EWG Safety Score
What Is Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil?
Gossypium herbaceum (cotton) seed oil is extracted from the seeds of various types of cotton plants. Supplied as a golden yellow liquid, this non-fragrant plant oil is a good source of fatty acids capable of smoothing and hydrating skin. These include linoleic, palmitic, and oleic acids, with lesser amounts of linolenic, stearic, and myristic acids.\n\nThis plant oil’s primary use in cosmetics is for its emollient properties, but it may also be chosen to contribute occlusion to a formulation.\n\nAlthough cotton seed oil is a good natural source of vitamin E, much of this is lost during processing, so its antioxidant benefit when used on skin is limited. Despite this limitation, it’s among the more stable oils when exposed to air.\n\nThe safety of Gossypium herbaceum (cotton) seed oil has been evaluated and amounts up to 21% are considered non-sensitizing and non-irritating to skin. Suppliers must ensure their source of this plant oil is free from toxins such as gossypol, aflatoxin, and cyclopropenoid fatty acids (CPFA) or that steps are taken during processing to ensure these compounds are removed before adding the oil to cosmetics
Benefits for Your Skin
Clinical Evidence & References
Published Research
-
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, August 2021, pages 1,219–1,237 Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2021
-
Food Science and Nutrition, March 2019, pages 1,027–1,034 Food Science and Nutrition, 2019
-
International Journal of Toxicology, March 2001, pages 21–29 International Journal of Toxicology, 2001
Learn More About Skincare Ingredients
Explore our comprehensive ingredient glossary to understand what's in your products.
Browse All IngredientsShop Our Products
Find professional skincare solutions at Skintique.