Apricot Kernel Oil
The apricot tree is native to the Mediterranean region, Eastern Europe, Turkey, the USA, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand as well as Australia. Its fruits, which are harvested in July, hide a kernel inside, which in turn contains a soft almond. Apricot kernel oil is extracted from this almond by cold pressing. It can be used both as food and as a raw material for cosmetic products. Apricot kernel oil intended for food is usually obtained from the sweet cultivated apricots, while oil for cosmetic purposes usually comes from the kernels of the slightly more acidic wild apricots. In this process, the fresh wild apricots are first cut in half to extract the hard pit. These kernels must then be dried to make them easier to crack.
Apricot kernel oil is excellent for use in the food industry to produce persipan, which has a marzipan-like scent. In cosmetics, it is considered a versatile base oil that absorbs well and is well tolerated even by sensitive skin.
Apricot kernel oil in cosmetics
Apricot kernel oil is rich in essential fatty acids and vitamin E. With 66.1 percent, oleic acid forms the largest component. The omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid accounts for around 25 percent. Traces of vitamin A, vitamin B and niacin can also be found. Due to the high content of essential fatty acids the oil naturally becomes rancid relatively quickly. For this reason, it is usually refined after cold pressing. Refining increases the shelf life. Because of its similar fatty acid spectrum, apricot kernel oil resembles almond oil, which is also used in cosmetics, but it has a somewhat lighter consistency due to its higher linoleic acid content. As a skin care product, apricot kernel oil is particularly convincing thanks to the linoleic acid it contains. Linoleic acid regulates the water balance of the skin and helps it to maintain its natural barrier function. Creams with the active ingredient apricot oil are therefore particularly suitable for dry skin. For example, a day care with apricot kernel oil is ideal especially in the cold season, when the skin is extremely stressed by the dry heating air.
Cosmetic application areas
The skin is supplied with a lot of moisture and feels soft and smooth. An improvement of the skin structure is usually clearly noticeable. Apricot oil spreads well, is quickly absorbed and leaves a silky-soft feeling. Massages with apricot kernel oil additionally strengthen this effect. The special texture and composition of the oil allows it to penetrate even into deeper layers of the skin. In addition, the oil can soothe skin irritations such as contact dermatitis. After sunburn, it also provides rapid relief of discomfort. It is very suitable for baby care and is an ideal make-up remover. The oil can be combined very well with evening primrose oil, grape seed oil or wild rose oil. The addition of jojoba oil achieves an oxidative stabilizing effect. Also, in hair care the oil is used more and more. Apricot kernel oil provides the hair with moisture, it gains fullness and appears smoother. Even the scalp benefits from the positive properties: Apricot oil can be used to counteract dandruff or an itchy scalp. Another area of application is aromatherapy. Here, apricot kernel oil is said to have a stimulating effect, arouse positive emotions and provide a sense of well-being.
Controversial, however, is the use of apricot kernel oil in cancer therapy. The oil is used exclusively in homeopathic medicine. Sufficient studies on the mode of action against cancer do not exist yet.
PROFILE: Apricot oil
INCI: Prunus Armeniaca Apricot Kernel Oil
CAS number: 72869-69-3
Composition: palmitic acid 3.0 to 10.0 percent, oleic acid 55 to 70 percent, linoleic acid 22 to 35 percent
Properties: skin caring, nourishing, softening, and hydrating
Problem substances: bitter apricot kernels contain the toxic amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside. However, careful production methods ensure that it is not present in apricot kernel oil.
Fields of application: Hand and face creams, hair care products, lip balms, as baby oil and for removing makeup.
We like to work with these products containing apricot:
| Trade Name | Company Name | INCI | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| APW - Apricot Wax | EFP Biotek | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil , Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil | |
| Albiwax | Sinerga | Hydrogenated Apricot Kernel Oil , Hydrogenated Apricot Oil Unsaponifiables , Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil Unsaponifiables , Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil | |
| APB - Apricot Butter | EFP Biotek | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil , Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil | |
| Premium Organic* Apricot Butter | NATUROCHIM S.A.S. | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil , Hydrogenated Apricot Kernel Oil | |
| Organic Apricot Kernel Oil - BCE1530 | Biocosmethic | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil | |
| AWB - Squalene-Based Apricot Waxy Butter | EFP Biotek | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil , Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables | |
| Refined Apricot Kernel Oil - BCE1021 | Biocosmethic | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil | |
| Lyco-Sol | Gattefossé | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil , Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract | |
| Apricot Seed Oil/ Apricot Kernel Oil, Organic CP R Cosmetics | SanaBio GmbH | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil | |
| Seatons Apricot Kernel Oil | Croda | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil | |
| Refined Apricot Kernel Oil | Sophim | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil | |
| GreenSoft 390 Apricot | Greentech | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil , Hydrogenated Olive Oil , Glyceryl Stearate , Tocopherol | |
| Apricot Seed Oil/ Apricot Kernel Oil, Organic CPV Cosmetics | SanaBio GmbH | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil | |
| Apricot Seed Oil | Kern Tec GmbH | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil | |
| Organic Virgin Apricot Kernel Oil | Sophim | Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil |
Gentle all-rounder
The oil from the kernels of the apricot is a true all-rounder for skin and hair care and is very well tolerated. However, care should be taken when using or processing the oil to ensure that it is of high quality. It has a subtle sweet smell, is easily absorbed by the skin, and can even be used on already damaged skin. Cosmacon will be happy to develop appropriate formulations with apricot-containing active ingredients for you according to your wishes.
Sources:
Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils.; Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Dec 27;19(1):70.
Utilization, valorization and functional properties of wild apricot kernels.; Saini, D., Rawat, N., Negi, T., Barthwal, R., & Sharma, S. K. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry. 2021 10(4), 119-126.
Apricot Kernel: Bioactivity, Characterization, Applications, and Health Attributes.; Akhone, M. A., Bains, A., Tosif, M. M., Chawla, P., Fogarasi, M., & Fogarasi, S. Foods, 2022 11(15), 2184.