Hydrogenated Camellia Japonica Seed Oil is an oil derived from the hydrogenation of Camellia japonica seed oil, known for its antioxidant, emollient and stabilizing properties. Hydrogenation enhances the oil’s stability and creates a more solid texture, making it particularly suitable for cosmetic formulations requiring long-lasting hydration and protective effects for skin and hair.
Chemical Composition and Structure
The hydrogenated oil contains saturated fatty acids, such as stearic and palmitic acids, as well as natural antioxidant compounds. Its stabilized structure makes it resistant to oxidation, prolonging the product’s shelf life and enhancing the oil’s ability to create a barrier effect, protecting the skin and locking in moisture.
Physical Properties
Hydrogenated Camellia Japonica Seed Oil appears as a soft or semi-solid wax, light-colored and insoluble in water, ideal for oil-based formulations like balms, creams, and lotions. Its dense, velvety texture makes it suitable for products that require an emollient protection and a lasting comfort feel.
Production Process
The oil is produced by hydrogenating Camellia japonica seed oil, a process that involves adding hydrogen to unsaturated fatty acids, converting them into saturated fatty acids. This process increases the oil’s stability, reducing the risk of oxidation and enhancing its consistency.
Applications
Medical: Used for its emollient and protective properties, with potential applications in treatments for dry and irritated skin.
Cosmetics: Hydrogenated Camellia Japonica Seed Oil is widely employed in skincare and haircare products for its moisturizing, protective, and stabilizing properties. It helps keep skin soft, protects against environmental damage, and improves product texture, making it suitable for balms, lotions, and creams.
INCI Functions:
Antioxidant agent. Ingredient that counteracts oxidative stress and prevents cell damage. Free radicals, pathological inflammatory processes, reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen species are responsible for the ageing process and many diseases caused by oxidation.
Emulsion stabiliser. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable. Emulsion stabilisers improve the formation and stability of single and double emulsions. as well as their shelf-life. It should be noted that in the structure-function relationship, the molar mass of the ingredient used plays an important role.
Humectant. Hygroscopic compound used to minimise water loss in the skin and to prevent it from drying out by facilitating faster and greater absorption of water into the stratum corneum of the epidermis. The epidermis is the most superficial of the three layers that make up human skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) and is the layer that maintains hydration in all three layers. In turn, the epidermis is composed of five layers: horny, the most superficial, granular, spinous, shiny, and basal. Humectants have the ability to retain the water they attract from the air in the stratum corneum and have the function of moisturising the skin. They are best used before emollients, which are oil-based.
Skin conditioning agent - Emollient. Emollients have the characteristic of enhancing the skin barrier through a source of exogenous lipids that adhere to the skin, improving barrier properties by filling gaps in intercorneocyte clusters to improve hydration while protecting against inflammation. In practice, they have the ability to create a barrier that prevents transepidermal water loss. Emollients are described as degreasing or refreshing additives that improve the lipid content of the upper layers of the skin by preventing degreasing and drying of the skin. The problem with emollients is that many have a strong lipophilic character and are identified as occlusive ingredients; they are oily and fatty materials that remain on the skin surface and reduce transepidermal water loss. In cosmetics, emollients and moisturisers are often considered synonymous with humectants and occlusives.
Skin conditioning agent. It is the mainstay of topical skin treatment as it has the function of restoring, increasing or improving skin tolerance to external factors, including melanocyte tolerance. The most important function of the conditioning agent is to prevent skin dehydration, but the subject is rather complex and involves emollients and humectants that can be added in the formulation.
CAS 223748-13-8
Industry: In the cosmetic industry, this hydrogenated oil is valued for its stability and emollient capacity, finding applications in formulations that require a more oxidation-resistant oil.
Environmental and Safety Considerations
Hydrogenated Camellia Japonica Seed Oil is considered safe for cosmetic use and is biodegradable. As a plant-based oil, it has minimal environmental impact, especially when Camellia japonica seeds are sustainably sourced.
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