For those just starting out with CBD tinctures, it can be easy to get confused when trying to leverage the wholesome benefits of cannabidiol to your advantage. CBD products can come with a myriad of carrier oils, and deciding which ingredient list is preferred can be overwhelming.
Whether you’re looking to create a homemade calming tincture using CBD oil or isolates, or you’re trying to decide which CBD skincare product will work best with your skin, the carrier oil involved can make all the difference. The natural chemical makeup of various carrier oils provide different benefits and influence how quickly CBD is absorbed into your system.
What is a Carrier Oil
A carrier oil, also known as a base oil, is a plant-based oil that is similar enough to human skin oils to “carry” CBD molecules or essential oils into the body. Carrier oils are a delivery method for CBD, like vaping or sublingual drops.
Primarily used in tinctures or balms, carrier oils act as a solvent to dissolve CBD to make it more easily absorbed through your skin, and by understanding each oil’s benefit you can find the optimal way to harness the power of CBD.
Different Types of Carrier Oils
When choosing your carrier oil, you’ll have to consider their constituent fatty acids; this influences CBD’s bioavailability, the proportion of administered CBD that enters your bloodstream to have an active effect. The higher the absorption rate, the quicker your pure CBD isolate or other CBD product will enter your bloodstream, making the product more efficient and effective.
Understanding the benefits of each base can help you decide which to use. There are many options regarding flavour and weight, but you’ll generally want to look for oils that are fatty in nature and derived from plants or vegetables. The following carrier oils are effective at delivering CBD to your nervous system.
MCT Oil (Unrefined)
MCT oil is also known as coconut oil or fractionated coconut oil. It has a number of wonderful uses and characteristics that make it stand apart from other oils. It has almost no taste, making it perfect for tinctures, and a very thin body compared to most other oils.
It has natural wellness properties, making it a useful ingredient in salves.
MCT oil contains essential fatty acids and is absorbed quickly into the body, making it the perfect choice for your CBD Crystal (isolate) tincture. MCT is often regarded as one of the best CBD carrier oils.
Palm Oil
Like coconut oil, palm oil is used to make MCT oil. MCT oil is one of the best carrier oils for CBD, but the manufacturing process of palm oil is linked to things like deforestation, climate change, and animal cruelty. Because of this connection, the more sustainable choice of coconut oil may be the better option for your CBD products.
Grapeseed Oil
This is polyunsaturated fat, which makes it a less viscous substance; in fact, the thin consistency and wine-like scent of grapeseed oil are its two most notable characteristics. This oil is best used in skincare and hair care due to its non-greasy nature.
Canzon CBD Balm makes use of grapeseed oil and coconut oil to produce a moisturizing effect that allows the CBD to provide local relief.
Olive Oil
Olive oil contains oleic acid, which has free radical-fighting antioxidants. When you consider the fruity flavour, olive oil may become a favourite carrier oil for some tinctures.
Avocado Oil
Avocados are delicious superfoods full of healthy saturated fats that provide nutritional benefits and can also serve as effective carrier oils. Avocado oil offers terrific skincare benefits because it has high levels of Vitamins A, B, D, and E as well as skin-nourishing oleic acid. The combined effect is a nutrient-rich carrier for topical applications of CBD.
Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil contains antioxidants and is in many ways similar to MCT oil, making it a great option for any CBD tincture. It is an especially useful option for skincare because it’s not overly greasy and it boosts the production of new, healthy skin cells.
Hemp Seed Oil
Like avocados, hemp seeds are considered superfoods; they are jammed with essential fatty acids and are linked to numerous health benefits. This oil works well with the hemp plant-derived CBD, especially in balms and pastes.
The Takeaway
When choosing a carrier oil for balms, tinctures, whether for a DIY project or a product you’ll buy ready-made, it’s important to understand how the components of the ingredients will interact with each other.
Factors like affordability and taste are relevant and easy to notice, but it’s equally important to look into the vitamin content and additional health properties of carrier oils that you will apply to your skin. Considering the properties of carrier oil and how readily it is absorbed into your skin enables you to get the most out of your CBD products.
Contact us or explore our blog to learn more about the holistic benefits of the carrier oils used in Canzon CBD products.
