What are Carrier Oils?

Updated: Apr 19, 2021

Overview

Most of the soaps and skincare products such as body butters, balms, creams and lotions use Carrier oils as the main ingredients. You might have heard a lot about it as well.

Carrier Oils are made of fatty acids and carry other praiseworthy elements such as vitamins, carotenoids, squalene and phytosterols. Fatty acids in the form of triglycerides enter the top layer of the epidermis and aid in the proper functioning of the skin, as well as improving its quality and look. These oils, when applied to the skin, occupy all of the small gaps between epidermal cells, making the skin feel softer, smoother and healthier. Carriers oils are known to be Emollients as one of its property.

They are also used to dilute the Essential Oils and help to deliver them into our skin. Essential Oils if applied directly to the skin, may cause severe irritation, redness or burning. That is because Essential oils are very concentrated as they are distilled from the aromatic leaves, bark, and plants' roots.

Palm Oil has many benefits on skin when used in Handmade Soaps

Let's see how Carrier Oils are made? They are mainly vegetable oils and plant oils, also known as fixed oils. For e.g., Palm Oil, Agran Oil, Coconut Oil, etc.

They are derived from compressing the kernels, seeds or nuts of a plant.

This process of deriving through compression is known as Cold Process which indeed means crushing to release the oil. Few examples are Sunflower oil from seeds, Avocado oil from the kernel and Macadamia oil from nuts.

It is better to use cold-pressed carrier oils when using for aromatherapy purpose because cold-pressed retains the properties and nutrients of the oil, rather than heat processed oils.

Most of the carrier oils do not have a scent or might be lightly scented. They don’t interfere with an essential oil’s therapeutic properties. Carrier oils can be used alone or mixed with other carrier oils to nourish our skin. Carrier Oils do not evaporate as essentials oils do.

There are mainly 3 categories of ingredient in Carrier Oils, that help to moisturize our skin.

Emollients
Humectants
Occlusives

What are Emollients, Humectants, and Occlusives?

emollients

These are substances that are added to formulations to lubricate the skin's surface, which also helps to soften and smooth the skin’s feel and appearance.

Example ingredients:

Oils e.g. Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, etc
Lipids, e.g. linoleic, oleic and lauric acids

Humectants

Such as Glycerin, are water-soluble ingredients with high water absorption capabilities. They can attract water from the atmosphere and the underlying epidermis, which helps to keep the skin hydrated and moisturized.

They work well with occlusives, help prevent the product from evaporating and thickening, and many possess emollient properties, all of which add to the skin’s soft and smooth look and feel.

Occlusives

Occlusives coat the surface of the skin to form a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss. They are usually oily based ingredients that have good emollient properties. They are only effective when present on the skin's surface, i.e. they have no lasting effect after removal.

One thing to be aware of is that they can give an undesirable greasy-feel.

Example ingredients:

Oils, e.g. Argan Oil, Soyabean Oil, Grapeseed Oil
Waxes, e.g. beeswax
Butters, e.g. cocoa butter

Benefits of Carrier Oils

Fats and Oils are an essential part of maintaining healthy skin and a healthy balanced diet. The fats and oils that we are concerned with are carriers oils, known as lipids.

Fat-containing oil, butter or wax occur naturally in plants of all kinds which serve us by fulfilling the requirements of our bodies for survival. They form the foundation of most natural skincare products.

Carrier oils, whether oil, butter or wax, are a very nutritious source of natural fatty acids. Our bodies do not produce some fatty acids, and these are some of the most vital to life.

We, therefore, need to get these fatty acids from the outside world which is why they are known as ‘essential fatty acids’ and it is these essential fatty acids that provide the bulk of the nutrients required by our bodies; they are essentially the building blocks to humans, animals and plants.

As such, we’ve relied on oils throughout human history as a source of protection, nourishment, heat, insulation, and energy, not to mention the many other wide and varied health benefits like -

Reducing blood pressure and blood clots as well as increasing the flow of blood
Acting as messengers between cells carrying important information related to healthy functioning and metabolism
Boosting the growth, metabolism, and regeneration of cells as well as the enhancement of their structure
Reducing inflammation, improving damage repair, alleviating irritations and destroying bacteria
Locking in moisture and maintaining a hydrated system
Moisturizing, softening and replenishing cells
Stimulating, nourishing and maintaining good eyesight

Varying Properties of Carrier Oils

There are many different types of carrier oils with varying consistencies, properties, and qualities and knowing which ones to use, whilst sometimes a personal choice.

For example -

Some oils are absorbed quickly (suitable for facial skincare applications) whereas others are absorbed slowly, known as ‘long’ oils (suitable for massage).
Some oils are thick, heavy and fatty (Avocado and Castor), and some oils are dry, thin, and light (grape seed and hazelnut).
Some oils are perfect for oily skin (rosehip and borage) and others for dry and dehydrated skin (Avocado, Olive and Shea butter) and there are a few that possess strong nourishing qualities for all skin types (jojoba, evening primrose and olive squalane).
As we’ve mentioned already, some oils are known as occlusives because the molecules are too large to penetrate the skin layers. Hence, they sit on the surface layer where they form a thin membrane (sesame seed oil, rice bran oil, Avocado oil, and Macadamia nut oil are good examples of occlusive carrier oils). This helps to enhance the skin’s protection and stop trans-epidermal water loss, whilst still enabling the skin to breathe.
Some oils have humectant qualities; an agent that helps to draw in moisture from the surrounding and surface layer of the skin, helping to keep the skin hydrated and moisturized (olive squalane is a good example).
And finally, all carrier oils are known as emollients; an agent that softens and smoothes the skin preventing water loss, dryness, damage and irritation.

One last thing to note about Carrier Oils.

They can be used very effectively on their own without the need to carry essential oils, cosmeceuticals or active botanicals and in some situations, it is better, if not recommended,

to do so.

Just like Essential Oils, Carrier Oils can also be blended to create a more holistic and effective solution;

Carrier Oils can also be blended together to create a more holistic and effective solution

The idea that “the whole is greater than the sum of its individual parts” is very true with the vast number of luxurious vegetable, carrier oils, just as it is with essential oils.

In conclusion, carrier oils possess nutrients, vitamins and minerals that are required by our cells to function properly and by using the right fats and oils in their various forms (oil, butter and wax) we can alleviate infections, symptoms, and conditions, improve skin complexion, repair damage, regenerate, tone and protect the skin, hydrate and moisturize and delay the signs of ageing.

Put simply; carrier oils contain essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that feed, nourish and hydrate our skin.

To know about the Composition of Carrier Oils, click here.