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. |