Safflower Oil

 

Type: Plant-based oil

 

Benefits: Moisturizes the skin and is rich in protective antioxidants.2 It also has anti-inflammatory effects and helps promote wound healing says Zalka, who adds that it can help reduce the size of blackheads and whiteheads as well.

 

Works well with: Vitamin C, another potent antioxidant.

 

 

What Is Safflower Oil?

Safflower, aka Carthamus tinctorius, is a flowering plant known as the '4,000-year-old herb'. It has a long history of varied uses, including for culinary purposes, as a dye for textiles, and skincare.

Safflower oil is made from cold-pressing the seeds of the flower.

 

Benefits of Safflower Oil for Acne

There's (obviously) no shortage of plant-based skincare oils out there, each with its own particular list of pros and cons. That being said, safflower oil has some unique features that help it stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Safflower is one of a very few oils that, as a stand-alone ingredient, has a beneficial fatty acid composition for the skin. If cold-pressed and processed properly, safflower oil has a higher level of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties than many other oils commonly used in skincare.

 

Has antioxidant properties:

These come from both the vitamin E naturally found in safflower oil, as well as unique flavonoids. Safflower seed oil helps inhibit damage caused by exposure to UVB rays. That's a major win not only for the general health of the skin but also the appearance of the skin—the research found safflower seed oil to be effective at inhibiting UVB-induced photo-aging by minimizing the effects of an enzyme that breaks down collagen. Long story short, safflower oil has anti-aging benefits, too.

 

Is a natural anti-fungal and antimicrobial:

Research indicates that these properties, combined with safflower oil's wound-healing effects, can be helpful in treating skin injuries. These attributes are a major plus when it comes to helping address acne.

 

Delivers moisture to the skin:

Safflower oil is specifically indicated for damaged, dry skin because it has high concentrations of omega-6 fatty acid linoleic acid that allows quick absorption without a greasy consistency to moisturize the skin.  Safflower oil contains a rich source of fatty acids that help improve the skin's natural barrier and improve overall skin health, while containing a light weight consistency and moisturizing agent that can penetrate the skin without causing irritation.

 

Non-comedogenic:

All of the above benefits combined make safflower oil a major win for those battling breakouts. First and foremost, it's considered non-comedogenic, so there's less concern for clogged pores.

 

Anti-inflammatory:

Its anti-inflammatory properties can help quell or reduce skin redness. The high concentration of fatty acids help treat dermatitis and speed the healing time for wounds.

 

High in acne-fighing linoleic acid:

Safflower oil can also be a good option for those dealing with blackheads and whiteheads as well. This may be due to one of safflower oil's more unique distinguishing features, an extremely high amount of linoleic acid—around 70 percent. This is arguably the 'hero' component for acne prevention, as safflower oil may help in reducing the size of blackheads and whiteheads.

 

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