Carrier Oils: Top 5 for Natural Skincare

You may have wondered to yourself, what exactly are Carrier Oils?

If you are committed to a natural lifestyle or looking to give your beauty routine a natural overhaul, then getting the lowdown on carrier oils is an absolute must!

You may already use carrier oils and not really be aware of it. Ever use coconut oil? Yes, maybe? Well if you answered yes, you’ve already begun using them so let’s add a couple of more into the mix.

A Whole New World 

I really did not know a thing about these wonderful substances until about 8 years ago when I started making my own beauty products.

To me, Olive Oil was for the kitchen and Avocado was a magical fruit that made everything taste better. But an oil for your skin, it was not lol.

I’ll tell you it was like a whole new world opened up when I began deep diving into the magic of carrier oils.

So, What are Carrier Oils?

Carrier oils are base oils derived from the nuts and seeds of various plant life.

These oils are versatile, great for all skin types, and have a ton of benefits attached to them. Figure out the right combinations of oils that are ideal for your skin and you’ll only be sad you didn’t discover them sooner 🙂

Carrier Oils: The Rundown

• average 6-12 month life span (some last longer)
• some may be stored in fridge for longer life
• store in cool dry place
• zero to mild aromas (mostly)
• rarely cause skin reactions (patch test still recommended)
• perfect for diluting essential oils
• they do not evaporate like essential oils
• wonderful moisturizers
• natural skin protecters
• may be used on their own or mixed with other oils
• safe to be put directly unto the skin
• use for both skin & hair care
• food grade and cosmetic grade oils are NOT the same
• a little goes a long way! For real though.

My Top 5 for Natural Skincare

1. COCONUT

• perfect for normal, sensitive, oily & acne prone skin
• contains Vitamin A & E – natural anti-oxidants
• add to bath for extra moisturizer and relaxation
• put over cuts and scrapes for protection (in place of Neosporin)
• absorbs quickly into skin
• reduces bacteria on the skin
• combats acne
• great for cuticle care
• works well in lip balms & facial scrubs
• use a small amount on ends of hair to contain frizz and split ends
• 2 year – indefinite shelf life

Notes: I would highly recommend using fractionated coconut oil for skin care as opposed to virgin (or un-fractionated). It is not as oily and easier to work with. The fractionated oil is also less likely to clog pores (virgin is actually known to clog pores for some). It also has almost no scent and an indefinite shelf life. Still all natural and with the same benefits as virgin (more beneficial in some ways), it’s a no brainer 🙂

2. OLIVE

• great for dry skin
• likely you have some already in your kitchen!
• contains Vitamins A, D & E – antioxidants, combats aging, provides protection
• has natural healing and disinfecting properties
• helps repair and renew skin
• can aid in healing burns & fade scars
• treats itchy skin
• slightly thicker consistency so may leave skin feeling oily
• softens hair – mix a little in with your conditioner
• 6 month shelf life

Notes: There are many many Olive Oils on the market which means many are not great quality. Purchase the highest quality available to you, organic if possible.

3. SWEET ALMOND

• perfect for normal, sensitive, mature, acne-prone & dry skin
• rich in Vitamin E
• extremely moisturizing
• promotes skin regeneration
• encourages younger looking skin
• wonderful consistency for massage oils
• hypo-allergenic
• reduces under eye circles – dab a little on before bedtime
• soothes skin irritations
• creates healthy, shiny hair – rub a bit through your freshly washed locks
• 1 year shelf life

Notes: Avoid if you have any nut allergies.

4. AVOCADO

• perfect for dry, sensitive and mature skin
• full of omega 3’s, vitamins A, D & E just like the fruit
• great overall moisturizer
• soothes inflammation
• aids in healing sun damage & eczema
• minimizes age spots & blemishes
• reduces under eye wrinkles
• ideal for mature skin – boosts collagen
• incredibly nourishing
• can treat dry scalp & fights hair loss
• 6-12 month shelf life

5. GRAPESEED

• perfect for normal, acne prone, sensitive and oily skin
• extremely versatile
• one of the lightest carrier oils – easily absorbed
• has antioxidant properties – helps to clean and purify skin
• another good option for massage oil
• full of vitamin C – helps brighten the skin
• helps to regulate oily skin
• natural antiseptic properties
• non-greasy on skin
• 1 year shelf life

BONUS OIL: Jojoba

• perfect for dry, oily and mature skin
• contains Vitamins E – for fighting wrinkles & acne
• contains Vitamin B – helps maintain hormonal balance & fights off cell damage
• keeps oil levels balanced
• great make-up remover
• provides natural skin protection
• aids in healing wounds
• leaves hair soft and shiny – mix a few drops into conditioner before applying
• helps treat dandruff
• 1 year shelf life

Example Carrier Oil Combos

Mixing 2 oils together will create a fabulous face serum or overall moisturizer. 80/20 or 70/30 ratios are a nice place to start. Think of your skin type and the areas/issues you want to target and go from there. I have included a few potential mixes here to get you started!

Normal Skin Blend: 70% Sweet Almond, 30% Coconut

Dry Skin Blend: 80% Sweet Almond, 20% Olive (Olive is a thicker oil so I would use less)

Mature Skin Blend: 70% Jojoba, 30% Avocado

Oily Skin Blend: 70% Jojoba, 30% Grapeseed

Acne-Prone Skin Blend: 70% Grapeseed, 30% Sweet Almond

Sensitive Skin Blend: 70% Coconut, 30% Avocado

Glass roller bottles or bottles with a dropper work really well here.

Combine oils in bottle and shake for about 30 seconds to mix the oils together. Apply small drop to your fingertip and gently massage into forehead, cheeks and chin. I would do this each night before bed. Eh voila!

These are just ideas! The combination possibilities are endless.

You can always just use one as well. Remember you will likely need to try a few things to see which oils and blends work best for you.

You could also do blends to just address under the eyes, or acne, or dry patches. We are all unique!

There are also some pricier, extra nourishing and more heavy duty oils you may want to check out to add into your mix. Especially if treating acne-prone or mature skin. Rosehip, Tamanu (one of my favs!), Pumpkinseed and Sea Buckthorn to name just a few.

Summing up….

The plethora of benefits listed here should be enough to convince you to add a couple of carrier oils to your routine (or 5 or 10!). If I did my job that is lol.

Of course you do not need to add them all to your regime by any means. It will take a bit of experimenting to find the right oil or oil combinations to give the most benefit to your particular skin. And we all have budgets to consider. 

Remember though this is your skin we are dealing with, so going for quality is always a good idea. If you have the option to buy just one better grade oil or a few cheap ones, get just the better one!  

Be sure to purchase oils that are high quality, cold pressed, pure, unrefined, and with no additives. The ones I have put on this list are relatively easy to find and well priced. They can be purchased at your local natural or health food store as well as many places online.

Chat with me!

Do you have any favourite carrier oils or are they brand new to you? Do you have any favourite tips or tricks? As always, I want to hear from you 🙂 So leave a comment, or connect with me on socials!

And if you are looking for some ideas on mixing carrier oils and essentials oils together for added benefits,  SUBSCRIBE to my mailing list and receive my DIY Fab Face Serum Mixology Chart for free!

Blessed be pixies. xo

Krystle