Natural Carrier Oils Have Many Uses

Sometimes called “base oils,” organic carrier oils are simply non-animal oils (from vegetable or mineral sources) that are used to “carry” essential oils and other extracts used for therapeutic or culinary purposes. Bulk carrier oils are infused with herbal ingredients or used to dilute an essential oil such as cedar or eucalyptus. The reason for this is that if used in their pure form, some herbal extracts and essential oils can be irritating to the skin or nose or overpower the taste of a dish.

What’s The Difference Between Natural Carrier Oils?

The best organic carrier oils are cold-pressed from seeds. Sweet almond carrier oil is among the most popular, with jojoba carrier oil running a close second. Nut oils such as those derived from walnut, pecan and macadamia are also popular natural carrier oils.

Some of the more common organic carrier oils are derived from:

• grape seed
• avocado
• olive
• evening primrose
• rapeseed
• sunflowers
• peanut

All of these bulk carrier oils have different purposes, which depend upon their relative viscosity, or thickness. For example, if you are planning on using an herbal extract for aromatherapy, you may prefer a less viscous, or thinner organic carrier oil such as grape seed. As a massage oil, something thicker such as olive oil is preferable (olive oil has in fact been used for this purpose in Mediterranean for thousands of years).

Although mineral oils can also be used as carrier oil, it is inadvisable. Such oils are derived from petroleum; the only advantage is their relatively low cost. Unlike organic carrier oils derived from vegetable fats however, mineral oils can clog the pores, defeating the very purpose of a carrier oil.

It is also important to understand that like any organic substance, bulk carrier oils can become rancid over time. While a heavy plastic container on the shelf is fine for the short-term, if you are planning to store bulk carrier oils for an extended period, they should be transferred to dark glass bottles and stored in a cool, dark location. It is fine to refrigerate bulk carrier oils, by the way; they may turn cloudy as the fat content congeals under the low temperature, but this in no way affects their properties.

Bulk natural oils are used in all manner of skin and hair care products, as well as for cooking. Some bulk natural oils can also be used as carrier oils, which means they are combined with other ingredients to create a massage oil or other types of body oils. They are available in a wide variety, including Apricot Kernel, Coconut, Grapeseed oil, Olive, Sesame, Jojoba, Lanolin and several others.

Apricot Kernel oil is one of the natural oils for skin care. Apricot Kernel oil is very moisturizing, and thus is a common ingredient in cosmetics and in shampoos and conditioners to moisturize the scalp.

Coconut oil is another good skin softener. You may also see it in soap, shampoo and detergents. It has also been experimented with for use as a basis for biodiesel. It is also used for cooking.

Natural grape seed oil is often used as a carrier oil. In aromatherapy, essential oils can be added to natural grape seed oil, thus turning the combination into one of many natural massage oils.

Olive oil is popular for cooking, although it is also an ingredient found in cosmetics and soaps. Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat, and is widely used in Mediterranean cooking. Extra virgin olive oil is used in skin care products, including cleansers and moisturizers.

Sesame oil is one of the bulk natural oils used for cooking. Light sesame oil has a high smoke point, making it excellent for use in cooking fried foods, while toasted sesame oil is used instead as a flavoring for foods. It is the basis for natural massage oils, and is used in shampoos and conditioners as well.

Jojoba oil is used primarily in cosmetics, skin and hair care products. It may have fungicidal qualities as well.

Lanolin is an oil which is produced by sheep, and is located in their wool. In its natural state, it is quite thick and greasy, and it has been used as a lubricant for mechanical parts, as well as used in cosmetics and shaving creams. The highest quality lanolin may help to soothe broken or cracked skin.

You can buy natural oils at online dried herb and spice merchants. Natural products should not be used to diagnose or treat any disease or health issue because they have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Consult with your health care provider if you think you have a medical problem.

Avocados are the fruit from the Persea americana tree, which is native to warm climates such as those found in Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean, although they are also grown in California and Florida as well. The fruit will only ripen once it has been picked from the tree. Oil can be pressed from the fruit, and natural avocado oil is both edible as well as used in body care products such as massage oil.

There are both color and scent differences between refined and unrefined avocado oil that you will want to know about before you buy avocado oil. Refined avocado oil has no scent and is pale gold in color. Unrefined avocado oil has a deep green to brown color and does have a strong scent. Refined oil is sometimes preferred for facial lotions and skin moisturizing treatments because it is odor free, but both work well for smoothing and keeping the skin supple.

When eaten, bulk avocado oil may help with cholesterol levels. Bad LDL cholesterol levels may drop while good HDL levels may increase. Bulk avocado oil may also offer an antibacterial quality. The fat found in avocados is monounsaturated, and they are also high in potassium, B vitamins, as well as vitamins E and K.

Other avocado oil uses include topical ones. Because of its high fat content, bulk avocado oil may help to moisturize the skin, and is sometimes included as an ingredient in lotions for the skin as well as massage oil.

Natural avocado oil may also be used for massaging into the skin because it is quickly absorbed by the skin so there is no greasy feeling and it leaves the skin smooth. It may also help sunburned and wind-damaged skin, and it is used as an ingredient in cosmetics as well as hair products.

As with all herbal products, they have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and should not be used to diagnose or treat a disease or health problem. If you believe that you have a medical issue, you should consult with a health care provider promptly.

October Lavender Sale

We’re having a lavender sale! For the month of October, the following items are 10% off our already fantastic prices:

• Whole Extra & Select Lavender Flowers – Both Organic & Conventionally Grown
• Organic Lavender Dryer Bags
• Lavender Essential Oils – Both Organic & Conventional
• Lavender Hand & Body Lotion
• Lavender Aromatherapy Touch-ons
• Lavender Flower Water

Be sure to visit our SPECIALS page for other great deals and discounts on herbal products!

Body lotion and creams offer many benefits for the long-term health of your skin. Applied regularly to various parts of the body after taking a bath or before going to bed, they help to keep your skin smooth and soft. Skin may become rough or suffer from signs of premature aging without proper attention to its regular care.

Skin care products that contain alcohols, mineral oil, and fragrances are not good for our skin health. For these reasons, Starwest body lotions contain only natural ingredients that offer long-lasting benefits while helping you to to avoid complications and adverse effects.

The Natural Solution – Make your Own Lotion!

Using Starwest’s natural unscented lotion and escentual fragrance oils, you can make the perfect lotion scented to your own unique tastes. Also, many of our natural essential oils can be used in place of the fragrance oils.

We suggest starting with an 8 oz bottle of unscented lotion, and mixing in one of our 24 lovely fragrance oils two drops at a time, until the strength of the scent is right for you.

10% off Starwest Escentual Fragrance & Massage Oils

Starwest Escentual Fragrance Oils are an aromatic blend of natural and synthetic oils that are perfect for adding to unscented lotions or soaps, or to use with any of our Aromatherapy diffusers. Blended with only the finest oils and fragrances, Starwest Escentual Massage Oils are designed to enrich and enliven one’s skin..

Starwest Escentual Fragrance & Massage Oils

Your local pharmacy stocks, among other items, a few pure essential oils. A larger variety is available through specialty online herbal sources. Essential oils are extracted from plants and contain the clean, pure scent of the plant. Pure essential oils are available in organic versions, and may be used for aromatherapy, perfume, cosmetics, bath products, flavoring foods and beverages, adding scent to incense and in household care products.

Pure essential oils can also be diluted with oil, and then these scented oils can be used as a rub for the skin or in massage therapy. One of the most popular ways to use organic essential oils is in aromatherapy. Aromatherapy uses different kinds of apparatus to release the wonderful herbal scent into the air, and this is thought to improve one’s physical and emotional well being. Different kinds of diffusers are used to spread the scent around your body or throughout a room, depending on the size and kind of diffuser used. One of the simplest ones is a hollow ring that will fit over the top of a light bulb that would be used in a lamp. You simply place a few drops of essential oils, perhaps lavender essential oils, into the hollow, and then turn the light on. The heat from the bulb raises the temperature of the lavender essential oils, causing them to more easily diffuse throughout the air in the room. Candles are also used to heat pure essential oils for aromatherapy. Other types of diffusers are a small as a personal diffuser that you wear as a necklace, and the heat from your body releases the wonderful scent. Larger diffusers have fans attached in order to spread the aroma throughout a larger room size.

It is easy to get started with aromatherapy, and enjoy the luxury of fragrant pure essential oils.

Did you know that you can use Soapnut Berries as an eco-friendly way to make your own laundry detergent substitute?

Soapnut berries come from the Sapindus trifoliatus tree. The trees produce the berries, which, when crushed, can be used to make soaps and detergents. This is because soapnut berries contain saponins, which are surface acting agents, making them useful as an ingredient in cleaning detergents.

Here Are Some Eco Tips For Using Soapnut Berries

You can think of soapnut berries as eco laundry balls. You will need a cloth bag made out of a loose-mesh fabric like cheesecloth that can be tied off at the top. Inside this bag you place four or five soapnut berries, tie it off and place it in the washer with your laundry. The soapnut berries help to wash the clothes, removing dirt and odors with ease. The soapnut berries can be reused four or five times in your washer, gently cleaning your clothes. When the soapnuts get soft and mushy, you are done with them, and the used berries can be placed in your compost pile with no ill effects because they are plant matter.

You can also make a liquid detergent out of the soapnut berries by boiling them in water. The liquid that will result works like a concentrated detergent, and so you will not need very much–about three tablespoons is enough–to get your clothes bright and smelling fresh once again. This liquid can also be used for other types of household cleaning, such as for windows and glass. It works well for cleaning dishes in your dishwasher as well. Soapnut berry soap is safe to use on colored clothing as well as whites. Because the soapnut berries are from plants and are natural, they will add no chemicals to your laundry, which can be a benefit to those who are sensitive to chemicals in laundry detergents that get left on clothes that go through the wash. It also makes a great laundry soap for anyone allergic to fragrances and dyes often used in commercial laundry detergents as well. The soapnut eco laundry balls will last longer if your wash your clothing in cold or warm water rather than hot water.

Soapnut trees grow in warm areas of the world including India and Nepal, and this includes several of the southern United States such as Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma and Florida. If you do not live in any of these areas, you can easily find them from fine herbal merchants online.

Starwest Botanicals continues to improve it’s commitment to providing an outstanding selection of quality bulk herbs and spices with the addition of 40 new products to their site and catalog. Highlights of these new products include gourmet salts, organic seasoning blends, organic and bulk herbs and natural body care products.

Gourmet Salts
Our latest selection of gourmet salts is truly unique and is sure to appeal to those in search of culinary treasures. Among the new additions you will find a wide selection of products that are truly singular, such as our favorite, Yakima Sea Salt. Sweet, aged applewood from the Yakima Valley gives this salt it’s unique flavor. We also highly enjoy the Himalayan salt, harvested from the heart of the Himalayan Mountains. Having formed over the last 250 million years, it is an amazingly pure salt-untouched by pollutants and toxins. We are also proud to carry the Hiwa Kai Sea Salt, a unique Hawaiian salt that has a stunning black color and silky texture.

Culinary lovers will want to be sure to visit the bulk herbs and spices page of our site to find these and many other outstanding organic salts and sea salts.

Organic Herbs
Additions to our already amazing selection of organic herbs includes such wonderful items as Organic Buchu Leaf Powder, Organic Egyptian Chamomile Flowers, Organic Hibiscus Flowers and Organic Lycii Berries. Just to name a few. You will want to visit our organic herbs page to see our entire selection.

Natural Body Care
New organic natural body care products we have added include Organic Yellow Bees Wax Blocks and Organic Cocoa Butter Chunks.

For those interested, we also have our latest catalog available by request online.