Massage oils don't have to be expensive, but you need to buy the right kind kind of oils. The best massage oils are plant-based and have a nice, light texture for easy glide.
What You Need To Know About Massage Oils
- Sweet almond oil is an excellent choice. It's a little more costly than other massage oils, but worth the splurge if you're doing home massage on your partner.
- Grapeseed, sunflower, safflower, peanut, sesame, avocado and coconut all make good massage oils and can be purchased at a supermarket.
- You can add a few drops of essential oil to customize your own relaxing aromatherapy massage oils. Lavender, chamomile and sandalwood are all excellent choices, but make sure they're high quality.
- Avoid using petroleum-based oils as massage oils. (This includes baby oil.) Mineral oil has a long shelf life, but many people in the massage profession believe it's not as healthy and prefer plant-based massage oils.
- Plant-based massage oils can go rancid, so buy relatively small quantities.
- Transfer massage oils to plastic bottles for easier use during the massage.
- You don't need to use that much -- just a half-teaspoon into the palm of your hand -- before applying it. Don't squirt massage oils directly from the bottle onto the person you're massaging.
