Well, there are tons of different massage oils available, which makes picking the right one pretty hard. Of course, there is always trial and error, but even that takes some time (which I hope to shorten by providing reviews on my site http://www.oilreviews.com).
First, there can be single massage oils, which only contain one basic component, like jojoba oil or almond oil. They are more likely to be found on health stores. The second type of massage oil is blended together from different oils or butters. They are usually branded and sold in skin care section at spas and salons.
It is important to know different types of massage oils to some extent, as some of them might cause you allergic reactions or skin rashes. Different massage oils also have different timeframes for using. Some can stay in your shelves for months, while others go stale pretty quickly. If you are someone who doesn’t give daily massages, it’s obviously better to look at the first ones.
Second, some oils are greasier than others and showering after massage is needed, while others tend to leave your skin almost completely dry. Less greasier oils are perfect if someone who receives the massage wants to fall asleep straight away after the massage.
Sweet Almond Oil
Among massage therapists, sweet almond oil is pretty popular. It looks pale yellow in color and is extracted from almonds. Roughly 50% of the almond is made from oils. It’s a mild, lightweight oil that has slight odour and nutty taste (although, you should not taste massage oils).
It is not very greasy and is absorbed fairly quickly, but there is usually no need for reapplying. It is one of the most used massage oils and is also reasonably priced. Almond oil generally doesn’t irritate the skin, although people who have nut allergies should stay away from this one.
Apricot Kernel Oil
If you have nut allergies, apricot kernel oil is perfect alternative for sweet almond oil. It has pretty similar characteristics in texture and color, but slightly sweeter smell. It is also richer in vitamins and lasts a little longer than most oils, being once opened. It’s pressed from apricot kernels, which contain about 40-50% oil.
When using it for massage, it’s also pretty similar to almond oil. It doesn’t leave the skin greasy afterwards, but stays on long enough so there is usually no need to reapply it. Apricot oil also does wonders to scalp condition.
Jojoba Oil
Technically, jojoba oil is not an oil at all. It is made by extracting the wax from the jojoba plant seeds, which makes for 50% of the seeds. The jojoba plant is native to southern Arizona, California and northwestern Mexico. The oil is golden and has a slightly fatty odour and also has pretty long shelf life, so it’s recommended if you don’t use it regularly, but it’s also more expensive than almond or apricot kernel oil.
Jojoba oil is well absorbed by skin which is good for aromatherapy, although for longer massages you need to reapply it multiple times. It is silky in it’s consistancy and generally not irritating to skin.
Jojoba oil also resembles the skin sebum, which makes it a perfect choice for someone who has back acne problems. It has antibacterial properties and contains long chains of wax esters.
Coconut Oil
If you are the one who likes massages in bed before going to sleep then coconut oil is the perfect choice for you. It doesn’t stain the sheets, which is usually a problem with most of the massage oils out there. Although there isn’t usually adverse reactions, you should try coconut oil before applying it to the whole body.
For someone who hears about coconut oil the first time, it’s a thick white fluid. The coconut oil used for massages is actually light non-greasy fractionated coconut oil, not whole oil and this is clear to slightly yellow in color. Although the latter is great for hair, fractionated oil is rich in saturated fat which gives it long shelf life for a reasonable price.
Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil is extracted from sunflower seeds and has many health benefits for the skin. It contains a lot of linoleic acid, which is great because the linoleic acid tends to decline over time in your skin. It also protects your skin, sunflower oil have been conducted involving low birth weight infants that are often susceptible to infection due to their underdeveloped skin.
Sunflower oil should be purchased in small quantities, as it goes rancid pretty quickly. You should store it in a dark and cool place. If you squeeze a few capsules of pure vitamin E into the bottle, you can improve the shelf life to some extent.
The oil itself is light and non-greasy so it doesn’t leave you with oily skin after massage. If you have allergies to sunflower plant, you should avoid this oil.
Grapeseed oil
Grapeseed oil can make one of the best practically odourless massage oils out there with it’s smooth and silky texture without being overly greasy. If you are planning to use it for aromatherapy, you should check the label, as most grapeseed oil isn’t pressed from the seeds (which you need for aromatherapy), but extracted with solvent.
It is also high in linoleic acids, has antioxydants and full of other biologically active contents, so it has many health benefits as well. It moistures the skin and leaves a light glossy film over the skin when used as a carrier oil for other essential oils in aromatherapy.