Defining what a carrier oil is can be quite problematic; however, the name is mainly self-explanatory. Its purpose is to act as a vehicle for an essential extract; in other words, dilute the essential extract. This is because essential extracts are very potent and can cause irritation if applied/absorbed into the skin without any dilution.

If you are new to this industry and don’t have the necessary knowledge or understanding of what constitutes the “perfect” carrier oil, we recommend reading this beginner’s guide. We’ll run through all the basics, including the types, the process, find the best provider and dilution methods.

Will my carrier oil be scented?

Because essential extracts are scented, your chosen carrier oil will likely not be scented (or at most, possess a light scent). This is because you don’t want your chosen solution to affect or undermine your essential extract’s therapeutic properties.

How should I make my selection?

When selecting your carrier oil, there are several critical factors you need to consider. These are as follows:

Absorption

Some liquids absorb more effectively into the skin than others. Coconut is one of the most effective and has been used by tropical communities for centuries as a natural moisturising agent. Other types are far less effective, so we recommend doing your research or getting in touch with a specialist in the industry.

Skin type

You should also choose your carrier oil based on your skin. For example, some substances might cause skin irritation or worsen a condition you have (such as acne or dermatitis). So, if your skin is more prone to outbreaks, acne or is naturally sensitive, you’ll want to find a carrier oil that is gentler on the skin.

Odour

If you don’t want a product with a distinctive odour (since this might ruin your product’s aroma), then make sure you choose an odourless option.

Shelf life

In addition, the shelf life of your carrier oil is something you should consider if you intend to store the product for an extended period. This is important for buying in bulk since they will need to keep quantities of the substance for possibly weeks and months. Make sure you have a cool/cold space large enough for your order!

Mixing your carrier oil with essential extracts

If possible, we strongly recommend that you only purchase your health and beauty products from a provider you trust. Additionally, you should never apply your solution without first performing a patch test. This way, you can ascertain that the solution won’t spark an allergic reaction or any form of irritation.

Performing a patch test

Here are the steps for performing a patch test to verify the safety of your chosen solution:

1. Spread a small amount of carrier oil on your forearm (inside of the wrist works well)
2. Cover the spot with a bandage or cloth, so it properly absorbs into the skin
3. Leave the area for 24 hours and check to see if irritation has occurred or is occurring
4. Rinse the skin if it has become irritated and note which carrier oil has caused the reaction.

Be mindful of allergies

As a reminder, you should be aware of solutions that contain ingredients to which you might be allergic. For example, if you have a nut allergy, you should steer clear of an oil containing tree nuts (such as sweet almond, apricot kernel and argan).

The dilution process

Once you have established that your chosen carrier oil is safe to use, we recommend adhering to the following guidelines. For adults:

• 5% – 15 drops of the essential extract mixed with 6 teaspoons of the carrier oil
• 3% – 20 drops of the essential extract mixed with 6 teaspoons
• 5% – 30 drops of the essential extract mixed with 6 teaspoons
• 10% – 60 drops of the essential extract mixed with 6 teaspoons

For children:

• 5-1% – 3 to 6 drops of essential extract mixed with 6 teaspoons

Storage tips

When it comes to storing your carrier oil, you need to be precise. It would help if you always stored the solution in a cool, dark place (such as a refrigerator). Furthermore, you should also keep them in a dark glass bottle if possible. Generally, the packaging in which they are delivered should be how they are kept and stored in your home.

Finding the best provider

When it comes to health and wellness products, whether it be body butter, carrier oil or floral water, you want to ensure that you are buying from the best. If you are unsure where to start or what you should be looking for, then follow these steps below:

Start with the internet

If you want a premium carrier oil for your beauty supplements cupboard, then the first place to start is the internet. Using the web is the ideal place to start any research journey, as it allows you to collect information from various relevant search results in a convenient, punctual manner. Use a range of keywords like best raw cosmetics provider or distributor to pinpoint what you are specifically looking for. You can widen or narrow your search at your own discretion. Start jotting down the names of providers or wholesalers that operate in your area so that you can begin a comparative analysis.

Sample some products

It would help if you put your comparative analysis into practice; in other words, purchasing the same product from a few providers to ascertain whether there are any demonstrable differences between the options (consider price, quality and value). We suggest that you start small with your first purchase since the last thing you want to do is place a hefty financial investment into a provider that turns out to be underwhelming. When picking a carrier oil, you should purchase a small 30mL bottle from each prospective seller. This way, if you’re happy with the products, you can invest more in the future, with great peace of mind.

Finalise your selection by checking their reviews

Before 100% committing to a chosen provider, we recommend doing a quick assessment of their online reviews. It would help if you mainly concentrated on reviews on neutral sites that a third party monitors, so you are getting genuine reviews. A few negative reviews are standard for all businesses since things can go awry, and some customers just have unrealistic service standards. However, a higher percentage of negative reviews, such as over 20%, indicates a broader problem. Steer clear!

Most common types

To sum up this article, we’ll briefly run through the most popular solutions available in the market.

Sweet almond

With a lovely nutty scent, sweet almond is very popular (even though it is scented). For people with nut allergies, don’t use this product in your health treatments. For those not allergic, we recommend using sweet almond for massages, bathing and soaps.

Rosehip

While the name might suggest that it smells like roses, you’ll be pleased to know that it doesn’t have a strong scent at all. The solution is derived from the seeds of the rosa rubiginosa bush. When the flowers wilt and die, the petals fall away, revealing the rosehip underneath. The liquid is pressed from the rosehip seeds and is high in vitamins A and C.

Some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and celebrities have their own lifestyle blogs. Many of these blogs feature tips regarding health, lifestyle, fashion, beauty and other aspects of the blogger’s life and career. No matter where you come from and what your interests might be, you could learn a lot about how to improve yourself, your perspective and your relationships from following some of the blogs below.

Rose, Inc – Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

In May 2018, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (actress and model) launched Rose Inc. Huntington-Whiteley is well-known for starring in Michael Bay’s “Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon”, where she replaced Megan Fox as the female lead. Her website features a range of interviews, tutorials and product reviews, many of which centre of the actress’ personal life.

So Delushious – Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen is the husband of singer-songwriter, John Legend. However, Teigen made a name for herself as a famous model in the early 2010s. Her health food blog called So Delushious, includes a range of fun, innovative recipes that will make you incredibly hungry. While she doesn’t post very often (put that down to her busy schedule), her blunt, no-nonsense attitude has made her a winner amongst her devoted blog followers.

The Kind Life – Alicia Silverstone

Alicia Silverstone loves sharing vegan and vegetarian-friendly recipes. In 2017, she made headlines for posing nude in an advertising campaign for PETA. While she doesn’t get naked on her blog, Silverstone does share a bunch of awesome vegan-friendly recipes. If you’re thinking of cutting meat and processed foods out of your diet, you should certainly check out The Kind Life.

FoodStirs – Sarah Michelle Gellar

FoodStirs is an online marketplace, website and blog channel that focuses specifically on food and kids. It’s all about sharing enjoyable and fun recipes that parents can cook with their kids. Michelle-Gellar is one of the co-founders of the site (you’ll remember her from Buffy).

There are so many great movies to watch. Each year brings new films, new stories, new characters and new methods of filmmaking. Whether it be classics from a bygone era or innovative dramas released in the 21^st century, here are some celeb movie favourites that might be worth watching soon.

High Noon (1952) was a presidential favourite

High Noon (1952) stars Gary Cooper as former marshal, Will Kane, who is forced to face off against a criminal he helped put away. Former Presidents Ronald Reagan (himself a former actor), Bill Clinton and Dwight Eisenhower reportedly loved the film and considered it a favourite. Former President Obama is a massive fan of The Godfather trilogy.

Tom Hanks loves 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Acclaimed actor, Tom Hanks, reportedly adores Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking sci-fi adventure. Hanks loves the film so much that he has supposedly seen the movie upwards of forty times. Don’t believe it? Check out his fan website!

Heath Ledger’s favourite film is a surprise

Heath Ledger tragically passed away in early 2008, a mere 6 months after finishing up filming on the set of The Dark Knight. His performance as the Joker brought him widespread acclamation and praise, however, all awards received were posthumous. Ledger supposedly loved the film The Wizard of Oz (1939) – a surprise for many people. His reason was simple – it was the only film his parents allowed him to watch as a young child.

Richard Nixon was obsessed with Patton (1970)

In line with the presidential vein, former President Richard Nixon was obsessed with the acclaimed war epic, Patton. The former President would watch the film again and again at the White House, encouraging his staff to view it. Prior to the US invading Cambodia in April 1970, President Nixon screened the film three times.