Rabu, 31 Oktober 2012

Aromatherapy Carrier Oils for Topical Use

Unlike essential oils that come from flowers, roots and leaves, carrier oils are extracted from nuts and fruits and are generally much cheaper than their essential counterparts. They are, however, vital in order to create skincare aromatherapy oils products as they both dilute and anchor the more volatile essential oils that should never be applied undiluted to the skin as they could cause irritation or allergic reactions.

Being familiar with both the scent and texture of the different carrier oils can make all the difference between being a good aromatherapy professional or being the one people keep coming back to buy aromatherapy blends from. You are probably already familiar with the names of many carrier oils, as they are used as base on many moisturisers and skin care products. Some popular oils that are also frequently used on cosmetic products are sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, jojoba or even olive oil.

If you are considering making your own aromatherapy products, the choice of carrier oil will greatly influence the results. For example, lavender oil is astringent and works well to help with skin problems such as acne, so combining it with other essential oils that have complementary qualities can greatly enhance its effects. However, mixing it with carrier oil indicated for dry skin is counterproductive and won't get such good results.

In some cases, instead of carrier oil you may want to use aromatherapy butter, which is an emulsified and creamy version of the oil. This can help create richer textures for products such as creams or face masks, which may also benefit from using skin care clay to achieve the right consistency. As the carrier oil will be a large part of the end product, is important to make sure you only buy the highest quality products that will give you reliable results and offer the best aromatherapy properties.

Essential oils have been used in all sorts of skin products and formulations for centuries, and their healing properties were already observed and exploited by ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, who were great cosmetologists that left many of their formulas entombed with pharaohs and other nobility to the delight of modern archaeologists. Most of those same essential oils are still used on modern cosmetics and natural or handmade skin-care, and along with the right carrier oils they can greatly improve your skin and beauty regimen and even help you make some money selling aromatherapy products.