Igor MarcikicIf you were to ask most people what carrot oil is they probably wouldn’t be able to tell you. That’s because its not as popular as olive oil and some of the other well-known oils, but the reality is that it should be because it’s got some impressive benefits.
But, can you use it as a sunscreen, and what is carrot seed oil SPF? Carrot seed oil is an essential oil with significant antiseptic, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, containing high levels of vitamin A. If you apply it topically (diluted with a carrier oil), carrot seed oil can provide natural sun protection!
One study, published in “Pharmacognosy Magazine” showed that products containing carrot seed oil have a natural SPF of 38 to 40, which is quite high on the SPF scale.Enter your text here...
What’s in Carrot Seed Oil?
When talking about carrot seed oil, its important that you get your facts right because there are a limited number of studies about carrot seed essential oil, but there are plenty on carrot seed oil – that’s the cold pressed oil that comes out of carrots.
May I add, carrot oil and carrot seed oil are not the same thing! This is important because carrot oil is not an essential oil, and it contains vitamin oil. On the other hand, carrot seed oil is does not contain any vitamin A although it does protect against certain diseases.
Can Carrot Seed Oil be Used as a Sunscreen?
There have been several studies that have concluded carrot seed oil has an SPF of 40 and therefore can be used as a sunscreen. This is not completely true, I put my investigative hat on and found that they were testing a variety of herbal ingredients TOGETHER and combined they had an SPF of approximately 40.
When natural products are combined, they react in a certain way, so it’s highly unlikely that carrot seed oil on its own will have enough SPF in it to protect the skin against harmful UV rays. ALTHOUGH, it does appear that it can be used as PART o a recipe for natural sunscreen protection.
Scientific Studies On Carrot Seed Oil SPF
Not all studies I came across were bad news. I managed to come across one serious study done by the Chemistry department of the University of Kinshasa in Congo.
The researchers set out to determine Sun Protection Factor (SPF) values of some herbal extracts (including carrot seed oil). The study showed that this extract had the highest SPF value – of 43.38; while the cream containing coconut extract showed the lowest SPF value of only 0.64.
So what does this mean for us? Well, first, it shows that there is a viable natural alternative to synthetic sunscreens we see on the market today. Now, I’m not advocating against synthetic sunscreens (I use those myself), but some consumers have sensitive skin and break out badly when come in contact with products that are not 100{285d6d0ec33f832d63ba71e7361dfa254e621171fe0222a0c97ebd34aa916c6a} natural.
How to Use Carrot Seed Oil As A Sunscreen
There are plenty of ways you can use carrot seed oil for your skin, and here is how you can harness the power of its high SPF:
Mix in:
Directions:
- 1Using a double boiler on low heat, melt the butters, beeswax and coconut oil.
- 2Take them off the heat and leave them to cool down a bit.
- 3Add the carrot seed oil, vitamin e oil and raspberry oil.
- 4Transfer the mixture into a glass jar.
- 5Leave it to cool down overnight and you can start using it the next day.
Other Uses - As a Skin Exfoliant
As mentioned, carrot seed oil is great for the skin and it also works well as a natural exfoliant.
Ingredients:
Directions:
- 1Put all the ingredients into a food processor and blend them together.
- 2Add the tea tree oil and the carrot seed oil and blend again.
- 3Transfer the mixture into a glass jar.
- 4To use it as an exfoliant, wet your face and then pat it dry.
- 5Get a small scoop in your hands, rub them together and then rub the mixture on your face and neck, make sure you keep it away from your eyes. Rub in a circular motion for a good minute.
- 6Leave the mixture on your face for about five minutes and then rinse it off with warm water.
- 7Rehydrate the skin by moisturizing with coconut oil.
Carrot Seed Oil Benefits
So, there you are, you can’t slather your face in carrot seed oil and go out in the sun! But it does have a load of other benefits I thought you might be interested in.
Powerful Antioxidant
Similar to other essential oils, carrot seed oil is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect and fight against diseases. Studies have found that it keeps the liver healthy by shielding it from cell damage, oxidative stress and free radicals.
Supports Hair and Skin Health
Because of its antioxidant properties, carrot seed oil protects the hair and skin against damage. It is also known to heal ulcers, boils and abscesses.
Fights Cancer Cells
The medical field are constantly looking for ways to fight cancer, and one study found that carrot seed oil is made up of anticancer properties that fight against breast cancer cell lines, colon cancer and myeloid leukaemia. One study conducted on rats found that it was especially potent against squamous cell carcinoma which is a form of skin cancer.
Bacteria and Fungi
Carrot seed oil is great for fighting against bacteria and fungi, so conditions such as athletes’ foot and jock itch don’t stand a chance against a dab of carrot seed oil.
Some Facts About Carrot Seed Oil
Do you want to know something really interesting about carrot seed oil? Back in the day, it was used to help people to stop farting! So, I suppose you can still use it today if you have that problem!
There isn’t much history on carrot seed oil, but what we do know is that is found in European countries and extracted from wild carrots.
Where to Buy Carrot Seed Oil
Before you hand over your hard-earned money, make sure you are making your purchase from a reputable source. If you are shopping online do your research because there are a lot of charlatans out there. Also make sure that it is from organic carrots and that it is cold-pressed.
You also want to make sure you are purchasing the right product; remember, carrot seed oil and carrot oil are not the same.
Possible Side Effects
Carrot seed oil can also be ingested, it is used in many recipes. There have been no reports to suggest that there have been any negative side effects associated with ingesting or putting carrot seed oil on the skin. However, pregnant women or nursing mothers should seek advice from their health care practitioners before ingesting it.
