"Natural my dear Ms. Watson, it`s Vata season!" And who says Vata, says dry, cold and light. So let`s call carrier oils to the rescue to lubricate the whole body, whether in your food, in massage oil or in skin care products.
North Americans have developed a negative attitude towards using oil on their skin because of the shiny look. Such a good way for large companies to justify using alcohol in their skin care products, which in the end is quite drying! But you'll see that when you use the proper oil, it penetrates well and the shine doesn't last long. And your body will gratefully thank you all winter, whether you have a Vata, Pitta or Kapha constitution.
Below is a list of vegetal oils that I use regularly, the vitamines they contain, the qualities that make them such wonderful allies, and what they mostly are used for. If they have been extracted in the best conditions, they are all edible. The taste varies of course and some are consumed in larger quantity than others. This list is definitely not complete, but I will add to it as I discover more.
Body intelligence and oils
As for wine, the quality of the plant itself (ideally organic), the soil it grew in, the extraction method and the conditions of storage all have a significant impact on the quality of the oil it gives.
The purpose of this list is certainly not to entertain, but to provide a solid reference point on how to use your oils to their best potential and to discover some you may not know.
Since your body has an intelligence of its own, put a dab of a few oils you feel attacted to and test on your arm how well they absorb and moisten your skin before you put a lot on. Once you start using them, you`ll see there is no limit to the combinations you can create for your beauty care needs.
*This oil from the northern countries of Africal is very appealing with its rose gold colour, but I have not used it yet.
Oils | Vitamines | Characteristics | Use |
Grape seed | Linoleic acid, from the omega-6 family, so an anti-oxydant that fights free radicals and aging of cells | Very light; splendid green translucent colour; useful for Kapha constitution but must be enriched to meet the needs of the Vata skin | Balances sebum production, so reduces oily ; great for teenagers; excellent nutritional value and resists well to high temperature for frying |
Mustard | Rich in vitamin C | Light and warming; great for Kapha skin; gets rancid quickly; | Used in India to massage new born babies and adults; great for torticollis and back pain; very affordable; the smell is hardly appreciated in North America. |
Coconut | Vitamin A and E | Creamy and delightfully fragrand when extracted appropriately; Pitta skin loves it for its hydrating and cooling properties; keeps quite well at cool room temperature. | I love it for the onctuous consistence it gives to all my moisturizing creams; fantastic in baking but not recommended for frying |
Rice oats | Contains over 100 antioxydants, vitamins (including E and a few in the B complex), minerals, enzymes, fatty acids | Light in touch and smell, it benefits Kapha and Pitta skin, but must be used in combination for Vata. | Excellent to reduce discomforts associated to menopause; stimulates the regeneration of cells in all organs. |
Sunflower | Omega 3 and 6; insaturated fatty acids so reduces colesterol (remember you skin eats too) | Very useful to protect agains the sun; calms excess fire (burns) | For the face, body and in food. Excellent in combination with chamomile in my Sunbrero sunscreen. |
Apricot kernel | Rich in mineral salts and vitamin A | Moderately rich and slightly astringent, it has a summer sun colour | She the specialist for Pitta’s sensitive skin; it maintains the skin tone’s brightness and is a great toner |
Seabuckthorn | Rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, F, K and P | Magnificent turmeric colour; dry and warm, so ideal for Kapha but recommended for everyone, but dosage will change accordingly | Great for the whole body but the most expensive of all oils. Well worth it’s weight in gold. |
*Argan | Essential fatty acids and vitamin E | Anti-aging, anti-acne, anti-hair loss | Used in body care as well as with food |
Almond | Rich in vitamin A and E | Softening and fortifying; tri-doshic so great for all skin types; it’s neutral scent makes it an ideal partner for massage and skin care products; keeps well at cool room temperature | Allergy alert : people allergic to nuts often need to avoid this oner |
Ghee (clarified butter) | Minerals and vitamines found in milk, except for vitamin A | Tri-doshic, oily, penetrating; slightly cooling; a product venerated in Ayurveda for its multi-purpose qualities; can keep for over 100 years; some people don`t like its scent | Brings all the ingredients added to it deep into the tissues |
Olive | vitamins A, D, E and K | Tri-doshic; meets the needs of all skin types and rarely is the source of allergic reactions; gives elasticity to the skin; protects agains cold; reduces wrinkles, | Its many properties are beneficial to all skin types, but because of its strong odour it is used more in soaps than in massage oils or moisturizing creams. |
Cartham | Rich in vitamin K, omega 6 antioxydants; | Stimulates the production of fibroblasts (cell that maintain the skin together); anti-aging | Recommended for rosacea and skin irritation |
Rosehip | Vitamins in the B group, C | Rich, subtle and aromatic; although quite oily, it prenetrates easily; slows the aging process; keeps in the fridge | Excellent to reduce wrinkles around the eyes and the mouth; recommended for rosacea; expensive, it is used in small quantity |
Sesame | VitaminB2, B3, E, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, manganese, zinc, lignans (vegetal elements that play a role similar to estrogen); | Warming and penetrating, it is the oil preferred by Vata skin, but must be enriched during the coldest winter months; protects against UV rays; apprecitated by Kapha and Pitta skin during winter | For the face, body and in food; definitely my favourite oil for massaging the feet and help blood circulation. Some consider it an aphrodisiac. |
Neem/Tamanu (from India et de Polynesia respectively, they belong to the same family) | Heavy and textured, it is great for the skin; penetrates rapidly without leaving a greasy film; its strong odour leaves no one indifferent, one way or the other. Keeps in the fridge only | An ace to help eczema, psoriasis and other skin problems; commonly used in Ayurveda for any dermatitis; used om soaps, and in shampoos to fight dandruff | |
Avocado | Rich in protins and in vitamins A, B, C, D, E, H, K and PP | Very rich and heavy; dark green | Essential in nutrition as well as face and body care for Vata; way to heavy for the Kapha skin and digestion, so eat with lemon and pepper or tabasco |
Castor | Vitamin E | The heaviest of all vegetal oils with glycerin; some say it prevents liver spots | Beneficial in winter for the Vata and Pita skin; excellent for poultices; some use it as make-up remover and to stimulate the growth of eyebrows and eye lashes |
Flax seed | The best source of alpha-linoleic acids, the only vegetal omega-3 available | Very rich for skin, but its scent is difficult to enjoy; becomes rancid quickly even in the fridge | To use mostly in food, or in minimal quantity with other oils |
Glycerin | Heavy, translucent and extremely greasy; helps keep moisture inside the skin; keep in the fridge | Use diluted with other oils for most people, but delights people whose dry skin causes pain. Gives soap its translucent aspect | |
Jojoba | A wax, not an oil, but its texture liquifies at lower temperatures than other waxes; keep in the fridge | Anti-wrinkle; excellent forface care; although very oily; an excellent preservative for moisturizing creams and lotions | |
Evening Primerose | Omega-6 | Anti-inflammatory and promotes auto-immune system; moderately oily and a beautiful gold colour; keep in the fridge | Used against wrinkles, eczema and psoriasis; Utilisée contre les rides, l’eczéma et le psoriasis; an excellent preservative for moisturizing creams and lotions |
Vitamine E | Protects against oxydization | Soluble in oil, it is necessary for the develpment and health of skin tissue, nails and hair | Because of its heaving exture and its cost, use it in small quantity; À cause de sa texture très lourde et de son prix, on l’utilse en petite quantité dans d’autres huiles. an excellent preservative for moisturizing creams. |
Carrot seed | Rich in vitamin A | Warming; magnificent orange colour; gives a tanned skin tone by activating skin melanognisis; recommended to add elasticity to the skin after being out in the sun; keep in the fridge | Needed in my Sombrero sunblock good for faded Vata complexion |
Philadelphia cheese | Yes, you didn`t dream this! Surprising but works in rare cases when all else fails | Energetically, it has a very maternal aspect and it reduces hardened comedos ; cleans the skin wonderfully |
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