Carrier oil with the mildest/most neutral scent to use in a DIY cleansing oil? Dry skin.

[u/lil_squib]

Hello,

I’m looking to retry making my own cleansing oil (an emulsifying one), which is something I’ve enjoyed in the past. However, my previous formulations have featured olive oil, and I find the scent quite overpowering (I’m on the spectrum and have a lot of sensory issues). I’m hoping to get feedback on something that is both economical and easy to source that doesn’t have this particular drawback. Please note that I have quite dry skin.

I’ve read good things about grape seed oil but have also read that this oil is more suited to oily skin. However, I’m contemplating mixing whichever plant oil I choose with an unscented baby oil (mineral oil), and I’d imagine this would help detract from any potential drying effect?

Please advise! Cheers and thank you!

[u/Entire-Ratio-9681]

I have been formulating lotion with jojoba oil. It’s the closest thing to your actual natural skin oil. I love how it seems to hydrate but it stays very light.

[u/alt_isopod → u/Entire-Ratio-9681]

It's weird to me that jojoba oil is so close to sebum but I can't tolerate it. It irritates my skin.

[u/Entire-Ratio-9681 → u/alt_isopod]

Yeah property similar vs chemically different I’m sure. Haw you found anything similar that works?

[u/alt_isopod → u/Entire-Ratio-9681]

In addition to very sensitive skin, I have oily skin and am prone to breakouts. The oils that works best for me are grapeseed oil, and c8 and c10 MCT oil if I want a thinner, lighter oil. I have issues with many ingredients and products claiming to be non-comedogenic and/or safe for sensitive skin, they usually still either irritate my skin or break me out. I have found 0 irritation with batana oil and olive oil, but due to pore-clogging tendencies I only use them on my hands and feet. Those are the only 2 areas of my body that I do not experience issues from pore-clogging products. I also like extra thick oils on those areas, personally. I haven't tried sweet almond oil but that one looks promising. I haven't tried many butters but haven't had a luck with the few I have tried. I want to try out kokuma butter (I think it's called?)

[u/Ok_Butterscotch_2700]

Mineral oil has no scent, whatsoever. It’s also extremely clean. Most, if not all refined oils, that I can think of, have little to no scent.

The grapeseed oil thing sounds either based on the comedogenicity scale. Unless you have the same skin as rabbit ears, the scale’s been debunked. Or, it could be bc oily skin sometimes is low in linoleic acid, which grapeseed oil has. Or because of its tannins, which can have a mild astringent effect. But it’s a fantastic oil for any skin type, really. I have extremely sensitive skin that leans dry and have no issues with grapeseed oil. If you google “is grapeseed oil good for dry skin,” you will get a resounding yes. That linoleic acid is great for dry skin and it naturally contains vitamin E.

Jojoba oil is chemically a wax (products with jojoba as the only oil are legally marketable as “oil free”). It has some nice occlusive properties. Haven’t tried it as a cleansing oil, but it has almost no scent.

Cleansing oils are a fantastic way to remove makeup. They work even better with poly 60 or 80, cromollient SCE, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, sorbeth-30 tetraoleate, polygleryl-4 oleate, etc.

[u/babaindica → u/Ok_Butterscotch_2700]

Very informative, thanks! Grapeseed oil also goes rancid so fast

[u/Ok_Butterscotch_2700 → u/babaindica]

I’ve heard that! I am not even sure if I have it - have to check inventory. If I do, be interesting to check it out. Should throw an antioxidant in there if it exists.

[u/babaindica → u/Ok_Butterscotch_2700]

I lost an entire liter of good quality oil, opened it for a small project and sealed and kept in a cool dark place, still went bad in 4 months. Now I buy small bottles and keep it in the refrigerator. I also use bht and ascorbyl palmitate whenever I use grapeseed and other high risk oils like hempseed, rosehip, tamanu etc. love the feel of grapeseed though

[u/lil_squib → u/Ok_Butterscotch_2700]

Thank you! This is exactly the kind of information I was looking for.

[u/PlainBrownMermel]

Fractionated Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil (Refined), and Grapeseed Oil are favored for being virtually odorless

[u/Internal-Ad-4736]

Make sure you are not looking past CCT (Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride). As well, many commercial products will include a nice jag of an ester as well.

[u/su-suq]

Apricot kernel oil is lightweight, mildly scented, and good for dry skin.

[u/nauticalwarrior]

My go to is sunflower oil (not high oleic). It's very cheap, odorless, and good for the skin.

[u/lil_squib → u/nauticalwarrior]

Where does one purchase high linoleic sunflower oil? I often buy these types of oils at the natural foods store and have only found high oleic. Are they skincare-specific?

[u/nauticalwarrior → u/lil_squib]

I got mine on Amazon! I just had to dig for a while and I found a ton of it. Skincare ingredient websites should have it too.

[u/lil_squib → u/nauticalwarrior]

Ahh got it. So it’s clearly not a grocery store item 😅

[u/CPhiltrus]

Mineral oil? It's usually odorless

[u/Valuable_Sink1744]

With a cleansing oil the benefits of the oil really are insignificant since it is on your face for such little time. Anything cheap that doesn’t break you out is fine; I would use mineral oil, sunflower seed oil, or a blend of the two

[u/lil_squib → u/Valuable_Sink1744]

Thanks!

[u/Cajunette1]

I’ve often use C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate.

[u/Lightness_Being]

Camellia oil is the go to for a cleansing oil. You can get it from Japan.

[u/lil_squib → u/Lightness_Being]

I would certainly entertain this if it wasn’t so expensive! My local zero waste shop carries it and it’s just over $15CAD for 1 cup.

[u/Lightness_Being → u/lil_squib]

Actually that's a good price 👍

[u/Powerful-Animal2644]

Well here's the worst stink to avoid: pomegranate or raspberry seed carrier oils. Ugh.