Best Carrier Oil Reviews 2018

Carrier oils go hand-in-hand with essential oils. If you’ve done your homework and read up on all the benefits of using essential oils, from aromatherapy and disinfectants to cold remedies and skin tonics, then you probably want to invest in a few quality essential oils, along with a carrier oil to mix it with. By using a carrier oil, you can apply essential oils directly to your skin without fear of irritation. And guess what? Carrier oils not only work as a great vehicle for essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, and frankincense, but they’re also full of health benefits too! Let’s check out what features to look out for, as well as a few of our top picks for carrier oils.

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Type

Sizes

Quality

Ingredients

Best Use

Our Top Choice

Invivo Fractionated Coconut Oil

Invivo offers a whole range of essential oil products to assist you with skin care, beauty regimens, relaxation, and muscle and joint pain.

Stays liquid at room temperature. Versatile, clear, and odorless carrier oil. Light on your skin with Caprylic and Capric acid to combat viruses, bacteria, and candida.

Some complaints about the pump leaking.

Fractionated Coconut Oil

16 ounces

Premium all natural

100% pure Cocos Nucifera

Makeup remover, massage oil

Best Value

Viva Naturals Sweet Almond Oil

Viva naturals attends to their products with loving care. Free of fillers and non-GMO, they use organic products to make their essential oils.

This #1 best-selling oil is rich in Vitamin E, making it a great choice for homemade shampoos and skin moisturizers. Fragrance-free in a pump bottle.

Because this sweet almond oil is unscented, it may not be for you if you love the smell of almond oil.

Sweet Almond Oil

16 ounces

Hexane-free and non-GMO

Prunus Dulcus Almonds

Hair and skin (food grade)

Bella Terra Pure Argan Oil

Bella Terra offers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on all their products, and is a cruelty-free company.

This pure Moroccan Argan oil comes in a glass, amber bottle with a dropper for precise measurements and is fragrance-free with skin-healing properties.

While Argan oil can help prevent new signs of aging, it does not get rid of wrinkles.

Argan Oil

4 ounces

100% pure from Morocco

Argania Spinosa tree

Acne, eczema, moisturizer

Fabulous Frannie Carrier Oil 5 Pack Sampler

A terrific high-quality essential oil company that won’t break the bank, Fabulous Frannie has a ton of great products that are hand-crafted and vegan.

Use avocado oil to reduce signs of aging; grape seed oil is feather-light and great for oily skin, hemp and castor oil relieves skin irritations, and olive oil reduces dry skin.

Comes in clear plastic bottles, which reduces the shelf-life.

Carrier oil kit 5 pack

Five 2-ounce bottles

100% pure vegan

Variety

Skin tonic, rash, hair treatment

Plant Therapy Avocado Carrier Oil

With four daughters to raise, Chris and Amanda Jones started Plant Therapy to meet their need for quality essential oils at an affordable price.

Avocado oil is nourishing and hydrating, and works well as a sun-block or after-the-beach treatment. Offered in an expensive 2-ounce sample.

You’ll need to buy a larger size if you want to try a few different creations, also comes in 4 and 16 ounce, or 1 gallon.

Avocado oil

2, 4, 16 oz. or 1 gallon

Cold-pressed

Pure avocado oil

Hydrates dry skin

(Updated August 27, 2017)

Skip ahead and go directly to the reviews.

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Watch Our Carrier Oil Review

How Do I Choose the Best Carrier Oil?

Whether you want to make an all-natural healing tonic for your face that reduces acne, such as a combination of 1/4 cup grape seed oil with 1 tablespoon of black seed oil, or make your own fabulous aromatherapy spray with your favorite essential oils, carrier oils are a great addition to your tool box if you like to know quality ingredients are going into the products you use and select your own fragrances for the products you put on your body.

From aromatherapy to lotions, shampoos, massage oils, and anti-fungals, carrier oils do a great job of diluting some of your favorite high-potency essential oils, so they won’t be irritating when applied directly to the skin. Plus, they are packed with a variety of natural vitamins and emollients so you can enjoy putting them in your favorite spray or roll-on bottles with a carefully selected combination of ingredients perfectly suited to your health needs.

Price

What’s great about carrier oils is that they aren’t too expensive, yet they offer many health benefits. One of the factors that affects price is the size of the bottle. If you aren’t sure if a carrier oil is right for your needs, try out a small 2 or 4-ounce bottle, so you can be sure that you like it before you invest more money in larger quantities. In terms of quantity, most bottle sizes range from a trial size of 2 ounces, to 4 ounce bottles or larger 16 ounce bottles.

Prices tend to range from $10-$20 per bottle. Occasionally, manufacturers offer large gallon-size bottles, which can run over $100. These super-size jugs of carrier oils make a good investment if you intend to make a lot of your own home remedies, or if you are starting your own business creating essential oil products.

The ideal container for maintaining the shelf-life of your carrier oil and keeping it safe from harmful UV rays is an amber glass bottle. You can expect to spend a few extra dollars for glass versus plastic containers. Another helpful packing component is a dropper or pump that comes attached to the cap, making it easier to dispense. This also can add a few dollars to the price.

While there are cheap carrier oils available on the market, you want to keep your eye out for pure carrier oils that are undiluted with additives and made by a trusted brand.

Features

Because most people use essential oils and carrier oils for their health benefits in addition to the often-pleasant aroma, it’s always a good idea to look at the nutrients and health benefits that come with each oil. Each oil has a slightly different viscosity, and some are more stable and have a longer shelf life than others.

Let’s look at a few key features to consider when selecting a carrier oil.

What skin type is it best for, i.e. dry versus oily
What vitamins and nutrients does the carrier oil contain
Viscosity
Plant-source and purity
Container (dark bottles have a longer shelf life)
A pump or dropper for exact measurements
Size of bottle
Useful applications
Organic and non-GMO
Safe for kids

Next, we’ll get into other factors like how carrier oils are made, and how they are used…

Construction and Design

When it comes to construction and design, some carrier oil companies offer helpful packaging components such as a dropper or pump that comes attached to the bottle, making it easier to dispense and portion the oil.

Carrier oils are sourced from a wide variety of plants, nuts, and seeds in nature. Cold-pressing tends to retain the essence of the oil in its purest form, as heat distillation techniques can sometimes deteriorate the quality of the oil while it is being extracted.

Each carrier oil has special benefits and drawbacks, so make sure you pick the right one for your needs.

When choosing the right carrier oil, take into consideration the composition of oil in your skin. Carrier oils that are high in Linoleic acid tend to perform well on those with oily skin. Linoleic acid works as an anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce acne. These carrier oils include: safflower oil, grape seed oil, evening primrose oil, black seed oil and argan oil.

Carrier oils that are high in oleic acid such as olive oil, avocado oil, and almond oil do well for those with dry skin. Oleic acid is high in fat, making it great for lotions and giving it a longer shelf life than oils that are high in linoleic acid. Carrier oils that are high in oleic acid will moisturize your skin and offer a soothing, regenerative effect.

Performance and Ease of Use

For a general rule of thumb in terms of how to dilute your essential oils with a carrier oil, add 1 or 2 drops of your favorite essential oil for every teaspoon of the carrier oil. When using on children, increase the essential oil dilution a bit, as children have a more delicate constitution. For little ones, add 1 or 2 drops of essential oil for every tablespoon of carrier oil.

When it comes to application, carrier oils used for massage oil or skin tonics should be well-selected for the person and the environment they will be used for. Use a light carrier oil such as grape seed oil for those with sensitive skin, or in environments where the oil may be transferred onto clothes or bedsheets. For serious skin issues that require heavier oils such as rashes, rough feet, or dandruff, an oil with greater viscosity such as castor or olive oil is a good choice.

We have selected several of the most popular carrier oils from top brands for you to choose from. Many are #1 best sellers, and all of them offer lots of health benefits. Let’s take a look…

What is the Best Carrier Oil?

In all honesty, there are lots of carrier oils to choose from, and the best one is different for each person. Each carrier oil has a different viscosity, some are better for dry skin, and some are better for oily skin. Because they are sourced from a wide variety of plants, seeds, and nuts, they also offer a range of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. We’ve picked some of the best carrier oils on the market, highlighting the benefit of each one, so you can narrow down the field and pick the right one for you.

Our Top Choice

Invivo Fractionated Coconut Oil is great for massage, as a makeup remover, or as a carrier oil for skin and nail care blends. Check out this 16-ounce amber bottle with an easy to use pump. If you want to try out a potent anti-bacterial essential oil by Invivo, you may also like Invivo’s 4 ounce bottle of Tea Tree Oil.

Invivo Fractionated Coconut Oil - Stays Liquid at Room Temperature, Plastic Amber Bottle, 16 Ounces

Invivo Carrier Oil for Essential Oils – Coconut Oil

Features

Invivo offers a whole range of essential oil products that assist with skin care, beauty regimens, relaxation, and muscle and joint pain. Whether you want to reduce stress, take better care of your hands and nails, or create an essential oil blend that will help you sleep, Invivo has your essential oil needs covered.

One of the most popular carrier oils on the market, this Fractionated Coconut Oil by Invivo goes through a special distillation and purification process that allows the coconut oil to stay liquid, even at room temperature. It is a clear, odorless oil that won’t interfere with the fragrance of other essential oils, making it a great carrier oil for a wide range of uses.

This Invivo Fractionated Coconut Oil is made from 100% pure all natural Cocos Nucifera, and is extremely light on the skin, so it won’t clog your pores. It features beneficial medium-chain triglycerides (MCT’s), and Caprylic and Capric acids which help to combat viruses, bacteria, and candida.

Here are some great uses for this carrier oil:

Massage oil
Skin moisturizer and conditioner
Make up remover
Sun care
Hair conditioner
Anti-fungal
Teeth and gum care
Foot care

As you can see, Fractionated Coconut Oil is quite adaptable and great for a wide variety of uses. It makes a terrific accoutrement to your essential oil collection.

If you’re not sure if you want to use Fractionated Coconut Oil as your carrier oil, check out the other options by Invivo.

Best Value

Check out this #1 best-selling oil by Viva Naturals. Made with 100% sweet almonds, this oil is great for hydrating skin and nails. Moreover, it’s hexane-free and non-GMO. Another great carrier oil for your beauty regimen is Jojoba Oil from Viva Naturals. It is cold-pressed and certified organic, with vitamins B and E, as well as essential fatty acids.

Viva Naturals Sweet Almond Oil - Food Grade and Hexane-free, Unscented, 16 Ounces

Viva Naturals Carrier Oil for Essential Oils - Sweet Almond Oil

Features

Concerned with the environment and sustainable business practices, Viva Naturals attends to their products with loving care. Their products are free of fillers and non-GMO, and they use organic ingredients and third-party testing to make their essential oils.

Sweet almonds offer a carrier oil with a lovely body that is wonderful for nourishing and hydrating the skin. A natural source of vitamin E, this Viva Naturals Sweet Almond Oil makes a great carrier oil for skin products such as moisturizers and lotions. Your skin will have a soft glow after application, and this particular version of sweet almond oil is fragrance-free, so it won’t interfere with the fragrance of any essential oils you add to it.

A hexane-free product that is made in the USA, this sweet almond oil contains no additives, just extracts from the Prunus Dulcus sweet almond tree. It is food grade, so you can ingest it, although it is not meant for high temperatures.

Here are some ideas for application of your Sweet Almond Oil by Viva Naturals:

Hair rejuvenation serums
Face masks
Aromatherapy carrier oil
Anti-aging lotion
Natural make-up remover
Massage oil

You can also combine this Sweet Almond Oil with sugar to make an excellent all-natural skin exfoliate.

Not a fan of almond oil? There are lots of great essential oil products made by Viva Naturals, choose your favorite today!

This 100% Pure Moroccan Argan oil from Bella Terra is a natural organic extract that is unrefined, cold-pressed, and additive-free. Rich in anti-oxidants and Vitamin E, it’s great on skin, hair, and nails. Another favorite from Bella Terra is their Grape Seed Oil which promotes skin elasticity and works well for soap making.

Bella Terra 100% Pure Moroccan Argan Oil - Cold-pressed Unrefined Organic, Amber Glass Bottle with Dropper, 4 Ounces

Bella Terra Carrier Oil for Essential Oils - Argan Oil

Features

Bella Terra prides itself on being a company that follows cruelty-free processes. They offer customers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on all their products. The list of Bella Terra oils is quite impressive, and includes a variety of highly sought-after and top-quality oils such as Black Seed Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Borage Seed Oil, Pomegranate Seed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, and the list goes on and on…

A 100% Pure Moroccan Argan oil, this natural extract is organic, unrefined, cold-pressed, and additive-free. Rich in anti-oxidants and Vitamin E, it’s great on skin, hair, and nails, and is also known to reduce brown spots and skin discoloration.

If you’re particular about packaging, and want your oils in a glass amber bottle to keep the integrity of the oil when not in use, then Bella Terra is the right choice for you. This 4-ounce glass bottle comes with a glass dropper that allows you to get your recipes just right when making your own products at home.

Here are a few ideas for applications when using Argan oil:

Heals scars and burns
Softens calluses, great foot moisturizer
Prevents stretch marks
Moisturizing hair conditioner
Reduces psoriasis and eczema
Reduces acne and skin inflammation
Removes dark circles under the eyes

Known as a great addition to any skin, nail, or hair care regimen thanks to the natural fatty acids of Argan oil, this product is a prized extract that is fragrance-free, and works well with all types of essential oils as a carrier oil.

Can’t quite decide if Argan oil is the right choice for you? Browse from lots of great carrier oil options Bella Terra has to offer.

The perfect starter kit for you, this five-pack Carrier Oil Kit by Fabulous Frannie offers everything you need to try out some of the most popular carrier oils on the market such as avocado, grape seed, hemp, castor, and olive oil. Have lots of fun making your own creative concoctions by combining these carrier oils with the Fabulous Frannie Essential Oil Kit. With 14 essential oils to choose from, the variety of aromatherapy and beauty products you can make are endless!

Fabulous Frannie 5 Pack Carrier Oil Sampler Kit – Includes 2 Ounce Bottles of Avocado Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Castor Oil, and Olive Oil

Fabulous Frannie Carrier Oil for Essential Oils - Sampler Kit

Features

Fabulous Frannie has a loyal following thanks to the personal-care they take in the quality of their products, and the wide array of fabulous essential oils and other products they offer to their growing fan base.

If you’re not sure which carrier oil will work best for you, or will combine well with your favorite essential oils, then this Fabulous Frannie 5-Pack Carrier Oil Kit is the way to go. They offer adorable essential oil kits too (which make an excellent gift) with lots of options to choose from, so you can get to know each product, and decide which one works best for your needs. Chances are a few of them will be your faves.

The kit includes:

Avocado Oil — Great for dry or aging skin, avocado oil makes a good bath or massage oil and is excellent for nourishing the skin. Packed with vitamins such as A, B1, B2, D, and E, as well as beta carotene, amino acids, pantothenic acid, sterols, fatty acids, and lecithin, this nutrient-dense oil is also known to reduce arthritis and lower blood pressure.
Hemp Oil — Rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, amino acids, gamma-linolenic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, vitamin D, protein and minerals, hemp falls into the category of a superfood. It has a nice shelf-life, and absorbs easily into the skin. Use for minor abrasions, acne, psoriasis, eczema, and as a skin moisturizer.
Grape Seed Oil — This makes a great carrier oil as it is one of the lightest oils on the market, so you won’t have to worry about any oily residue. It’s also clear and odorless. High in linoleic acid, it is a great choice for those with oily skin. Grape seed oil is high in vitamins D, C, and E, and also contains beta-carotene. It also works as an anti-oxidant and helps with the prevention of free radicals. Great as a body oil, for sunburns, on dry, itchy skin, or for rosacea on the face.
Olive Oil — An effective carrier oil for those with sensitive skin, olive oil helps with eczema and psoriasis, and works as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It contains vitamin E, and is also high in Omega 7 and Oleic acid, making it a good choice for those with dry or aging skin. It makes an excellent skin moisturizer, and can be used with lavender, rosemary, and tea tree essential oils to eliminate dandruff.
Castor Oil — Often used by cosmetic companies and as a food additive, castor oil is the “secret-sauce” in many products. It is extracted from castor beans that are found in tropical climates. Castor oil works well as a disinfectant to kill germs and viruses, and has a thick, sticky texture. Castor oil is great for getting rid of warts or moles, and works exceedingly well to improve nail health. Because it is high in undecylenic acid, it works well on acne and skin blemishes, killing the bacteria that causes them. It also works well on dermatitis and heels dry, cracked skin on the feet and hands.

Want a single bottle of carrier oil or a few essential oils from Fabulous Frannie? Check out their other great options.

Offering up the unique benefits of avocado oil, which works great on dry or aging skin, Plant Therapy has many sizes available including 2, 4, or 16 ounce bottles, as well as a gallon-size for serious enthusiasts. Complement your Avocado oil with essential oils from a 14-bottle set that includes classics like peppermint and cinnamon oil, as well as unique blends.

Plant Therapy Avocado Oil – Base Oil for Aromatherapy, Essential Oil or Massage Use, Available in Small and Bulk Sizes

Plant Therapy Carrier Oil for Essential Oils - Avocado Oil

Features

Chris and Amanda Jones grew up near Twin Falls, Idaho, and started Plant Therapy to meet their need for quality essential oils at an affordable price. With four daughters to raise, they were looking for healthy essential oils that could offer therapeutic effects. Their company has taken off, with other family members joining in, an aromatherapist team (sounds like a fun job), and lots of new customers who love their products.

Offering up the unique benefits of avocado oil, Plant Therapy has made this oil (which works well as a carrier for other essential oils) available in a variety of sizes. From an inexpensive 2-ounce trial bottle, to 4 or 16 ounce bottles, and even gallon-sized bottles, you can take your pick of how much you want to order, based on your knowledge of the product and how well it works for you.

Avocado oil is great for dry or aging skin, and comes packed with vitamins and nutrients, imparting lots of health benefits along with smooth, glowing skin. For a sample of what you can use avocado oil for, check out these options:

Replenishes skin
Sun-block
Moisturizer
Massage oil
Bath oil
Reduces arthritis
Lowers blood pressure

Want to check out all the options Plant Therapy has to offer? Check out their full line of essential and carrier oils now!

Get the Best Carrier Oil of 2018!

So, without further ado, let’s pick out the perfect carrier oil for you from one of these popular brands. Each one offers lots of health benefits, and by now you should have a sense of which will work best for your needs. Pick your favorite, or pick a few, and start creating your own healthy home remedies today!

Our Top Choice

Invivo Fractionated Coconut Oil

Best Value

Viva Naturals Sweet Almond Oil

Bella Terra Pure Argan Oil

Fabulous Frannie Carrier Oil 5 Pack Sampler

Plant Therapy Avocado Carrier Oil