You’ve probably heard that you should use Carrier Oils when topically applying essential oils, but WHY?

I usually use my essential oils "neat." This means I apply them topically to my skin, without adding anything else. My skin doesn't mind that at all, *in most cases.* But a lot of people have more sensitive skin, so it's important to know how to topically apply oils in a way that doesn't ever irritate.

WHAT IS A CARRIER OIL?

A carrier oil is an oily oil. These oil are derived from the fatty portion of a nut, seed, fruit or kernel of a vegetable or other plant using one of two main methods of extraction: maceration or cold-pressing. Carrier oils come from things like Coconuts, Almonds, Olives, Grapeseeds, etc.

[Side Note: To extract Essential Oils, the most common process is steam distillation- suspending botanicals (usually leaves, stems, flowers, etc) over boiling water to draw out the oils into the steam, which is captured in a vessel.]

Carrier oils have much bigger molecules... like WAY bigger. When you apply a mixture of Essential oil + Carrier oil to your skin, the larger molecules absorb much more slowly. The essential oil molecules have to bounce around between the carrier oil molecules to get through and into your skin.... BASICALLY THIS SLOWS DOWN THE PROCESS OF ABSORPTION.

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

Well, slowing the process allows your skin more time to absorb and react to the Essential Oils. This = less opportunity for irritation. YAY!

5 TIMES YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO USE A CARRIER OIL:

On kids - their skin is much more sensitive. Check specific recommendations for whichever oil you're using before you apply to a child.
Applying "Hot" Oil - these are oils that warm your skin, like Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger... Also herbs like peppermint, spearmint, etc. which cool rapidly, can cause discomfort when used "neat."
For covering a large area - you can cover way more territory if you add some carrier, and that way you’re not wasting your essential oil just for the purpose of spreading it around.
For LONG LASTING vs. FAST effect - Sometimes you want the effect of an oil to linger (think muscle soothing) but sometimes you want a punch of oily effects immediately! Using a carrier oil slows effects, but makes them linger longer.
As a facial serum - Most of y'all know I make my own facial serums, and I LOVE them. The essential oils are soothing, smoothing, rejuvenating, calming and so many other wonderful things. The carrier oil helps seal in the moisture that's left after washing your face, leaving your skin feeling happy and hydrated!

HOW SHOULD YOU DILUTE?

Try 1 drop of oil for a quarter-sized dollop of carrier oil. You can increase your EO from there if you want a more potent effect and aren't feeling any irritation.

WHAT KIND OF CARRIER SHOULD I USE?

Check out my favorite DIYs in the Learning Center!

You can really have fun with this! My faves are grapeseed and coconut oil. I find that they don't leave my skin feeling greasy afterward. I also like Young Living’s V6 carrier oil blend.

When choosing a carrier oil, look for ones that are pure, raw, organic, cold pressed, and unrefined.

Most carrier oils last for only 3-6 months unrefrigerated or 12-24 months when refrigerated. I’ve had experiences where they started to go bad even sooner, so this is important to keep in mind. Carrier oils like V-6™ that contain Fractionated Coconut oil can last much longer and if kept in the refrigerator can last several years. NOTE: Often dermal rashes happen from allergic reactions to carriers and not the essential oils themselves.

Here’s a list of 7 Carrier Oils to help you decide which is best for your purposes*:

• V-6™: A vegetable oil complex by Young Living of fractionated coconut oil, sesame seed oil, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil, sunflower seed oil, and olive fruit oil. Excellent general use carrier.

Boost the power of your DIYs by understanding the difference between essential oil synergies and blends.

• Grapeseed: Balancing, toning, skin smoothing, and for blemish prone skin. Excellent for face serums of all kinds. Perfect for my favorite night time serum.

• Rosehip Seed: Nourishing and excellent for skin smoothing. Add Rose Essential Oil to create a face serum for mature skin and wrinkle support.

• Sweet Almond: Nourishing and great for skin tone balancing serums, with oils like Frankincense and Geranium.

• Jojoba: Technically a wax, this is great for dry skin. Add Lavender and Sandalwood to nourish skin. May clog pores.

• Coconut: Great to remove makeup. It takes about 2 weeks for your face skin to acclimate to this carrier, and find a balance of oil production. Use with tea tree to support acne prone skin.

• Fractionated Coconut: Ideal for rollerballs because it doesn’t solidify at room temperature, like virgin coconut oil. The fractionation process also gives a longer shelf-life than virgin or raw oils.

Note on Safety: If you get essential oil on a sensitive area of your skin or in your eye, you can apply carrier oil to relieve the pain. Do not apply water as that will force the essential oil in deeper.

*Adapted from a great resource by Jen O’Sullivan. Check out her books here.