20 BEST Oils & Butters for Your Homemade Skin Care Products: All About Carrier Oils

INSIDE: Have you ever wondered which carrier oil you should use for your skincare? In this article, I share 20 of the main carrier oils you’ll find in the shops and why these basic oils are great choices for your homemade skincare projects.

When I first started making my own salves, butters, balms, and ointments for our family's skincare needs, I often asked the question, "How much oil or butter should I buy...and what kinds of oils should I keep on hand all the time? What are the best oils and butters to use in my soap and salve making?”

Are they all the same?

Do they do different things for your skin?

How do you choose which oils and butters to use for your diy skincare products, like lotions, creams, herb infused salves, and warming massage oils?

Although it was exciting to realize how many oil and butter choices there are for making your own skin and body care products...it was hard to know what oils and butters I should start out with for making salves, creams, and soaps? It was quite the problem. I didn’t want to just stick with boring old olive oil! I wanted to branch out into some “cool” oils.

I was overwhelmed by all the options there are for the kinds of oils and butters you can buy nowadays. If you’re feeling the same way, this article can be a guide to help you decide which oils and butters to use for different purposes.

Perhaps you're like I was: 

Questions raced through my mind:

Which is the best oil to use for acne?

Which is the best oil for infusing herbs?

What butter should I use for super dry skin?

How long do these oils last (shelf life) before going rancid, anyway?

What are the oils that will dry out skin and not work for my skin?

And do I REALLY need all these different oils? 

Besides not knowing very much about the characteristics and properties of different oils when I first started dabbling around 10 years ago, the other trouble I ran into was the cost.

Some oils are very expensive, and the recipes I was using or that I wanted to try often called for a wide variety of different oils. Could I substitute them?

Or, the recipe called only for small amounts of oil, leaving a great deal left over. It's a terrible thing to purchase a $20 bottle of Kukui Nut Oil, use just a little bit, and have most of that bottle sitting around until it goes rancid.

WASTE! Ahem...Ask me how I know

After creating many body care products, including soaps, salves, balms, serums, and more, I thought I'd share a quick list of my 20 favorite oils and butters I like to have on hand.

NOTE: My favorite places to purchase quality oils and butters are Starwest Botanicals (I try them first), then Amazon. I prefer to use organic products, so be sure to add that word to the search. However, for Coconut Oil and Olive Oil, I go to Costco! **The links in the body of this article are to Amazon for your convenience.

FTC Disclosure: There are affiliate links scattered throughout this article, and if you click through and make any kind of purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you

What are the best oils and butters to use in your homemade natural skincare products like salves, body butters, and balms? There are some big differences between them, and you’ll want to choose the best ones for what you need before following a reci…

What are the best oils and butters to use in your homemade natural skincare products like salves, body butters, and balms? There are some big differences between them, and you’ll want to choose the best ones for what you need before following a recipe for an herbal salve, body butter, or ointment. Here are the top 20 oils and butters to consider. #bodybutter #natural #salve #skincare #diy #homemade #best #oils #butters #carrieroil #recipe #touse #healingharvesthomestead

What are the BEST Oils to Buy for Making Salves, Whipped Butters, Creams and Soaps?

Here are my top recommendations for oils and butters you might want to consider starting out with, especially the first ones listed.

I separated my top seven out for you just to make things easier. These are the oils or butters I use most often, and definitely don't want to run out of! 

Unless you go hard core and start experimenting like a crazy mad-scientist (like I did there for awhile), there is no reason to purchase a large number of different oils when you first start out.

Start small, experiment; then change things up little by little. Be sure you take notes for all of your experiments in your soap and salve recipe journal! (You have one right?) 

BEST Seven Oils & Butters for Handmade Products:

I'm sharing a bit about the characteristics of the following oils and butters for soap making purposes, as well as for their skin care properties for use in both salves, creams, and soaps. Hopefully this will help make your decision making easier! 

These are in no particular order, but these first seven are my main go-to’s:

1) Benefits of Olive Oil, Extra Virgin, Organic (EVOO)

Olive oil is just absolutely wonderful for your skin. There's really not many other oils better than olive oil. It's rumored Sophia Loren slathered it on every day, hence her lovely, glowing skin even into old age. 

I love to use olive oil to infuse my herbs in for salves and soaps. I've found that not only do the medicinal properties of the herbs work on my skin, but the conditioning effect of the olive oil is very helpful too. 

Soaps high in olive oil create a nice hard bar of soap, but the lather isn't that great, to be honest. This is why adding lathering oils like castor or coconut oil retains the moisturizing properties of the olive oil while still providing the lather you want. 

I am SO glad I'm not one of the people allergic to olive oil. If you are, I have heard you can substitute rice bran oil, although I have not personally tried this. 

Have you heard of Castille soap? This is soap made from 100% olive oil. It's prized in Italy and elsewhere in the world. 

Here are some applications for olive oil, proving it to be one of my first go-to oils for many of my products:

  • wound healing

  • great cleanser for the oil cleansing method

  • highly emollient

  • helps with inflamed skin conditions

  • it’s terrific for increasing and maintaining skin suppleness (Shutes)

Olive oil is high in polyphenols, squalene, and sterols that synergize to make this vegetable an exceptional choice for so many applications.

Yumscious Coconut Oil---So good for so many things, but SOME of us might be allergic!

Yumscious Coconut Oil---So good for so many things, but SOME of us might be allergic!

2) Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of the first choices many people new to creating body care products and soap try and use. Indeed, the benefits of coconut oil are touted practically everywhere you turn.

However, some of us are highly allergic to it! How do I know this? Well, when I began creating my first body creams using coconut oil, I had terrible itching and even dry skin! I couldn't figure it out. Wasn't coconut oil supposed to be this wonder oil?

After doing some research, I discovered that my symptoms were caused by an allergy to it. DOH! I was SO bummed. I love coconut oil. But I am one of the people who can't use it in body creams or lotions. 

However, the saponification process during soap making must change the molecular structure enough that it doesn't bother me in handmade soaps. So, I cook with it, and I use it in making soap---but I personally no longer use it in body lotions or creams. 

Coconut Oil is high in lauric acid, and in soap making it provides terrific lather. Coconut oil is also highly cleansing, which in soap making can cause extra dryness to skin. It's a common oil to combine with Olive Oil for a wonderfully moisturizing and cleansing soap. 

3) Benefits of Cocoa Butter

I LOVE this stuff! Cocoa Butter is absolutely hands down one of my very top favorite oils/butters, and I always keep it on hand. Cocoa Butter is actually a solid fat that comes from cocoa beans. It adds a really nice hardness to your soap bars, but you don't want to use more than about 15% in any recipe. In your body butters and balms, it also adds hardness, so you'll need to plan to temper it with a liquid oil. 

The unrefined cocoa butter will give you that amazing chocolate scent! If you don't want the chocolate scent in your products, just purchase refined cocoa butter. 

Cocoa butter is one of my favorite butters for making natural homemade body care products.

Cocoa butter is one of my favorite butters for making natural homemade body care products.

4) Benefits of Castor Oil

Castor oil is useful for creating that shiny gloss in lip balms. It's also wonderful to use in handmade soap because it's what helps create a very good lather. Some soap makers don't like using more than about 15% in their soaps because they say it can cause a sticky soap. Yuck.

Castor oil stands on its own when it comes to properties. Most soap recipes that include castor oil do so to enhance the lather.

5) Benefits of Shea Butter

Shea butter is a softer butter than cocoa butter. It contains nutrients that are not affected by the saponification process when making soap--so you can be sure your skin will benefit from this butter being included in soap recipes. 

Like Cocoa butter, Shea butter is also a solid fat that comes from the nuts of the shea (karite) tree. It helps add some hardness to soaps too. Shea butter is one of my favorite butters for creating body care recipes such as deodorants, body creams, and just using alone. 

6) Benefits of Sweet Almond Oil

Almond oil is very high in Vitamin E, and even though it is fairly emollient, it's also highly moisturizing. What a great combination! 

Almond oil is my second favorite oil to infuse herbs in for medicinal purposes, making salves or soaps. 

7) Benefits of Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil doesn't have the shelf life of other oils, so if you plan to use some in a recipe, you should also plan to get it used up within about six months or so. Rancid oils are really pretty gross. 

Sunflower oil is high in Vitamins A, D, and E, and your skin will love some of that sunflower oil! This is another oil to use somewhat sparingly in soaps, but is great to use in body care products that will be used relatively quickly.

Sunflower oil is high in linoleic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid. It’s great for all skin types and is excellent for inflamed skin conditions.

Cocoa Butter is a hard butter, and if it is unrefined, it smells like delicious chocolate! Mmmmm......

Cocoa Butter is a hard butter, and if it is unrefined, it smells like delicious chocolate! Mmmmm......

Additional Useful Oils & Butters to Consider:

These additional oils and butters are also some of my favorites. However, because they may be 1) expensive, 2) used only in small amounts, 3) not the main oils in most recipes, these are farther down the list:

8) Apricot Kernel Oil

Apricot Kernel Oil is a great substitute for Almond Oil if you are allergic to tree nuts. If you decide to substitute out the almond oil in a soap recipe for apricot kernel oil, be sure to run your numbers through a soap calculator. I'll provide links at the end of the article and address this a bit further.

Apricot Kernel oil is highly moisturizing, too.

9) Argan Oil

There's been a lot of hype about Argan oil in recent years, and for good reason. It is said to help promote hair growth, and it is anti-aging and anti-inflammatory for skin care uses. 

Argan oil can be pretty expensive, besides creating a softer bar, so only 10% or less should be used for making soap. Use it as you wish for skin creams and butters! It's just lovely.

10) Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is rich in fatty acids. It comes from the fruit, so if you are allergic to tree nuts, it's a great choice for both soap and salve-making. It's incredibly good for your skin, however, the greenish color may effect the final color of your soap or salve.

Coconut is an incredible oil for most people. However, some folks (like me) have allergies to coconut oil used topically. Experiment! It’s likely you’re skin will drink this beautiful sweet smelling oil right up.

Coconut is an incredible oil for most people. However, some folks (like me) have allergies to coconut oil used topically. Experiment! It’s likely you’re skin will drink this beautiful sweet smelling oil right up.

11) Babassu Oil

Babassu oil comes from a kind of palm in South America, but it is not the same palm species that is being ecologically affected by overproduction of palm oil. Babassu oil is high in lauric acid, just like coconut oil, and it can make a good substitute if you are allergic to coconut oil (as I am) in your skin care products.

It's more expensive, though---and remember, the saponification process during soap making changes the structure of the oil, so many who are allergic to coconut oil in lotions and creams can still take advantage of it in their soap. I know this from first-hand experience. For those with extreme allergies, perhaps Babassu oil would be a great one to try! 

The highly cleansing properties of Babassu oil also can cause dryness in some people, just like coconut oil. 

12) Grape Seed Oil

Grape Seed oil is a lightweight oil that is very high in anti-oxidant plant compounds. It's slightly astringent and emollient, meaning it soaks into your skin well. Some people believe it has good anti-aging properties and it may also speed wound healing of the skin.

It's widely used in many cosmetics and skin care products, and I think it's a great oil for use in making salves, etc., especially for people with oilier skin. 

Grape Seed Oil is also a common culinary oil, and you may just have this popular oil hanging around in your kitchen! 

Ready to make your own natural handmade soap with herbs and essential oils? Click here for more information!

Ready to make your own natural handmade soap with herbs and essential oils? Click here for more information!

13) Hemp Seed Oil

Hemp Seed oil is quite high in fatty acids, making it quite helpful to the skin. It heals and soothes, and may be a wonderful addition to a soap recipe. Like avocado oil, it has a green color, and may affect the final color of your soaps and balms. 

14) Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is actually a wax that has similar properties to the surface layer of oil on human skin. It provides a wonderful protective barrier for over-washed hands or dry skin. It's great for both dry and oily skin types. 

You can see how and why I use jojoba in my best foaming hand soap recipe.

I want to mention a few other basics about jojoba oil while we’re on the subject. In the past years since I first wrote this article, I’ve found myself turning more and more to jojoba oil as a carrier oil of choice for many things, including lotions, massage oils, etc.

Being rich in sterols and wax ester, as well as various kinds of tocopherols (well-known to soothe, moisten, and protect the skin), makes it an oil to strongly consider when creating your own formulations or substituting oils in recipes. Here are some other things it helps with:

  • acne

  • psoriasis

  • dermatitis

  • inflamed skin conditions

  • regenerative skin care

  • oily skin conditions (it’s one of my favorites for use in my facial cleanser)

  • excellent for hair and nails (Shutes)

15) Kukui Nut Oil

Kukui Nut oil is thought to be one of the oils very useful in treating difficult skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. It is highly moisturizing, too. 

15) Lard or Tallow

Lard is GREAT, especially if it has been minimally processed. If you know someone who renders their own lard, and you can get some of this, I highly recommend it! Lard is a solid fat that comes from pigs. (Tallow most usually comes from cows, and is also fabulous for your skin.) 

If you are using lard for making soap, it is one of the oils you can use in larger amounts, as it contributes a good lather along with skin conditioning and a bit of hardness. 

I haven't tried lard for use in salves, butters, or balms, and unless we are in a SHTF situation, I really don't plan to. Just saying.

Here is a recipe for Pine & Cedar Soap made using lard. This is a great soap to gift during the holidays, too!

16) Macadamia Nut Oil

Macadamia Nut oil is wonderful for you, both inside and out. It's a light oil with a pale yellow color, and is extremely sensitive to heat and light. It will turn rancid more quickly than other oils, so if you plan on using Macadamia Nut oil, you might want to purchase it in smaller amounts---or plan on cooking with it. 

Macadamia Nut oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, and like jojoba oil, it is similar to the natural oils created by our own skin. 

17) Mango Butter

Mango Butter is solid, but is also a soft butter. In your soap, it will not create a great deal of hardness, so it's best combined in small amounts with other typical oils, such as coconut and/or olive oil. Mango Butter is wonderful for very dry skin.

You can see how I use Mango Butter in my homemade summer deodorant recipe: Mango-Lime & Mint Natural Deodorant. You can also take a look at my Mango-Avocado Soap for Mature Skin Recipe.

18) Meadowfoam Seed Oil

Meadowfoam Seed oil is great for using in salves, balms, etc. It's a very stable oil, and can help lengthen the shelf life of a product. Meadowfoam seed oil is high in anti-oxidants and can be helpful for mature skin. It also is absorbed quite quickly. I like using it in homemade beard oils.

We all know how wonderful Olive Oil is, and it is one of the best oils, in my opinion, to use for making soaps and salves.

We all know how wonderful Olive Oil is, and it is one of the best oils, in my opinion, to use for making soaps and salves.

19) Pumpkin Seed Oil

Pumpkin Seed oil is high in fatty acids, and it's one of the oils that is great for both oily and dry skin. It is quickly absorbed, doesn't clog pores, yet is highly moisturizing at the same time. Besides the fact that it is a great oil to consume for your health, it's wonderful for use in creating skin care products too.

20) Rosehip Seed Oil

I love this stuff! Rosehip Seed oil is exceptional for aging and mature skin. Due to its high cost, however, I generally only use it in creating body care creams, butters, salves, lip balms, etc. I personally think it costs too much to add to soap, but if you can afford it, I say go for it! 

Rosehip seeds are high in linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, and smaller amounts of palmitic and stearic acids. It’s also relatively high in tocopherols, much like jojoba oil. Here are some specific applications for rosehip seed oil:

  • mature skincare

  • regenerative skincare

  • sun damage and premature aging

  • helpful for reducing age spots and hyperpigmentation of the skin

  • wound healing

You’re likely to see rosehip seed oil as an ingredient in higher end cosmetic and skincare formulations, and I love adding it to mine. You may enjoy this Belly Balm for stretch marks or perhaps this facial serum for mature skin that I use myself.

If you prefer videos, you can watch me make the Belly Balm here.

Shea butter is such a beautiful butter to add to your collection of body butters. It can be used alone or in homemade recipes, like this homemade deodorant.

Shea butter is such a beautiful butter to add to your collection of body butters. It can be used alone or in homemade recipes, like this homemade deodorant.

Quick Tips for Using Butters and Oils in Your Homemade Skincare

Here are some other tips I’ve learned over the years I’ve spent creating our own skincare products:

Tip 1) If it is an expensive oil, don’t buy a lot. Buy the smallest amount you can to be sure it’s worth the cost.

Tip 2) Buy organic if you can. This is just best practice no matter what you’re purchasing. You don’t want pesticides in your skincare products, right?

Tip 3) You can substitute many oils across recipes. For example, sunflower oil, avocado oil, and almond oil are all great substitutions for each other.

Tip 4) When in doubt, keep it simple. Choosing the “boring” oils like olive oil or coconut oil is not a bad idea! These oils, although very common, are common for a reason. They work.

Tip 5) Be sure to do your research on your butters and oils. Check into how they are processed. Often, unrefined oils will be quite strong smelling. For example, carrot seed oil is just wonderful for your skin, but it packs a powerful scent many people don’t care for. If this is a concern, try to find a place to test scents before buying if you can.

Tip 6) Don’t buy too much. Yes, you can get your oils and butters cheaper in bulk….but if you end up not using them up, they may go rancid or bad before you can get to them. You may end up wasting money anyway!

Tip 7) Have fun! Go about creating your skin care products with a joyful scientific mind. Experiment. Try things. Will they all work? Nope. But the learning process is fun, and if you enjoy it, you’ll keep at it.

Tip 8) Be sure to keep a journal! I can’t stress this tip enough. There have been a few times I’ve created a WONDERFUL lotion or balm….but I didn’t write down exactly what I did as I went. When I discovered I couldn’t recreate it exactly….what a bummer. Journaling and keeping a notebook are absolute musts.

Final Thoughts on Different Oils and Butters for Making Skin Care Products

I hope this little rundown of oils and butters was helpful. It's so hard to know which oils and butters to start out with. We all heard how great coconut oil is for us (and it certainly is), but nobody back then ever said a person could be allergic to it on the surface of their skin! Yikes! 

We are all different, with different body make ups and compositions and needs. It's a great idea to play around with different oils if you are able to---and this way, you'll find the perfect combination for you and family. 

Hopefully by giving you this little start, it will help you narrow down your options a little bit, though. It's incredibly how many useful kinds of oils and butters are now available to us for our use! 

What do you think? Do you have an oil or butter you like to use a lot that I should add to the list? Or maybe you have a comment about one of the oils I mentioned in the list? I'd love for you to leave a comment in the comments section!

You might also be interested in these articles:

Hugs, Health, & Self-Reliance,

Heidi

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P.P.S. Don't forget to check out Starwest Botanicals for your natural body products, herbs, and essential oils for making soaps & salves!

Have you wondered what carrier oils and butters are best to use for your handmade diy body products, like soaps and salves and body butter? Here are the 20 BEST carrier oils and what makes them the ones you’ll want to use to make your own handmade p…

Have you wondered what carrier oils and butters are best to use for your handmade diy body products, like soaps and salves and body butter? Here are the 20 BEST carrier oils and what makes them the ones you’ll want to use to make your own handmade products. #healingharvesthomestead #bodybutter #salve #carrieroil #butters #shea #coconut #oil

 Disclaimer: I’m not an aesthetician or a medical doctor—rather I am an herbalist and aromatherapist. Please be sure to seek advice from a medical professional if you have health issues. These statements are for information only and not meant to be medical advice for treatment, cure, diagnosis, or prevention of disease. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, as herbalism is unregulated in the United States at this time.