – will not clog your pores
• Comedogenic Rating of 1: low risk – slight chance of clogging your pores
• Comedogenic Rating of 2: moderately low risk – will not clog pores for most people
• Comedogenic Rating of 3: moderate risk – breakouts depend on skin type
• Comedogenic Rating of 4: fairly high – most people will break out
• Comedogenic Rating of 5: high risk – will definitely cause breakouts

Each carrier oil has a different combination of health benefits and therapeutic properties