The Basics On Palm Oil
What is Palm Oil?
Has emollient and antioxidant properties for skin.
What are other names for Palm Oil?
N/A
What is Palm Oil used for?
Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil is extracted from the kernel of the fruit of the Elaeis Guineensis or Palm Oil tree. The oil is refined via a 3 phase process involving: degumming, bleaching, and deodorization to remove undesirable components1. Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil is the natural oil obtained from the seeds of the refining process of those seeds. Hydrogenated Palm Oil and Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil are end products of the controlled hydrogenation of the natural oils2. Almost 90% of the world palm oil goes into food products1 and only 6-7% goes into the cosmetics industry. Even so, palm oil and its derivatives still make up about 70% of the ingredients used in cosmetic products. Most of the palm oil ingredients used in cosmetics formulations are not active ingredients but are cleansing agents, surfactants emulsifiers and emollients. Palm oil contains powerful phenolic and carotenoid antioxidant compounds1, however, it has been estimated that up to 80% of the antioxidant capacity of palm can be lost in the refining process1. Palm oil and rice bran oil represent the two major nutritional sources of natural tocotrienols 3, powerful antioxidants and part of the vitamin E family of compounds.
How Palm Oil is classified
Antioxidants, Skin-Replenishing, Emollients
Recommendations for using Palm Oil during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Limited data suggests no known risk
Palm Oil During Pregnancy
What we know about using Palm Oil while pregnant or breastfeeding
Limited information available.
N/A
General safety info about Palm Oil from CIR
No report found.
Use this, not that!
Products where you might find Palm Oil
La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ Body Cream for Extra Dry Skin, La Roche-Posay Lipikar Balm AP+ Body Cream for Extra Dry Skin, Avene Moisturizing Melt-in Balm; AMOREPACIFIC Treatment Cleansing Oil Makeup Remover, Erno Laszlo The Famous Black Bar, LANEIGE Multi Deep-Clean Cleanser
List of References
General sources: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/
1. Szyd≈Çowska-Czerniak A, Trokowski K, Karlovits G, Sz≈Çyk E. Effect of refining processes on antioxidant capacity, total contents of phenolics and carotenoids in palm oils. Food Chem. 2011;129(3):1187-1192. [PubMed] 2. Johnson W. Final report on the safety assessment of Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Oil and Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil. International Journal of Toxicology. 2000;19:7-28. 3. Sen C, Khanna S, Roy S. Tocotrienols in health and disease: the other half of the natural vitamin E family. Mol Aspects Med. 2007;28(5-6):692-728. [PubMed] 4. ELAEIS GUINEENSIS (AFRICAN OIL PALM) OIL. EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702238/ELAEIS_GUINEENSIS_%28AFRICAN_OIL_PALM%29_OIL/. Published 2018. Accessed October 2018.
Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider with any questions.
