Not all carrier oils are cut from the same cloth
Ever wondered how your carrier oils are made? There are a variety of methods, and each of them result in differing quality of oil—some better than others. Getting to know them will help you best choose what should or shouldn’t go on your skin. Here is a breakdown of some of the common ways of extracting and processing carrier oils that you need to be aware of.
Step 1: Extraction of Carrier Oils
Chemical Processing
Manufacturers immerse the plant material in a chemical solution that draws out the oil. The plant material is broken into small pieces to increase the contact area and then heated before solvents such as pentane, hexane, heptane, and octane are applied to draw out the oil. This method is highly efficient as nearly all of the oil is extracted from the plant. However, the chemicals used in the processing can leave behind residue that may pose risks to human health.
Heat Extraction
Heat is applied to the plant material, which allows the oils to melt and separate from the plant. Since most oils float in water, many can be extracted by placing the plant material in boiling water. As the oil comes out and pools on the surface, it can be easily skimmed off and separated. The downside to this method is that the heat will breakdown some of the nutrients.
Virgin, Cold-Pressing
This timeless method involves mechanically squeezing the oil out of the plant. Think of olive oil production from the mediterranean region dating back to ancient times. The word cold-pressed is used to indicate that the pressing was done at a low temperature, usually below 50 degrees Celsius in order to maximize nutrient retention.
One drawback of this method is that there is still a lot of oil that gets left behind in the plant material after pressing, which means a lower yield and higher production cost. Some manufacturers will run the material through the press multiple times, each time producing a slightly inferior quality. However, if you want an oil as close to how it is in nature as possible, look no further. Go with cold-pressed.
Step 2: Processing of Carrier Oils
Unrefined
The oil is left to settle or it is filtered to remove sediment.
Fractionated
The oil is heated in order to remove certain portions or fractions of the oil. In the example of coconut oil, the long chain fatty acids or are removed (C12 - twelve carbons) leaving the medium chain fatty acids, mainly capric acid (C10) and capryillic acid (C8).
RBD (Refined, Bleached, Deodorized)
The oil is subjected to chemical or physical processing to eliminate strong flavors. Often high heat is used, which can alter the nutritive properties of the raw oil.
Lunamy believes you deserve the best for your skin. That’s why Lunamy’s Classic Oil, Facial Toner, and Face Serum are made with organic cold-pressed, unrefined carrier oils for maximum nutrient retention. To learn more about the amazing properties of the carrier oils in Lunamy’s facial care products, see the ingredient list description under each product.