EWG Safety Score
What Is Elaeis Guineensis Oil?
Elaeis guineensis oil, also called palm oil or palm kernel oil, is the oil extracted from the seeds of a tree known as the African palm. This tree is more abundant in oil than any other natural source (including olives and sunflowers) and the oil has numerous commercial applications – from a hair conditioning ingredient to a biofuel and almost everything in between. When it comes specifically to skin, palm oil offers a high amount of antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin E, making it a good anti-aging ingredient because of its ability to fight free-radical damage. Perhaps its greatest strength though is in its rich fatty acid content (including oleic and ceramide-building linoleic acids) that provide lasting hydration and improve the strength of skin's barrier.
Recently, and for many reasons, commercial methods of producing palm oil have come under scrutiny. A primary reason is that Elaeis guineensis is a high-yield cash crop with a rapid growth rate. As such, areas of native plants have been razed to satisfy the global demand for palm trees, leading to deforestation. It's a case of agriculture vs. biodiversity, although there's still much to discover as this issue unfolds.
In response, many brands are now seeking sustainable sources of palm oil to use in their products to reverse this trend. You can find more about its policy on the sustainable use of palm oil at this link: https://www.unilever.com/sustainability/nature/sustainable-palm-oil/. The independent Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel has ruled Elaeis guineensis oil safe in its current use in cosmetics.
Clinical Evidence & References
Published Research
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Unilever.com, Website, Accessed September 2024 Unilever.com, 2024
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Journal of Cleaner Production, January 2021, pages 1–11 [URL not found] Journal of Cleaner Production, 2021
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Nature Plants, December 2020, pages 1,418–1,426 [URL not found] Nature Plants, 2020
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Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, November 2020, pages 4,031-4,061 [URL not found] Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 2020
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International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology, July-August 2019, pages 323-329 [URL not found] International Journal of Scientific Research in Science and Technology, 2019
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Journal of Paramedical Sciences, August 2015, pages 117-134 [URL not found] Journal of Paramedical Sciences, 2015
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International Journal of Toxicology, January 2000, pages 7-28 [URL not found] International Journal of Toxicology, 2000
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