Carrier oils: the basis of cosmetic equipment

Why carrier oils are called carriers is not at all difficult to justify. In short, they are the oils that can bind and carry other ingredients in our cosmetic miracles, such as essential oils , and spread them nicely on the skin or hair. So if you like to make cosmetics at home, always have these oils on hand.

Mandatory equipment

You can use carrier oils not only as a basis for your creations, but also as full-fledged assistants in body, skin and hair care. If you are attracted by more refined products, you love different scents or maybe you like to try glitters and play with colors , carrier oils will be the right thing for you. But you can also use them alone and you will get by with them abundantly, because they form the basis of every cosmetic kit. You can really go wild with these oils, they are natural, environmentally friendly and, on top of that, they won't break your wallet!

What to choose

Carrier oils are widely used in aromatherapy, in the production of home cosmetics, but they are also often a great helper in the kitchen. They have many great properties, effects and uses. But it is good to be aware that these may differ depending on the method of their production and acquisition. So let's check it out!

Cold pressed oils – You may also know these as virgin oils. During their production, the temperature is kept to a minimum, usually not exceeding 40 °C. The oils are obtained mechanically, without the use of any chemicals or solvents. Therefore, such oil is the purest and most valuable. However, this method is not suitable for the production of all carrier and vegetable oils.

Expeller Pressed – On some oils you may find that it is an expeller pressed oil. Expeller-pressed oils are obtained by subjecting the raw material to extreme pressure, thereby extracting the desired oil from it. In this method, the temperature may rise slightly.

Refined oil – Refining is a process in which a certain raw material is purified and freed from foreign impurities. Refined oil is oil in the production of which the raw material was first heated, then mechanically pressed and solvents were used to obtain the largest possible amount of oil. And only then was the oil refined, i.e. freed of solvents and other impurities – mostly antioxidants, some vitamins and so on. Refined oil is therefore mostly pure fat without a distinct taste or smell, much lighter than their unrefined sibling.

Unrefined oil – This is logically an oil that has not been chemically purified in any way. Unrefined oils are the highest quality and one could say the most natural form of oils. They are often darker, retain all the beneficial components and vitamins as well as a rich taste and strong aroma.

And now we finally get to the most important part! So which oil to buy?

Apricot oil

Apricot oil is obtained from apricot kernels, which smell wonderful. It contains a very high content of unsaturated essential acids, mainly oleic and linoleic acids, vitamin E and vitamin A. Apricot oil is light, absorbs perfectly and does not leave a greasy feeling. It penetrates the skin very well, softens it, regenerates it and supplies it with the necessary substances. It suits even the most delicate and sensitive skin, so you can safely use it for babies and children, it is often used to treat the skin of newborns. Reach for apricot oil if you have extremely sensitive and dry skin. Lubricate yourself with it even after sunbathing, it beautifully calms and regenerates irritated or damaged skin from the sun. Precisely because of its light texture, it is used in body massages to dilute heavier, greasier oils. When mixed with other bioactive substances, it is also suitable for the treatment of painful rheumatic conditions.

Rosehip oil

Get rosehip oil if your skin is a little angry. It is loaded with vitamins A, C and E, so it is great for dealing with various skin infections. Use it on oily skin even if you have sensitive and diseased skin. Rosehip oil is also known to be an excellent anti-aging agent, making it ideal for mature skin precisely because vitamin A is a powerful natural antioxidant. So if for some reason various rejuvenating creams do not suit you, simply replace them with rosehip oil. It contains a high amount of omega fatty acids 3 and 6. In addition, it does not leave a greasy feeling on the skin, it is very easily absorbed, it is very pleasant on the skin. Your hair will also be happy with it, and if you start using it internally, you will significantly strengthen your overall defenses. Rosehip oil is cold-pressed from wild-harvested rosehip seeds and is unrefined.

Almond oil

If we had to choose one cosmetic oil that would be really suitable for everything and everyone, it would definitely be almond oil . Like apricot oil, almond oil is very well tolerated by even the most sensitive skin, so you can use it for the treatment of babies' skin without any worries. It is also suitable for the care of mature skin, dry to cracked skin, then diluted for normal and mixed skin, but also for skin prone to acne or eczema. Almond oil has strong soothing and regenerative effects, does not leave a greasy feeling. It absorbs very well, but not as quickly as apricot oil, so you can use it for body massages on its own, not just to dilute thicker oils. It is not by chance that it is the most used oil in aromatherapy. It contains a number of vitamins, oleic acid, which belongs to unsaturated fatty acids, and also the natural antioxidant alpha-tocopherol.

Be sure to try almond butter , which is great for massages, ointments and creams, and for making soaps. It absorbs well and is more affordable. Rich in protein and vitamin D, it can be used to soften and dry skin. Because it exhibits good separating power, it is ideal as a massage butter or in body balms. And if you have deep pockets, refined almond oil is also a great option, which is great for food supplements.

Jojoba oil

Jojoba is an evergreen plant that lives in extremely dry areas of Asia and America. It needs almost no moisture to survive. A very valuable oil is produced from jojoba seeds, which we think of as liquid wax. Jojoba oil boasts a unique ratio of highly unsaturated fatty acids and is one of the best cosmetic and carrier oils, with a composition similar to sebum.

Organic jojoba oil is high quality, cold pressed and unrefined. It is suitable for all skin types, both dry and normal skin, as well as mixed or oily skin with a tendency to acne, in which, in a diluted form, it helps to optimize sebum production. You can also use it on very sensitive skin. It spreads well, absorbs and regulates skin moisture. It also prevents the formation of wrinkles. Regular massage will strengthen your skin against external influences. It is therefore suitable as skin protection in adverse weather and, thanks to its natural UV protection factor of 3-4, gently protects against sunlight. But you can also use it in hair care! Massage a few drops of jojoba oil into damp hair. They will then be fine, soft and naturally shiny. And since jojoba oil passes through the digestive system unchanged, it is quite unnecessary to eat it. :)

Water-soluble jojoba oil is excellent for massages, which washes off easily but leaves the skin soft and silky.

Grape oil

Grapeseed oil is one of those oils that you use in the production of cosmetics, in the kitchen, but also as a food supplement. It contains a high proportion of fatty acids important for the health of the skin and cell membranes, beta-carotene and vitamins E and C. Grape oil is an exceptional source of the most powerful antioxidant, procyanidin, which helps protect the body's cells against premature aging from the inside and outside and supports their own immunity well. It beautifully regenerates and hydrates the skin, absorbs quickly and well and does not leave a greasy feeling. Therefore, you can use it for the treatment of normal and oily skin. It is also great for caring for mature skin with loss of elasticity. Because it is light and thin, thicker oils are diluted with it during massages, it is very popular in aromatherapy. If you suffer from acne, enlarged pores, oily skin or need to brighten your skin, grape oil will be the right one for you.

It is used in the kitchen as a seasoning and flavoring ingredient, it is excellent in salads, with cheese and nuts, for marinating meat and fish, but also in sauces and pestos. It will enhance the taste of the food and will itself become a prominent part of it.

If you need to support your metabolism, help with weight loss, stimulate the lymphatic system and blood circulation, start taking grape oil internally as a dietary supplement. Simply take two teaspoons of the oil twice a day, morning and afternoon. In addition, grape oil replaces caffeine with its effects, so if you are detoxing and skipping coffee, have grape oil.

In the eco-friendly menu, you can choose between cold-pressed grape oil, produced by the Czech company Bohemia Oil, or grape oil, which is extracted from grape wine.

Castor oil

Castor oil is an almost colorless, thick, emollient oil that you may have heard of as an eyelash growth miracle product. Castor oil strengthens eyelashes and hair, helps to limit their loss, and in addition, with regular use, it incredibly accelerates their growth (even two to three times!). That's why castor oil is an essential ingredient in our hair growth oil. But you can also use it in the production of lip balms, skin care products, soaps, creams or lotions. Use it also to stabilize the foam. But never eat it, it could make you really sick, because it has strong laxative effects. Our castor oil is cold pressed and of course contains no chemicals or solvents. Also look at sulfated castor oil , it dissolves essential and vegetable oils in water and is mainly used in the production of bath oils.

There are a number of carrier oils, be sure to try avocado, sunflower, olive and coconut oil, which we wrote about in this article ! And what cosmetic oil do you not allow?