A fatty emollient and occlusive moisturizing oil obtained from wheat germ. It mainly consists of linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acids followed by antioxidant vitamin E, phytosterols, and fatty alcohols.
Moisturizing
Occlusive
Moisturizing (Occlusive)
Occlusives are moisturizing ingredients that seal moisture into the skin, forming a water-resistant barrier.
Occlusive
Moisturizing (Occlusive)
Occlusives are moisturizing ingredients that seal moisture into the skin, forming a water-resistant barrier.
Antioxidant
Antioxidant
Antioxidants reduce the oxidative stress caused by free radicals and prevent accelerated skin aging.
Antioxidant
Antioxidants reduce the oxidative stress caused by free radicals and prevent accelerated skin aging.
Other functions
Emollient
Emollient
Emollients fill the micro-cracks in the skin and leave it feeling soft and pleasant to the touch. Emollients are often mistakenly perceived as moisturizing ingredients.
Emollient
Emollient
Emollients fill the micro-cracks in the skin and leave it feeling soft and pleasant to the touch. Emollients are often mistakenly perceived as moisturizing ingredients.
Origin
Botanical
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Botanical
Botanical
Ingredients derived from plants, mosses, and lichens: extracts, oils, powders, juices and other types of processed plant materials.
Triticum vulgare germ oil is a fatty, emollient oil extracted from wheat germ. On average, wheat germ contains 10% of the oil that can be either be pressed or extracted.
Wheat germ oil is mainly made up of linoleic acid (57%), oleic acid (16%), and palmitic acid (16%). It is also unusually rich in unsaponifiable compounds (i.e., everything that is not triacylglycerols and fatty acids) – a large amount of vitamin E, phytosterols, and fatty alcohols.
In skincare products, this oil is used as an occlusive, well-tolerated base oil. It is suitable for all skin types due to its high content of linoleic acid, and the additional compounds make it a richly emollient antioxidant oil.
The only limiting aspect of the wheat germ oil is its relatively low stability. It has to be well protected from light, air, and heat in order for it to retain its beneficial properties.
Science
1
Dunford, N. T. (2009). Wheat Germ Oil. Gourmet and Health-Promoting Specialty Oils, 359–376.
Occlusive
