What it is
Limnanthes alba seed oil, commonly called meadowfoam seed oil, is expressed from the seeds of the meadowfoam plant and is notable for being rich in long-chain fatty acids that give it good oxidative stability. In cosmetics it acts as an emollient that softens skin and improves spreadability and feel. It is used in sunscreens and other leave-on products as part of the emollient system.
Safety & warnings
Meadowfoam seed oil is generally well tolerated and considered low on the comedogenicity scale relative to many plant oils, though as a lipid it may not suit everyone with very acne-prone skin. It is not a recognized fragrance allergen source.
Origin & sourcing
Natural plant oil, cold-pressed or expressed from the seeds of Limnanthes alba (meadowfoam), grown chiefly in the Pacific Northwest of North America.
History
Meadowfoam was developed as a crop in the mid-twentieth century in the United States, where it became valued for its unusually stable seed oil and entered use in cosmetics as a renewable emollient.
Questions everyone asks
What is meadowfoam seed oil used for in skin care?
It is used as an emollient and skin-conditioning agent that softens the skin and improves the spreadability and feel of a formula.
Why is meadowfoam oil considered stable?
Its high content of long-chain fatty acids gives it good resistance to oxidation, which is why it is valued as a stable cosmetic emollient.