What Are Base Oils?
Base oils are also known as carrier or vegetable oils. As a rule they don’t have any type of concentrated aroma. Some are odourless, but many have a faint sweet, nutty aroma. If you notice your Base oil has a strong, bitter smell, it may have gone rancid and should be thrown out.
They should be as unadulterated and natural as possible. Exceptions include oils that have tocopherols (Vit E) added, which acts as a natural preservative. The majority of Base oils are derived from the fatty portion of a plant, usually from the seeds, kernels or the nuts. They are absolutely harmless and are not only used in aromatherapy blends but can be applied directly to your skin or hair for moisturising, cleansing and toning effects.
Base oils actually contain and deliver unique healing properties of their own!
How Are Base Oils Used In Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy involves using essential oils in the treatment of many common ailments. It’s a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals that has been practiced for decades. It’s becoming very popular with people like me that want a natural and more pleasant way to deal with aches & pains.
Aromatherapy can help with the symptoms of stress, acne, headaches, muscle cramps and much more. Most essential oils are highly concentrated and you shouldn’t apply them directly to the skin. That’s where our Base Oils come in…
To get the safest results from your Aromatherapy treatments, you should always blend your essential oils with a Base oil first. The fats in Base oils are what carry the essential oils through the fatty layers of your skin. By using Base oils to dilute your essential oil blends you will enjoy the health benefits without causing any type of undesirable effects.
Base Oil Dilution Amounts
To make sure you properly dilute the essential oil, you will always use a greater amount of the Base oil in your blends. An average dilution that is considered safe for adults would be about 2%. As a rule of thumb, just combine one fluid ounce (30 mL) of Base oil with 12 drops of your essential oil.
For children, the elderly or anyone with sensitive skin, it’s best to start with a 1% dilution. This would be 6 drops of essential oil to 1 fl oz of Base oil. You can always add more essential oils later for a stronger aroma, if you find that everything works well with your skin.
If you’re allergic to any kind of nuts, choose a Base oil that is NOT a nut derivative.
Base Oil Favourite Recipes
Bath & Body
Add 8-10 drops of Base oils to warm bath water for a soothing home spa experience.
Use your preffered amount on the skin and hair to enjoy luxurious moisture from head to toe.
Massage
Add 8-10 drops of Base oil to your warm bath water for a soothing home spa experience.
Use your preffered amount on the skin and hair to enjoy luxurious moisture from head to toe!
DIY Projects
Base oils are used in lots of home DIY skin care projects like creating soaps, balms, lotions, or any bath and body products.
Which Base Oil Should I Choose?
Which Base Oil you choose will depend on the therapeutic benefit you’re looking for. Each Base oil offers a different combination of therapeutic properties and characteristics.
Natural lotions, creams, massage oils, bath oils, lip balms and other skin care products are made using Base oils. Your choice of Base oil will make a difference in the color, aroma, therapeutic benefits and the shelf life of your final product.
I’ve listed 10 popular Base oils below that have some great skin care properties for you to choose from.
Sweet Almond Base Oil
You’ll love Sweet Almond Base Oil, it’s a real favourite, a wonderful all-purpose oil to keep on hand. It’s a very light oil with a mild aroma, and it’s easily absorbed into your skin so it doesn’t leave you feeling greasy. Almond oil is also rather nutritious containing lots of vitamins, including A, B, D and E.
Sweet Almond Oil has a high percentage of mono Almonds and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which makes it work perfectly for all skin types. You can apply it liberally if you suffer from itchy, dry or inflamed skin. You can even use Almond Base oil to give yourself a facial massage, it will work wonders for your complexion because it balances your moisture levels.
A quick word of warning if you’re allergic to peanuts: almond oil is often produced in the same factories as peanut oil, so be cautious. If you’re allergic to peanuts, it’s possible that you’re also allergic to Brazil nut, hazelnut, almonds and walnut. Check it out with your health care practitioner first if you’re unsure.
Jojoba Base Oil
Jojoba Base oil has a lovely golden color. and is said to act as a natural anti-inflammatory, making it a good choice for inflamed skin treatments.
Many people consider Jojoba oil as one of their most favorite oils to use. It oil has a distinct but pleasantly light aroma and is a natural blending match for Sweet Almond Oil above.
When combined, the two oils have qualities that are closest to the natural oils of our own skin, this is what makes them great for everything from massage treatments to cosmetics. It’s also easily absorbed by your skin, because it mimics Collagen. the main structural protein of the connective tissues in our skin. It’s a great choice of Base oil for anyone with irritated skin, especially those who have hypersensitivity, eczema, psoriasis, acne or blackheads.
There are a lot of ways that you can use Jojoba oil. You can use it either as is, or mixed together with other Base oils to dilute the essential oil of your choice.
Evening Primrose Base Oil
Evening Primrose Base oil is a pale yellow to golden yellow colour, with a light sweet aroma. Normaly cold pressed from plant seeds and refined to remove some of the stronger scent notes.
It is one of the more expensive oils, so is usually blended in a small dilution with other Base oils.
Evening Primrose is widely used in aromatherapy and natural skin care to help many skin conditions.
It can rejuvenate tired looking eyes, it’s said to help reduce wrinkles and dark circles around your eyes.
Evening Primrose Oil Tip: It’s recommended to keep cold pressed Base oils in a dark and cool place so if you’re going to keep your Evening Primrose oil refrigerated remember to bring it up to room temperature before using it, otherwise you’ll find it pretty uncomfortable during massage. By nature, essential fatty acids deteriorate quickly, therefore can go rancid rather quickly if not stored well.
Rosehip Base Oil
Rosehip Base Oil, also known as Rosehip Seed Oil, is another great skin care favourite. It’s said to be excellent in treating many skin conditions.
It’s rich in Vitamin C and essential fatty acids, and protects the skin by increasing cell turnover. Rosehip Base Oil is known for it’s anti-aging benefits, because it helps the cells in your skin to re-generate. It’s wonderful for facial wrinkles, tissue regeneration and burns or scars.
The anti-aging benefits of Rosehip Base Oil are due to its chemical structure. Rosehip oil contains many polyunsaturated fatty acids that convert to prostaglandins, when absorbed through the skin. Prostaglandins are active in cellular membrane and tissue regeneration.
Like Evening Primrose it is one of the more expensive oils and is again usually blended in a small dilution with other Base oils. Rosehip is a virtually clear oil that has a mild and slightly earthy scent, it also has quite a short shelf life so use it up before it goes rancid.
Avocado Base Oil
Avocado Base oil has quite a distinctive sweet and nutty aroma and is quite thick and heavy, though not overly greasy.
It is a nourishing oil for the skin and hair. It’s strong skin soothing properties makes it a popular choice in a Base oil blend. It can also be used in cooking or salad dressings.
Avocado Base oil contains a high amount of vitamins so it’s great if you’re treating dry skin or wrinkles. It’s also a good source of fatty acids, which helps it get absorbed into the skin easily. Its properties and texture makes it especially suitable for use in hair care.
Note: It is recommended not to refrigerate Avocado Oil as certain important, fragile constituents of the oil may be affected.
That’s all I got for now, I hope you found it helpful and are ready to get blending 🙂
Don’t forget to say hello in the comments below, I’ll catch you on the next one, …
