Carrier Oils: The Complete Buying and Formulation Guide
Carrier oils are the largest single category in our range for a reason: nearly every skin, hair and body formulation starts with one. This guide covers how to actually choose between them, rather than treating “carrier oil” as one interchangeable ingredient.
What is a carrier oil?
A carrier oil is a plant-derived fatty oil used to “carry” other ingredients — active ingredients, fragrance, essential oils — onto skin or hair, while also contributing its own emollient and moisturising properties. Unlike essential oils, carrier oils are used at high percentages, often as the majority of a formula’s oil phase, not as a potent additive measured in drops.
How to choose: three things that matter
1. Fatty acid profile
Oils high in linoleic acid (like Grapeseed Oil) tend to absorb fast and feel light. Oils high in oleic acid (like Avocado Oil) feel richer and sit longer on skin. Most formulation decisions come back to this basic trade-off between “fast and light” and “rich and cushioning.”
2. Viscosity
Some oils are notably thicker than others — Castor Oil stands out here, with a viscosity that makes it useful for shine and slip in lip and hair products in a way a thin oil like grapeseed never would be.
3. Origin and story
For a finished product’s marketing and ingredient story, origin matters too — South African formulators have easy access to indigenous specialty oils like Baobab, Marula and Kalahari Melon Oil that carry a genuine local sourcing story most competitors can’t easily replicate.
Avocado Oil and Macadamia Oil bring more cushion and richness, suited to drier skin, colder climates, and mature-skin formulations.
Lightweight specialty oils
Jojoba Oil (technically a liquid wax, exceptionally stable) and Argan Oil (vitamin E-rich) are the two most popular oils for facial serums and hair oils — see our Jojoba vs Argan comparison for a full breakdown.
Carrier oils oxidise over time — how quickly depends heavily on their fatty acid profile. Highly unsaturated oils oxidise faster than more saturated ones; all carrier oils benefit from cool, dark storage and, in a finished formulation, an antioxidant like Vitamin E Acetate to extend usable shelf life.
Patch testing and safety
Nut-derived oils (almond, argan, macadamia) carry the same general allergen considerations as their source nut — anyone with a relevant nut allergy should patch-test before use and check current safety guidance for their market. As with any new ingredient, patch-test on a small skin area before formulating into a product intended for wider use or sale.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a carrier oil and an essential oil?
Carrier oils are used at high percentages as the bulk of a formula’s oil phase and are generally not potent enough to cause irritation at typical use levels. Essential oils are used at well under 1% due to their potency and are chosen for aroma and specific properties rather than as a base. See our Essential Oils guide for more.
Which carrier oil absorbs fastest?
Grapeseed Oil and Jojoba Oil are generally considered the fastest-absorbing, lightest-finishing oils in our range.
Can I mix carrier oils together?
Yes — blending oils is standard practice, often combining a lightweight base oil with a smaller percentage of a richer or more specialised oil for targeted benefit, the same way our Guide to Carrier Oils recommends.
Shop our carrier oils
Browse the full range in our Carrier Oils category, available from small test-batch sizes up to bulk packs for production.
