Clariant launches new oil for hair and skin care

The natural ingredient is extracted from the seeds of Crambe Abyssinica, which is a plant native to the rich soil of the African highlands and can grow at elevations of more than 2,500 meters.

Clariant says that it came across Crambe Abyssinica in response to the growing demand for effective natural ingredients in personal care.

The vegetable-based oil is extracted by cold-pressing Crambe Abyssinica seeds without any solvents.

“Linking beauty benefits and sustainability is an increasingly important factor in ingredient selection within personal care,”​ comments Ralf Zerrer, Head of Global Strategic Marketing.

“Clariant’s rediscovery of the inspiring natural ingredient Plantasens Abyssinian Oil, provides formulators and brand owners with a treasure trove of benefits for their development of natural and effective skin and hair care products.”​

Hair and skin applications​

According to the Swiss company, formulations based on Plantasens Abyssinian Oil can take advantage of a unique composition of Omegas 6 and 9 and long-chain triglycerides which help to provide hair and skin benefits.

For hair care, the ingredient adds shine and can improve the manageability of hair, making it easier to comb and less prone to damage.

During its own dry-combing tests, Clariant states that significantly less force is required than with other oils such as Argan, making the ingredient ideal for use in shampoos and conditioners as well as leave-on treatments.

In skin care, the oil acts as an emollient to help nourish, hydrate and protect the skin, making it a good choice for face cream, cleansing milk and body lotion, as well as sun-care products as it disperses and solubilizes UV filters effectively.

Crop​

The Crambe Abyssinica crop, which the ingredient is derived from, is planted by farmers during the dry season, where it manages to flourish despite the rainfall shortage.

It also brings with it rotational advantages. Rather than further depleting the land, planting Crambe Abyssinica in between the main crop results in a richer soil at the end of its growing season.

This represents a win-win situation for farmers who earn a supplementary income during a time when the fields would otherwise be lying fallow.