Carrier Oils & Butters for DIY Skincare

These are the lipid base of your formula, so choose by feel and shelf life, not just price. Light, fast-absorbing oils like jojoba, fractionated coconut, and grapeseed suit facial serums and rollers; heavier sweet almond, avocado, and argan work in body oils and balms. For solids, shea butter stays soft and creamy, mango butter feels lighter and less greasy, and cocoa butter sets hard and adds a brittle snap to bars. Read the listing for refined versus unrefined (unrefined keeps scent and nutrients but a shorter life), cold-pressed extraction, and the comedogenic rating if it's for the face. Soapmakers should confirm the SAP value is listed so lye calculates correctly. Sample sizes of oil run about $4-$10; a pound of jojoba or argan lands $15-$45, and a pound of shea, mango, or cocoa butter runs $10-$30. Most oils last 1-2 years refrigerated, butters 1-2 years cool and dry. Stock items ship in 3-5 business days; freshly decanted bulk takes about a week.

Use the child tiles for butters or oils, then filter by refined/unrefined, extraction, and size to match your recipe.