Ingredient

PSEUDOZYMA EPICOLA/APRICOT KERNEL OIL/OLIVE FRUIT OIL/SWEET ALMOND OIL/SUNFLOWER SEED OIL/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS EXTRACT FERMENT EXTRACT FILTRATE

Name of the plant

Yomogi; Japanese Mugwort; Mugwort

Used plant parts

Kernels Fruit pulp Seeds (kernels)

Type of preparation

Fat or essential oil Fermentation product (converted with enzymes, (yeast-) fungi or bacteria), extract, filtrate

Function(s) of this ingredient in cosmetic products

EMULSION STABILISING

Supports emulsion formation and improves product stability

HAIR CONDITIONING

Leaves the hair easy to comb, supple, soft and shiny and / or imparts volume

SKIN CONDITIONING - HUMECTANT

Preserves skin moisture

SKIN CONDITIONING - MISCELLANEOUS

Maintains the skin in good condition

SKIN PROTECTING

Protects the skin from external influences

Origin

biotechnology (Information may exclusively reflect the status at initial entry of this ingredient into the relevant INCI dictionary; technological progress may have added new manufacturing options based on substances of different origin)

Background information on use in cosmetics

Apricot kernel oil is a high-quality vegetable oil which is obtained by cold pressing from the inner, soft part of the apricot kernel. With 35 % the kernel has a very high share in the valuable vegetable oil. Apricot kernel oil (INCI: PRUNUS ARMENIACA KERNEL OIL) is rich in essential fatty acids and Vitamin E. Apart from linoleic acid and palmitic acid, oleic acid constitutes the largest component of the apricot kernel oil. Unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid are very important for the human body since it cannot produce those itself. Although apricot kernel oil is suited for all skin types, it is recommended, more particularly, for dry skin since it can support the skin in storing moisture. In haircare, apricot kernel oil can straighten the hair and hence improve the hair gloss. It is used in shampoos, rinses and cures. Almond oil [almond kernel oil, (sweet) almond oil] is a fatty vegetable oil and is obtained from almond seeds by cold pressing. The fatty acids with the highest shares are oleic acid (60 – 90 %) as well as linoleic acid (approximately 20 %). Almond oil has a soothing effect and imparts a soft skin feeling; for this reason it is used in many skincare products.

Belongs to the following substance groups

Haircare substances / Conditioning agents

Humectants

Ingredients for skincare

Moisturisers

Stabilisers

Regulating cosmetics

Cosmetics Ingredients are subject to regulation. Please note, different regulations may apply to cosmetic ingredients outside the EU.

Understanding your cosmetics

How are cosmetics kept safe in Europe?

Strict laws make sure that cosmetics and personal care products sold in the European Union are safe for people to use. Companies, national and European regulatory authorities share the responsibility of keeping cosmetic products safe.

What should I know about endocrine disruptors?

Some ingredients used in cosmetic products have been claimed to be ‘endocrine disruptors’ because they have the potential to mimic some of the properties of our hormones. Just because something has the potential to mimic a hormone does not mean it will disrupt our endocrine system. Many substances, including natural ones, mimic hormones but very few, and these are mostly potent medicines, have ever been shown to cause disruption of the endocrine system. The rigorous product safety assessments by qualified, scientific experts that companies are legally obliged to carry out cover all potential risks, including potential endocrine disruption.

Are cosmetics tested on animals? No!

In the European Union, testing cosmetics on animals has been fully banned since 2013. Over the last 30 years, long before a ban was in place, the cosmetics and personal care industry has invested in research and development to pioneer alternatives to animal testing tools to assess the safety of cosmetics ingredients and products.

What about allergens in cosmetics?

Many substances, natural or man-made, have the potential to cause an allergic reaction. An allergic reaction occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to substances that are harmless to most people. A substance that causes an allergic reaction is called an allergen. Cosmetics and personal care products may contain ingredients that can be allergenic for some people. This does not mean that the product is not safe for others to use.

Database

Cosmetics matter to people and play an important role in our everyday life. On average European consumers use over seven different cosmetics daily. You too? It’s only natural that you want to know more about the ingredients in those products.

In the digital world we live in, there’s a deluge of information on cosmetics. However, it can be difficult to know which sources are reliable. COSMILE Europe is a European cosmetic ingredient database that offers reliable, verified and scientifically supported information on almost 30,000 ingredients used in cosmetics.

This database will help you understand why certain ingredients are in your cosmetic products; which properties they have and much more. The database is currently available in fourteen languages with more to come.

Search the Database