Understanding how to select carrier oils begins with understanding how they are made. Traditionally, oils were all pressed locally and treated like any other perishable item - bought fresh and in small quantities. However, in an effort to increase shelf life and cut down on production costs, different refining methods have been developed over time. Unfortunately, some of these newer methods have detrimental impacts on the quality and integrity of carrier oils. It is important to understand each of these methods and be aware of exactly how they influence an oil’s overall quality and health benefits, beginning with the two basic classifications of oils - refined and unrefined.
REFINED OILS
The process of refining oils can be extensive and involves the addition of various chemicals to extract the oil from the plant. These chemicals must then be removed through several physical and chemical processes. However, some residue can be left behind. These refining processes include solvent extraction, bleaching and deodorizing:Solvent Extraction
To begin, caustic soda and agitation is used to remove free fatty acids, phospholipids, protein-like substances and minerals. The caustic soda binds with the fatty acids and becomes soap, which dissolves in the water part of the mixture. At this point the oil still has its color pigments.
Bleaching
The bleaching step removes the color pigments (chlorophyll and beta-carotene), aromatic substances and remaining soap. The increased temperature during this process drastically reduces the fatty acid content and creates toxic peroxides.
Les Nouvelles Esthétiques & Spa
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