The Rundown!
Before I overwhelm you with all of the details, let me give you an idea of how easy it is to make your own CBD infused aromatherapy massage oil. First, you’re going to select an oil to use as a carrier oil. After that you’ll infuse your carrier oil with CBD. Then all that’s left to do is add your preferred essential oils and shake it to combine. Easy peasy! There is some math involved, but we’ll get to all of that later.
What Kind of Carrier Oil Should I Use?
It depends on what other benefits you’d like to experience! If you have sensitive skin, you may choose to go with a hypoallergenic base. Oils high in vitamin E tend to be a go-to for people with dry skin. Vitamin K is present in many anti-aging cosmetic products if you are looking to support your skin’s elasticity, or its ability to stretch and bounce back. Here’s a list of some popular massage oil bases and some information about each of them to help you decide which one(s) you’d like to use! You can find information on some additional carrier oils in another blog we previously published on how to maximize your CBD potential by infusing different oils.
Fractionated Coconut Oil: A good source of Vitamin E, this oil is known for its ability to lock in moisture and its potential to be anti-aging, as it’s believed to stimulate collagen production! According to Healthline, coconut oil has antimicrobial properties due to its medium-chain fatty acids which has the potential to be beneficial for acne and skin infections.
Jojoba Oil: If you have sensitive skin, you may be interested to learn about jojoba oil being hypoallergenic! It’s also non-comedogenic, which means that it won’t clog pores. It has the potential to prevent acne due to the application of jojoba telling the follicles that additional sebum, the oil your body naturally creates to coat, moisturize, and protect your skin, is not needed. It could contribute to softer skin and prevent dry, cracked skin. Jojoba oil also contains vitamin E, which can stop skin from losing its moisture.
Grapeseed Oil: Grapeseed oil has more vitamin E in it than even olive oil! It also contains linolenic acid, which has been shown to have the potential to reduce inflammation in the skin. This oil is non-comedogenic like jojoba, so it won’t clog pores either. Grapeseed oil is quick absorbing and doesn’t leave an oily feeling on your skin.
Sweet Almond Oil: If you’re allergic to almonds, it’s best to stay away from this one! Sweet almond oil has the potential to help skin regeneration and maintain elasticity due to the high content of vitamins E and K. Vitamin K significantly reduced wound healing time in a study done on 63 patients, which really showcases its regenerative properties.
What Essential Oils Should I Use?
The most important part of selecting essential oils comes down to what smells you like and, similar to choosing the carrier oil, what additional benefits you’re looking for! There are many different combinations, or “blends,” of essential oils that people find that they benefit from. Here you can find a blog we previously published about some additional essential oils found in some of our products!
Eucalyptus: This oil is anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and antibacterial. This is probably why we include it in our Active CBD Oil Lemon & Eucalyptus Bath Bomb! According to the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, eucalyptus has been proven by researchers to be effective “beyond doubt” in the treatment of various diseases. People commonly use this oil for rheumatoid arthritis and pains in muscles and joints.
Lemon: Often used to boost the immune system, this oil could boost your mood as well! Lemon essential oil can brighten and renew dull skin, as it is an astringent and has detoxifying properties. In a study done with lemon essential oil, it was concluded that it can be effective in reducing pregnancy nausea and vomiting.
Roman Chamomile: In aromatherapy, roman chamomile has been used to reduce anxiety. Many use it before sleep to relax both their body and their mind. Roman chamomile has shown to be useful for menstrual cramps and many skin issues like psoriasis, eczema, sunburn, and cold sores. It has also been shown to reduce pain associated with rheumatism.
Tea Tree: Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic? Talk about boosting your immune system! Tea tree oil has been used in conjunction with other oils for blisters, acne, burns, insect bites, and oily skin. It has also been used for numerous respiratory ailments. Studies have shown that tea tree oil has been promising in the treatment of herpes.
Ylang-Ylang: This essential oil has euphoric properties and can enhance the feeling of well-being. A study done with 34 nursing professionals showed clear evidence that ylang-ylang boosted their self esteem. It can be beneficial for those with both dry and oily skin. Ylang-ylang oil has also been suggested to help in the treatment of depression, anxiety, hypertension, and stress.
It’s also super important to note that all of the above essential oils are toxic to pets, so don’t forget to take your cats, dogs, birds, or other pets into consideration! Your pets can be harmed by inhaling or ingesting the oils, or having them rubbed on their skin. Don’t hesitate to talk to your veterinarian about safely using essential oils around your pets.
Okay, Let's Do Some Math!
Before infusing your oil or adding essential oils, let’s cover some important math. We previously published a super useful blog about measuring CBD isolate, which you can use to look further into the math behind creating your own different products. To find out the strength of CBD in your massage oil, simply divide the total amount of CBD isolate powder you plan to use by the volume of carrier oil it is being infused into.
- One gram of CBD isolate powder contains 990 mg of CBD (based on 99% purity)
- One cup of carrier oil is the same as 48 teaspoons of carrier oil, or 236.6 mL
When essential oils are being applied to the skin, you have to dilute them. Using undiluted essential oils can lead to sensitization, also described as a contact allergic reaction. It is recommended that no more than 2% of the volume of your final product be essential oils.
- 2% of 1 cup (236.60 mL) of carrier oil is 0.96 teaspoons (4.73 mL)
- 2% of 2 cups (473.17 mL) of carrier oil is 1.92 teaspoons (9.46mL)
If you are adding 2% essential oils to 1 cup of carrier oil, you would add a little less than 1 teaspoon total of essential oils. If you are adding your essential oils to 2 cups of carrier oil, you would add a little less than 2 teaspoons of essential oils.
You could always use a metric measuring cup to make the math a little cleaner, but I think here in Colorado more of us have imperial measuring cups in our kitchens than metric!
Make it!
Now that you’ve decided which carrier oil and essential oils you’d like to use, the rest is cake! Infusing your carrier oil with CBD is as simple as warming up your carrier oil using the double boil method, adding your CBD isolate powder, and stirring until it dissolves. After taking your oil off the stove and letting it cool, you can add your essential oils. Pour the mixture into a glass bottle and shake it, then you’ve done it! You’ve made your very own CBD infused aromatherapy massage oil.
Store it!
Over time, oils can go bad! You can tell that your massage oil has gone bad if it’s cloudy, smells “off,” or your skin has a bad reaction to it. There are a few things you can do to prolong the shelf life of your homemade massage oils. You’ll want to store your massage oil in an airtight, dark colored glass bottle, as exposure to air and sunlight can speed up the oxidation process that causes the oils to break down. Try to keep temperature in mind as well, due to the fact that extreme hot or cold temperatures can speed up chemical reactions that occur within the oil as it breaks down. Remember that adding ingredients like essential oils to carrier oils will shorten their shelf life, as it also increases chemical reactions within the oil. It’s best to also label your container with the date that you mixed the oil just in case you forget how long it’s been!
That's All It Takes!
It’s so much easier than I imagined to make your own massage oil. That doesn’t mean it’s for everybody though, and there’s no shame in that! We offer an Active CBD Oil Lotion, available in menthol or citrus lavender, if you want to enjoy an aromatherapy massage with the added benefits of CBD without having to worry about making anything yourself. If you do decide to make your own CBD infused aromatherapy massage oil but need some help figuring out the math, chat with us online or give us a call and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have!
