Carrier Oils Flashcards
COCONUT
100% use or blending
Cocus nucifera
Exists as a solid - only veg fat rich in saturated fats.
Refining yields a v light, watery, virtually odourless colourless oil.
Excellent for hairy men as thicker oils can drag body hair.
Use at 100% or use to ‘thin down’ more nutritious oils to minimise drag.
SOYA BEAN
100% use or blending
Glycine soja
Alternative to grapeseed for people w/ nut allergies. (though some have multiple allergies & soy could be one)
This is more nourishing for skin than grapeseed - contains E vitamins & Lecithin which holds water in skin, keeping it hydrated.
*Prone to oxidation
SUNFLOWER
100% use or blending
Helianthus annus
Golden yellow oil w/ slightly nutty aroma, light textured.
Organic sunflower oil is cold-pressed.
Contains Vits A, D & E
Good alternative useful base for nut allergy sufferers.
SWEET ALMOND
100% use or blending
Prunus amygdala var. dulce
Most commonly used carrier oil for those without nut allergies.
Contains Vits A, B & E
Nourishing for dry skin, soothes inflammation, relieves itchy caused by dry skin.
- Oxidises easily
- Avoid with nut allergies
APRICOT KERNAL & PEACH KERNAL
100% use or blending
Prunus armeniaca & Prunus persica
These similar cold-pressed oils are light & easily absorbed by the skin.
Well regarded for facial work.
Useful for dry, mature & sensitive skin.
GRAPESEED
100% use or blending
Vitis vinifera
The cold-pressed oil has an unpleasant odour, therefore grapeseed oil is only used once it’s a refined, heat treated oil.
As a result it is not particularly nourishing to the skin. Though useful where there are nut allergies.
Very easily absorbed, odourless.
HAZELNUT
Enrichers / 100% use
Coryllus avella
Useful for oily skin & combination skin as it regulates sebum. Good base for body acne.
Rich in oleic & linoleic acids.
Slightly astringent & penetrates well & can be used alone, though as moderately expensive, use as an enricher.
*Avoid with nut allergies
MACADAMIA
Enrichers / 100% use
Macadamia ternifolia Macadamia integrifolia
Golden coloured, soft oil.
Rich in palmitoleic acid - substance similar to human sebum.
Excellent for dry & mature skin. Absorbs well.
Moderately expensive so best used as an enricher.
Good keeping qualities.
No reported allergic responses.
ARGAN
Enrichers
Argania spinosa
Highly nutritious & expensive!
Rich in a range of fatty acids.
Particularly useful for mature skin, acne, hair care & aiding healing of burns.
Good keeping properties.
NEEM
Enrichers
Azadirachta indica
A strongly antimicrobial, insect repellent & skin regenerating oil.
Pungent aroma - more useful for small area application mixed with EOs for eczema, psoriasis & wound healing creams. Also for headlice.
Useful added to mosquito repellent lotions & creams.
EVENING PRIMROSE
Enrichers
Oenothera biennis
Yellow oil from the seeds of the plant.
Rich in unsaturated fatty acids which have strong anti-inflammatory actions.
Useful for eczema, psoriasis, dry and wrinkled skin & to enrich face creams.
*Oxidises & spoils easily
Fridge storage in dark bottles is advisable
AVOCADO
Enrichers
Persea gratissima
Dark green with nutty aroma when unrefined.
Oil is produced from the flesh of the avocado, not the stone.
Refined oil is yellow - used in cosmetics.
Rich in Vits A, B & D & also minerals.
Absorbs well, useful for dry, wrinkled & inflamed skin.
Helps maintain suppleness in skin.
Excellent keeping properties, it solidifies in fridge.
ROSEHIP
Enrichers
Rosa canina
Golden reddish oil, often refined & decolourised.
Skin regeneration properties make it particularly useful for scars, burns, aged skin, eczema & wound healing.
Good for adding to base creams for these conditions.
JOJOBA WAX
Enrichers
Simmondsia sinensis
Jojoba is a liquid wax, not an oil (diff. chemical structure)
Similar in structure to sebum and a skin balancer for dry & oily skin.
Anti-inflammatory properties useful for arthritic & rheumatic inflammations, eczema, psoriasis, dry, chapped skin & all skin types as well as hair conditioning.
Excellent stability & keeping properties - solid at cool temperatures.
COCOA BUTTER
Enrichers
Theobroma cacao
A solid fat which melts easily in the hand.
Usually used as a base for ointments & body butters, rather than directly for massage.
It is often adulterated & refined - advisable to use Organic!
WHEATGERM
Enrichers
Triticum vulgare
Thick, strong smelling oil - avoid if wheat allergy!
Cannot be cold-pressed. maceration preferable to solvent extraction & hot pressing.
Rich in Vits A, B & E as well as many minerals.
Useful for dry & ageing skin, it maintains skin suppleness.
It has excellent keeping properties & sometimes used to extend shelf life of other oils.
*Avoid with wheat allergies
ENRICHERS - INFUSED OILS
These are using plants which do not produce a fixed oil themselves, but the chemistry of the plant makes them very useful for the skin - therefore an infused oil is made.
Chopped plant material is infused in a vegetable carrier (usually sunflower) for several days in sunlight and then strained of solid residue.
CALENDULA infused oil
Enrichers
Calendula officinalis
Deep golden yellow/orange colour.
Anti-inflammatory, vulnerary.
Excellent to add to bases for sore, itchy skin conditions like eczema.
Useful for preparations for varicose veins, broken veins & bruises.
CARROT / WILD CARROT infused oil
Enrichers
Daucus carota ssp sativus
Macerated root, carroty orange colour.
Rich in beta carotene vitamins A, B, C, D & E.
Skin rejuvenator - good for ageing & dry skins - especially added to base creams for the face.
Also helpful for healing scar tissue & facial blends for acne.
HYPERICUM / ST JOHN’S WORT infused oil
Enrichers
HYPERICUM perforatum
Ruby red colour.
Anti-inflammatory, vulnerary.
Excellent for adding to bases for arthritic conditions, also works well mixed with calendula.
Useful for preparations for bruises & inflamed nerve conditions.
COMFREY infused oil
Enrichers
Symphytum officinale
Rich in allantoin - a substance which reputedly encourages growth of muscle, bone & connective tissue.
Particularly useful for bruises, aching muscles & joint problems.
For wound healing & varicose vein preparations.
