What is the Best Oil to use for Massage?

Each massage oil has its own characteristics; thick or thin, aromatic or odorless, porous or impermeable, colored or clear, quickly or slowly absorbed.  Each of these qualities can be to your advantage or disadvantage in regular use. 
 
Truth is, there’s no definitive best option for all massage therapists, but there is a way to find the right choice for you, through knowing a little about each of the available options.

Sweet Almond Oil
Perhaps the most popular amongst massage therapists this oil is a bit of an all-rounder.  It is fairly thin and light allowing hands to move smoothly across the skin, though by nature can be absorbed quite fast.  Perhaps the most obvious consideration is whether your client has a nut allergy as this is of course extracted from almonds.
Sweet Almond oil is rich in Vitamins A and E, protein, potassium and zinc.  It’s anti-oxidant properties help the skin to repair and protect from sun damage.  Whilst the oil may be absorbed quickly, it’s fast penetration to the skin has it’s benefits in cleansing the pores.
The price point for sweet almond oil also makes it a very viable option.  The main drawback of this oil, is that it can be more difficult to clean from sheets.

Coconut Oil
It’s pretty hard to ignore all of the incredible properties of this tropical island cliché.  From the milk to the meat to the husk, every bit of the stone fruit is a gift to the human body…especially if you like Pina Coladas (and getting caught in the rain).
But besides all the obvious benefits of the coconut, let’s look at coconut oil and it’s use on the skin and as a massage oil.  First of all, it’s light but fairly sticky making it more adept to focus areas, than longer flowing strokes across the body.  It has a mild and pleasant scent, but is also a great carrier oil, meaning you can add essential oils to it and the mixture will inherit the new scent easily making this very practical for incorporating aromatherapy into your massage.
Besides it’s practical use for the therapist in more heavy-handed massage work, it’s also great for the receiver with anti-stress, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The only thing you might hear as a negative for coconut oil is it’s high saturated fat content.  However the benefits and drawbacks of high saturated fats are still debated amongst the science community to this day, and this is of far greater concern for oral absorption than through the skin.

Sunflower Oil
Linoleic and oleic acids are found in many oils, though sunflower oil has particularly high contents.  Soaps and cleansers which are too powerful or in too frequent usage strip the skin of these oils, leaving it to age and deteriorate at a faster pace. 
This oil is light and thin making it very easy to use and giving the recipient glowing and radiant skin.  Better yet, if your client doesn’t like feeling too oily after a massage session, this is the oil that will leave the skin feeling light and clear.  The oil still has its effect on the skin however leaving it well moisturized.
A minor drawback to sunflower oil is its shelf life.  Buying in small amounts saves any waste and storing in a cool dry area preserves it for longer.

Avocado Oil
Avocado is another fruit that shot to health care super-stardom with the coconut.  Once again, the reputation didn’t come without due cause.  There are a thousand studies on the health benefits of avocado though you only need to taste a nice ripe one to know it’s really good for you.
 
The smell of avocado oil is very light, unlike it’s texture.  This oil is so thick, that it’s best mixed with a much lighter oil (like sunflower) for a blend.  This mixture will also tone down the avocados green color which will be more problematic on white massage sheets.