In recent years, mainstream brands with massive marketing budgets have made fractionated coconut oil the rave. It is odorless, has a long shelf life, and stays liquid at room temperature. So what’s not to like about it?
Fractionated oils may not necessarily be bad for your skin, but they do lack many beneficial nutrients that are found only in virgin, unrefined oils. It isn’t enough to assume that because an ingredient is on the label that you’re getting its benefits. How it’s been processed matters.
Studies demonstrate that monolaurin derived from the lauric acid found in coconut oil has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties, but with fractionated coconut oil, the lauric acid has been removed along with its accompanying benefits.
In the case of carrier oils rich in B-carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C, and other nutrients, the heat applied during the fractionation process can destroy or inactivate them altogether.
For these reasons, it’s best to select products that use cold-pressed, unrefined carrier oils as they are as close as possible to how the oils are in nature.
So how can you tell whether your carrier oil has been refined?
1) Smell Test
One way to check how a carrier oil has been processed is to smell it. If your coconut oil doesn’t smell like coconut, then it has probably been refined. Fractionated coconut oil and RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized) coconut oil are odorless. Heat extracted coconut oil will smell like toasted coconut flakes while virgin, unrefined coconut oil has a strong scent of fresh coconut. Other unrefined carrier oils will have a nutty aroma such as moringa or argan oil.
2) Read the Label
Check for key words such as fractionated, RBD (refined, bleached, deodorized), or virgin, which generally indicates that an oil has been cold-pressed.
3) Research the Source
If it isn’t possible to smell test an oil such as one in a blend and the information isn’t on the label, see if you can find out more on the company website. It’s important to find a source you can trust.
Lunamy believes you deserve the best for your skin. That’s why Lunamy’s Classic Oil, Facial Toner, and Face Serum are made with organic cold-pressed, unrefined carrier oils for maximum nutrient retention. To learn more about the amazing properties of the carrier oils in Lunamy’s facial care products, see the ingredient list description under each product.