You know carrots are good for you—but what do you know about the benefits of carrot seed oil? Most often used in the form of a topical treatment, carrot seed oil is used for anti-aging, to treat acne, blemishes, eczema, psoriasis, and even block UV rays. But are all the claims about it true? And what is the difference between carrot seed oil and regular carrot oil? Here’s a peek into the purported beauty magic these golden-orange oils—and what to look for if you decide to add them your beauty routine.

Carrot oil vs carrot seed oil

There are a couple of different versions of carrot oil on the market—and it’s worth noting that not all carrot oil is the same. Carrot oil is made from ground carrots soaked in olive, coconut, or other plant oils. It can be called bird’s nest, bishop’s lace, purple carrot, Queen Anne’s lace, pastinocello, or wild carrot oil.

Though carrot oil contains similar antioxidant properties to carrot seed oil, it is considered a “carrier oil.” Carrot seed oil is steam-distilled from the seeds of wild carrot seeds (Daucus carota sativa) and is therefore technically an essential oil.

What is carrot oil used for?

Carrot seed oil is used for a lot of things—you may see it used as a fragrance ingredient in soaps, creams, lotions, and perfumes, or even as a flavoring agent in beverages, condiments, and desserts. Carrot seed oil is also used in aromatherapy.

Carrot oil, on the other hand, is primarily used in cosmetics and especially in sunscreen. Due to its high beta-carotene content, it’s also used as a source of beta-carotene and vitamin A in beauty products, food products, and supplements.

The benefits of carrot seed oil

Carrot seed essential oil—or CSEO, for short—is particularly impressive. It contains beneficial plant compounds, especially caratol and terpenes like α-Pinene, sabinene, myrcene, limonene, and bisabolene, which contribute to its anti-inflammatory properties and signature scent. “The aroma of this essential oil is mildly sweet with the presence of the earthy and herbaceous hints,” one scientific study notes. “In traditional medicine its tonic properties were used for treatment of digestive complaints. What is more, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of CSEO were very efficient in healing the joint conditions. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of CSEO has also been reported.”