Difference between carrier oil and cold pressed oil?

Carrier oils are non-volatile plant oils which are full of nutrients including vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. Cold pressed oils are oils which are extracted using the cold pressing technique of extraction. Some carrier oils are extracted using the cold pressed method.

What is pure cold pressed oil?

Pure cold pressed oil is obtained or extracted by crushing or pressing plant seed and other parts at room temperature. Since cold pressed oils do not use heat or chemicals in extracting oil, it is considered to be healthier than regular oil.

Which cold pressed oil is the best?

Some of the best cold pressed oils are coconut, olive, flaxseed, walnut and borage oils.

Is cold pressed oil really better?

Cold pressed oils are considered better because it does not use heat or chemicals. Thus, it maintains the nutrient qualities of the source. It also retains the flavor and fragrance without any artificial additives.

Guide To Pure Cold-Pressed Oils

Overview

Constantly troubled by different skincare problems? Carrier oils can help restore healthy, glowing and hydrated skin. Keep reading to find out how they can make perfect skin a dream come true!

What Are Carrier Oils?

Carrier oils are derived from seed kernels or fruits. They’re prepared by cold-pressing various botanicals like seed kernels, flowers and fruits to preserve their nutrients. Cold-pressing allows these botanicals to preserve their moisturizing, soothing and skin-renewing qualities, compared to other methods that cause the oils to evaporate and lose some of their nourishing goodness. These oils are also typically used to dilute essential oils to ensure they’re gentle and skin-friendly when applied topically.

Benefits of Cold-Pressed Oils

Carrier Oils For Dry Skin

Getting chapped skin? Carrier oils like argan and sea buckthorn are ideal for hydrating and soothing super thirsty skin. Give your skin the moisturization it deserves by applying a nourishing carrier oil to restore your skin’s smoothness and keep your skin from drying up during hot summers or those cold and dry winter months.

Argan Carrier Oil

Sea Buckthorn Carrier Oil

Carrier Oils For Sensitive Skin

At times, it’s frustrating when you have sensitive skin. It can feel extremely tender and itchy. Allergies, sun exposure, and your body's compromised skin barrier are some of the factors that can cause skin flare-ups.

Thankfully, there’s a range of skin-soothing carrier oils like Tamanu and Jojoba that’ll calm your skin down in a jiffy. Carrier oils are all naturally sourced, so you’ll have no worries about harsh chemicals irritating your skin.

Jojoba Carrier Oil

Tamanu Carrier Oil

Carrier Oils For Oily Skin

Dewy is in, slick and oily is out! If your skin is feeling oily and clogged, there are a few things you can do to regain that natural, healthy glow. Try adding a tablespoon each of sunflower oil and grapeseed oil into your moisturizer to regulate sebum production. These lightweight oils will leave your skin feeling soothed and clean for the rest of the day.

Sunflower Carrier Oil

Grape Seed Carrier Oil

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Carrier Oils For Acne

Whether you’re a teenager or in your 30s, breakouts are never fun. When and what causes acne varies from person to person, but if you want to prevent those dreaded pimples, you can always try tamanu or calendula oil.

Tamanu Carrier Oil

Calendula Carrier Oil

Carrier Oils For Mature Skin

Restorative carrier oils like rosehip and fenugreek are the secret to youthful skin. They strengthen and firm up the skin’s texture while promoting collagen production and restoring elasticity, so you can say goodbye to dull skin and saggy-looking skin.

Whether you're lounging at the beach or spending a full day outdoors, it's also a good idea to layer on super-moisturizing oils like carrot seed oil to protect your skin from getting the brunt of sun damage and becoming flaky and dry.

Rosehip Carrier Oil

Fenugreek Carrier Oil

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Carrier Oil For Dry Hair

Pumpkin seed oil is chock full of many hair-softening properties (a mixture of essential fatty acids, and minerals). Other studies have shown that prickly pear seed oil is also rich in Vitamin E that absorbs easily into hair roots for smooth, well-hydrated hair. These oils are a must-have to transform your natural hair for a fresh look.

Prickly Pear Seed Carrier Oil

Pumpkin Seed Carrier Oil

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How To Use Carrier Oils

Carrier Oils For Skincare

There’s nothing like using our organic oils to pamper your skin. Gently massage 2‒3 drops on a target area of skin to relieve dryness or moisturize your skin. You can apply carrier oils like a facial serum twice daily as the last few steps to your skincare routine. You can also give your skincare products bonus skincare perks by adding 5‒6 drops to your favourite product.

Carrier Oils For Hair Care

When massaged onto scalps, carrier oils leave your hair cleansed, hydrated and volumized. Simply rub 5‒6 drops of oil in between your palms and run your fingers through your hair. You can also enjoy the root-nourishing benefits of carrier oils by adding 5‒6 drops to your favourite shampoo or conditioner.

Carrier Oils For Essential Oil Dilution

To keep your essential oils skin-friendly, it's best to use carrier oils to dilute your essential oils. You can select the carrier oils that best complement your essential oils. For example, moisturizing rosehip carrier oil is best paired with skin-smoothing myrrh essential oil to keep your skin supple and glowy all day. Simply pair one tablespoon of carrier oil with every drop of essential oil to achieve the best results!

Carrier oils are also cooking oil or edible oils that are oil extracted from the seeds, nuts and fruits of plants. The methods used to extract the oils are heat, pressure, crushing and refining (hot pressed). Of all the methods the cold pressed oil is said to be the healthiest because it is organic. The process is completely natural as there is no heat or chemicals involved in the process. And since no heat is involved, the oil encompasses all the nutrients of the source.

Cold pressed oil versus Refined Oil

Cold pressed oil is better and more preferred than refined oil. Cold pressed oils are liquid fats and because of this type of oil extraction the oil is replete with essential nutrients including vitamins, phospholipid, nutrients and fatty acids, and they are unprocessed or unrefined. These oils do not have any chemicals or additives which are added during the cleaning and refining processes. It is a healthy alternative with good nutritional value. Refined oil is prepared by the use of heat and chemicals which causes the resultant to lose several of its nutrients.

There is no difference between cold pressed and refined oils to the naked eye, but the aroma of the cold pressed oil is more and hence gives a better culinary experience. In earlier times a ghani, a mortar and pestle device made from stone or wood was used to extract oil from the seeds or nuts. Cold pressed oil is a healthy alternative for store bought products as they are a rich source in crucial nutrients and work best as a remedy for several ailments. Cold-press oils do not really mix well with heat and hence these oils are extracted from seeds using this method. Many products use these oils (which include sesame and canola) for its flavour.

Nutrients In Cold Pressed Carrier Oils

Different carrier oils have different ingredients with health benefits. Here is a gist of the nutrients in carrier oils.

Vitamin E – repairs damaged tissues and nourishes scalp and hair, and skin conditions. Oil is rich in vitamin E and omega-3 acids.
Sterolins that soften skin and retain its elasticity.
Lecithin that softens hair and maintains circulation.
Phytosterols that cause new skin growth.
Lauric acid and caprylic acid for fighting infections.
Stearic acid in avocado oil helps to nourish skin and hair.

Mixing Carrier Oils and Essential Oils

Carrier oils are used to dilute essential oils and then applied on the skin. Essential oils are concentrated oils that will burn the skin without dilution. Hence essential oils are mixed with coconut oil, sesame oil or other unrefined oils to protect the skin and aid in better absorption. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy has published the dilution ratio for different oils and purposes. (1)

Research – Cold Pressed Carrier Oils

There have been several researches done to evaluate the properties of carrier oils. In 2010 the Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice published a study that evaluated the uses and properties of almond oil. (2)

An observational clinical trial was conducted in April 2019 to find if facial mask with jojoba oil lessened skin lesions and improved skin health. The study which had 194 participants reported that clay mask with jojoba oil had a healing effect on skin lesions and mild cases of acne vulgaris. (3)

Essential oils are generally mixed with carrier oils, but does it enhance the absorption of the nutrients into the skin? A study was conducted and published in Scientia Pharmaceutica in February 2022 which evaluated the oil permeation through the skin. There are other researches that act as a guide to cold pressed oil from seeds and fruits. The study concluded that the fatty acid oleic acid was responsible for the permeation enhancement activity of the oils. (4)