PLANT OIL
Apricot Kernel Oil
Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil
A light, silky oil pressed from apricot kernels, rich in oleic and linoleic fatty acids, used to leave skin feeling soft and supple without a heavy finish.
Source
Apricot kernels
Used for
Soft, supple-feeling skin
How it works
A light oil from inside the stone.
Apricot kernel oil is pressed from the seed inside the apricot stone (Prunus armeniaca). It is made up mostly of oleic acid, with a good share of linoleic acid and a little naturally occurring vitamin E, which gives a light, quick-absorbing oil with a silky rather than greasy feel.
As an emollient, it sits within the skin's surface layers and helps skin look and feel smoother and softer. The European cosmetic ingredient database describes it as suited to all skin types and especially to dry skin, helping skin hold on to moisture. Oleic-rich kernel oils like this one are usually blended with other oils rather than used alone.
It suits facial oils and serums where a lightweight, comfortable slip is wanted, and layers well under moisturiser, morning or night.
As an emollient, it sits within the skin's surface layers and helps skin look and feel smoother and softer. The European cosmetic ingredient database describes it as suited to all skin types and especially to dry skin, helping skin hold on to moisture. Oleic-rich kernel oils like this one are usually blended with other oils rather than used alone.
It suits facial oils and serums where a lightweight, comfortable slip is wanted, and layers well under moisturiser, morning or night.
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01
Pressed from the seed inside the apricot stone
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A light, silky emollient rich in oleic and linoleic acids
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Leaves skin feeling soft and supple without a greasy finish
Questions
What is apricot kernel oil?
It is the oil from the kernels, or seeds, of the apricot, Prunus armeniaca. It is valued for its richness in unsaturated fatty acids, its high proportion of oleic acid, and its content of phenols and tocopherols, the family that includes vitamin E. (Pawar & Nema, 2023)
Is apricot kernel oil suitable for all skin types?
The European cosmetic ingredient database describes apricot kernel oil as suited to all skin types and particularly recommended for dry skin, because it can help skin hold on to moisture. In cosmetics it is listed as a skin-conditioning ingredient. As with any new product, patch test first if your skin is sensitive. (COSMILE Europe)
About the plant
The apricot, Prunus armeniaca, is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae). Its exact native range is uncertain, but it is indigenous to temperate Asia, including Central Asia, China and Korea, and is now widely cultivated. (USDA GRIN)
Inside each apricot stone sits a kernel that yields a light oil valued in cosmetics. (Pawar & Nema, 2023)
Inside each apricot stone sits a kernel that yields a light oil valued in cosmetics. (Pawar & Nema, 2023)
Good to know
Apricot kernel oil is pressed from the kernel inside the apricot stone. If you have a nut allergy, check with your doctor or allergy specialist before using it, and patch test first if your skin is sensitive.
The research
- Pawar KR, Nema PK. Apricot kernel characterization, oil extraction, and its utilization: a review. Food Science and Biotechnology, 2023 (opens in a new tab)
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, GRIN-Global Taxonomy. Prunus armeniaca L. (opens in a new tab)
- COSMILE Europe (Cosmetics Europe) cosmetic ingredient database: Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil (apricot kernel oil, cold pressed; functions: skin conditioning, fragrance) (opens in a new tab)
- Danby SG, AlEnezi T, Sultan A, Lavender T, Chittock J, Brown K, Cork MJ. Effect of olive and sunflower seed oil on the adult skin barrier: implications for neonatal skin care. Pediatric Dermatology, 2013;30(1):42-50. PMID: 22995032 (opens in a new tab)
