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Ingredient · INCI reference

Meadowfoam Estolide

A branched, oligomeric ester made from meadowfoam seed oil and used in cosmetics as a lightweight emollient and conditioning agent.

What it is

Meadowfoam Estolide is produced from meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba) seed oil, whose long-chain fatty acids are linked together into estolide structures. This gives a stable, low-tack emollient that conditions the skin and lends a smooth, lightweight slip, making it useful in modern sunscreens that aim for an invisible, comfortable finish. It functions purely as an emollient and skin-feel modifier.

Safety & warnings

Estolide emollients are generally well tolerated and chosen partly for their oxidative stability and low tackiness. They are not associated with notable irritancy at typical use levels.

Origin & sourcing

Derived from natural meadowfoam seed oil, with the fatty acids chemically reacted into oligomeric estolide esters.

Questions everyone asks

What is meadowfoam estolide used for in sunscreen?

It is an emollient that conditions skin and gives a smooth, lightweight feel, helping formulas apply invisibly; it is not a UV filter.

What is an estolide?

An estolide is an ester formed by linking fatty acids together into a branched, oligomeric structure, here built from meadowfoam seed oil.

Sources & references

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