Beauty: A Guide to Carrier Oils for the Skin
Written by Stephanie Ayres
“Elegant emollients to lubricate epidermal layers and restore the hydro-lipid barrier, these natural nectars pressed from plants deliver delicious moisture to clarify and penetrate pores with adoring oils opulent in beautifying benefits.” - Nadine Artemis
Loving Lipids
Oils have a rich history in anointing royalty. For centuries, oils have been used in devotional ceremony and ritual in a variety of cultures. When we use oils on our face, body and hair, it instantly brings us into the present moment. For this reason, when we use oils it is always important that we pause to connect to the divine within us and to savor the experience.
WHAT ARE CARRIER OILS?
Carrier oils are plant oils extracted from the plants material, the nuts or the seeds. These plant oils are packed with nutrients and can be incredibly healing for the skin when used appropriately. Some of the best carrier oils for the skin include Almond, Argan, Camellia Seed, Coconut (Unrefined/Fractionated/MCT), Jojoba, Kukui, Rose Hip, Sea Buckthorn, Shea Butter, Sesame Oil and Tamanu.
HONORING TEACHERS + GIVING CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE
My knowledge of oils has come from a variety of formats. However, this blog is largely inspired by a small, but mighty, group of women who have pioneered the Clean Beauty mission. The information I give you on the blog post are inspired by Nadine Artemis of Living Libations, Shiva Rose of The Local Rose + Shiva Rose Beauty, Svetlana Zakharevich of Gressa Skin and the late Light Miller of Ayurveda & Aromatherapy.
To learn how to create your own nourishing facial serum that utilizes many of these plant oils, check out this recent blog post — Beauty: Nourishing Face Oil
Carrier Oil | Skin Benefits + Uses
ALMOND OIL
High in Vitamin E, almond oil is used to balance complexion and improve skin tone. Due to its antibacterial properties, this is a great oil to use for acne and breakouts. Almond oil is lightweight and will absorbed into the skin quickly and therefore is a good moisturizer for the face. Reduces the appearance of stretch marks and scars. Can be used to help reduce dark circles and puffiness under eyes.
ARGAN OIL
Packed with omega fatty acids, linoleic acids vitamin E and A — all of which work to hydrate your skin, soften dry patches, strengthen tissues in the skin and aid in wrinkle prevention. Argan is has anti-sebum effects, which can regulate the amount of sebum on the skin to help reduce acne and inflammation on the skin. Commonly used to reduce irritation from bug bites and other irritations.
CAMELLIA OIL
Commonly known as tea seed oil as it is the essential oil from the seeds of the tea plant. It is a beautiful infusion of palmitic and omega-6 linoleic fatty acids, as well as numerous anti-aging polyphenol antioxidants, vitamin A and D, selenium and vitamin E. This powerhouse absorbs quickly into the skin while protecting against environmental elements. Fun fact: Japanese Geishas use this for flawless skin.
COCONUT OIL
Deeply penetrating moisturizer, packed with lubricating healthy fats that are highly effective antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal agents. Coconut oil has copious benefits to the skin from head to toe. It works as a skin moisturizer, make up remover, helps the skin harmonize with the sun, toothpaste, lip balm, oil pulling for oral care, stretch mark smoother and is wonderful for the hair. Coconut oil is a cooling oil that is good to use on skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and cold sores. Solid at room temperature or cold climates, yet begins to melt as you warm through indirect heating methods or via contact with the skin. Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) or Fractionated Coconut Oil remains liquid at any temperature. Note: Always purchase virgin, organic, cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil. When selecting MCT oil you want to look for signs of potency and purity. Avoid refined or heavily processed oils. When reading the label, select the one with the highest levels of C6 (caprioc), C8 (caprylic) and C10 (capric) fatty acids.
JOJOBA OIL
One of the most nourishing skin oils of all! The foundation of all my personal body and face oils. This oil is one of the closest to our skin’s natural sebum. I tend to use jojoba oil for most of my daily oil rituals. I apply this before and after a shower, allowing the warm water to help drive the oils to deeper into my skin. I also love to use jojoba in my face serums as it does not clog pores and does not leave a greasy residue. I find this is a very attainable oil for people across various geographical locations.
KUKUI OIL
This beautiful oil has been used as a natural moisturizer for centuries in Hawaii. The word “kukui” means “light” in Hawaiian. The oil comes from the Kukui nut and is rich in fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants that help to soothe dry skin, heal wounds, lighten scars and stretch marks, reduce signs of sun damage and heal sunburns. Due to the anti-inflammatory benefits, Kukui oil is also used to help with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
ROSEHIP
Rosehip oil is brimming with vitamins C & E, antioxidants and Omegas 3, 6 & 9, retinol-A, and antimicrobials. This oil is one of the most ancient and longest used oils in the history of skin health and beauty. It is derived from the fruit of the rose plant that grow after the flower blooms. The oil is known for its soothing benefits: it helps to reduce blemishes, dry & itchy patches, pigmentation, dullness, redness, scars and wrinkles. It is a real multitasker!
SEA BUCKTHORN
Seabuckthorn sends its lipids into the skin, diminishing imbalances from the inside out. This supercritical extract is packed with omega fatty acids 3, 6, 7, and 9, antioxidants, vitamins, palmitoleic acids, carotenoids, and phytosterols. A single drop of seabuckthorn oil contains 190 different bioactive compounds. This bright orange essence is incredibly regenerative and complexion-clearing - relaxing redness and paring puffiness. Seabuckthorn is an excellent addition to cleansers for acne. Seabuckthorn stealthily harmonizes skin with sun.
SHEA BUTTER
Melts from solid to a buttery liquid oil when heated with your hands. Shea Butter is extremely hydrating and nourishing for the skin. One of the most commonly used oils for pregnant women to apply on their belly, breasts and thighs to help stimulate collagen production and reduce the appearance stretch marks. I also love to apply this on the bottom of my feet to heal cracked heels and dryness (wear socks to avoid slipping after applying)
SESAME OIL
In Ayurveda, sesame oil is traditionally referred to as the “King of Plant Oils” due to its variety of uses on the body. It is the base of almost all massage oils (in Ayurveda) and harmonizes well with all three doshas. This is a grounding, calming and light oil that is harvested once the outer shell of the sesame cracks, revealing the inner seed. It has a rich, warm and nutty scent that I absolutely love. Sesame oil is great for quenching extra dry skin without feeling heavy or greasy. It can be used to help nearly every skin issue and suits every skin type from oily, dry or acne-prone. Thanks to its inflammatory and antibacterial properties, it reduces blemishes, infections and rash, making it a highly effective tool to heal dry, cracked or red skin. When used as a cleanser, it rejuvenating skin by removing dead skin cells and naturally moisturizing the skin, keeping your skin hydrated all day or night. This is a wonderful oil to use when you are in the sun and it naturally protects skin from harmful UV rays and radical damage, which helps to reduce signs of aging (hyperpigmentation, fine lines). It is packed with vitamins E, B and D, making this a powerhouse oil. You can see why we call it the King of Plant Oils!
TAMANU
Enchanting Tamanu is a regenerative berry oil that has a high fat content and easily absorbed deep into the skin to lock moisture in. Tamanu is said to even skin tone and reduce the appearance of scars. Tamanu oil is rich in antioxidants and increases skin cell growth and collagen production, making it a wonderful addition to your skin routine to slow signs of aging. It’s antibacterial and antifungal properties make it great for acne prone skin, eczema, psoriasis or to heal infected wounds. Due to its anti inflammatory properties, it works great with sunburn or minor burns. Perhaps the most unique thing about tamanu oil is its ability to absorb UV rays at a fairly large spectrum, making this an effective sun protecting oil.
