CARRIER OILS

Unless noted otherwise in the carrier oil description all carrier oils should be stored in well-filled, airtight containers in a cool dark place.

Oil Skin Type % Physical Properties Good For – Sweet All 100 Oily Relieves: Itching, dryness, inflammation, burns, Prunus amygadalus var. Nourishing for Leaves a residue on skin thread veins. Excellent emollient, used in many dulcis dry skin Light to moderately viscous skin product. Family: Rosaceae Pale Yellow Chapped, irritated skin Delicate nutty smell Soothes sunburn Mild, sweet flavor Eases irritation on baby’s bottom Absorbed slowly through May be used for cradle cap and eczema intact skin Natural sunscreen filtering out up to 25% of sun’s rays, however should not be used as a sunscreen on its own. Apricot All 100 Light texture Excellent for skin protection as it is both an Prunus armeniaca L. Easily or Leaves no residue on skin emollient and nourishing. Family: Rosaceae absorbed into 10 – Moderately viscous Readily absorbed. dry skins – 50% Clear, colorless or pale Beneficial in relieving itching caused by eczema nourishing. strawlike colour. Used in brillantine. Oil used in cosmetic products Suitable for Bland taste because of its softening action on skin, as well as sensitive, dry Fairly strong marzipan-like soaps and cold creams and aging skins odor. Avocado All 10% Cold Pressed: Emerald Superb emollient Persea americana Especially dry Green Dry, dehydrated skin Family: Lauraceae dehydrated Refined: pale yellow Eczema Good for Odor similar to ripe fruit Climate damaged skin climate Lingering nutty flavor Parched undernourished skin damaged, Thick viscous oil Aging Skin parched, Highly penetrating leaves Skin healing properties undernourished non-sticky sheen on skin General skin inflammations or aging skin Reputation for higher degree Moisturizing, softening and anti-wrinkle properties. of penetration into epidermis Used in cosmetic preparations including lipsticks. than most carrier oils Borage All 10% Virtually odorless Said to defer wrinkling – can add a capsule of oil Borago officinalis Helpful in Slightly sweet fatty taste to a facial treatment oil or lotion (concentration 4 – Family: Boraginaceae regenerating Pale yellow 8%) skin Thin but oily Non-irritant may be used in cases of eczema and Rapid absorption, leaving no psoriasis. residue on skin Can be substituted for Evening Primrose Oil. Used in skin care products. Canola (Rapeseed) All 100 Pale yellow Only a highly refined oil is available and therefore Brassica napus No taste or flavor there are no significant therapeutic properties Family:Cruciferae Castor All 10% Very sticky It can be used for dissolving cysts, growths, warts, Ricinus communis Highly viscous softening corns, preventing scars, dry chapped Family: Euphorbiaceae Strong odor skin, and as a laxative (internally). Also sores and abscesses. Ayurvedic medicine long used the oil for lumbago, sciatica and rheumatism. Used in brilliantine, nail polishes and removers, solid perfumes and lipsticks. Coconut All 100 Semi solid, white waxy Good for dry hair, hair pomade Cocos nucifera or Bland taste Aids tanning and does not filter sun’s rays. Makes Family: Palmae Caution: may as Virtually odorless skin smooth and satin-like irritate sensitive 10 – Greasy but penetrating Used in hair pomades, lipstick and soap skins 50% formulations. Hair conditioners. Fractionated Coconut Liquid Relieves dryness, itching, sensitive skin, wound Virtually odorless healing. Very Stable Good emollient Can also be used for perfumes Corn All 100 Bright yellow Internally 1 tablespoon (15ml) taken at meals Zea mays Faint corn on cob odor reportedly helps ailments such as asthma, Family: Graminae Slightly sticky but lighter than eczema, hay fever and migraine. Mainly used in emollient creams and toothpaste. Faint taste Oil Skin Type % Physical Properties Good For Evening Primrose All – particularly 10% Yellow Psoriasis, eczema, wounds Oenothera biennis dry, scaly skin. Faint musty odor Prevents premature aging Family:Onagraceae Very Sticky Dry scaly skin Fine texture absorbs quickly Can accelerate wound healing into skin Dandruff conditions Oily, sweet Taste Cosmetic Use in anti-wrinkle preparations at Moderately vicious levels of 20% Relatively unstable Grapeseed All 100 Green tint Leaves skin with a smooth satin finish without Vitis vinifera Effective for Fine texture being greasy. Family:Vitaceae acne or oily Virtually odorless Mildly astringent skin Moderately viscous Penetrating Oily 100 Amber-yellow in colour Acne Corylus avellana Acne & or Pleasant nutty taste Stimulating to circulation Family: Corylaceae Combination 10 – Strong sweet nutty aroma Nourishing for the skin Skin 50% Fine texture Light astringent action Fast absorption rate Stimulating to circulation Penetrates skin quickly Has been shown to act as a sun filter often added to sun lotions and creams, hair regenerators, shampoos, soaps etc. Relatively expensive oil may prefer to dilute it 50/50 with a cheaper less odorous oil. Jojoba Bean All – especially 100 Golden Liquid Wax Eczema, psoriasis, hair care. Simmondsia aging or A faint, slightly sweet smell Anti-inflammatory chinensis Also especially 10 – Bitter waxy taste Sunburn, chapped skin, nappy rash Family: Buxaceae good for face 50% Readily absorbed Controls accumulation of excessive sebum Very similar to human sebum Acne Vulgaris May clog some Non greasy feeling Conditions hair pores Long shelf life Benefits dry scalp Often used as a perfume Excellent emollient for skin – makes it soft and base smooth May be used on an oily or acne skin When massaged into the skin it combines with sebum and acts as an emulsifier, gently unclogging the pores and freeing embedded grime. Used in many cosmetics, creams, lotions, soaps Kukui Nut All – especially 100 Clear pale amber Acne, eczema, psoriasis Aleurites moluccans Dry wrinkled Slight aroma Haemorrhoids Family:Euphorbaceae skin Bland taste Sunburn dry/wrinkled skin Very light, penetrating oil Good protective oil for outdoor pursuits. Easily absorbed Used in skin care, pharmaceuticals, soaps etc. In Hawaii newborn babies used to be anointed with this gentle oil to protect their skin from sun and sea Linseed A drying oil 10 – Unstable Also known as flaxseed oil. Linum usitatissimum Oily, acne 50% Burns and scalds Family: Linaceae Soothing to the skin Used in soaps, shaving creams and emollients. Macadamia All – tones 10 – Pale straw colour Makes pleasant massage oil with good resistance Macadamia integrifolia, aged, dry skin 50 Bland to slightly nutty taste to rancidity. M.ternifolia, Pleasant flavor A skin lubricant and easily absorbed into skin. M.tetraphylla Thick, viscous oil Used in products, which afford protection from the Family:Proteaceae Stable oil aging effects of the sun. Olive All 10- Pale yellow to greenish- Calming and emollient. Softening and soothing to Olea europaea 50 yellow the skin. Burns, sprains, bruises, insect bites. Family:Oleaceae Olive like smell – Strong Relieves itching of skin eczema, psoriasis. Heavy, thick, very greasy Weakly astringent, weakly antiseptic. All 10 - Pale Yellow Said to be helpful with arthritis and rheumatism Arachis hypogaea 50 Distinctive odor Used in the manufacture of soaps, shampoos, Family: Leguminosae Thin perhaps too oily for night creams, emollients and sunburn creams. massage Pecan Alll 100 Almost clear to light yellow Very similar to sweet almond Carya illinoensis Faint taste, faint aroma Family: Juglandaceae Thin and moderately viscous Absorbs into skin well.

Oil Skin Type % Physical Properties Good For Rosehip Avoid with oily 10 - Golden reddish colour Regenerative skin care Rosa rubiginosa skin. Could use 50 Slightly like smell Burns, facial wrinkles, treatment of scars. Family: Rosaceae 100% on very Strong taste Premature aging, eczema, wounds, tissue dry skin Thin oil absorbs well regeneration. Relatively unstable Dull skin, acne, over pigmented skins Ulcerated veins Safflower All 100 Pale yellow Eczema and rough skin Carthamus tinctorius Slightly nutty taste, faint Painful inflamed joints, sprains, bruises Family: Asteraceae aroma. Oily leaves a film on skin Sesame Seed All 100 Slightly bitter but pleasant Can be used as a natural moisturizer Sesamum indicum or nutty smell Nourishing, softening and tanning aid. Family: Pedaliaceae 10 – Clear pale yellow Psoriasis, dry eczema, rheumatism, arthritis, 50 Greasy on the skin broken veins. Natural sunscreen filtering out an average of up to 25% of sun’s rays. Soyabean All 100 Solvent extraction Soya oil is used in manufacturing soaps, Glycine max Possible skin 10 – shampoos, bath oils and margarine. Glycine soja Sensitizer 50 Family: Leguminosae Sunflower Seed All 100 Clear pale yellow Beneficial for all skin complaints and bruises Helianthus annuus 10 – Slight taste and aroma Helpful in leg ulcers Family: Asteraceae 50 Leaves skin smooth and non Included in preparations for skin disorders, greasy light viscosity haemorrhoids, acne, seborrhea, rhinitis and sinusitis. Diaper rash and cradle cap. Wheatgerm Avoid with Up Strong earth smell Eczema, psoriasis, premature aging, stretch Triticum vulgare people who to Orange-brown colour marks. Family: Graminae have wheat 15% Very sticky slow dermal Relieves symptoms of dermatitis. allergies dry absoption Good for sports massage – tired muscles. Macerated Oils Calendula All 15 – Macerated in vegetable oil Anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic Calendula officinalis 25% (often olive oil) Bed sores, broken veins, bruises, eczema, nappy Family: Asteraceae or Orange-yellow in colour rash, broken capillaries, thread veins. 100 Gum inflammations, persistent ulcers, stubborn wounds, varicose veins. Skin problems, rashes, chapped and cracked skin. Arnica All Caution 100 Herbal tincture Bruises, sprains, may relieve rheumatic pain, Arnica Montana some sensitivity chillblains Family: Asteraceae Carrot Premature 10% Macerated in vegetable oil Tonic to skin, helps formation of scar tissue Daucus carota aging *often sunflower) Soothes itching skin, helpful for psoriasis and Family: Apiaceae clear orange colored liquid eczema. Hypericum All 10 – Macerated in vegetable oil Soothing, antiseptic and analgesic. St John’s Wort 50% (often olive oil) Mild burns, bruises, haemorrhoids, gout, varicose Caution Red in colour veins, wounds, sores & ulcers. Hypericum perforatum Excessive use Nerve pain, neuralgia, sciatic, rheumatism, sore Family:Hypericaceae can cause a muscles. skin allergy in Sunburn, oily hair and scalp. hyper-sensitive Herpes, dandruff, pimples. individuals, Use on lower back for bed wetting. which becomes aggravated by exposure to sunlight.