Oat Oil

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.