Let’s Go Oil in… What is the difference between Carrier oils and Essential oils?

With the demand for natural ingredients, oils seem to be the most popular in skin and hair products. But the many options can be overwhelming and can pose many questions, like: Do you have a hard time differentiating a carrier oil from an essential oil? When do I use one oil over the other? What are carrier oils vs. essential oils?

Essential oils are more concentrated and are extracted from plants. They are extracted through a distillation process. Carrier oils have a richer viscosity and extracted from the oils of fruit, nuts, and seeds using a cold process method. 

Carrier Oil: Carrier oils are often used in conjunction with the essential oil to do just that “carry” the essential oil topically to help assist various needs. Carrier oils are derived from nuts and are often called “vegetable oils”. Carrier oils are often praised for their assistance in moisturizing, sealing, strengthening, and nourishing hair and skin.

Essential Oil: An essential oil carries a scent/fragrance from the plant that they were extracted from. They are extracted most often using distillation and stem from the non-seed part of the plant. Essential oils should be mixed with carrier oils in diluted states. A few drops of essential oils are all that is necessary to reap the benefits.

Emollients, Occlusives, and Humectants

Emollients are moisturizers that soften and condition the skin without adding moisture to it. They do this by filling in the gaps between skin cells to improve the appearance of dry patches and make the skin more flexible.

Similar in some ways to emollients, occlusives focus more on preventing the skin from losing moisture by forming a protective film over the epidermis. They are mainly lipid (oil) based meaning they leave a slightly greasy sheen over the skin, which can block the pores if used on oily and acne-prone skins. They don’t increase the moisture levels of the skin but can help prevent water reserves from being drained by external stressors. The most popular occlusive ingredients are petroleum, Lanolin, Cocoa Butter and Jojoba Oil.

Humectants add moisture by drawing water molecules from the environment towards the epidermis to help re-hydrate the skin’s surface. They help to increase the amount of water within the skin and store it away until it is needed, making humectants a great moisturizer for most skin types. The most popular humectants used in skin care are Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid.

Each oil has various, yet different properties. It is important to research the best oil to use, whether your trying to get rid of acne on your face, keep bugs while you’re outside or preparing a massage oil for aching joints. Allow the world of Aromatherapy to take you on a natural healing journey.

Blog by: Joy Poteat