Herbal Infused Body Oils – Natural Hydration & Soothing Care
Herbal Body Oils
Why Choose a Body Oil Over a Lotion?
They work differently rather than one being better. A lotion is mostly water held in emulsion with oil, so much of what you apply evaporates. An oil has no water in it, so all of it stays on the skin and absorbs. The practical consequence is that oils need no emulsifiers and no preservative system, which keeps ingredient lists short. Lotions absorb faster and feel lighter.
Warm a small amount between the palms, then work it into the skin with long strokes. Applying to slightly damp skin, straight after a bath or shower, helps it spread and absorb.
After, while the skin is still slightly damp. The water helps the oil spread and the warmth helps it absorb. The Ayurvedic practice of abhyanga does the reverse, oil first, then bathe, and both approaches have long traditions behind them.
Not if you use a small amount and give it a few minutes. The common mistake is applying a lotion-sized quantity, which is several times more than an oil needs. Lighter carriers like jojoba and grapeseed absorb faster than heavier ones like olive and castor.
A carrier oil is the plant oil that carries botanicals or essential oils onto the skin, sweet almond, olive, sunflower, jojoba, sesame and grapeseed are the common ones. In an infused oil the carrier does double duty: it extracts the plant during weeks of steeping, then delivers it.
Yes. Plant oils oxidise over time and eventually smell faintly of crayons or old nuts, which is the point to stop using them. Amber glass and a cool, dark cupboard both slow this considerably. Every bottle carries a best-before date and a period-after-opening symbol.
It depends on the formula, several contain nut oils. The full ingredients are on each product page, and our Medical Herbalists are happy to talk it through.