Massage oil allows our hands to glide across skin without friction, making the experience of receiving a massage so much more comfortable. Some oils and lotions however are greasy, unpleasant smelling, or can go rancid rather quickly. What’s the best massage oil to use? As recommended by our expert team of massage therapists, here are five.
Sunflower oil
If you’re looking to buy massage oil, sunflower oil is light, non-greasy, and a real doll to use. It’s complete with linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid which all make up healthy skin. Do store it in a dark area as it can go rancid quickly. Squeezing one or two capsules of pure vitamin E can extend its shelf life. People allergic to sunflowers evidently should avoid exposure to sunflower oil.
Almond oil
Sweet almond oil is extracted from almonds and is a very popular massage oil in Canada. Somewhat oily, almond oil glides over the skin easy and also absorbs fairly quickly. It doesn’t usually irritate the skin however someone with nut allergies should avoid using almond oil. Also, note almond oil can build up on sheets and tend to stain.
Coconut oil
Fractionated coconut oil is a light, non-grease liquid oil, somewhat different from your average coconut oil. In fractionated oil, long chain triglycerides are removed which creates less glide, more stickiness, and which makes it well suited to massages. Fractionated coconut oil also maintains a long shelf life, is inexpensive, and tends not to stain any sheets or equipment like massage oils sometimes tend to do.
Jojoba oil
Jojoba oil is manufactured around a wax that’s extracted from the seeds of the jojoba plant. It doesn’t feel greasy, doesn’t stain, and is considered the best massage oil for anyone prone to back acne. This is because it carries antimicrobial properties and is usually not irritating to the skin. The biggest drawback of jojoba oil is that it absorbs quickly and may need to be re-applied occasionally.
Apricot kernel oil
Apricot kernel oil is similar to almond oil but costs slightly more and is rich in vitamin E, something which delivers a longer shelf life. Apricot kernel oil absorbs quickly but doesn’t leave a person feeling greasy afterwards. For someone who enjoys the feel of almond oil but who perhaps doesn’t want to use it due to nut allergies, apricot kernel oil is your next best bet.
There are numerous other massage oils that any massage therapist can recommend, such as avocado oil, cocoa butter, grapeseed oil, kukui nut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, and wheat germ oil. Shop them all and other massage oils, lotions, and creams at Lierre.ca today.