| What is it? |
The liquid oil pressed from the oat kernel. It is comprised primarily of oleic and linoleic acids, and is rich in phytosterols. |
| Appearance |
Dark, golden liquid. |
| Texture |
Viscous and silky smooth. |
| Scent |
Slight oaty scent. |
| Absorbency Speed |
Slow |
| Solubility |
Oil |
| Why do we use it in formulations? |
It’s anti-inflammatory and an anti-irritant, making it fantastic for dry, irritated, or mature skin. |
| Do you need it? |
No, but it’s a nice luxury oil. |
| Refined or unrefined? |
I like unrefined. |
| Strengths |
Soothing, long-lasting moisturizing. |
| Weaknesses |
Its heavy, slow-absorbing nature can be a turn off for those who prefer faster absorbing formulations. This can be tempered by blending oat oil with faster absorbing oils and/or including it in emulsions at lower concentrations. |
| Alternatives & Substitutions |
Modern Cosmetics recommends rice bran oil as a good alternative. Evening primrose oil and castor oil have similar absorption speeds, but quite different fatty acid makeups. |
| How to Work with It |
I love it in body butter bars and soap, as well as other products for people with eczema or dry skin. |
| Storage & Shelf Life |
Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, oat oil should last at 1–2 years. I store my oat oil in the fridge. |
| Tips, Tricks, and Quirks |
Try combining oat oil with colloidal oatmeal and/or hydrolyzed oat protein for an extra oat-y formulation! |
| Recommended starter amount |
100mL (3.3fl oz) |
| Where to Buy it |
Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon. |