Understanding botanical oils for cosmetics

This article gives insight into the botanical origins of vegetable oils and explains their composition. Quality criteria are described, and the different categories of vegetable oils are explained. Essential oils, although also from botanical origin, are not considered true vegetable oils. However, they are regarded as very special ingredients of cosmetic products, as highlighted in the present article. We finally summarise the advantages of all kind of vegetable oils in cosmetic formulations, and their cosmetic benefits that make them the choice for natural and sustainable cosmetics.

Ancestral use of botanicals supports veracity of qualities preached about them for care of physical wellness, both internally and externally. All ancient civilisations inhabiting our planet have provided us with countless examples and knowledge about use of fruits, seeds, flowers, whole plants or different extracts of them; either as medicinal remedies, culinary ingredients or for enhancement of external appearance. At the same time, the most recent scientific investigations identify active substances responsible for their traditionally known properties, while they reveal and prove new bioactivities. 

Genetic variability of flora on Earth generates a huge phytochemical diversity from which we can profit from the nutritional, sanitary and cosmetic points of view. Vegetable oils are greasy extracts from botanical origin, obtained from oleaginous seeds or fruits, and they constitute a valuable type of raw material for the cosmetic industry; not merely as emollients in a formulation, but also with a therapeutic role in many cases.