What is base oil?
Among the great variety essential oils there are some that are recommended dilute with base oils before applying to the skin. And those who are just beginning their acquaintance with essential oils may have a question: "What are base oils?"
Base oils, also called vegetable or transport oils, are oils extracted after cool pressing from the seeds, kernels, nuts and fruits of oil-bearing plants. Basic oils penetrate the skin and give it softness, elasticity and smoothness, nourish and moisturize. Thanks to the high concentration fatty acids and vitamin E, as well as phytosterols, phospholipids, vitamins, macro- and microelements base oils are active biostimulators of physical, chemical and biological processes: they normalize cellular metabolism, promote normal blood circulation, restore the structure and function of cells.
Base oils do not have a strong aroma, and at the same time retain the odors and properties of aromatic oils well. It is the base oils that are considered the best for diluting essential oils as they ensure deep penetration of essential oils into the skin when used externally.
Each of the base oils has its own unique properties (anti-inflammatory, restorative, protective, regenerating, healing, etc.) and can boast a wide range of applications. Below we will provide a list of the main most used base oils so that you can choose the oil for yourself.
Base oils with which essential oils are best diluted
APRICOT KEEP OIL is valued for its unique healing properties and for its delicate delicate aroma and pleasant texture. The first experience of using this oil dates back to the medicine of Ancient Tibet. In addition to the usual vitamins for base oils, it contains vitamins C, A and B active form rare vitamin F, unique tocopherols and salts of magnesium, potassium, zinc.
AVOCADO OIL has long been known in Mexico as the “oil of beauty.” Its unique nourishing and regenerating properties transform the skin. Avocado oil contains very high levels of vitamins A and E, responsible for antioxidant properties, PP, K and D, as well as vitamins B1 and B2. In addition to vitamins, it contains zinc, phosphate salts, potassium and other trace elements, phytosterols, chlorophyll, the amino acid histidine, squalene, and lecithin.
AMARANTH OIL - Amaranth oil is considered unique natural remedy, contributing to a qualitative increase cellular respiration. Amaranth oil is considered the only source of squalene among bases - a unique substance that is as close as possible to natural cellular compounds, but also provides high-quality activation of cellular respiration.
ARGAN OIL is a valuable oil that contains unique natural antibiotics and is one of the most popular bases in aromatherapy. Argan oil contains phytosterols, squalenes, polyphenols, high-molecular proteins, natural fungicides and antibiotic analogues, which determine its regenerating and healing properties.
GRAPE SEED OIL is one of the most famous base oils, belonging to the group of very valuable ones. The anti-aging and lifting effect, as well as the ability to be absorbed into the skin without residue, set this base apart from other vegetable oils. One of the most valuable characteristics of this base is its high content of antioxidants in the form of procyanides.
POMEGRANATE SEED OIL has unique protective, nourishing and moisturizing properties, allowing you to get rid of many serious problems with dryness and loss of elasticity of the skin. In terms of vitamin E content, pomegranate oil is considered the only competitor to wheat germ oil.
WALNUT OIL - has strong properties of rapid moisturizing, deep saturation skin, especially noticeable on dry areas of the skin. Within one minute after application to inflamed areas, it has a visible calming effect.
JOJOBA OIL has a thousand-year history of use and is truly unique in its chemical composition and properties, which are not lost even during long-term storage. Possessing anti-inflammatory characteristics, it heals cracks, cuts, injuries, irritations and dermatitis, and is also effectively used in anti-cellulite formulations, including for eliminating stretch marks. Jojoba oil can be used for any skin type - dry, oily or normal, for problem areas and at any age.
WHEAT GERM OIL - its main characteristic is not its saturation with useful substances, but its balance, thanks to which it acquired its healing and cosmetic properties. Base oil Wheat germ mixes well with almost all essential oils. It is an ideal base for cosmetics.
St. John's wort oil - St. John's wort is a well-known medicinal herb in herbal medicine and folk medicine, retains all its unique “wound healer” properties in the base oil. Medicinal properties St. John's wort oil covers a fairly wide range of anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic characteristics. It acts as an excellent antidepressant, has a general calming effect, has a pronounced analgesic effect and can be used as a sedative.
CALENDULA OIL is known in folk and traditional medicine, as an amazing anti-inflammatory agent. In cosmetology, calendula oil is most often used for care products for inflamed and sensitive skin, focusing specifically on the soothing properties of this base oil.
CEDAR OIL - The most the best oil Siberian cedar oil is considered to be from pine nuts. This is one of the original Russian vegetable oils, the unique characteristics of which determine its special status in aromatherapy. This oil has a wide range of healing properties, which are much more pronounced than cosmetic ones. It is believed that in medical value it surpasses and fully replaces any, even the rarest vegetable oil.
COCONUT OIL is used primarily for the care of very dry and sensitive skin. It has emollient, anti-inflammatory, moisturizing and antimicrobial properties, while remaining a highly nourishing oil with pronounced protective properties.
CORN OIL is unfairly little used as a base oil in aromatherapy. But the therapeutic characteristics of corn oil deserve attention: the nourishing, softening and stimulating effect is expressed both in its effect on the entire body and in the care of all skin types.
SESAME OIL has over a thousand years of active use as a kind of beauty elixir, anti-aging agent, supplement for strengthening hair and relieving headaches. Sesame oil can be stored for a very long time thanks not only to its high vitamin E content, but also to its unique natural preservative - sesamol. In addition, the composition includes vitamin C and beta-sitosterol.
LINSEED OIL - known for thousands of years for its healing properties, it is considered one of the most versatile vegetable oils. This is the most concentrated oil in terms of vitamin F content, representing the widest range of fatty acids (twice as much as fish oil), minerals, supplemented with vitamins A and E.
M
ALMOND OIL - Soft, very pleasant, relatively inexpensive and rich in nutrients, the oil can boast not only of its properties, but also rich history use. Both in the Ancient East and during the greatness of the Roman Empire almond oil valued and widely used both for health purposes and to maintain youth and beauty.
Cloudberry oil is rare, valuable and super-effective. One of the best bases for the care of mature and aging skin, the characteristics of which have the most pronounced nutritional and protective properties.
SEA BUCKTHORN OIL is considered a classic vegetable oil. Balancing all the vitamins and microelements necessary to maintain and restore skin health and turgor, sea buckthorn has long been considered one of the main bases for caring for aging and fading skin.
OLIVE OIL is one of the leaders in popularity and availability among all aromatherapy bases. The unique composition allows the oil to be completely absorbed and penetrate deeply at the cellular level.
PEACH KIT OIL - Soft, light peach oil combines nourishing and moisturizing properties with a quick toning and softening effect.
MILK THISTLE OIL - Unlike many base oils, milk thistle is used almost exclusively internally. A rich set of microelements also enhances the active effects of the oil, in particular its regenerating abilities. The active antioxidant properties of the oil are determined by the high content of vitamins D, F, C and A in easily digestible fat-soluble forms.
Burdock oil is accessible and inexpensive; it has acquired the status of an extremely highly specialized product. Thanks to the combination of active ingredients Burr oil is a phytoactivator that stimulates metabolism, blood circulation, hair growth and regeneration at the cellular level.
SOYBEAN OIL in the Far East is the leader among plant bases; it is actively consumed as food. One of the most valuable characteristics is considered to be the presence of lecithin in the composition (in the absence deep cleaning, depriving the oil of this component). Soybean oil also contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, vitamins P, C, E.
PUMPKIN OIL instantly softens the skin, makes it more velvety to the touch, and is absorbed very quickly. Leaves no visible greasy shine and an unpleasant feeling.
BLACKCURRANT OIL is considered the main therapeutic agent for all hormone-dependent skin diseases and as a result of exposure to chemicals or internal medication. Black currant oil helps get rid of dermatoses, acne, dermatitis, reduces itching and eczema. One of the most effective base oils for rheumatic inflammations.
BLACK CUMIN OIL - belongs to the category of not very expensive, but very valuable plant bases in aromatherapy.
When applied to the skin, shea butter (KARITE) is perfectly distributed, smeared evenly and equally thinly, absorbed into the skin no worse than liquid base oils and does not leave noticeable greasy marks. This base oil acts as an anti-inflammatory base for ligament and muscle injuries or joint diseases, as well as the best base oil with decongestant properties. Shea butter heals burns, scars, wounds, stretch marks, dermatitis, and stimulates capillary blood exchange. Capable of protecting both from excessive solar activity and from chapping and frostbite.
ROSE HIP OIL - extracted from dried rose hips, it was known as a medicinal and cosmetic product even before our era. Wherein popular name oil - "liquid sun" - has a lot to do with its stunningly rich, luminous color. The composition of rosehip oil is distinguished by a combination of vitamins and amino acids: ascorbic acid, vitamin A, vitamin E, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linolenic and linoleic). In addition, rosehip oil contains small trace elements and beta-carotene.
Using essential oils in is a fantastic way to harness its healing power. In combination with essential oils, massage can have both a powerful calming and tonic effect - it all depends on the chosen oil and the method of massage (fast movements of the massage therapist stimulate, and slow ones relax).
As stated earlier, essential oils are very strong concentrates, and unless specifically indicated, they should not be applied directly to the skin, as this may cause irritation. Therefore, before applying essential oil to the skin, you should dissolve it in the base.
There are a wide variety of plant oils available that act as bases for essential oils:
- Almond oil - Easily absorbed into the skin. It has a smooth texture and low odor. Holds up well. Contains vitamin D. Has a beneficial effect on hair, dry skin and brittle nails.
- Oil from apricot kernels — light, contains vitamin A. It is especially good for dry or aging facial skin.
- Avocado oil - heavy, rich in nutrients. Very good for dry, aging and sensitive skin.
- Evening primrose oil - useful for skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. But he has short term Shelf life: about 2 months after opening the container.
- Grapeseed oil – light. Good for oily skin. One of the least expensive oils.
- Hazelnut oil – easily penetrates the skin, easily and deeply nourishes it.
- Jojoba oil - light, rich in vitamin E. Suitable for uneven skin - with spots, pimples. It is included in products for dry scalp and dandruff.
- Olive oil - is rarely used as a base, as it has a strong odor that competes with the smell of essential oil.
- Peach oil – light color. Contains vitamins A and E. Good for all skin types.
- Soybean oil - easy to digest. Rich in vitamin E.
- Sunflower oil — contains essential fatty acids rich in vitamin E. It has a specific smell.
- Wheat germ oil — contains vitamins A, B, C and E. Tones the skin, promotes the disappearance of spots, scars and scars. Has a strong smell.
Preparation of oil for aroma massage.
When mixing oils used for massage, have the necessary containers on hand. Bottles made of dark glass (brown, blue, etc.) with a capacity of at least 60 ml are suitable here.
Using a small funnel, pour approximately 30ml of base into the bottle. Add 12-15 drops of essential oil to it and screw the lid on the bottle. Shake the contents well.
You can add one essential oil or combine a mixture consisting of a maximum of three, but the total should be the same 12 - 15 drops of essential oil. And here it is! Your own aroma massage oil is ready!
Final advice: do a small amount of oils for massage, as described above, Otherwise, you will not have time to use it, and the remainder will go rancid. The mixture can be stored for three months in a cool, dark place with the lid tightly closed. Trust your sense of smell, if you don't like the way the mixture smells, then you should make a new one!
What kind of base oil is this for essential oils, what is its use? What are the main functions, manufacturing features, which is more useful and which is less?
Base oils, what are they used for?
The so-called base oil for oils used for medicinal purposes serves as their solvent. In addition, it helps in the use of essential oils in the preparation of aromatic compositions used both in cosmetology and in other branches of applied human activity. It is quite difficult to apply 1-2 drops of essential oil to the entire surface of the body when performing a massage. But if you dissolve them in a much larger volume of another oil, then it’s fine.
The main, but not the only purpose of using base oils is to form the basis for diluting organic esters (essential oils), which are strong-smelling substances that give perfumery and cosmetic compositions unique and inimitable aromas.
The essential oils themselves, although they are liquid and flowing substances, are nevertheless pure form they can damage the skin, since they are considered very concentrated and aggressive chemical compounds, and therefore are not used in their pure form, either in cosmetology or in perfumery. Before use, it is customary to dilute them using an oil base.
The range of uses of base oils does not end there. Thanks to your unique properties they are used as such (in pure and isolated form) in cosmetology as products intended to soften and moisturize the skin, as well as to restore and nourish hair.
What can be the base oil for essential oils?
Based on their chemical composition, all base oils are divided into two categories. Types of base oils:
The so-called batters;
Actually, fixed oils.
The chemical composition of the former is dominated by saturated fatty acids, which makes them less fluid and quite thick. Such substances are usually cheaper, but at the same time less useful.
The advantages of such oils include a long shelf life and resistance to microorganisms. They retain their properties longer, deteriorate slowly, and have a significant shelf life.
Fatty base oils are very fluid, due to the predominance of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in their composition. These substances penetrate very well into the upper layers of the skin, which nourishes and saturates the skin with useful substances.
The only disadvantage of fatty base oils is their short shelf life. Due to the features chemical composition they are very quickly colonized by bacteria, which can lead to souring of the oil.
Base oil, functions
Base oil in cosmetology is intended for several purposes. Firstly, it softens and moisturizes hair and skin. Application to the skin promotes maximum saturation with valuable substances upper layers epidermis, which normalizes the functional state of the skin, slows down aging, improves appearance and so on.
Secondly, the application of base oils helps to loosen the superficial stratum corneum of the skin, which increases its permeability for many useful substances contained in cosmetics.
Third, normalization lipid composition of the skin helps to increase its protective characteristics. With regular use of cosmetics, the likelihood of developing septic pathologies is reduced and the regenerative capabilities of the skin are increased.
Base oils, composition and beneficial properties
The basis of base oils, as mentioned above, is formed by fatty oils, both saturated and unsaturated. Determining the predominance of one or another component is very simple: if a substance thickens strongly even at room temperature, therefore, it belongs to batters.
We can talk about the benefits of unsaturated fatty acids for a long time. The most useful representatives of this group of substances are oleic and linoleic acids.
Both oleic and linoleic acids penetrate very well and quickly through the surface layers of the skin, in which relatively high concentrations of these compounds are formed.
Softened skin It retains moisture much better, which prevents drying, normalizes appearance, slows down the aging process, increases protective properties, and so on.
To maximize moisturizing capabilities, it is important to remember that the surrounding climate is not drying, which is especially important in winter when heating is used. The best solution in this case is to use household humidifiers.
Base oils are hypoallergenic. When applied to the skin, almost no hypersensitivity reactions occur, which significantly expands the range of their use and increases the potential audience.
Base oil - application
The use of base oils in cosmetology, in terms of the severity of the therapeutic effect, is not inferior to expensive creams. Choosing these cosmetical tools, there are a number of criteria to consider which I am going to mention.
Oils should be selected according to the degree of oiliness of the skin. If a person has oily skin, it is recommended to basic application use the following oils: almond or grape seed, jojoba and some others. They help suppress the activity of the sebaceous glands, which will eliminate the negative characteristics of this skin type.
How often should you apply these oils? For such oils, use is limited to once a day, preferably at night, as it is quite oily. If desired, you can add different essential oils to it.
Essential aromatic oils are highly concentrated substances and cannot be applied to the skin undiluted. To prepare mixtures, only a few drops of essential oils are used, while base oils serve as the basis.
What it is? Basic (transport, base, base oil) oils are a substance extracted from plant materials by cold pressing. Typically, seeds, pits, nuts, and the like are used for these purposes.
Base oils- It is not simple vegetable oils, serving as the basis for mixing essential oils. This is a completely independent product with certain beneficial properties, so they can be used not only in mixture with essential oils, but also separately. It should be borne in mind that some types base oils cannot be used, but only in mixture with other transport oils.
Base oils contain many beneficial substances. They are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, many vitamins and other elements that have a beneficial effect on the skin.
Buying base oils you need to pay attention to quality - good ones are quite expensive. Also on the package there should be a mark that it was produced by cold pressing.
Such base oils, such as olive oil, walnut oil, soybean oil, can be bought in a regular store, but even then it should not undergo any additional processing - refining and deodorizing kills a lot of useful substances originally present in the product.
Base oils differ in their properties and this must be taken into account when selecting a base for an aromatic mixture. First of all, these substances differ in the predominance of saturated or unsaturated fatty acids.
If the basis base oil polyunsaturated acids, then it will be liquid. Such oils usually contain oleic acid, which promotes good absorption of the substance into the skin and rapid transport of beneficial substances inside. The higher the content of this acid, the better.
Polyunsaturated base oils containing omega-3 acids are recommended as a basis for mixtures for inflammatory, dry skin.
Properties of the most commonly used liquid base oils
Apricot kernel oil
This base oil is suitable for almost any skin, even children's. Refreshes and gives healthy color face, promotes cell regeneration, increasing skin turgor.
Grape seed oil
An excellent base for skin care mixtures. Despite good absorption, it does not provoke the appearance of comedones and does not leave an oily sheen. Light enough to use around the eyes and cares for the skin on the neck.
Jojoba oil
Typically used for damaged skin, skin diseases, joint pain. IN for cosmetic purposes good in mixtures for problem skin, swelling, peeling, sagging, dry skin.
Almond oil
Suitable for any skin type. Softens, eliminates irritation and rashes, is used for anti-cellulite massage, treatment of dry, cracked skin, cracked feet. Increases elasticity and cares for dry, aging skin.
Saturated base oils(fatty) are most often hard and soften when heated in a water bath. They can be mixed with other base oils, to obtain a mixture you need consistency - for example, a property such as spreadability.
Most commonly used solid base oils
Cacao butter
Base oil cocoa is recommended to be used to moisturize the skin and get rid of wrinkles around the eyes ( crow's feet), stretch marks, protecting the skin from the harmful effects of the environment, weather conditions (frost, sun).
Coconut oil
Basic coconut oil is good to use to improve tanning, used in a mixture for treatment and massage for dry, aging skin, to treat hair and give it shine.
Palm oil
Base oil palm contains many vitamins, is used to compose anti-cellulite mixtures, protects against the harmful effects of sunlight, rejuvenates, protects against facial wrinkles, and heals damage.
More information on the use of base oils can be found in the article in JustLady magazine.
Best to use base oils in a mixture with other transport oils, because each of them has different spreadability and absorption. The spreadability and absorption of base oils must be taken into account Special attention. For example, poorly absorbed oils are not recommended for oily skin and are generally best mixed with other oils. base oils, otherwise they will leave greasy stains after use.
With rapid absorption, there is a risk of clogging pores and the formation of blackheads. It is also better to dilute this oil with others to slightly slow down the absorption process.
An important property is spreadability. If the oil does not spread well, it will be difficult to spread over the surface, which means you will need to add another base oil to it in order for the spread to be optimal.
Before use base oils Don't forget to test - some oils can cause an allergic reaction.
Alexandra Panyutina
Women's magazine JustLady
