Sweet almond oil polyglyceryl-6 esters is the product obtained by various processes of drying, washing, transesterification of the plant Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis one of the most popular crops worldwide that belongs to the Rosaceae family, with Polyglycerin-6.

The name defines the structure of the ingredient

• Sweet Almond Oil comes from the almonds of the sweet almond tree, Prunus amygdalus dulcis. It is a commonly used carrier oil in skincare and cosmetic products, known for its moisturizing and nourishing properties.
• Polyglyceryl-6  refers to a polyglycerol structure with six glycerol units. Polyglyceryls are used as emulsifiers and stabilizers in various cosmetic formulations. They help mix oil and water ingredients together.
• Esters. An ester is an organic compound formed by the reaction of an alcohol with a carboxylic acid. In this context, the esters are formed by the reaction of the polyglyceryl-6 with the fatty acids in sweet almond oil.

In summary, "Sweet Almond Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters" are compounds derived from sweet almond oil that have been chemically modified with a polyglycerol structure containing six glycerol units. This particular ingredient is often used in skincare and cosmetic products to emulsify and stabilize formulations, as well as to provide some of the beneficial properties associated with sweet almond oil, such as moisturization.

Step-by-step industrial chemical synthesis process

• Preparation of sweet almond oil: The oil is extracted from sweet almond seeds through cold pressing or solvents.
• Mixing with polyglycerol-6: The sweet almond oil is mixed with polyglycerol-6.
• Esterification: The mixture is subjected to an esterification reaction, using acidic or basic catalysts.
• Purification: The esters are purified through methods such as distillation or chromatography to remove any impurities.
• Quality control: A quality check is performed to ensure the esters meet the required standards.

What it is for and where

Cosmetics

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.

Surfactant - Emulsifying agent. Emulsions are thermodynamically unstable and are used to soothe or soften the skin and emulsify, so they need a specific, stabilising ingredient. This ingredient forms a film, lowers the surface tension and makes two immiscible liquids miscible. A very important factor affecting the stability of the emulsion is the amount of the emulsifying agent. Emulsifiers have the property of reducing the oil/water or water/oil interfacial tension, improving the stability of the emulsion and also directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens by modulating the filmometric performance.

Commercial applications

Skin products: Used in creams, lotions, and body oils for their emollient and moisturizing properties.

Hair products: Utilized in conditioners, hair masks, and styling products to enhance hair softness and shine.

Makeup products: Added to foundations and lip products to improve texture and application.

Properties

Emollient: They help soften and smooth the skin, making it more touchable.

Emulsifying: Due to their specific structure, they enhance the stability of emulsions, helping to blend water-based and oil-based ingredients.

Moisturizing: They provide prolonged moisturizing effect to the skin, helping to retain moisture.

As with other skincare and haircare ingredients, it's essential to ensure that the product containing sweet almond oil polyglyceryl-6 esters is appropriate for your skin or hair type, and to perform a patch test if you have any known sensitivities or allergies.

Medical

Photochemical analysis of Prunus amygdalus dulcis revealed a number of compounds beneficial to health: Phenolic acids (hydrobenzoic acids), polyphenolic acids (ellagic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid), isoflavones, anthocyanins (cyanidin and delphinidin), bioflavonoids, flavanols (epicatechin and procyanidins), flavonol glycosides (kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside), triterpenes, tannins, all with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

Clinical studies of Prunus amygdalus dulcis shown properties in counteracting some major diseases, reducing oxidative stress, glucose homeostasis, protection against cardiovascular risk, neuroprotection. It also reduces the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

The sweet almond is rich in monounsaturated fats, fiber, magnesium.
Its components can regulate the homeostasis of glucose. It is hypocholesterolemic (1), has an antioxidant action (2) and is an adjuvant for cardiovascular risks (3).

References________________________________________________________________

(1) Kamil A, Chen CY.  Health Benefits of Almonds beyond Cholesterol Reduction.   J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Feb 17. J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Jul 11;60(27):6694-702. doi: 10.1021/jf2044795.

(2) Barreira JC, Ferreira IC, Oliveira MB, Pereira JA. Antioxidant potential of chestnut (Castanea sativa L.) and almond (Prunus dulcis L.) by-products.    Food Sci Technol Int. 2010 Jun;16(3):209-16. doi: 10.1177/1082013209353983. 

(3) Damasceno NR, Pérez-Heras A, Serra M, Cofán M, Sala-Vila A, Salas-Salvadó J, Ros E.  Crossover study of diets enriched with virgin olive oil, walnuts or almonds. Effects on lipids and other cardiovascular risk markers.   Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2011 Jun;21 Suppl 1:S14-20. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2010.12.006.